Center Meets Environmentalists From China

Center President Norris McDonald met with environmentalists and other officials from China at a China Environment Forum sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. McDonald is pictured at left with Wu Deng Ming, President of The Green Volunteer League of Chongqing. He was an excellent panelist along with those listed below.

The forum was organized by the American Bar Association in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson Center. Panelists included. Guan Li- Judge First Court of Civil Trial, Supreme People's Court in Beijing; Guo Qing- Environment Monitoring Bureau of East China under the Sate Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA); Peng Bin- Center for Education and Communications within the Guizhou Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau; Qi Yuehan- Director, Regulation and Public Education Division, Xi'an City Environmental Protection Bureau; Sun Xiaomei- Personnel Supervision Division of Shenyang City Environmental Protection Bureau; Sun Zhenshi-Environmental Monitoring Bureau with SEPA; Tang Shaohua-Researcher at the Pollution Control Division of Wuhan City Environmental Protection Bureau; Wang Song-Assistant Engineer, Policy and Regulation Division, Shenyang Environmental Protection Bureau; Xia Jun- Lawyer in the Environmental Resources Division of Beijing Zhongzi Law Firm.

CENTER TRIP TO CHINA

The Fantastic Five of Coal-To-Liquids (CTL) in Congress

The Fantastic Five of coal-to-liquids in Congress include (coal state production status):

1) Nick Rahall (West Virginia, 2nd)
2) Rick Boucher (Virginia, 12th)
3) Mike Enzi (Wyoming, 1st)
4) Jim Bunning (Kentucky, 3rd)
5) Barack Obama (Illinois, 9th)

Mainstream green organizations love Congressman Rahall and Senator Obama, but hate their support of coal-to-liquids. CTL converts coal into diesel fuel. CTL producers should be required to finance nuclear plants, solar power and wind turbines as carbon dioxide offsets. The Center's proposal also complements Senator Obama's 'clarification' of his CTL support: Senator Obama will not support the development of any coal-to-liquid fuels unless they emit at least 20 percent less life-cycle carbon than conventional fuels.

The Center supports CTL based on national security and believes such production should be directed primarily to and for the military. Coal is the fuel for 52% of the electricity production in the USA.

Lost in Space: Warning Will Robinson, Energy Legislation

We agree with energy legislation to increase fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon for cars from the current requirement of 27.5.

Proposals to burden utility companies with a requirement to get 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources is a prescription for disaster. All wind and solar sources will have to be backed up by conventional sources. So ratepayers will get less for more money. Ratepayers are already suffering from rate shock from the adjustments now being made from deregulation that was botched by government meddling.

We disagree with banning new coal-fired power plants unless they capture and sequester their carbon dioxide emissions. We should not legislate such a requirement until infrastructure is in place by the nation to deal with the carbon dioxide problem. This includes a nationwide carbon dioxide pipeline system that will transport the gas to subterranean locations. Utilities and ratepayers should also be protected from unforeseen consequences of sequestering carbon dioxide. Placing unreasonable reqirements that utilities cannot meet will lead to litigation and not greenhouse gas reductions.

Clean Coal Technology Involves More Than Plant & Fuel

Sequestration and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) are being touted as solutions to reducing the carbon footprint of coal-fired electric power plants. This combination is the new mantra of politicians much as the 'wind and solar' combination is the mantra of traditional environmentalists. But saying it will not get us there. There are some pratical engineering steps that will need to be addressed by the public before sequestration and IGCC can become reality.

First there must be a nationwide pipeline that can transport carbon dioxide to various underground storage areas. Of course Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) advocates work to prevent almost every proposed development project, particularly high-powered electricity line and natural gas pipelines. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has given the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to override state authority in the national interest, but it is yet to be proven that this new law will be effective in this regard.

The volume of gases being sequestered must also be reduced. Since nitrogen makes up almost 80 percent of that volume it must be removed, to the largest extent practicable, from the stack gases. To the extent practicable oxygen should be the exclusive gas in the firebox. By using an almost pure oxygen feed into the firebox a pure stream of carbon dioxide will be created in the flue gas. Where will this oxygen come from and how will it be economically produced? From the hydrolysis process used to separate hydrogen and oxygen in water. As we move towards a hydrogen economy the oxygen produced from hydrolysis can be in the other pipe heading back to the power plant next to the carbon dioxide pipeline going to geological stoarage areas. Significantly reducing the volume of nitrogen in the sequestration stream will provide more capacity in the valuable subterranean storage areas. The higher oxygen content as a feed gas should also increase the efficiency of the burn, particularly in supercritical boilers.

