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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Giuliani opposes Congressional fuel economy deal
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Joseph Romm |
09 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| In a revealing interview on Meet the Press today, GOP Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said he does not support the mandated increase to 35-mpg that both the House and Senate -- and I believe even the president -- support. To quote Rudy: "That isn't the way I think it should be done." What is his alternative strategy? Politically, as readers know, only one other alternative strategy exists: "technology, technology, technology, blah, blah, b ... |
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| Topics: elections, energy, fuel efficiency, legislation, politics, presidential race 08, Rudy Giuliani (all these topics) |
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Why do they hate FreedomCar?
French government charges fees to new owners of gas-guzzling vehicles |
Clark Williams-Derry |
09 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| France is supercharging vehicle efficiency -- not by doling out big R&D subsidies for cars that never make it to market, but by instituting a system of efficiency feebates. In a nutshell: the French ministry of ecology has announced a program that would require purchasers of new gas guzzlers (luxury Mercedes, for example) to pay an extra fee for the privilege. That money is rebated to people who buy super-efficient cars. If it's done right, the system ... |
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| Topics: cars, France, fuel efficiency (all these topics) |
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Thumbs up for Pelosi, Dingell, Nissan
Thumbs down for Toyota, GM, Ford, Washington Post |
Joseph Romm |
07 Dec 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The Washington Post had an article yesterday on the House fuel economy deal that is quite good in doling out cheers and jeers -- good except for two sentences. Let's start with the cheers. The article quotes NRDC rightly praising Pelosi for being steadfast with the Senate's 35 mpg target and Dingell, too, for: ... telling the automakers a year ago that they were going to have to accept a mileage improvement. He bargained hard for trying to make it less, but he d ... |
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| Topics: business, cars, energy, fuel efficiency, legislation, politics (all these topics) |
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Congressional fuel-economy deal near
A possible compromise in energy legislation negotiations |
Joseph Romm |
27 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The Detroit Free Press reports: Congressional negotiators are close to agreement on an increase in fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, with some caveats to satisfy U.S. automakers. What caveats? The compromise would preserve the distinction between cars and trucks, something Detroit automakers have fought for, while giving federal regulators strict limits on how to put the increases into place. It also would include a provision backed by ... |
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| Topics: legislation, cars, fuel efficiency, energy, politics (all these topics) |
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We Love It When This Happens!
Bush administration's fuel-economy regs for bigger vehicles smacked down |
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15 Nov 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 5:50 PM on 15 Nov 2007 A federal appeals court has rejected the Bush administration's fuel-economy regulations for 2008-2011 model light trucks and SUVs. In the scathing tone that the Bushies are becoming quite familiar with, the judges declared that the regulations did not consider the economic impact of vehicle emissions' contribution to climate change, and ordered the Transportati ... |
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| Topics: Big Auto, Department of Transportation, fuel efficiency, litigation, news, politics, progress (all these topics) |
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Heeeyy, Tahoooe
Hybrid Chevy Tahoe wins |
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15 Nov 2007 |
News |
| "Green Car of the Year" award Posted at 1:02 PM on 15 Nov 2007 The Green Car Journal has awarded the "Green Car of the Year" prize to ... drumroll please ... the hybrid Chevy Tahoe. An eight-passenger SUV not yet on sale? Whaaa? "People don't think green when SUVs are concerned and for generally good reason, since SUVS often get poor fuel economy," says Green Car publisher Ron Cogan. "Chevrolet's Tahoe Hybrid changes thi ... |
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| Topics: cars, electric vehicles, fuel efficiency, hybrids, news (all these topics) |
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Honk if You Love Hypocrisy
Big Auto unveils efficient cars, continues to fight against strict efficiency standards |
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14 Nov 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 1:28 PM on 14 Nov 2007 When the L.A. auto show opens to the public on Friday, automakers will flaunt hydrogen cars, super-efficient engines, electric vehicles, and hybrid SUVs -- leading some to wonder at the disconnect between car manufacturers' public-facing "green" ambitions and their vocal opposition to a significant increase in federal fuel-economy standard ... |
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| Topics: Big Auto, business, cars, fuel efficiency, greenwashing, Los Angeles, news (all these topics) |
