March 12, 2015 The decline in spot oil prices in the last half of 2014 and first month of 2015 has reduced oil and natural gas production tax revenues in some of the largest oil- and natural gas-producing states. Texas, North Dakota, Alaska, and Oklahoma are four of the five top oil- and natural gas-producing states, and they derive a significant share of their unrestricted operating revenues from taxes on oil and natural gas production. Although California produces more oil than both Alaska and Oklahoma, its economy is much larger, making it relatively less affected by changes in oil and natural gas prices and production. Texas collected $583 million in tax receipts from oil and natural gas production in August 2014, but tax revenue declined by 40% to $352 million in January 2015, based on data from the state's comptroller . EIA estimates crude oil and lease condensate production in Texas...

EERE offers webinars to the public on a range of subjects, from adopting the latest energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, to training for the clean energy workforce. Webinars are free; however, advanced registration is typically required. You can also watch archived webinars and browse previously aired videos, slides, and transcripts. Upcoming Webinars March 12: Live Webinar on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's FY2016 Budget Request Webinar Sponsor: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has rescheduled the last in a series of three live webinars on our Fiscal Year 2016 budget request . It will now be presented on Thursday, March 12, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power Doug Hollett will lead the presentation of our budget proposal for the renewable power sector with technology office directors providing...

Some analysts accused the government of trying to hide data that shows the city’s air to be the world’s most toxic. Original link Original author: GARDINER

Scientists propose that Earth’s “age of humans,” the Anthropocene, began with the spread of disease in the Americas. Original link Original author: ANDREW

Digging in on ways to move the clean-energy discussion from menus to outcomes. Original link Original author: ANDREW

March 11, 2015 California and Quebec have announced the completion of their second joint carbon dioxide (CO2) allowance auction through a cap-and-trade system . Despite geographical distance and economic differences, California and Quebec have worked to align their CO2 emissions markets and policies. Previous auctions sold emissions allowances for electric generators and large industrial sources. The most recent auction, held in February 2015, also included allowances for the transportation sector, covering wholesale gasoline suppliers. The California and Quebec program is the first international carbon allowance program to be enacted at the subnational level (i.e., between parts of two different countries). Similar programs in Europe were the first to establish markets across several countries (European Union's Emission Trading Scheme) and were also the first to cover certain transportation components. Three factors widely cited as driving expectations among participants in the joint auction are: Persistent carbon allowance surpluses in both the California and...

As a part of the Obama Administration’s effort to support greater energy efficiency through the Better Buildings Initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institute of Building Sciences (Institute) today announced new Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines . The Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines, developed with feedback from industry experts, will help enhance and streamline commercial building workforce training and certification programs. “As building technologies become more advanced, professionals need better training and certification options to increase the quality and scalability of our nation’s energy workforce,” said Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency. “Employers, building owners and program administrators can also use these established guidelines to identify qualified workers who are trained to deliver energy savings.” The guidelines provide a national framework for certification agencies across the country to roll out consistent programs. Up until now there have been no national guidelines for energy efficiency-related professional credentials, posing a...

The Energy Department announced today $6 million for 11 projects aimed at improving potential buyers’ experiences with alternative fuel and plug-in electric vehicles, supporting training, and integrating alternative fuels into emergency planning. By removing barriers to market growth, these projects will expand Americans’ transportation options, minimize fuel costs, reduce carbon pollution, and increase the nation’s energy security. Since 1993, the Energy Department’s Clean Cities program has supported community-led efforts to help fleets and consumers find the alternative fuel or fuel-efficient solutions that meet their needs. Through the Clean Cities program, these projects address many of the challenges limiting the use of alternative fuel and plug-in electric vehicles, particularly in these three areas: on-the-road demonstrations, safety-related training, and emergency preparedness. Five projects will enable consumers and fleets to drive alternative fuel vehicles for extended periods of time to help them better understand how these vehicles can meet their everyday needs. For example,...

It is shocking to see Mitch McConnell try to undermine President Obama’s efforts to regulate power plant emissions. Original link Original author: THE

The Environmental Protection Agency and an environmental advocate respond to a news article. Original link