Business Week -- March 17 (Bloomberg) -- Wall Street’s contribution to the debate on how to curb global warming: Buy coal, sell solar.

Peabody Energy Corp., the biggest coal producer, is rated a “buy” by 79 percent of analysts, while 44 percent recommend First Solar Inc., the largest maker of thin-film solar panels. The Stowe Global Coal index of 38 coal producers has gained 6.5 percent in 2010, and the Bloomberg Global Leaders Solar index of 38 solar module and component makers has dropped 17 percent.

While investors including T. Boone Pickens and Warren Buffett are pushing cash into green technologies, the tilt toward Peabody and away from First Solar is the widest in two years. It reflects a sense that government support for reducing air pollution may be waning, said Kevin Landis,  (read more)

chron.com -- Mercury emissions from power plants remain flat despite the availability of the technology to cut back on the dangerous toxin, according to a report released today by the Environmental Integrity Project.

Texas has five power plants in the top 10 list of worst emitters of mercury, according to the study. Leading the pack: Luminant's Martin Lake power plant in Rusk County, which reported a 4.56 percent increase from 2007 to 2008 (the most recent data available.

...Mercury emissions don't need to be as high as they've been at the nation's power plants, according to the report:

Sorbent injection, which can achieve mercury reductions up to 90 percent from coal-fired power plants, has been proven by more than 30 full scale demonstrations performed by the U.S. Department of Energy, Ele
 (read more)

Breitbart -- TOKYO, March 18 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Domestic automobile sales in Japan in fiscal 2010 beginning April are expected to drop 4.9 percent from the previous year to a 33- year low of 4,649,600 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.
It would be the lowest level since around 4.23 million vehicles were sold in fiscal 1977, with auto demand expected to taper off after the government subsidy for fuel-efficient vehicles expires in September.

"While the subsidy will expire in the first half (of the financial year), we hope auto sales will be supported as economic conditions recover fully through various measures," JAMA Chairman Satoshi Aoki said, citing the Bank of Japan's decision Wednesday to further ease its ultra-loose monetary policy.

The industry body also said domest  (read more)

USA Today -- General Motors thinks it has cut so much weight and complexity out of its hydrogen fuel cell system that it says it could be production-ready by 2015.

Drive On got a look at the fuel cells yesterday at a presentation in Burbank, Calif. The new one, at right, is half the size, 220 pounds lighter and uses a third of the expensive platinum needed in the original, which is being real-world tested in a fleet of 119 Chevrolet Equinox SUVs. (It was an even 120, but one got totaled in an accident. No hydrogen escaped.)  (read more)

New York Times -- Generating 20 percent of America’s electricity with wind, as recent studies proposed, would require building up to 22,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines. But the huge towers and unsightly tree-cutting that these projects require have provoked intense public opposition.

Recently, though, some companies are finding a remarkably simple answer to that political problem. They are putting power lines under water, in a string of projects that has so far provoked only token opposition from environmentalists and virtually no reaction from the larger public.  (read more)

examiner.com -- The United Auto Workers expressed their sentiment that Congress should move forward to enact comprehensive climate change legislation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions; they did so in a letter they sent to the members of Congress recently.Although we recognize the difficulties involved in this effort, we believe that legislation can be crafted that will reduce global warming pollution while at the same time creating jobs and providing a boost to our economy. In particular, we believe such legislation can help to provide significant investment in domestic production of advanced technology vehicles and their key components, as well as other energy saving technologies. (Source)

Members of the UAW, particularly hard-hit by the recent recession, see an electric vehicle

 (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- With gasoline prices on the rise the past few weeks, many of you have heard multiple reasons (some from yours truly) on why gasoline prices are increasing.

First of all, the economy has long since bottomed out, and perception is that with an improved economy comes higher gasoline and oil demand. It's held true in the past, but what we saw in 2008 was a large recession, one that some called the largest in decades. Reality is that gasoline demand will be slow to bounce back, and prices are out of line with that reality.