Finally, some sort of 'hold-harmless' provision (byond limited liability) will have to be assigned to sequestration companies and the federal government should assume liability for unforeseen consequences of sequestration. After all, it is the public that is demanding more and more electricity in a global warming world 24-7-365.

Space Shuttle Atlantis Flight June 9 - Juneteenth

Launch Video Player

Center VP To Meet With Asian Development Bank

Center Vice President Derry Bigby will meet with officials from the Asian Development Bank at their headquarters in Manila, Phillipines to discuss including nuclear power as a carbon dioxide emission reduction allowance under their greenhouse gas trading program. The Center was the first environmental group in the U.S. to publicly support the use of nuclear energy as a clean source of power for developed as well as developing countries. The Center is now working to get nuclear power included as a legitimate allowance in greenhouse gas trading programs through our Green Carbon Bank and Carbon Mercantile Exchange.

ADB is currently reviewing its energy strategy. The Associated Press reported that the Asian Development Bank is interested in moving to embrace nuclear energy as a green power source for rapidly expanding Asia. There appears to be some opposition in the bank to adopting nuclear power as an allowance option. The Center hopes to positively influence their decision on this important and clean energy source that can help in mitigating the effects of global warming.

Bigby, pictured above at the People's Congress in Beijing, and Center President Norris McDonald returned from China and Hong Kong last month where they experienced first hand the extremely polluted state of the environment there. As an organization that believes it is critical that Asia develops nuclear energy, the Center is encouraging the bank to support continued development of Asia in a way that does not compromise the health of its people .

Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming Dies

Senator Craig Thomas, right, died on June 4 after a long fight against acute myeloid leukemia. Senator Thomas was 74 and died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Senator Thomas was reelected last year with 70 percent of the vote.

Senator Thomas served on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee and the Agriculture and Nutrition and Forestry Committees. He was a leader on rural issues and restoring the nation's parks, including Wyoming's Yellowstone. He also had a fine and consistent conservative voting record.

EPA, Army Corps Wetlands Guidance Re Supreme Court

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued joint guidance for their field offices to ensure America's wetlands andother water bodies are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The guidance clarifies those circumstances wherea person may need to obtain a CWA Section 404 permit before conducting activities in wetlands, tributaries, and other waters.

The guidance is consistent with the Supreme Court's decision in the consolidated cases Rapanos v. United States and Carabell v. United States regarding the scope of the agencies' jurisdiction under the CWA. Specifically, this guidance discusses the agencies' protection of three classes of waters through the following actions:

1) Continuing to regulate "traditionally navigable waters," including all rivers and other waters that are large enough to be used by boats that transport commerce and any wetlands adjacent to such waters;
2) Continuing to regulate "non-navigable tributaries that are relatively permanent and wetlands that are physically connected to these tributaries"; and
3) Continuing to regulate based on case-by-case determinations for other tributaries and adjacent wetlands that have certain characteristics that significantly affect traditionally navigable waters.

The guidance supports a strong regulatory program that ensures no netloss of wetlands, which is one of three key elements to the BushAdministration wetlands policy. The other two elements include an active management program that will result in the restoration, enhancement and protection of three million acres of wetlands by 2009 and a commitment to conserve isolated wetlands such as prairie potholes. More information.

G-8: China, United States, India & Global Warming

China, India and the U.S. all issued global warming proposals in anticipation of intense discussions of the G-8 Summit meeting this week. All of the plans have been dismissed by critics as posturing for the summit. One thing is certain: commerce is king in the global warming world. Hydrocarbon fuels are the queen. India and China make a good point that alsthough they will be huge contributors to the global warming problem, they did not create it. The industrialized countries have caused global warming in order to become prosperous. China and India want the same prosperity and nothing will stand in their way of pursuing it. Also see Wash Post article on China plan.

