MORE NEWS, 2-6 (MORE EFFICIENCY FASTER—OBAMA; OKLA BUILDS WIND; DOI SEC SALAZAR STOPS DRILLING; BIG NAMES TO ART CENTER SUMMIT)

MORE EFFICIENCY FASTER—OBAMA
Obama wants to speed energy-efficient equipment for households
Renee Schoof, February 5, 2009 (McClatchy Newspapers via Miami Herald)

"President Barack Obama made a strong pitch Thursday for the energy portion of his economic stimulus plan, saying it would "begin to end the tyranny of oil in our time" and create a clean energy industry with many new jobs.

"The president spoke to employees at the Department of Energy, where he announced that he signed a memorandum asking the agency to speed up work on new efficiency standards for household appliances, furnaces, air conditioners, lighting, commercial equipment and other products. The standards set the minimum energy efficiency level on products that can be sold in the United States."

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"Enough energy [can be] saved over 30 years…the president said, to equal two years' worth of production from all the nation's hundreds of coal-fired power plants.

"The Department of Energy is required by law to set minimum energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial products, but over the past decades has missed so many deadlines that many new standards are far overdue. One of the first deadlines, in June, is for fluorescent tube lighting and incandescent reflector lamps, which are used for recessed ceiling lights in homes."

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"The president's memorandum called on the energy department meet all its upcoming deadlines and to speed up work on those that provide the most energy savings.
Obama also used his speech to department staff as a chance to urge Congress to pass his stimulus package…the president emphasized the parts of it that would boost clean energy…

"The plan also calls for improving energy efficiency in 75 percent of federal buildings and 2 million American homes. Obama said it would not only create jobs but also cut the federal energy bill by a third and save Americans money on their utility bills.

"The production of energy that is then wasted from leaky buildings is one of the biggest contributors to global warming…Earthjustice, an environmental law firm, said in a statement that higher efficiency standards for fluorescent lighting alone would save consumers and businesses between $11 billion and $26 billion over 30 years."


OKLA BUILDS WIND
Okla. utility to buy more wind-generated energy
February 5, 2009 (AP)

"Public Service Co. of Oklahoma has announced plans to buy nearly 198 more megawatts of wind-produced electricity…produced at two new wind farms planned in western Oklahoma.

"PSO will buy 98.9 megawatts from a wind farm to be built in Elk City by NextEra Energy Resource and 99 megawatts from Horizon Wind Energy's Blue Canyon wind farm near Lawton."

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"Both sites are expected to be online by the end of the year.

"Both proposals have been presented to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for approval.

"PSO, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, currently buys 392.7 megawatts of wind energy from wind farms in Weatherford, Lawton and Fort Supply."


DOI SEC SALAZAR STOPS DRILLING
Salazar scraps sale of oil-and-gas leases in Utah
Paul Foy, February 5, 2009 (AP)

"In a high-profile reversal of the Bush administration, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday the government is scrapping the leases of 77 parcels of federal land for oil and gas drilling in Utah's redrock country…He said he had ordered the Bureau of Land Management, which is part of the Interior Department, to not cash checks from winning bidders for parcels at issue in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups.

"The sales were worth $6 million to the government in addition to royalties on any oil or gas production…A federal judge put the sale of the 77 parcels, totaling about 100,000 acres, on hold last month until the lawsuit was resolved. Now, Salazar is refusing to sell any of them — at least until the new administration reviews them."

Nine Mile Canyon - it would be a sin to drill here. (click to enlarge)

"Conservation groups promised to press ahead with the lawsuit…The BLM approved the plans, governing 7 millions acres of public land in Utah, last year…Among critics of December's lease auction was Robert Redford…

"Salazar said some of the lease parcels are too close to Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Dinosaur National Monument. Other leases taken off the table were on the high cliffs of whitewater sections of the Green River through Desolation Canyon…Salazar also acted to protect plateaus populated by big game atop Nine Mile Canyon, sometimes called the world's longest art gallery because of its ancient rock-art panels…"

Dinosaur National Monument - it would be a sin to drill here. (click to enlarge)

"Earthjustice, the group that filed the auction lawsuit, estimated the lands in question would produce only an hour and a half of oil for the whole country at current consumption rates…

"Salazar said he was allowing the lease of 39 other parcels auctioned off in December that were not challenged in the lawsuit…"


BIG NAMES TO ART CENTER SUMMIT
The Art Center Summit 2009: Expanding the Vision of Sustainable Mobility
February 18-19, 2009 (Art Center College of Design)

"Keynote Event Announced…Wednesday, February 18, 2009…Pasadena Convention Center, East Pavilion 7-9 p.m.

"Urgency: A Vision for Energy Security…R. James Woolsey, former director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency AND The Future of U.S. Energy and Transporation…Andy Karsner, former assistant secretary, Department of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy"

An Art Center design of a future environment (click to enlarge)

"The Evening will conclude with a round table discussion hosted by Jack Hidary of the Freedom Prize Foundation…joined by Andy Karsner, James Woolsey and Mobility Legend Amory Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute.

"Attendance [at the keynote event] is free and open to the general public, however, seats must be reserved in advance. Space is limited. To reserve your seat, contact Betsy Edmunds at 626-396-2473 or email your name and contact information to artcentersummit@summit.edu."

An Art Center design of future mobility (click to enlarge)

"Leadership Summit Opening Address: Edward Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

"Join a select international group of influential thinkers, industry executives, government leaders and entrepreneurs for the third installment of The Art Center Summit: Expanding the Vision of Sustainable Mobility. In addition to a cross-section of mobility-related experts, the 2009 Summit will host visionary leaders from a variety of fields who will offer their ideas and strategies for moving goods and people around the planet in environmentally-friendly ways…"