U.S. EPA has submitted the first piece of its suite of greenhouse gas rules to the White House for review, a signal that the agency is on schedule to finalize its first regulations to curb the heat-trapping emissions.

EPA sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget last Thursday its final reconsideration of the George W. Bush administration’s “Johnson memo,” a determination from former EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson about when the government must begin to regulate industrial facilities’ greenhouse gas emissions. That decision is seen as a critical policy to have in place before the agency issues its final greenhouse gas rule for tailpipe emissions (Greenwire, March 5).

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For many people the word “green” has become a way to sum up a new world culture. It’s a culture that puts the environment first with things like renewable energy and special building design. A green culture is thriving in places such as Portland, Oregon and Copenhagen, Denmark.

But many believe this new world cu is more than just “green.” They talk of “the culture of sustainability,” which integrates social and economic concerns with a greener outlook. For example, sustainability means more business and government investment in renewable energy because, when we import less oil, we’re less dependent on countries such as Iran, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia.

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March 5 (Bloomberg) — China may start its first city-wide carbon cap-and-trade system by June as the world’s biggest polluter seeks to rein in emissions, a project adviser said.

The northeast port city of Tianjin plans to impose a mandatory limit on energy used to heat buildings in the first half of this year, John Shi, chief executive officer of the carbon credit trader Arreon Carbon U.K. Ltd., said in an interview. Property managers able to reduce energy use to below the limit will earn credits they can then sell, he said.

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NEW YORK – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants its suppliers to reduce 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2015.

The world’s largest retailer’s push goes beyond its efforts to date to reduce its own emissions by designing more energy-efficient stores and pursuing alternative fuels for its fleet of trucks.

The goal is equivalent to taking 3.8 million cars off the road for a year, the company said.

Wal-Mart is collaborating with the Environmental Defense Fund and other environmental experts to measure reduction. It said it won’t force suppliers to make changes but will work with them on projects that will reduce both emissions and costs.

In the past few years, the company has been working with suppliers to reduce packaging, which has translated into such changes as more concentrated detergent products and toothpaste that’s no longer in a box.

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Feb. 16 — Ford Motor Co. is creating a dealership sustainability program to cut operating costs and lower carbon footprints at individual locations.

The “Go Green” dealership sustainability program will work with Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealerships to improve energy efficiency at their sites.

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BEAVERTON, OR — A group of companies and nonprofits that includes Nike, Starbucks and Ceres launched a virtual coast-to-coast race Tuesday in a bid to create momentum for passing U.S. climate change legislation.

The “Race for American Jobs and Clean Energy Leadership” kicked off at the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., Tuesday, the first stop of a coast-to-coast virtual tour with stops over the next three weeks in Colorado, Ohio, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C.

The race is sponsored by “We Can Lead,” a campaign launched by the Clean Economy Network and Ceres’ Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP), whose members include Nike, Levi Strauss & Co., Starbucks, Sun Microsystems, The Timberland Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry’s, Eileen Fisher, Stonyfield Farm Inc., and Symantec

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Poor farming practices have degraded the world’s soils causing them to release carbon that should have stayed in the soil. In the past 150 years soils have released twice as much carbon as fuel burning. Improved farming methods could quickly rebuild degraded land and store enough carbon to offset the damage already done by fuel burning. Dr Rattan Lal of Ohio State University, a leading expert on soil carbon, estimates that the potential of economical carbon sequestration in world soils may be .65 billion to 1.1 billion tons per year for the next 50 years. This is enough to draw down atmospheric CO2 by 50 ppm by 2100. This is a one-time opportunity, however. We must ultimately stop burning fossil fuels.

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In response to a Feb. 19 letter submitted to her by eight U.S. senators, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has released details of modifications the agency expects to make to two controversial proposed rules that will impact industrial sources of GHG emissions.

In a letter sent by Jackson to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., the administrator said she does not expect to require stationary sources of GHG emissions to obtain Clean Air Act permits until 2011. This modification will provide both industry and administrative officials a nearly one-year extension to prepare for implementation of the rule as compared with the initial proposal. The agency’s proposed Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule expected all GHG emitters to begin complying with permitting requirements in March. Additionally, Jackson stated in her letter that the EPA now plans to phase in permit requirements and regulation of GHGs for large emitters. Only those facilities that already apply for CAA permits as a result of other emissions will need to apply for GHG emissions permits during the first half of 2011. The remaining “large sources” will be required to begin acquiring GHG emission permits during the second half of the year.

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Washington, D.C., Jan. 27, 2010 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to provide public companies with interpretive guidance on existing SEC disclosure requirements as they apply to business or legal developments relating to the issue of climate change.

Federal securities laws and SEC regulations require certain disclosures by public companies for the benefit of investors. Occasionally, to assist those who provide such disclosures, the Commission provides guidance on how to interpret the disclosure rules on topics of interest to the business and investment communities. The Commission’s interpretive releases do not create new legal requirements nor modify existing ones, but are intended to provide clarity and enhance consistency for public companies and their investors.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has announced that 35 midwest communities have joined its Community Climate Change Initiative and committed to take action to reduce their town’s carbon footprint.
“Local governments play a critical role in addressing climate change,” said Cheryl Newton, EPA regional Air Division director. ‘Reducing greenhouse gases will not only help the environment, it will also help communities and citizens reduce waste and improve their bottom line by saving on energy costs.’

In Illinois, sixteen communities — Alton, Bellwood, Carbondale, Des Plaines, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Gilberts, Hoffman Estates, Niles, Oak Park, Orland Park, Rock Island, Schaumburg, Urbana, Warrenville and Westmont – have joined. In Indiana, four communities — Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Michigan City and West Lafayette – have joined. Two Michigan communities — Delta Township and Kalamazoo – have joined. Seven Minnesota communities — Apple Valley, Falcon Heights, Northfield, Oakdale, Roseville, Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud – have joined. Four Ohio communities — Cleveland, Columbus, East Palestine and Rittman – have joined. And two Wisconsin communities — Bayfield and Waukesha – have joined.

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