President Obama signed an $18 billion jobs bill that exempts employers from payroll taxes for some newly hired workers. While acknowledging that the bill is a step in the right direction, some observers - including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka - argue that much more must be done to rebuild the economy.

Vice President Joe Biden paid a visit to the North Carolina headquarters of LED light-making company Cree Inc., where he highlighted the important role green manufacturing will play in rebuilding America’s middle class.

A piece at It’s getting Hot In Here explains why a clean-tech education strategy will be an important part of America’s ability to compete globally for good green jobs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s anti-clean energy legislation stance is costing it members, while American Businesses For Clean Energy (ABCE) and other groups are rapidly adding businesses of all sizes to their membership roles.

A recent Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) analysis estimates the United States’ CO2 output could be cut 15 percent by 2020 if Americans adopt simple energy saving habits.

This year’s Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference will take place May 4 - 6 in Washington, D.C. The conference brings together union members, environmentalists, business leaders, and politicians in an effort to map out the country’s clean energy future.

GE believes  transitioning to thin-film solar panels will help drive down solar energy costs.

Local Green: A new National Center for Atmospheric Research study finds prescribed burning could significantly reduce forest fire-related CO2 emissions in the Western United States.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of the White House

The Christian Coalition, which boasts 2.5 million largely conservative members, released a new radio ad defending Senator Lindsey Graham’s efforts to free America from its “addiction to foreign oil.”

Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., released an 8-page draft of their proposed clean energy and climate bill to a group of industry representatives yesterday.

Just weeks after announcing that this past January’s land and sea temperatures were some of the hottest ever recorded, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that February 2010 was the second-hottest on record.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spoke at last week’s National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. The Transportation Department recently announced that walking and cycling would become top policy priorities within the Department.

Renewable energy investment could rise by 23 percent this year, predicts Bloomberg New Energy Finance CEO Michael Liebreich.

Despite climate change-deniers’ attempts to frame it as such, the scientifically observable reality of climate change is not amenable to political debate, writes Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke.

AT&T will begin selling a cell phone charger that stops drawing an electrical charge when not attached to a phone.

Local Green: U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo, will introduce a bill that extends home solar tax credits to community-based projects.

Ted Turner’s new Southern Turner Renewable Energy firm is investing in a 30-megawatt First Solar project in New Mexico.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of freefotouk / CC BY-NC 2.0

Clean Edge Inc.’s annual Clean Energy Trends report found growth in most sectors of the global clean energy economy in 2009, despite the severe recession.

Former President Bill Clinton tried to persuade moderate Senate Democrats that clean energy and climate legislation would mean job growth and new economic opportunities. He also warned that without a strong bill, the U.S. risks falling behind China in the race to lead the world’s clean energy economy.

The United Auto Workers, Center For American Progress, and the Natural Resources Defense Council released a study detailing the “clean car revolution’s” capacity to create jobs, protect the environment, and curb dependence on foreign oil.

A new report finds many businesses that have invested in on-site renewables are eager to increase their green portfolios.

A new report published by a scientist at Stanford University finds C02 “domes” hovering above urban areas can increase health hazards associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

National Defense Magazine looks at the Navy’s efforts to harness ocean thermal energy.

Local Green: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced it will invest $8 million in 19 different energy storage projects.

The so-called California Jobs Initiative, which could halt California’s efforts to to impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions, is funded largely by conservative anti-tax groups and out-of-state fossil fuel interests, reports the New York Times.

Groups including the Sierra Club and the Eco Justice Collaborative are sponsoring Chicago’s “Coal-Free Future Week” - a broad range of clean energy events that includes public forums and multimedia theater shows.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of alykat / CC BY 2.0

The United Auto Workers called efforts to prohibit the E.P.A. from recognizing CO2 emissions as a health hazard “misguided.”

A piece at Grist speculates on how the emerging Kerry-Graham-Lieberman clean energy and climate change legislation will deal with carbon pricing and demands for an “energy-only” bill.

