Retail sales rise more than expected in August; sales excluding autos up 1.1 percent

WASHINGTON — Retail sales jumped in August by the largest amount in more than three years, spurred by widespread gains beyond the expected increases of auto sales from the government’s Cash for Clunkers program.

China training Afghans, Iraqis in mine clearance as part of efforts to short up ties

BEIJING — China’s army is training Iraqi and Afghan soldiers to clear land mines, a sign of Beijing’s desire to expand engagement with the two countries despite wariness over the presence of U.S. forces.

‘Clunkers’ likely boosted Aug. retail sales, but consumers cautious despite steady prices

WASHINGTON — Consumers bought hundreds of thousands of cars in August due mainly to the government’s popular Cash for Clunkers program, but economists expect Americans didn’t boost their spending on much else.

Interior Dept. unveils strategy to cope with climate change’s toll on land, wildlife

WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary Ken Salazar moved Monday to prepare the nation’s parks, refuges and endangered species for the onslaught of global warming.

Audit: Gov’t could millions of dollars in gas royalties from not correcting shortfalls

WASHINGTON — The federal government risks losing millions of dollars in royalties from natural gas production because it does not promptly determine and collect when it gets shortchanged, according to congressional auditors.

Exxon Mobil has completed surface section of first Point Thomson gas well

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Exxon Mobil has drilled the first section of its first production well at the Point Thomson field on Alaska’s North Slope.

AES shares briefly rise to 1-year high on report Chinese investment arm weighs buying stake

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Shares of AES Corp. briefly rose to a 52-week high on Monday on a published report that China’s investment arm is interested in buying a stake in the U.S. utility company and power plant developer.

History, poor economy, declining Obama support could mean big losses for House Dems in 2010

NEW YORK — Despite sweeping Democratic successes in the past two national elections, continuing job losses and President Barack Obama’s slipping support could lead to double-digit losses for the party in next year’s congressional races and may even threaten their House control.

Schwarzenegger says he will veto Legislature’s renewable energy bills, impose his own order

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office said Saturday that he would veto legislation requiring a third of California’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, choosing instead to mandate the change through an executive order.

Ugandan soldiers, police patrol streets following 2 days of violence that has killed 14

KAMPALA, Uganda — Scores of soldiers and police patrolled the streets of Uganda’s capital in pickup trucks and on foot Saturday following riots that have killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens of others.

Ugandan soldiers, police patrol streets following 2 days of violence that has killed 13

KAMPALA, Uganda — Scores of soldiers and police patrolled the streets of Uganda’s capital in pickup trucks and on foot Saturday following riots that have killed at least 13 people.

Calif. lawmakers approve inmate reduction but fail to agree on major overhaul of water system

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers ended a legislative year dominated by an unprecedented fiscal crisis without an agreement on their top policy priority — an ambitious upgrade of the state’s water delivery and storage system.

Bill would give Calif. the nation’s most ambitious energy standards, but its fate is uncertain

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers on Friday began approving legislation that would establish the nation’s most ambitious renewable-energy standards, even as some warned that the rules would increase energy costs and hurt the state’s economy.

Lead utility Otter Tail Power pulls out of plans for $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in SD

MINNEAPOLIS — The utility leading an effort to build a $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in South Dakota pulled out of the project Friday, citing the economic downturn and uncertainty about climate change legislation to regulate carbon emissions.

Lead utility Otter Tail Power pulls out of plans for $1.6B coal-fired power plant in SD

MINNEAPOLIS — The utility leading an effort to build a $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in South Dakota that would serve five states has pulled out of the project.

Carbon price drops 33 percent in 5th auction of year-old Northeast regional group

ALBANY, N.Y. — The price of carbon allowances dropped 33 percent in the latest quarterly auction held by 10 Northeastern states in an initiative to reduce greenhouse gases in the region.

Calif. lawmakers seek deals on water, energy, prison spending on final day of their session

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers on Friday agreed to reduce the state prison population by 16,000 inmates and appeared ready to pass the nation’s most ambitious renewable-energy standards but were falling short of their top goal — upgrading the state’s decades-old water system.

Iranian proposal for talks falls short of Western demands focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program

VIENNA — Iran’s new offer for talks with six world powers ignores their key demand of a freeze of Tehran’s uranium enrichment program, according to a copy obtained Friday by The Associated Press, and instead amounts to a manifesto calling for a new international order.

German government to investigate nuclear waste storage report amid manipulation accusations

BERLIN — Germany will investigate a 1983 report on a nuclear waste storage facility after allegations that the report was manipulated by officials at the time, the government said Friday.

EPA identifies 79 coal mine permits in 4 states for additional review

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Obama administration on Friday stepped up its efforts to curb environmental damage from surface coal mining, announcing plans to give 79 permit applications in four states additional scrutiny.

Rosetta Resources shares rise 7.5 percent following financial, operational update

HOUSTON — Shares of Rosetta Resources Inc. rose on Friday a day after the oil and gas company affirmed its full-year capital budget, said it expects to build cash during the year and maintained its full-year production outlook.

California lawmakers consider tough rules requiring utilities to boost renewable energy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Increasing California’s use of renewable energy would seem like a relatively simple goal, but it has become one of the hottest legislative debates as lawmakers rush to finish their business for the year.

George LeMieux sworn in as Florida’s new US senator, replacing Mel Martinez

WASHINGTON — George LeMieux was sworn in Thursday as Florida’s newest senator, a job he is expected to hold only 16 months while his former boss, Gov. Charlie Crist, and other candidates run for the seat in next year’s election.

Mich. governor joins auto, energy executives to share plans for converting closed Ford plant

WIXOM, Mich. — Longtime environmental advocate and Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. on Thursday formally announced a massive recycling project — a $725 million plan to retool a plant that once made Thunderbirds into one that churns out storage batteries and solar panels.

Study says wind could meet half of China power needs by 2030, cutting emissions by 30 percent

BEIJING — China could cut its emissions by 30 percent in the next two decades if it switches to wind power to meet about half of its electricity demands, a U.S. study published Thursday said.

Coast Guard moving forward with first tidal project to generate electricity in eastern Maine

PORTLAND, Maine — The Coast Guard has signed off on its first tidal power project, a small underwater turbine that will generate additional electricity at its station in coastal Maine.

Oil up after fall in crude supplies, forecast for improved demand; OPEC keeps output unchanged

Oil prices moved higher for a third straight day Thursday after a report showed that U.S. crude inventories decreased more than expected last week.

Continental Resources makes discovery in Lodgepole formation; well yields 463 Bopd

ENID, Okla. — Independent oil and gas producer Continental Resources Inc. on Thursday reported a significant discovery in the Lodgepole mounds in Dickinson, Stark County, N.D.

Oil rises as dollar falls, forecast for improved demand; OPEC keeps output unchanged

Oil prices edged higher Thursday on a weaker U.S. dollar, OPEC’s decision to maintain production levels and a new report that says the slump in global oil demand will not be as bad as initially feared.

France’s Sarkozy pushes ahead with contested, ambitious plan to tax carbon emissions

PARIS — French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tax carbon dioxide emissions by households and businesses, a measure aimed at helping France slash its output greenhouse gases over the coming decades — but viewed with skepticism by many.