OIL/ENERGY POLICY
Oil-Drilling Safety Bill Stalls Amid Fight Over Oil Royalties
"A group of mostly Republican lawmakers blocked a key vote on legislation to strengthen oil-drilling safety Thursday after efforts to use the bill to steer billions of dollars of oil royalties to coastal states like Alaska and Louisiana appeared likely to fail."
Senate drilling safety measure in limbo
"Legislation that would boost offshore drilling safety in response to last year's Gulf oil spill was thrown into limbo on Thursday after senators clashed over a plan to give coastal states a greater share of federal revenues for energy produced near their shores."
ALTERNATIVES TO OIL
Roscoe Bartlett Notes Urgency to Reduce Oil Dependency at the first joint United States Air Force and Army Energy Forum
"Congressman Bartlett singled out America's Armed Forces and the Defense Department for leading efforts in the United States to reduce the threats from dependence upon oil for transportation. He applauded General David H. Petraeus for his June 7, 2011 memorandum to forces in Afghanistan. Gen. Petraeus asserted that "By reducing demand for fuel, we will improve operational capability, reduce risk to our forces, and ultimately strengthen our security.""
Nissan's Electric Auto Will Help Cook Dinner During Power Blackouts
California electric-car rebate program resumes
"The state hands out the rebates on a first come, first served basis. During the last fiscal year, the air resources board and the California Energy Commission devoted $7 million to the program. So many car buyers applied that the money ran out on June 20.
So for the fiscal year that began this month, the air board decided to expand funding and shrink the individual rebates in a bid to stretch the money further.
In the past, buyers of electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Roadster could receive a $5,000 rebate. Now the maximum rebate will be $2,500. People who buy plug-in hybrid cars or electric motorcycles will receive smaller amounts."
