This is The Source for June 7, 2012, 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 JUNE 7
New Marching Orders. The House yesterday passed an amendment instructing its Transportation conferees to accept language guaranteeing an increase in the amount of highway money given to states by the federal government. The Hill reports the Senate’s current proposal would do this, increasing the guaranteed amount of gas tax money states would receive to at least 95 percent.
Home Energy Consumption Down. The latest edition of the Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) found the average American household consumes 90 million BTUs of energy a year, continuing 30-year downward trend in home energy usage.
Latin America Is Preparing, Will We Follow Suit? A study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology found Latin America is beating the United States in terms of preparing for climate change, with 95 percent of Latin America’s major cities making preparations while only 59 percent of United States cities have done so.
National and International Blue-Green
U.S. jobless claims dropped for the first time in a month last week, according to the Wall Street Journal.
CBS looks at a new report released by the United Nations which warns the world is continuing “to speed down an unsustainable path” that is pushing our environmental systems “towards their biophysical limits.”
The European Commission says Europe must soon agree on 2030 milestones in order to spur renewable energy, Reuters reports.
Honda announced the price tag for the all-electric Honda Fit Wednesday. The Washington Post has more on the car that gets 118 miles per gallon, making it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the United States.
Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. says the “EPA's rules for new coal plants strike right balance” in a piece on Hill’s Congress Blog.
Senator Chris Coons is introducing legislation today that would allow renewable energy and transmission projects to “qualify for a tax structure used widely by pipeline and other energy-related companies.” Reuters has more.
A solar-powered plane made the first every intercontinental flight Tuesday night, USA Today reports.
To the States
A new report released by scientists at Louisiana State University is warning the Gulf Coast's energy and fishing industries to take immediate steps to adapt to climate change. The Times-Picayune has more.
The Associated Press looks at why Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire and New Mexico could be the “new union battlegrounds.”
mLive.com examines the showdown coming to Michigan over union rights.
Blue-Green Links
EarthTechling: Sierra Club To Wind Power: We Really Love You
Politico: Not all fossil fuel states are turning on Obama
Fuel Fix: Oil hovers above $85 ahead of Bernanke comments
Wall Street Journal: House Republicans See Energy Bill as Jobs Bill
USA Today: LaHood: EU emissions policy 'a bad way to treat your friends'
National Geographic: Facing Tradeoffs: The Decline of Coal
Transportation Nation: Buoyed by Auto Industry, Swing State Employment Relatively Bright
Washington Post: Applying REINS to a runaway executive
Forbes: Hillary Clinton Needs A New Global Warming Travel Agent
Business Green: Cities need funding boost to tackle climate change, says CDP
New York Times Green Blog: The People’s Choice: An All-in-One, Mobile Utility Meter
Hawaii Reporter (HI): U.S. House Puts Up Red Light On Green Jobs
Times-Picayune (LA): BP oil spill disrupted microbes on Gulf Coast beaches, new research shows
MPR (MN): Wis. recall outcome emboldens Minn. Republicans on union issues
Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV): Former President Clinton to give keynote at clean energy summit
Seattle Times (WA): We must do more to accelerate solutions to climate change
Milwaukee Business Journal (WI): Teamsters' Hoffa: Wisconsin recall made labor stronger