STUFF

Oil/gas industry currently employs 440K American workers. In '03, it was 200K.

Record-setting changes occurring throughout Arctic, says scientific group. Persistent decline in thickness and summer extent of sea ice cover and a warmer, fresher upper ocean. Avg. temps up ~2.5F from '81-'10 baseline. 20% increase in phytoplankton in ocean.

Partnering with Bill Clinton, Obama announced $4B effort to increase energy efficiency of govt and private sector buildings over next 2 years. Govt committed $2B. Corps, unions, universities and local govts to commit the other half. Contractors who do the work to be paid with realized energy savings.

EPA released a reworked package of proposed rules to tackle toxic emissions from >200K of largest boilers and incinerators in US.

Court let TX EPA-permit challenge to go forward.

GM weighing Volt buyback and may change the battery.

Auditors found World Bank skipped policy steps in approving $3.75B loan for huge S. African coal plant.

UN says rate of tree loss in world's forests not as bad as once believed . . . agency says climate change has little effect on hurricanes . . . permafrost melting contributes more to climate change than thought.

BMW, Toyota teaming up to make cleaner cars.

ITC voted 6-0 on decision of reasonable indication or threat of injury. Chinese solar panel dumping case now moves to Commerce Dept.

Cleantech VC funding in Nov >$450M. Better Place led with $200M round. Solar got almost $100M.

Cost of oil imports to EU increased from $280B in '10 to $402B so far this year. UK Office of Budget Responsibility named oil prices as key factor in drastic downward revision of its economic and fiscal outlook.

FAA awarded $7.7M in 8 new grants to advance renewable jetfuels.

Ms. Bachman says subsidize flex-fuel conversions, not E85 fuels.

Northern Mexico in worst drought in 70 years. TX, of course, still deep in theirs.