USA Climate Change Plan

China Climate Change Plan

India Climate Change Plan

China and India are signatories to the Kyoto Protocol but because they are labeled as a developing countries, they are excluded from the emissions caps. Labeling China as a developing nation is ridiculous. China is ahead of the USA in many areas.

China & Nuclear Power: Center Staff Visits Daya Bay

Derry Bigby, VP, Zhang Xiaoping, China Office Director, & Norris McDonald, President

The Washington Post ran an article today that mirrored the Center's trip to China last month where we tourned the facilities described in the article. The most interesting thing about the article is the quote from China's leading university, Tsinghua University, where they stated that China would need 300 new nuclear power plants by 2050. We suggested 400 plants when we visited with them and they were amazed that we were recommending such a high number. Yet they quoted 300 when interviewed by the Post. The Center is already making a big difference in China.

Our trip is described at this link and it was inspiring. We believe that nuclear power will be aggressively pursued in China and that is why we went. We felt that the schedule was not aggressive enough and we traveled to China to encourage a faster building schedule. The more immediate danger for China is ground level air pollution. It is palpable in the urban and rural areas. Moreover, many Chinese people still smoke. The Center is committed to reducing the clear suffering the Chinese people will endure if ground level air pollution is not reduced. Nuclear power is a big part of that solution. We are promoting plug-in, fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles as the other solution to air pollution. We also toured a coal-fired chemical manufacturing facility and we are promoting the installation of scrubbers on coal plants.

CENTER TRIP TO CHINA

China's Wu Yi Meets With Geroge Bush In Oval Office

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, left, met with President Bush in the Oval Office at the White House this week to discuss trade and Yuan policies. The United States has a $223 billion trade deficit with China. China and the USA agreed to increase air traffic between the two countries and to allow more access for American financial institutions into China. Ms. Wu was accompanied by 16 cabinet ministers and other top Chinese officials.

The Center believes that China and the USA should be having similar meeting to develop a framework for a Kyoto-type treaty (Kyoto II). Maybe the new treaty could be called the Beijing Protocol. The two countries are the top greenhouse gas produces in the world. Any agreement would probably be based on technology instead of arbitrary caps. We support a combination of nuclear power and plug-in fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles to mitigate global warming.

Coal WILL Be Part of America's Energy Future

Coal produces 50 percent of America's electricity. That percentage will probably not change much in the next 50 years or longer. Our modern life is powered by coal. America's vitality comes from a mix of energy sources and energy should be provided to Americans at reasonable prices. Competition should keep prices competitive.

Clean coal technologies and low-sulfur coal can continue to provide reliable, affordable electricity. State-of-the-art equipment and new treatments can be used by power plants to further reduce emissions. Super critical boilers and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology offer the potential for new coal-fired plants and retrofits to achieve gas-fired emissions with higher efficiency levels.

Coal-Gasification converts coal to natural gas or hydrogen to help feed our energy hungry country. In the United States, natural gas reserves are increasingly difficult to reach and coal is plentiful. Converting coal to gas can help alleviate supply constraints and reduce energy costs. The U.S. Department of Energy’s hydrogen from coal research plan seeks a pilot plant by 2015 and the technology to alleviate transportation, cost and storage barriers to a hydrogen economy. Coal-Liquefaction converts coal into liquid fuels, such as diesel, gasoline, jet fuel and heating oil. America has more proven coal reserves than Saudi Arabia has oil. Maximizing the use of our vast coal supply means less dependence on foreign fuel.

Time Machine: 1989 International Waste Trade Protest

We have occasionally taken it to the streets. We joined with Greenpeace back in the 1980s on many projects. On one particular day we participated in a protest rally and march against American Cyanimide's production and dumping of mercury waste in South Africa. The security force looked pretty fierce, but everything turned out okay. Peter Bahouth was president of Greenpeace, USA at the time. Try to stay with the video until the end because the action starts after the rally. We added the soundtrack.

U.S. & China Meet On Energy & Environment

Members of the President Bush's cabinet joined their Chinese government counterparts to discuss priority initiatives for energy and environmental cooperation. The discussions took place as part of theU.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) talks being held this week. Through the SED process, the U.S. hopes to share with China experience in formulating and implementing policies and initiatives that protect the environment while promoting economic growth.

