Beacon Power photo

Moniz to issue energy storage strategy in October

The Energy Department plans to issue by October a roadmap to commercialize the energy storage technology considered essential to making renewable sources, such as wind and solar, a reliable part of the nation's electricity grid.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on Tuesday wrote Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Ron Wyden that he planned to bring together utilities, technology companies and the research community to help develop the plan.

Obama to renew calls for nuclear reductions

BERLIN (AP) — President Barack Obama on Wednesday will renew his call to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles, including a proposed one-third reduction in U.S. and Russian arsenals, a senior administration official said.

Cape Wind gets $200M investment from Danish fund

BOSTON (AP) — The Cape Wind offshore wind project has secured a $200 million investment from a Danish pension fund in what the wind farm's president said Tuesday is a milestone for the long-delayed project.

Oil

Oil rises near $99 a barrel before Bernanke speaks

BANGKOK (AP) — The price of oil rose Wednesday, before the conclusion of a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

W.Va. mine safety lab creates disasters to train

JULIAN, W.Va. (AP) — Orange flames lick at the roof of the coal mine, heat building and visibility dropping as smoke begins to fill the underground passageway. Then, with the push of a few buttons on a hand-held remote, the flames flicker out, the smoke dissipates and the lights come on. The roar of fire is replaced by the trickle of nearby water.

World Bank highlights climate-poverty link

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The World Bank says it will increasingly view its efforts to help developing countries fight poverty through a "climate lens."

Japan formally OKs new nuke safety requirements

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's nuclear watchdog has formally approved new safety requirements for atomic plants, paving the way for the reopening of facilities shut down since the Fukushima disaster.

Transformer fire causes power failure in Prague

PRAGUE (AP) — Czech authorities say they are investigating an overnight explosion and fire in a transformer in Prague that caused a power failure in large sections of the capital.

Scientists: Timber in Lake Michigan centuries old

FAIRPORT, Mich. (AP) — A wooden beam embedded at the bottom of northern Lake Michigan appears to have been there for centuries, underwater archaeologists announced Tuesday, a crucial finding as crews dig toward what they hope is the carcass of a French ship that disappeared while exploring the Great Lakes in the 17th century.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Photo

Moniz seeks to counter climate, fracturing criticism by Republicans

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on Tuesday sparred with House Republicans over climate change and hydraulic fracturing, in polite but pointed exchanges that highlighted the political divide over energy and the environment.

At a budget hearing held by the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Moniz was repeatedly challenged to back the views of climate scientists that fossil fuel use is warming the planet and contributing to severe storms and droughts.

Moniz says clean coal loans still possible

The Energy Department is still considering whether to give new government loan guarantees to advanced fossil fuel projects that could include new carbon capture, Secretary Ernest Moniz said Tuesday.

Moniz told House lawmakers that the department's existing loan guarantee program is largely focused on managing loans already made or under negotiation, but that authority remains for loans to fossil fuel projects. He offered no timetable for action.

Oil

Oil climbs above $98 ahead of Fed policy news

NEW YORK (AP) — The price of oil rose above $98 Tuesday as traders awaited the latest word on both the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and U.S. oil supplies.U.S. benchmark oil for July delivery rose 67 cents to close at $98.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Duke Energy names insider to take over for Rogers

NEW YORK (AP) — Duke Energy Corp., the nation's largest electric utility, named Chief Financial Officer Lynn Good to replace Jim Rogers next month as CEO.

Ex-coal official seeks leniency in conspiracy case

BECKLEY, W.Va. (AP) — A former Massey Energy official who is cooperating in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is asking a judge for leniency when he's sentenced Aug. 1.

House, Senate on diverging paths on agency budgets

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans controlling the House unveiled slashing cuts Tuesday to a program that helps localities build community development projects, while their rivals in the Democratic-led Senate proposed to restore GOP cuts to international food aid and nutrition help for pregnant women.

Chrysler agrees to recall of Jeeps at risk of fire

DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler avoided a showdown with government safety regulators Tuesday, agreeing to recall 2.7 million older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire.

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