Climate bill would create new financial system; winners and losers emerge in carbon economy

NEW YORK — In addition to raising energy prices, the climate legislation that’s winding through Congress would create a parallel financial system with a carbon-based currency.

Hailing House vote, Obama calls on Senate to pass climate, energy bill

WASHINGTON — Hours after the House passed landmark legislation meant to curb greenhouse gas emissions and create an energy-efficient economy, President Barack Obama on Saturday urged senators to show courage and follow suit.

House, in close vote, approves measure to limit pollution, move US toward cleaner power

WASHINGTON — In a triumph for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that calls for the nation’s first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy.

Historic measure to limit pollution, move US toward cleaner power nears House showdown vote

WASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama lobbying by phone, the Democratic-controlled House churned toward a showdown vote Friday night on historic legislation to reduce pollution linked to global warming and power the nation with cleaner but more expensive energy.

House Democrats narrowly prevail in key test vote on climate bill, sending it to full House

WASHINGTON — House Democrats narrowly won a key test vote Friday and pushed for passage of sweeping legislation designed to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republicans said the bill included the largest tax increase in American history.

Questions and answers about the US climate bill that Obama hopes will ease global warming

Cap-and-trade? Offsets? Pollution credits? The climate bill passed Friday by the House tackles global warming with new limits on pollution and a market-based approach to encourage more environmentally friendly business practices. But what exactly do the proposed rules mean, and how would they work?

Questions and answers about the climate bill that Obama hopes will ease global warming

Cap-and-trade? Offsets? Pollution credits? The climate bill under consideration in the House tackles global warming with new limits on pollution and a market-based approach to encourage more environmentally friendly business practices. But what exactly do the proposed rules mean, and how would they work?

Obama pushing urgently for bill to fight global warming on eve of historic House vote

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pushed urgently Thursday for passage of legislation to confront global warming, billing it as a job-creating machine rather than the costly “job killer” Republicans denounced. He telephoning wavering Democrats on the eve of what could be a historic House vote.

Plastiki ship made of bottles to sail Pacific on voyage highlighting the perils of plastic

SAN FRANCISCO — You’ve heard of a ship in a bottle. How about a ship made of plastic bottles? That would be the Plastiki, designed to sail the Pacific on an 11,000-mile voyage highlighting the dangers of living in a throwaway world.

House Democrats push for votes on historical climate bill as White House steps up pressure

WASHINGTON — Democrats scrambled for votes Thursday on a climate bill that would for the first time limit the pollution blamed for global warming as the White House stepped up pressure on reluctant lawmakers and former Vice President Al Gore tried to stave off any defections.

China’s environment ministry said review needed for planned dam that threatens Yangtze fish

BEIJING — China’s environment ministry said Thursday that it has ordered an ecological assessment for a proposed Yangtze River dam that conservationists fear could threaten hundreds of fish species and drive the giant Chinese sturgeon into extinction.

Last-minute deals bring House Democrats closer to approving cap-and-trade climate bill

WASHINGTON — The nuclear industry, ethanol producers and rural electric cooperatives are among those who stand to benefit from eleventh-hour deals made by House Democrats in search of enough votes to pass a sweeping climate bill.

Biofuel buzz builds around jatropha tree; backers say it beats ethanol, but some are skeptical

FORT MYERS, Fla. — What some see as the biofuel of the future starts out as short, thick stems with a few leaves sticking out at sharp angles. But in just a few years, they will be tall, leafy trees with bright green spherical pods spilling their seeds all over the ground.

Deal sends bill to slow global warming to House floor for first time; key Dems predict passage

WASHINGTON — Key Democrats reached a deal Tuesday that its supporters hope will lead to House passage of the biggest environmental bill in decades, one aimed at slowing the gradual, destructive heating of the planet.

Meltdown 101: With renewable energy push and promised federal funding, where are the jobs?

Everywhere you turn there is talk of a shift to renewable energy, of building wind farms and solar plants, of making buildings more efficient, of developing biofuels. And of billions in federal funding to help make it all happen.

National parks aim to reduce emissions from both millions of visitors and their own operations

MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Wash. — Karen Lasch and her family recently pulled over their car near a glacier-fed creek in Mount Rainier National Park, piling out for a glimpse of the snowcapped peak in the distance.

Obama officials give governors support for developing West’s untapped renewable energy

PARK CITY, Utah — Cabinet leaders in the Obama administration promised Monday to help Western states develop a robust system for delivering renewable energy.

Irish company buys 3 Illinois wind farms, encouraged by Obama push for clean energy

CHICAGO — An Irish company hoping to benefit from the Obama administration’s emphasis on renewable energy purchased three Illinois wind farms near Chicago.

Western governors say conservation, upgrades key to coping with region’s water woes

PARK CITY, Utah — It’s an old quip in the West: Whiskey’s for drinkin’ and water’s for fightin’. Only these days, there’s more people with a stake in the fight for water and a dwindling supply.

Reports: Italian police seize 10,000 tons of radioactive biomass fuel imported from Lithuania

ROME — Police across Italy have seized 10,000 tons of wood fuel pellets contaminated by a radioactive substance, news reports said Sunday.

Marine Mammal Center sees rise in sick sea critters as it unveils new $32 million hospital

FORT CRONKHITE, Calif. — A recent surge in weakened and malnourished sea lions found along the Northern California coast is mystifying scientists and keeping workers hopping at the newly expanded Marine Mammal Center here.

GOP blasts plan to limit climate-changing gases and calls for nuclear plants, oil drilling

WASHINGTON — Republicans on Saturday slammed a Democratic bill before the House that seeks to address climate change, arguing that it amounts to an energy tax on consumers.

China’s environment ministry blocks 2 hydropower projects, citing environmental concerns

BEIJING — China’s environment ministry has suspended construction of two ambitious hydropower dams in the upper Yangtze River region, saying the projects were illegal because they were started without necessary environmental assessments.

RI lawmakers debate bill creating major customer for proposed offshore wind farm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The state’s dominant electricity distributor would be forced to buy power from renewable energy producers under a deal struck Wednesday that could remove a major financial obstacle to building a windfarm off Rhode Island.

Congress falls short of addressing goals set out by Obama for greater use of renewable energy

WASHINGTON — Congress is all but abandoning President Barack Obama’s goal of producing fully one-quarter of the nation’s electricity from renewable sources — wind, solar and the like — by 2025, though a push for at least some increase is making headway.

The dying of the winds: Study hints at reduced wind speed in US, may be a problem for turbines

WASHINGTON — The wind, a favorite power source of the green energy movement, seems to be dying down across the United States. And the cause, ironically, may be global warming — the very problem wind power seeks to address.

Governors warn that unfocused energy plan and costs could stifle growth in South and elsewhere

BILOXI, Miss. — The price of electricity and fuel could rise sharply and economic growth could be stifled in the Southeast and elsewhere in the country under tax proposals being considered in Washington, several southern governors said Monday.

Europeans concerned about climate change give Greens big gains in EU parliament vote

LONDON — Polar bears have taken over screen savers. Two of the last five Nobel Peace Prizes have gone to eco-campaigners. Climate change has crept onto government agendas.

‘Smart grid’ is buzz of electric industry, Obama team; power system goes digital

WASHINGTON — Thomas Alva Edison, meet the Internet.

Power lines move into digital age; ’smart grid’ is buzz of electric industry, Obama team

WASHINGTON — Thomas Alva Edison, meet the Internet.