On the BP Spill Anniversary -- Has anything changed for clean energy?

On the anniversary of the BP oil spill, cleantechies can take a look back at the progress made in the last year to take steps away from oil and instead toward a renewable energy future.

Despite clean up efforts that are still on-going in the Gulf, a Republican congress continues to push to expand offshore drilling. Obama's energy security speech on March 30 does gives some confidence to renewable energy supporters who wish to overcome this legislative barrier.

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.

CA groundbreaking climate law put on hold

A San Francisco superior court judge has put California's sweeping plan to curb greenhouse gas pollution on hold, saying the state did not adequately evaluate alternatives to its cap-and-trade program.

In a 35-page decision, Judge Ernest H. Goldsmith said the Air Resources Board had failed to consider public comments on the proposed measures before adopting the plan, which affects a broad swath of the state's economy.

New legal resource for cleantech professionals

Cleantech Law Partners and CleanTechies announced today a new online service that addresses some of the most pressing legal and policy issues cleantech and renewable energy professionals are facing.