Today’s Headlines

  • Bad sign for that climate bill? Obama statement calls it by the wrong name, citing House version instead (WH Press)
  • How China is winning the worldwide high-speed rail race (WashPost)
  • Virginia’s proposed tolls along I-95 could help free up funds to fight congestion on truck-laden I-81 (WHSV)
  • Nissan is pinning its fiscal future on an electric vehicle boom (Earth2Tech)
  • Tampa area officials debate the county’s proposed transit sales tax (Tampa Trib)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Senate Climate Bill Delayed Yet Again As Obama Takes Nobel

By Elana Schor |
As my colleague Ryan wrote earlier, the congressional climate change bill no represents the most meaningful path for urbanists, and advocates for clean transportation in general, to make their voices heard in the national debate. President Obama, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize today. (Photo: AP) So it bears repeating that the bill is losing momentum, […]

Boxer Delays Senate Climate Bill Until September

By Elana Schor |
This was supposed to be a big week for action on climate change in the Senate — but it’s ending with Republicans rubbing their hands in glee as the Environment and Public Works Committee delays its unveiling of legislation on carbon emissions. Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) (Photo: AP) As Reuters reports this […]

Petition: Support a Climate Bill That Invests in Green Transportation

By Ben Fried |
At the end of March, representatives Henry Waxman and Ed Markey introduced an ambitious federal climate bill. This is the real deal — the legislative centerpiece of President Obama’s effort to combat global warming. Transportation contributes about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so any climate bill will have to green […]

Senate Poised to Move on Climate Bill

By Elana Schor |
Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairman of the Senate environment committee, isn’t yet ready to start debating a long-term transportation bill — but she is reportedly prepared to move on climate change legislation that includes targets for diminishing auto dependence and encouraging transit use. Boxer’s panel will begin debate on its climate bill during the last week […]

Obama Adviser: If EPA is Blocked on Emissions, Forget About CAFE Deal

By Elana Schor |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson extended an olive branch this week to lawmakers who are pushing to block her from regulating carbon emissions in the absence of a congressional climate bill, but Jackson’s promise to delay action until next year appears to have made no headway with Republicans and coal-state Democrats.  Carol Browner, […]

Obama: Climate Pessimism More Dangerous Than Climate Deniers

By Elana Schor |
In a speech much anticipated by those tracking the D.C. environmental debate, President Obama today took on opponents of congressional action on climate change, decrying "naysayers" who "make cynical claims" that ignore scientific evidence of the harm caused by emissions. (Photo: BusinessWeek) But "far more dangerous" than the rhetoric of climate deniers or skeptics, Obama […]