Eco-Portal: An Information Gateway Empowering the Movement for Environmental Sustainability

January 07, 2009

• Georgia District May Ask Teachers to Give Back Raises
  One school district may ask for pay raises back to avoid layoffs. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Is Panetta 'an Awful Pick' or Does His Selection Make Sense?
  Here are two contrasting opinions on the nomination, both from writers I respect. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Meg Whitman for California Governor?
  An associate says Whitman is preparing to run for governor. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• CIA Resents Bad Morale Suggestion
  Insiders say spirits are up, and they are fighting back with some facts. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• The Jobs We Lost in 2008
  A sector-by-sector look at the job losses of last year. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Outgoing Bush Administration Will Not Finalize Fuel Economy Rules
  

  The Bush Administration will not finalize its rulemaking on Corporate Fuel Economy Standards, according to a statement issued by the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

  The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) establishes the basis for the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules, and mandates the setting of separate attribute-based maximum feasible standards for passenger cars and for light trucks at levels sufficient to ensure that the average fuel economy of the combined fleet of all passenger cars and light trucks sold by all manufacturers in the US in model year (MY) 2020 equals or exceeds 35 mpg. (Earlier post.)

  In April 2008, the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for new vehicle fuel economy standards that would bring the US average to about 31.6 miles per gallon in 2015 (35.7 mpg cars, 28.6 mpg trucks). Under EISA, NHTSA, the agency that “owns” fuel economy regulations, can establish standards for a maximum of five model years at one time. Hence, the initial proposed rulemaking covers model years 2011-2015.

  NHTSA followed this with the release in October of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) on the new CAFE rules for light-duty vehicles from model years 2011 to 2015. Under Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, NHTSA must compare the potential environmental impacts of its proposed action and a reasonable range of alternatives. In fulfillment of this requirement, NHTSA analyzed the impacts of six “action” alternatives and the impacts that would be expected if NHTSA imposed no new requirements (the No Action Alternative). Several of the FEIS scenarios resulted in higher 2015 fuel economy outcomes. (Earlier post.)

  NHTSA had intended to issue the final rulemaking before the end of 2008.

  The DOT statement said that the recent financial difficulties of the automobile industry “will require the next administration to conduct a thorough review of matters affecting the industry, including how to effectively implement the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA).”

  There is a 1 April 2009 deadline for finalizing the rulemaking.

  - 1 day
  source: (Green Car Congress)
• The State of Green ... and Clean
  

  Two upcoming events, The Clean-Tech Investor Summit and the State of Green Business Forum, will present the state of the art of their respective topics.

  - 1 day
  source: (GreenBiz.com)
• MacWorld Hosts Hot New Apps For Small Businesses
  The top useful programs for Mac-using business owners. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• 15 Hall-of-Shame Predictions
  A reminder to beware of "happy talk." - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Stanford Rejects SAT Score Choice
  The university will continue to consider all SAT scores, not just the one an applicant selects. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Hundreds of Coal Ash Dumps Lack Regulation
  Most coal byproduct dumps in the U.S. are unregulated, but they contain chemicals that threaten health.
  
  - 1 day
  source: (NYT > Environment)
• Maine Community Colleges See Applications Jump 20%
  Officials blame the weak economy and rising unemployment. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Oreos at Ohio State: Almost $6
  Student newspaper looks at prices of snacks on campus vs. the grocery store. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Mickey Rourke: I Sold Everything I Had
  Before making his comeback in The Wrestler, the actor was poor. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• 7 Jobs for Job Security in a Recession
  Although it increasingly sounds like an anachronism, job security is growing in appeal. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Monsanto seeks FDA approval for drought-tolerant corn
  KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Monsanto Co said Wednesday it filed for U.S. regulatory approval for what could be the world's first drought-tolerant corn, a product that agricultural companies around the globe are racing to roll out amid fears of global warming and the needs of a growing population.
  
  - 1 day
  source: ( Reuters: Environment)
• BlackRock Strategist's 12 Predictions for 2009
  Bob Doll sees a record double-digit percentage gain for U.S. stocks. - 1 day
  source: (U.S. News)
• Bush leaves fuel economy rules for Obama
  The Bush administration said Wednesday it won't finish implementing new vehicle fuel-efficiency rules, leaving the issue to the incoming Obama administration. - 1 day
  source: (msnbc.com: Environment)
• Cree wins contract to light the Pentagon
  

  LED manufacturer Cree has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to supply over 4,200 recessed LED lights for the Pentagon, the company announced Tuesday.

  Testing commissioned by the U.S. government determined that Cree's LR24 recessed LED lights would offer a 22 percent ...

  - 1 day
  source: (Green Tech )
• NY Gov targets clean energy and health despite deficit
  NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state should fight obesity, help more residents get health insurance and revive the upstate economy with a research consortium for hybrid car batteries and energy storage, Governor David Paterson proposed on Wednesday.
  
  - 1 day
  source: ( Reuters: Environment)