The U.S. discussed four areas for environmental collaboration with theChinese.

1) The U.S. and China will work to develop up to 15 large-scale Coal-Mine Methane capture and utilization projects in China over the next 5 years. Methane is roughly 20 times more potent than carbondioxide as a greenhouse gas. Capturing methane creates a commodity that provides clean energy and increases mine safety.

2) The U.S. and China will work to advance development of a low sulfur fuel policy for China. Currently, China suffers from significant airpollution stemming from cars and trucks. Deploying low sulfur fuels in combination with new clean vehicle technologies will lead to major improvements in air quality.

3) Before the next session of the SED, the U.S. and China will complete the Joint Economic Study to evaluate different policy approaches for saving energy and controlling emissions from the Chinese and U.S. power sectors. Once completed, the study can be used by China and the U.S. to enhance the effectiveness of energy and environmental policies by providing information about the costs and benefits of different control strategies.

4) The U.S. and China will implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy efficiency product endorsement labeling.The initiative strengthens the partnership between the successful EnergyStar program and the China Standard Certification Center's labeling program. Activities under the MOU will build capacity for voluntary energy-efficiency endorsement labeling in China and explore labeling harmonization between the U.S. and China.

More information about U.S./China collaboration on clean air and energy projects: http://www.blogger.com/

U.S. EPA Creates New Chinese Web Site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has created a new Chinese-language Web site to compile EPA Chinese-language materials on a wide variety of issues from lead poisoning prevention, energy efficiency, and clean water to proper management of pesticides.>>The site also serves as a tool in delivering health and environmental information to the Chinese-speaking community, both here in the U.S. and worldwide, to help protect local communities as well as the global environment. Chinese is the third most widely-spoken language in the U.S., after English and Spanish.

The new web site should also enhance environmental cooperation between the U.S. and China. EPA has a good program of cooperation with several Chinese governmental bodies to address threats to human health and the environment, including initiatives on air pollution, water pollution, and management of hazardous waste and toxic substances. EPA also collaborates with China on research, policy development, and buildup of environmental enforcement capability. (View EPA Chinese Site)

Cerberus Acquires Chrysler: Dog, 3 Heads, Snake Tails

Cerberus is a three-headed hound from Hell, in Greek mythology. Cerberus Capital Management is a private equity firm that has just purchased Daimler-Chrysler. The Greek Cerberus hound also has a snake for a tail. Wall Street Cerberus has three tales too: 1) 80.1% stake in Chrysler Group from Daimler-Chrysler, 2) Chrysler lending arm - Chrysler Financial, which already owns 51% of GMAC Financial Services - the former financing arm of General Motors Corp, and 3) 11% market share in auto loans.

Oh yeah - the purchase price was $7.4 billion. The price for Daimler to divorce Chrysler was $677 in cash and shedding $18 billion in health and pension liabilities. Now Daimler is Damiler again, and as in many divorces they probably wish they had never bought Chrysler. And the really big questions: Will this lead to a car that people want to buy that will reduce our dependence on imported oil and reduce smog and global warming.

Asian Development Bank Could Accept Nuclear Power

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) may include nuclear power in its carbon dioxide offset trading program. According to published reports, WooChong Um, ADB Director of Energy, has stated that ADM might end its rejection of nuclear power as a green power source. The ADB is under increased pressure to promote alternatives to the fossil fuels that cause global warming.

Te ADB is considering the use of nuclear power under a new energy policy to be adopted later this year. The ADB has not advocated nuclear power out of concerns for safety and conversion to weapons use. It is good that the ADM is debating the issue internally. If they approve the change, then nuclear power might be included in Kyoto Protocol II.

Center Vice President Derry Bigby will be traveling to Manila, Phillipines in June to meet with ADM officials at their headquarters to promote the adoption of nuclear power as a carbon dioxide offset. (International Herald Tribune)

Electric Fuel Cell Technology Comes To Capitol Hill

The US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) sponsored its 7th Annual Congressional Fuel Cell Expo on May 15, 2007 in the Cannon Caucus Room in the Cannon House Office Building. Twenty-four exhibitors displayed their fuel cell products that included a variety of portable, stationary, micro and automotive apolications. Center President Norris McDonald is pictured at right with a GM fuel cell vehicle that was parked between the Cannon and Longworth Hosue Office Buildings. Many people drove and rode in the two demonstration vehicles.

