This is The Source for August 3, 2012, green jobs news every day from the BlueGreen Alliance. Don’t forget to “tell your friends” about this great resource. You can sign uphere.
TOP THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FOR AUGUST 3
Senate moves to save American jobs. A Senate committee included an extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind and an Investment Tax Credit for offshore wind as part of a larger tax incentives bill. The BlueGreen Alliance ramped out our advocacy campaign yesterday by sending a letter to the Senate prior to the hearing urging them to include these job-creating incentives in their bill and placing a full-page advertisement calling on Congress to pass these important policies. This effort is working! But, we still have a long way to go (especially in the House). You can help support more efforts like these by clicking here.
Hiring Up but Unemployment Rate Increases. Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the July unemployment statistics, showing the economy gained 163,000 jobs but that the unemployment rate went up to 8.3 percent. Read our statement about why this announcement adds fuel to our belief that Congress need to take immediate action to create and protect American jobs.
Drought Intensifies. More than a fifth of U.S. states now rate as being in an “extreme” or “exceptional” drought.
National and International Blue-Green
The Senate Finance Committee yesterday took action to protect American jobs by voting to extend the Production Tax Credit for wind energy. In other PTC-related coverage:
- Politico: Sources Dispute Mitt Romney’s Role in Wind Credit Cut
- USA Today: Top Iowans, Romney at odds on subsidy for wind power
- Radio Iowa: Branstad says Romney “needs to be educated” about importance of wind energy (audio)
- Huffington Post: Romney Wind Energy Pollster Serves On Pro-Romney Super PACs
- GreenTech Media: Candidate Romney’s Energy Plan Revisited
Transportation jobs increased by 163,000 jobs last month, according to The Hill.
E&E News says, despite a “historic committee vote,” it is uncertain if TSCA reform efforts will move to the floor.
£2.5 million has been raised for “the world’s biggest crowd-sourced solar farm.” CleanTechnica has more about the 21,000-panel project located in south-central England.
TIME says will.i.am has teamed up with Coca-Cola to make “high-end recycled products” cool.
Facebook has revealed its carbon footprint. The Guardian has more.
GM’s profits dropped by 41 percent in 2012’s second quarter, according to the New York Times.
UPI.com takes a look at “Clean Energy Under Siege: Following the Money Trail Behind the Attack on Renewable Energy," a study by the Sierra Club — a BlueGreen Alliance partner.
To the States
The BlueGreen Alliance Foundation’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Center will be holding wind supply chain workshops in Maine and North Carolina to discuss opportunities for manufacturers to join the wind industry. offshoreWIND.biz has more.
The Journal of Commerce says the Port of Los Angeles’ pollution reduction efforts are paying off.
A new report found some of New York City’s “largest buildings… [use] up to five times as much electricity, natural gas, heating oil and steam as others of comparable size or purpose.” The New York Times looks at the reports finding that “there is ample room for improvement.”
Blue-Green Links
Politico: House passes drought, disaster aid
CleanTechnica: Fuel Efficiency Driving America Toward a Sustainable Environment (and Economy)
Hill: Union applauds Senate committee approval of commuter tax benefit
Huffington Post: Is Clean Energy Doomed If President Obama Is Not Re-Elected?
Politico: Two tales about TIGER grants
Plain Dealer: GE Lighting introduces fully dimmable compact fluorescent bulb
Pioneer Press: 3M's new LED lightbulb designed to burn for 25 years
National Catholic Reporter: Climate change articles see crisis as moral issue
Hill: Democrats fight GOP report on Solyndra, ask how much investigation cost
Hill: Dem lawmaker proposes carbon tax legislation
Hill: Murkowski, Wyden plan Alaska visit with energy gavel uncertain
New York Times: Big Drought Makes for a Small ‘Dead Zone’
CBS News: Ex-official: Chemical plants security at risk
Miami Herald (FL): We need to act urgently on global warming
E&E News (IA): Lack of deaths from epic Iowa flood traced to training for power plant accident -- report
Salt Lake Tribune (UT): Utah battery innovators get $5 million in federal grants