Secondly, there are supply concerns that are completely overdone. Looking at this week's numbers, refineries used just over 80% of their capacity. In the unlikely case of a large increase in demand, there...  (read more)

Daily Finance -- For most industries, 2009 will be remembered as one of the worst economic years in history. But it was a year in which the global clean-energy market -- including revenue from solar photovoltaics, wind power and biofuels – grew 11.4% to reach $139.1 billion, according to a report that research firm Clean Edge released Tuesday.

That doesn't mean clean-energy companies have made it out of the recession unscathed. Solar revenues decreased for the first time since Clean Edge began tracking the clean-energy industry a decade ago, falling 20% to $30.7 billion from $38.5 billion in 2008...  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- It's a fact that many know about ethanol- it contains less energy than conventional gasoline, and results in lower fuel efficiency. Some states have moved towards "hiding" ethanol content in gasoline, so how does your state stack up?

Fifteen states do not require labeling gasoline that contains ethanol, so if you live in a state not listed below, be sure to check your gas pump to see if there's ethanol present!
The fifteen states that don't require stations to tell you if the gasoline contains ethanol: (alphabetically) California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Ohio.

What is amazing to me is that...  (read more)

Triple Pundit -- Here’s a news flash of sorts: ExxonMobil (XOM), the world’s largest publicly traded oil and gas company, has barrels of money and plans $28 billion in capital spending this year and about $25-$30 billion each year thereafter through 2014.

The company made more than $19 billion last year and generated cash flow of $28.4 billion. Flush with money and confidence, XOM says it is “well positioned for future growth” despite a volatile industry environment across a “range of market conditions.”

“Each of our three business segments, Upstream, Downstream and Chemical, outpaced our competitors,” Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer, said last week during the company’s annual presentation to investment analysts at the New York Stock Exchange.  (read more)

EcoFriend -- Eco Factor: Zero-emission concept superbike powered by electric motors.

The Hornet is a concept zero-emission superbike by designer Liam Ferguson that has emerged as the winner of the prestigious VACC competition. What sets the superbike apart from the crowd is not just its single-wheeled frame, but its ability to turn around on a dime. The bike is powered by dual 74hp in-wheel hydrogen fuel cell six-phase neodymium-iron electric motors.  (read more)

Herlald Tribune -- Opening Florida's Gulf Coast to oil drilling would have almost no impact on prices at the pump or on the state's ongoing budget problems, a nonpartisan commission told a key committee of the Legislature on Monday.

While the House has heard similar arguments from environmental groups and others opposed to drilling, the report was significant because it came from the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida, created by the Legislature five years ago to study Florida's long-term future on issues like water resources, growth management and energy.  (read more)

Racin Today -- An isobutanol blend of BP has been approved for official use in the American Le Mans Series, where the Dyson Racing team intends to campaign the season while competing for the LMP championship in a Lola-Mazda using the biofuel.

The racing application is in advance of plans by BP and DuPont to develop commercial facilities under the Butamax name to manufacture isobutanol for mainsteam use. A racing version of isobutanol and ethanol was used in two demonstration races last year to power the Lola-Mazda team of Dyson Racing, a factory-supported Mazda team where energy company BP is a major sponsor.  (read more)

CNNMoney -- Oil fell on Monday, as uncertainty over the debt crisis was renewed and the dollar strengthened against major currencies.

What prices are doing: Crude plummeted $1.75 to $79.49 a barrel on Monday.

What's driving the market: Prices took a nosedive, as traders kept a wary eye on global sovereign debt issues, after a report showed renewed worries over some countries' ability to sustain a recovery.

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bloomberg.com -- The burgeoning U.S. wind-energy industry will fail to reach its potential without help from Congress in setting a national renewable-power standard and revamping the electric grid, governors from 29 states said.

A jumble of state laws should be replaced by a national edict, according to a report from the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, which includes California, Florida and Massachusetts. The plan would help spur development and efficiency, which would create jobs, curb greenhouse-gas emissions and reduce dependency on oil imports, the coalition said.