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Lurching along on $100/barrel oil
Why we're not conserving like it's 1980 |
Tom Philpott |
07 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| On Tuesday, the price of oil set yet another all-time nominal high, leaping above $97/barrel. More importantly, it has just about reached its all-time inflation-adjusted high, reached amid the turmoil of the Iran hostage situation way back in 1980, the Associated Press reports: Crude prices are within the range of inflation-adjusted highs set in early 1980. Depending on the how the adjustment is calculated, $38 a barrel then would be worth $96 to $103 or more today. ... |
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| Topics: energy, fuel efficiency, oil (all these topics) |
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'Mideast Oil Forever?': Part III
Abandoning the solution |
Joseph Romm |
04 Nov 2007 |
Gristmill |
| After the introduction and an explanation of 'The Coming Oil Crisis,' the next part of 'MidEast Oil Forever?' (subs. req'd) begins the discussion of the technology-based solution -- and how the Congress is working to block it. Yes, long before Shellenberger & Nordhaus claim to have pioneered the positive technology message that everyone else supposedly never tried, many of us were waging a public death-match (without their help) to save those technologies -- espe ... |
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| Topics: biofuels, cars, energy, fuel efficiency, hydrogen, oil (all these topics) |
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The 'Nissan bloc'
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David Roberts |
30 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Xenophobia rears its ugly head in the CAFE debate. |
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| Topics: cars, climate, energy, fuel efficiency, politics (all these topics) |
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Here to stay
Why I don't agree with James Kunstler about peak oil and the 'end of suburbia' |
Joseph Romm |
29 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| The remarkably low fueling cost of the best current hybrids (like the Toyota Prius) and future plug-in hybrids are major reasons I don't worry as much about peak oil as some do. James Kunstler, for instance, argues in his 2005 book The Long Emergency (see Rolling Stone excerpt here) that after oil production peaks, suburbia 'will become untenable' and 'we will have to say farewell to easy motoring.' In Rolling Stone, Kunstler writes, 'Suburbia will come to be reg ... |
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| Topics: cars, fuel efficiency, energy, oil, hybrids (all these topics) |
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CAFE: Still possible
Citigroup finds Senate fuel efficiency targets attainable |
David Roberts |
25 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Financial giant Citigroup recently analyzed the question of whether the CAFE fuel-efficiency targets in the Senate energy bill are possible for the automakers to meet. Its finding: Yes, they are "tough but attainable" (sub rqd), and might even prove a net financial benefit. Said Rep. Ed Markey: "When you have the world's number one bank, which has financial ties to many major automakers, saying fuel economy standards are a good economic play, it dri ... |
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| Topics: fuel efficiency, energy, Big Auto (all these topics) |
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Ad of the day
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David Roberts |
19 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Click image for more info: |
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| Topics: energy, fuel efficiency, legislation, politics (all these topics) |
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To CAFE or not to CAFE
The CAFE standards vs. carbon tax debate is more complicated than we imagine |
Ryan Avent |
12 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| One of the most frustrating aspects of the climate debate has to be the fact that just about every informed pundit, across the ideological spectrum, agrees that a carbon tax would be an outstanding way to reduce carbon emissions -- and yet no one considers such a tax politically feasible. One might suggest that if pundits weren't constantly qualifying their support for a carbon tax with lamentations about its political impossibility, political support might be more forthc ... |
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| Topics: carbon tax, climate, fuel efficiency, legislation, politics (all these topics) |
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Discover Brilliant Q&A: Bill Williams of Zenn Motors
A chat with Zenn about NEVs and EEstor |
David Roberts |
04 Oct 2007 |
Gristmill |
| I talked to a few people at Discover Brilliant. I'll be getting Q&As up over the coming weeks. Bill Williams is the California sales director for Zenn Motor Co., maker of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs). In addition to selling one of the most full-featured NEVs, Zenn has an exclusive contract with a tight-lipped and somewhat mysterious company called EEstor. EEstor claims it's making an ultracapacitor that will so far outperform previous capacitors tha ... |
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| Topics: business, cars, electric vehicles, energy, fuel efficiency, hybrids, interview (all these topics) |
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Well, Where Else Are They Going to Get Them?