The US Fuel Cell Council is the trade association of the fuel cell industry. The membership includes producers of all types of fuel cells, major suppliers, automakers, universities, fuel cell customers, hydrogen suppliers, government entities and national laboratories, other associations and many others. Formed in 1998, the US Fuel Cell Council has approximately 115 members. The USFCC leads and participates in a wide variety of activities for the fuel cell industry.

President's Executive Order on Energy Security & Climate Change

President Bush signed an Executive Order on Energy Security and Climate Change directing EPA, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture to coordinate on the development of possible regulatory actions to address the emissions from mobile sources that contribute to global climate change. The Bush Administration is taking the first regulatory step to address greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

On April 2, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Massachusetts v. EPA that the Clean Air Act provided EPA the statutory authority to regulate greenhouse emissions from new vehicles if EPA determines whether such emissions endanger public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act.

While the President’s “Twenty in Ten” plan, which would increase the supply of renewable and alternative fuel and reform the CAFE standards, will serve as a guide, EPA has not reached any conclusions about what any final rule will look like. By federal law, EPA must follow a specific process and take several steps before issuing a final regulation.

Center Connects China & CEQ on Pebble Bed Modular Reactor

Norris McDonald, Dr. Yujie Dong, Landon Van Dyke

The Center arranged for the director of China's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) Program to brief staff at TheWhite House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on the progress of this first-of-its-kind research reactors. The representative from China also briefed the U.S. Department of Energy on the progress of the PBMR project.

Dr. Yujie Dong, DirectorHigh Temperature Reactor (HTR) General Design Division, Institute of Nuclear & New Energy Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University briefed Landon Van Dyke, CEQ Deputy Associate Director, International Affairs on the PBMR operations on May 9, 2007. The meeting at CEQ was attended by Center President Norris McDonald and Center Vice President Derry Bigby.

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Center Connects China & NEI on Pebble Bed Modular Reactor

Norris McDonald, Adrian P. Heymer, Dr. Yujie Dong, Angie Howard & Derry Bigby

The Center arranged for the director of China's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) Program to brief staff at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) on the progress of this first-of-its-kind research reactors. The representative from China also briefed the U.S. Department of Energy on the progress of the PBMR project.

Dr. Yujie Dong, DirectorHigh Temperature Reactor (HTR) General Design Division, Institute of Nuclear & New Energy Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University briefed Angie Howard and Adrian P. Heymar on the PBMR operations on May 9, 2007. The meeting at NEI was attended by Center President Norris McDonald and Center Vice President Derry Bigby.

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Energy Policy of French President Nicholas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy, left, was the most pro-nuclear of the 12 candidates running for the presidency of France. France gets about 80% of its electricity from nuclear power. Almost 85% of the French electors voted in this election. Nicolas Sarkozy was elected in the second round of the election by 53% of the voters, against Ségolène Royal, 47%.

Nicolas Sarkozy is in favor of both the protection of the environment and nuclear power: he supports energy conservation, renewable energies, the EPR (generation 3 reactor), the developement of generation 4 reactors, and the world-wide development of nuclear energy. Action against climate change is for him a "top priority". Nuclear energy will remain a priority for France, as was the case with the previous President, Jacques Chirac. Original letter in French and letter in English from Sarkozy to Environmentalists for Nuclear Power (Source).

Wheat Gluten Contaminated With Melamine

Wheat gluten, powder left-bagged right, contaminated with melamine has been found in pet food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified a Chinese company (Xuzhou Anying ) as the source of the additive. Chinese authorities have arrested Mao Lijun, manager of the company. An American company, ChemNutra, based in Las Vegas, purchased the wheat gluten and resold it to pet food makers in the U.S. Although there is no nutritional value from melamine, unscrupulous producers add it so get a higher protein reading.