A piece in The Los Angeles Times says Democratic Senators are trying to bring industry and utilities on board in shaping clean energy and climate legislation.

Though a number of home energy monitoring systems are being distributed through utility-sponsored smart grid programs, Powerhouse Dynamics is selling its eMonitor through retailers.

Ask This Old House evaluates some home energy monitoring devices.

A network of deep-sea volcanoes situated between Australia and Antarctica play an important role in the absorption of human-made carbon dioxide, according to a team of Australian and French scientists.

Local Green: A bipartisan group of 29 governors is calling on the federal government to take steps to increase the nation’s wind energy capacity.

The IBEW recently graduated its first group of “green technicians” from its new green jobs training program in Indiana. Apollo co-sponsored the group’s graduation ceremony.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced a Carbon Reduction Surcharge proposal. The surcharge, which would cost average energy users about three dollars each month, would raise $170 million for clean energy and energy efficiency programs.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of srqpix / CC BY 2.0

“Deep energy retrofits” created a buzz at last week’s NESEA Building Energy 10 Conference in Boston.

Despite uncertainties, the case for global warming appears stronger than ever, says a Time report.

University of Michigan scientists say they’ve developed a way to turn CO2 into carbon monoxide that could be used to produce electricity.

The Daily Green takes a look at the confusing world of energy subsidies.

A piece at the Huffington Post revisits some “old school” children’s television shows that hosted green themes.

Local Green: The East Coast’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative saw a two cent rise in carbon permit prices and a 42% increase in trading volume at last week’s auction. The regional initiative - which auctions carbon permits in 10 Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states - had seen prices fall in its past three auctions.

Toledo, Ohio’s Xunlight Corp. is helping the rustbelt city secure a place in the emerging clean energy economy.

Johns Hopkins University announced an energy plan that, among other things, aims to reduce the Baltimore university’s CO2 emissions 50 percent below projected levels by 2025.

California utilities will be allowed to use tradable renewable energy credits (TRECs) to help them meet the state’s renewable energy standard.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of PremierSIPs / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

More than 2,000 U.S. economists and climate scientists sent a letter to the Senate pressing for legislation that would cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Representative Ed Markey, D-Mass., explains how the Recovery Act is creating jobs and developing new clean energy industries.

A new bill crafted by South Carolina legislators could bring some financial relief to rural energy consumers and create up to 40,000 jobs.

A piece at Grist argues that small legislative clean energy victories can slowly help broaden support for “smart clean energy policy.”

Earth Day organizers are planning a rally in Washington, D.C., to urge the Senate to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation.

A new Gallop poll finds climate change denial disinformation is having a disproportionately strong effect on the views of conservatives.

Local Green: A-Power Energy, U.S. Renewable Energy Group, and American Nevada Group are building a wind turbine manufacturing plant in Nevada that will create about 1,000 permanent jobs.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell introduced the Delaware Clean Energy Jobs Act, which, among other things, would require the state to generate 30 percent of its power from renewables by 2029.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has dropped plans to build an 85-mile clean energy transmission line (dubbed the Green Path North) due to opposition from some environmentalists.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of innuendo / CC BY 2.0

Recalling the immense funding required by the Manhattan Project , Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the U.S. should be spending tens of billions of dollars annually on developing the clean energy economy.

Tuesday and Wednesday were big days on Capitol Hill for clean energy, as President Obama and Senators involved in crafting climate legislation held lengthy discussions with industry leaders on the subject.

The month-long “Race for American Jobs: Clean Energy Leadership” campaign wrapped up in Washington, D.C. yesterday.

In an exclusive Wonk Room interview, Representative Jay Inslee, D-Wash., told Senators to “put away your fear” and pass a job-creating clean enery bill.

Greentech Media’s continuing “Green Kingpins” series recently profiled venture capitalist John Doerr, who says that China is investing ten times more than the United States in clean energy as a percentage of its GDP.

