yikes!

Sorry I took so long to update - I decided to extend my blogging vacation since it was a pretty busy week.

Anyway, here's a few interesting news stories...

Quebec just introduced a carbon tax. "Quebec will implement Canada's first carbon tax in October, collecting just under one cent a litre from petroleum companies in the province, which will raise about $200 million a year to pay for energy-saving initiatives such as improvements to public transit." Hopefully it will work as a successful model for everyone else.

Wind power will supposedly make 20% of US energy by 2030. That's what "industry" people say at least. That's compared to the ~1% it makes today.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg is gaining support for his proposed congestion tax. Basically, he wants to tax all cars entering Manhattan below 85th (?) Street with the London congestion charge (as well as an existing system in Singapore, I think) as a model. It's a pretty good idea - I hear he also has plans to help out the city's green image with city hydro and solar power as well.

Carbon capture and storage: the new way to quickly and easily cut back on emissions? "Carbon capture and storage, also called carbon sequestration, traps carbon dioxide after it is produced and injects it underground. The gas never enters the atmosphere." The article makes it sound pretty safe, but I feel like this couldn't be a great idea for a long-term solution. Still, pretty interesting stuff.

And of course there was the G8 summit, where the 8 leaders of the G8 countries agreed to cut emissions significantly (or at least agree to talk about it more later this year) but I'll believe an agreement when they make some sort of actual pledge - let alone tangible results.