Melamine is an industrial chemical used to make plastics, fertilizer and surface coatings. Wheat gluten is a vegetable protein concentrate. There is a concern by the FDA that humans could consume the chemical indirectly by eating pigs and chickens that have consumed the contaminated wheat gluten. Suspect pet food has been recalled and the FDA is visiting hundreds of pet food manufacturers to gather samples for testing. The Chinese government is cooperating with the American government on this issue. (New York Times, 5-4-2007)

Center Trip To China - The Videos

ALL CHINA TRIP VIDEOS

Below: Boarding the Plane at Dulles

Progress In Closing Ozone Hole

A new EPA publication, Achievements in Stratospheric Ozone Protection: Progress Report highlights U.S. contributions toward healing the ozone layer. According to the report, the ozone layer has not grown thinner over most of the world since 1998 and the Antarctic ozone level is projected to return to pre-1980 levels between 2060 and 2075. Protecting the stratospheric ozone layer is estimated to produce $4.2 trillion in societal health benefits over the period 1990 to 2165.

Many ozone-depleting substances are also greenhouse gases, so replacing these substances with substitutes that are safer for the ozone layer can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.This September 2007 will mark the 20th anniversary of the landmarkProtocol to protect the ozone layer. The Montreal Protocol on Substancesthat Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1987 and has been ratifiedby 191 countries.

China Car Makers

China has more than 100 automakers with about 20 of them producing cars in large volumes. In 2006 China's passenger-car exports more than tripled to 101.299 vehicles.

Chery Automobile Company is the biggest seller of Chinese-brand vehicles, selling 50,000 in 2006 with plans to sell 70,000 in 2007. Chery, founded in 1997, is government-owned.

Shanghai General Motors, a joint venture of Shaghai Automotive Industry Corp and GM, makes Buicks, Chevrolets and Cadillacs. (Source: Wall Street Journal 4-23-07 "China Car Makers Pull Ahead at Home")

Touring Nuclear Power Plants in China

The Center for Environment, Commerce and Energy toured the Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Guangdong Province in Mainland China. Derry Bigby, Vice President of the Center in the U.S. and Zhang Xiaoping, China Office Director, are pictured here with students from the Chan Wong Sok Fong Memorial Secondary School.

The tour was conducted by M.T. Richard Fung. Daya Bay has 4 operating nuclear reactors with one under construction and one planned. The facility provides electricity without producing any greenhouse or smog forming gases.

Photo: Derry Bigby, Zhang Xiaoping & Norris McDonald

China Is Building Nuclear Power Plants

Center President Norris McDonald, center, is pictured above with high school students standing in front of a new nuclear power plant being built at Daya Bay in the Guangdong Province of China. The students are from the Chan Wong Sok Fong Memorial Secondary School outside of Hong Kong. The CLP Group arranged a special tour for the Center and added the students for us to interaact during this exciting trip.

M.T. Richar Fung conducted the tour on behald of the Hong Kong Nuclear Investment Co Ltd. We visited the visitor center and proceeded to the reactors. Daya Bay has 4 reaqctors operating right now, with one under construction and one planned.

EPA Relaxes Clean-Air Requirements for Ethanol Fuel Plants

Plants turning corn into liquor were allowed to emit 250 tons of emissions per year before triggering clean-air regulations, while those processing corn into ethanol fuel could emit only 100 tons annually. The U.S. EPA has announced that ethanol-fuel plants will now be allowed the higher pollution level too. The new rule will not apply in urban areas that have air-quality problems. (Grist)

Supreme Court Tells EPA To Regulate Carbon Dioxide

The Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision ruled on April 2 that the U.S. EPA erred in rejecting the state of Massachusetts petition and others. Now EPA will grant the petition or deny it again. The Supreme Court decision said EPA had the express authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle tailpipes as an air pollutant. The ruling came after the state of Massachusetts, joined by 11 other states, New York City, the District of Columbia and Baltimore, filed suit to reverse EPA's 2003 decision not to regulate tailpipe emissions.

EPA's argument that the Department of Transportation sets fuel economy requirements was a non-starter. "That DOT sets mileage standards in no way licenses EPA to shirk its environmental responsibilities," the court wrote. The state of California has sought a waiver under the Clean Air Act to dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions in the coming decade -- a move that could require automakers to have fleetwide averages of more than 40 miles per gallon.