Five more fraudulent letters opposing climate legislation have been discovered on Capitol Hill. To date the letters total thirteen; dozens more may be circulating.

Will the connection between climate change and national security convince America to undertake the strong anti-global warming action it has so far failed to embrace?

A group of utilities commissioned a study to help determine the best ways to bring more renewable energy online and expand the Midwest’s transmission grid.

Though financing is tight for larger projects, small and mid-sized wind energy projects are having an excellent 2009 because of inexpensive materials.

A new Center For American Progress Action Fund video tells Senators to stop filibustering farmers’ futures.

Popular environmental writer Bill McKibben discussed climate change on The Colbert Report earlier this week.

Local Green: A new algae-based biofuel is being tested in CO2 laden waters on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

First Solar is partnering with Southern California Edison on two large solar projects expected to generate 550 megawatts of energy.

In Northwest Arkansas, forward-thinking congregations are greening their places of worship.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of CJ Sorg / CC BY-SA 2.0.

Venture capital investment in clean energy rose 73 percent in the last three months, indicating the worst of the recession may be over for renewables.

Good news for clean energy: the World Bank increased renewable energy funding by 11 percent last year. Not so good news: critics complain the bank’s 102 percent increase in fossil fuel funding more than cancels out clean energy advances.

A new McKinsey & Company report says an aggressive energy efficiency policy could net the U.S. $700 billion in savings while cutting energy use up to 23 percent by 2020.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission wants limits to oil and gas speculation that is done only for financial reasons.

A new analysis of the American Clean Energy and Security Act says provisions meant to substantially offset possible energy cost increases would work.

The Department of Energy announced nearly $12 million for the integration of solar energy into the nation’s power grid.

BAF Technologies, which converts corporate vehicle fleets to natural gas, secured a contract to recalibrate over half of AT&T’s vehicles.

Kinesis now sells a hybrid solar/wind USB device charger.

Local Green: New Jersey approved over $500 billion in solar energy projects that will more than double the state’s solar output, making it the second largest producer after California.

Washington, D.C. says it has 70,000 square feet of rooftop gardens and greenery, thanks in part to a green roof grant program.

–Christopher Greenspan

Photo courtesy of Finizio / CC BY-ND 2.0.

House energy bill co-author, Representative Henry Waxman (D - California), cut a deal with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, making a yes vote in the House this Friday very likely.

President Obama bolstered support for the Waxman-Markey energy bill yesterday, encouraging the House to support the legislation, because it would “spark a clean energy transformation.”

Environmental groups are divided over the energy bill, some calling its passage a must, while others fear it gives polluters too much for modest emissions reductions.

The United States and Chile signed an agreement yesterday that strengthens scientific cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the area of clean energy.

Blackouts along America’s aging power grid cost the economy $150 billion each year.

The common refrigeration agent hydrofluorocarbon will make a larger contribution to climate change over the next few decades than previously thought.

Zeta Communities aims to design relatively inexpensive, prefabricated, ‘zero energy’ homes.

Local Green: Rhode Island issued nearly $700,000 in grant money to 17 renewable energy projects.

Climate Week NYC will be held in September to boost support for an international climate treaty by year’s end.

–Christopher Greenspan