The July issue of Environment & Climate News leads with a report on the summer’s top environment story: the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Executives from other oil companies told Congress in June 15 testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee the spill would not have happened if BP had followed established industry safety procedures. At the same time, documents were released showing the Obama administration rejected valuable assistance from other nations who were equipped and prepared to contain and clean up much of the oil.
Also in this issue:
- Heartland Executive Vice President Dan Miller summarizes proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Climate Change.
- No Asian carp were found during a recent evaluation of a Chicago-area river near Lake Michigan, alleviating fears the voracious invasive species is poised to enter the Great Lakes ecosystem. Yet the controversy continues.
- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is eliminating the state’s $65 million global warming fund and redirecting the money to reduce the state’s $10 billion deficit.
- The Building Industry Association of Washington is suing the state over expensive new energy efficiency standards that will raise the price of a new home by between $4,000 and $10,000.
- State officials in Florida and New Jersey have ended taxpayer-funded solar rebate plans due to high costs and lack of funding.
- Natural gas production in the energy-rich Marcellus Shale Formation has received a boost from a plan unveiled by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