The absence of such a standard is hurting the U.S., the governors said. China installed more wind-energy generators last year than any other country, doubling the nation’s windpower capacity, according to data released by the World  (read more)

GasBuddy Blog -- For those who are looking to purchase a used car anytime in the future, one thing always comes to mind- vehicle history reports. While these reports may provide you with a sense of security, they don't always reveal everything in a vehicle's past history.

We've been taught to ask for a vehicle history report, even pay upwards of $40 to find out where a car has been, if its a lemon, if its been wrecked, etc. But there's no substitute from having a neutral mechanic check it over. The last thing you want to find out is that the used car you just purchased has been in a massive wreck, leaving the question of structural integrity in the air.

I have a new avenue for folks who are sick of paying big bucks for little in additional...  (read more)

The Telegraph -- The Carbon Trust has announced it is working with the University of York to research how using microwave technology could turn garden and wood waste into biofuel.

Using microwaves, the waste is heated in the absence of oxygen through a process called pyrolysis.

The research will look at how this process could be used to produce a biofuel to blend with fossil fuel or use as a pure fuel.

According to the Carbon Trust, the carbon footprint of this new pyrolysis biofuel could potentially save 95 per cent of carbon compared to fossil fuels.  (read more)

The Phoenix Business Journal -- The folks at Ford Motor Co. are singing a cheery tune as the blue oval company trumped rivals in sales in the U.S. and Canada last month.

So I checked in with a couple execs to see exactly what they are singing on their daily commute. More specifically, I asked for their favorite car songs, putting the kibosh on “Mustang Sally,” since that’s my favorite (ode to a 1966 GT fastback I wish I still had) and really just not a fair answer for Ford guys.

Mark Fields, executive vice president and president, Americas, for Ford is thinking Cadillac with “Back in Black” by AC/DC.  (read more)

Associated Press -- SAN DIEGO – A memo drafted for a congressional panel says that investigators with Toyota Motor Corp. and the federal government were unable to make a Prius speed out of control as its owner said it did on a California freeway, casting doubt on the driver's story.

The draft memo, obtained Saturday by The Associated Press, said the experts who examined and test drove the car could not replicate the problems James Sikes said he encountered.

Sikes, 61, called 911 on Monday to report losing control of his Prius as the hybrid reached speeds of 94 mph. A California Highway Patrol officer helped Sikes bring the vehicle to a safe stop on Interstate 8 near San Diego.  (read more)

Detnews.com -- Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co.'s latest internal employee survey shows morale is up sharply and employees' confidence in the company's future has reached an all-time high.

That is according to Ford's latest quarterly report card, a copy of which was obtained by The Detroit News.

It shows that 89 percent of employees have a positive outlook, compared to less than 55 percent in the middle of 2008. The survey was conducted in December.

"It's a very positive reflection of employee confidence in Ford," said spokeswoman Marcey Evans, who confirmed the authenticity of the report. "It reflects their confidence in our company and their confidence in our products."

The December results were 2 percentage points higher than the previous survey, conducted last June.

 (read more)

Businessweek.com -- By Leigh Phillips

The European Union is to surpass its target of 20 percent consumption of energy from renewable sources by 2020, according to national forecasts submitted to the European Commission.

The EU executive found that overall, the bloc will achieve a 20.3 percent share of renewables in its energy mix.

According to a summary published on Thursday, 10 out of the EU's 27 member states are on track to exceed their national targets for renewable energy, with a further 12 set to meet their goals using domestic sources of renewable energy.

Excerpts

Europe's renewable energy directive sets an overall EU target of 20 percent and individual binding national targets. The bloc defines biofuels, biomass, wind, solar energy as well as hydro power as being renewable.

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Consumer Affairs -- Variety of factors credited for continued decline in highway deaths....  (read more)

The Wall Street Journal -- NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Crude oil and gold futures turned lower in morning trade Friday after a survey showed U.S. consumers were less optimistic in March. Crude oil for April delivery was down 2 cents at $82.09 a barrel in electronic trade. It earlier rose to a high of $83.20 a barrel, lifted by the International Energy Agency's forecast for higher global oil demand. Gold for April was down 1.10, or 0.1%, at $1,107.10 an ounce, off a morning high of $1,119.50 an ounce.  (read more)