Statement By The Press Secretary On Transparency In The Energy Sector

(White House, July 23, 2010) The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which President Obama signed earlier this week, includes a landmark provision that requires energy and mining companies registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to disclose how much they pay to foreign countries and the U.S. government for oil, gas, and minerals.  This provision is an essential new tool in promoting transparency in the oil and mineral sectors.  This legislation will immediately shed light on billions in payments between multinational corporations and governments, giving citizens the information they need to monitor companies and to hold governments accountable.  It will shine a sustained light on the relationship between corporations and governments in the oil and mineral sectors, and make impossible the kind of back-room dealings that cost taxpayers in lost royalties.  Click here to read more…

Interior And Agriculture Departments Announce Joint New Climate Change Research Projects On SE And NW Freshwater Systems

(USDA, July 27, 2010) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced joint scientific research projects that address the effects of climate change on freshwater systems and sensitive aquatic species in the northwestern and southeastern United States.  ”Addressing the challenges of climate change will require new tools that enable our leaders to develop successful strategies,” said Vilsack. “This research will provide tools and information to help ensure that aquatic ecosystems in the Northwest and Southeast remain healthy in the face of climate change.”  Click here to read more…

President Obama To Meet With Small Business Owners, Urge Congress To Act To Support Small Businesses And Create Jobs

(White House, July 27, 2010) Tomorrow, President Obama will meet with a group of small business owners at Tastee Sub Shop in Edison, New Jersey, to discuss the economy and urge Congress to pass support for small businesses, the engines of private sector job growth.  The President will discuss with the small business owners how the small business legislation that the Senate is expected to vote on this week will help businesses like theirs grow and hire more workers. Click here to read more…

BIO Calls On Congress To Maintain Support For Biofuels In Tax And Energy Legislation

(Business Wire, July 19, 2010) If the advanced biofuel industry is to grow to meet national goals for reducing reliance on imported oil, then enduring federal commitment is vital to maintaining progress in research, development and investment in building infrastructure. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today called on Congress to help the industry secure investment by strengthening and extending federal tax incentives for next-generation biofuels in any tax and energy legislation considered this year.  Brent Erickson, executive vice president for BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section, stated, “The economic downturn in the United States has dealt a blow to advanced biofuels development. Click here to read more…

Secretary Chu Announces Initiatives To Promote Clean Energy At First Clean Energy Ministerial

(DOE, July 20, 2010) Washington, D.C. – At the world’s first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the United States is helping launch more than 10 international clean energy initiatives.  These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy.  The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.  The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years.  Click here to read more…

Obama Tries Another Moratorium On Gulf Coast Deep Water Oil Drilling

(USA Today, July 12, 2010) The Obama administration took another crack today at imposing a moratorium on deep water oil drilling in the Gulf Coast, saying it remains concerned about safety in the wake of the BP oil spill.  “The president has and continues to believe that we have to be careful with what we’re doing, given the uncertainty about what happened 84 days ago,” said Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs, referring to the ongoing Gulf Coast oil spill.  A federal judge struck down a previous moratorium, and an appeals court rejected the administration’s request to re-instate it. Gibbs said the new moratorium will address the legal concerns raised by the courts, including new evidence of potential safety problems.  Local business owners had sued the administration over the first 60-day moratorium, saying they were being penalized for BP’s problems.  Click here to read more…

USDA Launches Ask The Expert, An On-Demand Online Knowledge Database

(USDA, July 7, 2010) – Today, USDA announced the launch of Ask the Expert, a knowledge-based search engine that optimizes customer experience while conserving taxpayer dollars. This intuitive tool relies on self-service to deliver reliable and relevant information 24/7, greatly reducing wait time and USDA resources associated with the previous system.  ”This exciting new tool is one of the many ways that USDA is working hard to use technology to provide the public with high quality service while using taxpayer dollars as efficiently as possible,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, “At USDA.gov, Ask the Expert now welcomes your questions and will continue to develop easily accessible responses to online questions in the months and years ahead.”  Click here to read more…

Weekly Address: President Obama Touts Nearly $2 Billion In New Investments To Help Build A Clean Energy Economy

(White House, July 3, 2010) – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama announced that the Department of Energy is awarding nearly $2 billion in conditional commitments from the Recovery Act to two solar companies. Abengoa Solar has agreed to build one of the largest solar plants in the world in Arizona, which will create about 1,600 construction jobs with over 70 percent of the construction components and products manufactured here in the USA.  When completed, this plant will provide enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes.  And, Abound Solar Manufacturing is building two new plants, one in Colorado and one in Indiana.  These projects will create more than 2,000 construction jobs, and over 1,500 permanent jobs as the plants produce millions of state of the art solar panels each year.   Click here to read more…

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