This is The Source for Thursday, January 17, 2013, green jobs news every day from the BlueGreen Alliance. Don’t forget to “tell your friends” about this great resource. You can sign up here.
TOP THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW FOR JANUARY 17
Drought to Continue. Forecasters are predicting another dry year in the Midwest and Great Plains, meaning a second year of drought for area farmers and crops.
Flowers Are Lovely But… A research team determined flowers appeared in the eastern United States at an earlier point in 2010 and 2012 than ever in record history. To be exact, they determined spring-flowering plants appear “4.1 days earlier for every 1 degree Celsius rise in average spring temperatures, which translates to 2.3 days for every 1 degree Fahrenheit.”
We’re Losing. The European Investment Bank arranged $2.16 billion of loans for clean energy projects in 2012. According to a ranking done by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, this investment puts the European Investment Bank in the lead in the clean energy-financing race. They’re followed by Brazil, and the United States is far behind (we weren’t event in the top 20).
National and International Blue-Green
According to a headline on E&E News, “House passes disaster funding, but future challenges loom.”
A new study found America’s levees are in need of repair, the Associated Press reports.
While the National Journal says Congress is feeling “heat on the idea of a carbon tax,” the Hill takes a look at a House resolutionin opposition to the idea.
USA Today says new study found protected bicycle lanes help cities economically.
Representative Bill Shuster announced who will be chairing the House’s Transportation and Infrastructuresix subcommittees. The Hill has the names.
A post on GreenTech Media asks, “Why is net metering under attack?”
Could aviation biofuels be the next green industry? E&E News says several energy companies are hoping soon.
To the States
Bob King, the head of the United Auto Workers, believes Michigan’s right-to-work law will be overturned, CBS Detroit reports.
Nyack-Piermont Patch has information about Andrew Cuomo’s plan for the development of “better, greener technology” in New York.
The man who was the superintendent at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine when the 2010 explosion that killed 29 miners occured is set to be sentenced today. The Wall Street Journal has more.
NJ Spotlight stopped by the New Jersey Green Summit yesterday where participants discussed how integrated communication technologies can help decrease the state’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Blue-Green Links
Washington Post: Salazar departure leaves ‘green’ posts vacant
Bloomberg: U.S. Industrial Production Rises 0.3% on Equipment Demand
GreenTech Media: PTC in Place, The US Wind Industry Looks Ahead
CleanTechnica: Army Gets Biggest Ever Solar Array, Largest of Its Kind in World
Huffington Post: As the Climate Goes, So Goes the Economy
Christian Science Monitor: Clean energy: a 'politically popular' solution to climate change
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Feds withdraw new furnace efficiency standards
Crain’s Chicago Business: Cap and trade needs an update in the Midwest
Wall Street Journal (India): World’s Biggest Holy Gathering Aims Green
Detroit Free Press (MI): State of the State: Snyder proposes change in gas tax; vehicle registration fees could rise
Associated Press (VA): Repeal of Va. renewable energy incentives proposed