U.S. brings diplomacy to politics of energy

The State Department is creating a bureau to focus exclusively on energy, a sign of the growing importance of energy issues to U.S. foreign policy and national security.

The new Bureau of Energy Resources, which opens shop Wednesday, is designed to help shore up stable supplies of affordable energy for the U.S. and avoid crippling effects of supply shocks and disruptions.

Positive growth in the clean energy industry, while nuclear future remains unsure

Good news for the clean energy industry -- the U.S. State Department announced today it plans to cut its GHG emissions by 30% (from 2008 levels) within the next year. This goal is particularly ambitious as compared to U.S. commitment to reduce its emissions 17% by 2020 in the United Nation's Copenhagen Accord. The Department hopes to serve as a model to other agencies, demonstrating a cost effective partnership between the public and private sector which will spur job growth in the clean energy industry. The patnership is with Constellation Energy, which currently plans into a tapping a $50 million solar project in New Jersey to provide the Department's power.