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US DOE to award up to $20M for research on methane hydrates

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Selected projects will be intended to support program goals to determine the (1) likelihood of methane hydrates as a potential energy resource and (2) their role in the natural environment. DOE-Alaska cooperation on unconventional resources. Response of Gas Hydrate Reservoirs to Induced Change. —DE-FOA-0000891.

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Expansion of sugarcane crop in Brazil to areas previously occupied by crops or pastureland leads to local cooling

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The study is published in the second issue of Nature Climate Change. The research team, led by Carnegie’s Scott Loarie, is the first to quantify the direct effects on the climate from sugarcane expansion in areas of existing crop and pastureland of the cerrado, in central Brazil. —Greg Asner. Loarie, David B.

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BOEMRE releases study on incorporating climate effects into oil-spill risk analysis for Arctic

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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) released a new report evaluating how climate change may affect the environmental conditions measured and used in mathematical modeling for oil-spill trajectory analysis in the Arctic region. —BOEMRE Director Michael R. Click to enlarge.

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FAA launches new Center of Excellence for alternative jet fuels; $40M in funding over 10 years

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The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected a team of universities to lead a new Air Transportation Center of Excellence ( COE ) for alternative jet fuels and the environment. Research and development efforts by the team will focus on NextGen environmental goals for noise, air quality, climate change and energy.

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Arctic oil on life support

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As drilling technology advances, conventional oil reserves become harder to find, and climate change contributes to melting sea ice, the Arctic has moved up on the list of priorities in oil company board rooms. After having watched Shell fumble its Arctic campaign, Statoil put its drilling plans off the coast of Alaska on ice.

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US House Members Introduce Bipartisan Disapproval Resolution to Block EPA Regulation of GHG; Mirrors Murkowski Resolution

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US Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) When Congress passed the Clean Air Act, it never gave EPA the explicit authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions for the purpose of stopping global climate change. Tags: Climate Change Emissions Policy. 26, in the US Senate. Earlier post.).

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Six refineries in $425M settlement with EPA and DOJ over emissions violations

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The settlement, a consent decree lodged in US District Court for the Western District of Texas, includes provisions that resolves ongoing Clean Air Act violations at refineries in Kenai, Alaska; Martinez, California; Kapolei, Hawaii; Mandan, North Dakota; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Anacortes, Washington. Of the $10.45-million

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