Sundrop Fuels says its new system that converts biomass into synthetic fuels using solar energy is twice as efficient as current methods.

Local Green: Colorado passed a renewable energy standard that requires the state to generate 30 percent of its energy through renewables by 2020.

Oakland, California’s new Ironhorse Apartments offer residents 99 affordable rental units, all equipped to harness energy from the sun.

GCL-Poly Energy Holdings, China’s largest polysilicon producer, is opening an office in San Francisco.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of PNNL / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

President Obama met with Cabinet members and a bipartisan group of Senators yesterday in an effort to reinvigorate clean energy and climate legislation efforts.

Senator Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., expects a new draft clean energy and climate bill will be ready before Easter.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) asserts that comprehensive climate and energy legislation will create more jobs and reduce dependence on imported oil more than a “piecemeal,” energy-only bill.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu reiterated his support for a carbon cap, speaking yesterday at CERAWeek in Houston, Texas.

A Joint Center poll found that 75 percent of African American voters will consider climate change issues when voting in the upcoming midterm elections.

Shell Oil President Marvin Odum explains why the oil giant is sticking with the U.S. Climate Action Partnership.

I.B.M. and Stanford University researchers say they have developed continuously recyclable plastics.

A piece at Grist reports on the worldwide “solar water heating revolution.”

Some smart grid companies say marketing to commercial and business customers, rather than homeowners, is the best strategy for expanding their markets.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of Winged Photography / CC BY-NC 2.0

Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., are discussing the shape of a new climate and clean energy bill with business groups this week.

A piece at Grist explains that oil industry “support” for a possible carbon fee may help the industry blame U.S. efforts to combat climate change for higher gas prices.

Energy efficiency will be the focus of hearings in both the House and Senate this week.

In response to recent anti-science legislation passed in Utah and South Dakota, former White House science advisor Jeff Schweitzer proposes some new resolutions of his own.

All three of the benchmark clean tech stock indices made significant gains last week, reports TheStreet.com.

It should come as no surprise that federal stimulus money for clean energy projects has been going in part to foreign companies, argues a piece at Forbes.com, as the United States has for too long lacked a “national clean energy strategy.”

Transonic Combustion says it has developed a fuel injection system that could increase the efficiency of gasoline-fired engines by 50 percent.

A DiscoveryNews piece addresses some popular climate change myths.

Local Green: A piece in the Toledo Blade says clean energy legislation has bipartisan support in Ohio.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of Cliff1066 / CC BY 2.0

Despite skepticism of climate science having become a “litmus test” of Republican solidarity, support for a federal clean energy bill seems relatively stable, in part because many Americans see such legislation as an economic stimulator.

Science Studies professor Naomi Oreskes’ timely new book, Merchants of Doubt, chronicles four decades of effective anti-science campaigning intended to “mislead the public and deny well-established scientific knowledge.”

Fuel efficiency standards and a growing green public consciousness will drive electric vehicle sales in coming years, speculated a panel at the this past weekend’s MIT Energy Conference. But manufacturers hope to contribute to the vehicles’ desirability by marketing them as fun.

Avatar director James Cameron’s wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, wore the winning entry to the Oscars in the “Red Carpet Green Dress” contest yesterday.

A piece at Grist profiles digital designer Steve Price, whose flash animation projects depict how blighted, urban landscapes could be transformed into sustainable, walkable spaces.

Streetfilms’ new series “Fixing the Great Mistake” examines how American cities were transformed to accommodate the automobile in the early 20th century.

Local Green: A bill in the Colorado legislature would increase the state’s renewable energy portfolio by 50 percent, while boosting support for small, local energy projects.

The Columbus Dispatch profiles Senator Sherrod Brown’s (D-Ohio) efforts to balance the interests of the state’s older industries and the emerging clean energy sector.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of Green For All / CC BY 2.0