Feds apologize for encouraging employees to buy fuel-efficient Japanese cars |
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21 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:47 PM on 21 Sep 2007 A Bush administration official has apologized for encouraging government employees to consider buying fuel-efficient Japanese cars. Which is why we have a "dumbassery" tag. source: Associated Press From the Archives Electronic Boogie. Greenpeace releases another ranking of tech companies' environmental rec ... |
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| Topics: cars, dumbassery , fuel efficiency, news, politics (all these topics) |
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On the Ball: Wild ride
Freelance writer embarks on biodiesel tour of sporting events |
Sarah K. Burkhalter |
14 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Freelance sports writer Joe Connor is embarking this fall on a four-month-long Green Power Sports Tour (holy neon website!), visiting more than 100 football, hockey, and basketball venues -- in a biodiesel car, natch. Hey ladies ... he's self-described 'very, very single' ... |
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| Topics: biofuels, cars, energy, fuel efficiency, sports (all these topics) |
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Kites for cargo
Creative use of wind saves cargo vessels fuel |
Erik Hoffner |
12 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| While sailing ships are unlikely to make a comeback anytime soon for oceanic shipping, adding sails to fossil-powered cargo vessels is definitely "on the horizon." This not-new idea is now compatible with the needs of shipping companies, and the savings make both climatic and economic sense: By using the SkySails-System, a ship's fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average, depending on wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consump ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, fuel efficiency, wind power (all these topics) |
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Sass Is in Sessions
Judge rules against Big Auto, says states can regulate emissions from cars |
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12 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 11:11 AM on 12 Sep 2007 States should be allowed to restrict greenhouse-gas emissions from cars, and Big Auto should just deal, a federal judge ruled today. Right now, the only real way to curb the emissions is to improve gas mileage; when Vermont decided to adopt California's strict emissions rules, automakers sued, claiming that the state was illegally regulating fuel economy -- and that ma ... |
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| Topics: Big Auto, cars, climate, energy, fuel efficiency, greenhouse-gas emissions, litigation, news, politics, regulation, state politics, Vermont (all these topics) |
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Stick It To 'Em
Vehicles sold in the U.S. will be outfitted with fuel-economy stickers |
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06 Sep 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 5:01 PM on 06 Sep 2007 This is spiffy: all U.S.-sold cars, trucks, and SUVs manufactured after Sept. 1 will feature a window sticker that announces the vehicle's expected miles per gallon, estimated annual fuel cost, and fuel economy compared to similar vehicles. Which will just make it all the more apparent that performance always trumps size. source: The Daily Green From ... |
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| Topics: cars, energy, fuel efficiency, news, placemaking (all these topics) |
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Letter from Tom Gage
Consumer Reports hypes hydrogen cars |
Joseph Romm |
04 Sep 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Consumer Reports has a fluff piece on hydrogen fuel cell cars in its latest issue (subs. req'd). I spend way too much time debunking this most consumer unfriendly of alternative fuel vehicles -- I even wrote a book on the subject, The Hype About Hydrogen. So I was happy to get an email from Tom Gage, President and CEO of AC Propulsion, containing a letter he sent to the magazine. I asked him if I could run it, and he not only said yes, he expanded it: Dear Editor, ... |
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| Topics: cars, energy, fuel efficiency, hydrogen (all these topics) |
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Unlikely to Go Over Well With the Hummer Crowd
John Edwards encourages Americans to give up SUVs |
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30 Aug 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 4:29 PM on 30 Aug 2007 John Edwards told a labor group that if he were president, he would encourage Americans to give up their SUVs. Ballsy! From the Archives Arsenic and a New Case. Drinking water across the globe contaminated by arsenic, says research. Oh, Brother. China's one-child policy reduces population, helps climate. Agribusiness As Usual. Huge organic d ... |
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| Topics: fuel efficiency, John Edwards, news, politics, presidential race 08 (all these topics) |
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Lovely Nissan, Meter Made
Nissan to install fuel-efficiency gauge in all its models |
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22 Aug 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Lovely Nissan, Meter Made Nissan to install fuel-efficiency gauge in all its models Automaker Nissan announced plans yesterday to install a gauge in all its vehicles that estimates fuel-efficiency to let drivers know how their driving habits affect gas mileage. The gauge already appears in some of Nissan's newest luxury cars, but its plan to eventually showcase the efficiency meter in every model has drawn praise ... |
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| Topics: Big Auto, business, fuel efficiency, news (all these topics) |
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Idle oughts
We still heart Rocky Anderson |
Kate Sheppard |
15 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Rocky Anderson is in the news again, reminding us why we all love him. Now he's taking on idling autos, calling for city-owned vehicles and personal vehicles on city business to limit their idling to five minutes, except in emergency situations. Fifty percent of air pollution in Utah comes from cars and trucks, and Rocky wants the city to do their part in cutting down on the smog-creating emissions. His environmental adviser, Jordan Gates, says this latest executi ... |
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| Topics: cars, energy, fuel efficiency, placemaking, politics, Utah (all these topics) |
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Engines could easily gulp less gas
MIT lab rats cook up a less wasteful gasoline engine |
Elsa Mary |
03 Aug 2007 |
Gristmill |
| Don't hum the requiem for the gasoline engine just yet. MIT brainiacs say it's easier than imagined to flip a car between the usual gas-guzzling state to a low-pollution, ultra-efficient mode. The researchers have tested a system that can run on a quarter less than the usual amount of gas without needing any fancy fuel. With the flick of a switch, the setup alternates between regular, spark-triggered combustion and experimental homogeneous charge compression ignitio ... |
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| Topics: cars, energy, fuel efficiency, green living, oil, placemaking (all these topics) |
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