Climate change report forecasts global sea levels to rise up to 4 feet by 2100.
According to a new report led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. “faces the possibility of much more rapid climate change by the end of the century than previous studies have suggested.” The report, commissioned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, found that global sea levels could rise higher than a 2007 U.N. Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) study had concluded: “In one of the report’s most worrisome findings, the agency estimates that in light of recent ice sheet melting, global sea levels could rise as much as 4 feet by 2100.”
There goes Rush Limbaugh’s Palm Beach home.  I feel REAL sorry for him.

Warmer oceans would fuel more thunderstorms
Inhabitants of the tropics can expect to see more severe storms if sea-surface temperatures in the region continue to rise as Earth’s climate changes.

Obama team primed to push climate change agenda
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President-elect Barack Obama’s new “green dream team” is committed to battling climate change and ready to push for big policy reforms, in stark contrast with the Bush administration, environmental advocates said on Monday. “If this team can’t advance strong national policy on global warming, then no one can,” said Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists, referring to Obama’s picks for the top energy and environment jobs in his administration, which takes office on January 20.

More than 100 million Americans breathe sooty air
WASHINGTON – More than 100 million people living in 46 metro areas are breathing air that has gotten too full of soot on some days, and now those cities have to clean up their air, the Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.

San Francisco Airport to Offer Carbon Offsets
[A]ccording to the San Francisco Chronicle , San Francisco’s airport will soon become one of the first airports in the U.S. to offer carbon offsets to travelers via airport kiosks. Starting this spring, a company called 3Degrees will join forces with the city and SFO to offer fliers the ability to purchase carbon offsets at airports stations that resemble self check-in counters. 3Degrees, whose projects include coal mine methane gas capture, forestry, agricultural methane gas capture and renewable energy in developing countries, will run the service and provide the software and offset programs, while the city will provide the kiosks.

Business Leaders Positive About Green Giving, Investing
ATLANTA, Ga. — Even in a down economy, wealthy business owners plan to continue giving to environmental causes and feel it’s a good time for green investments.

Ernst&Young reports record investments in Cleantech companies
Global investment in cleantech companies reaches record US$4.6 billion in the first three quarters of 2008 Venture capital investment in cleantech companies reached a record US$4.6 billion in the first three quarters of 2008, according to Ernst & Young’s analysis of activity in the United States, Europe, China and Israel based on data from Dow Jones VentureSource. This is an increase of 82% compared with the same period last year and represents 13% of all venture capital investment in these geographies.

Wells Fargo Finances More Than $3 Billion in Environmental Projects        
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Wells Fargo & Company’s environmental financing has exceeded $3 billion, hurdling past its goal of providing $1 billion in commitments to Earth-friendly projects and doing so two years earlier than expected.

Be ready for Investing in 2009 with Investor Ideas Water Stocks Directory, Renewable Energy Stocks Directory and Biotech Stocks Directory
InvestorIdeas.com, one of the first online investor resources providing in-depth information on renewable energy, greentech and water, provides independent investors access to research tools for making investment decisions moving into 2009 with a new Obama administration. Investor Ideas has just added the updated Biotech Stocks Directory to the growing list of tools and resources for members.

DOE Awards 16 Contracts for up to $80 Billion in Projects at Federal Facilities
DOE announced on December 18 that it will award sixteen new Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) that could result in up to $80 billion in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation projects at federally-owned buildings and facilities.

For clean energy, look to the Internet
Infotech pioneer Bob Metcalfe says the skills that helped drive the infotech revolution can do the same for energy efficiency and eco-friendly materials.

Clear Skies Group Partners with SGFP2 on Solar-Powered Active-Living Community
$6,500,000 Solar-Powered Generation Facilities Will Help DeKalb County, Georgia Community Lead Drive to Smart Living

Clear Skies Solar Signs LOA for $20 Million Solar Energy Deal in India
Five Megawatt Solar Power Facility Marks Company’s Entrance to International Market

Solar’s Boom Day
First Solar’s (FSLR) terrific 4th quarter numbers set the solar sector on fire today.

Japan to bring back solar power subsidy for homes
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan plans to bring back subsidies for solar panel equipment from January, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Wednesday, as the world’s fifth-biggest emitter struggles to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. METI said the government would offer 9 billion yen ($99.6 million) in the first quarter of 2009 and possibly more in the fiscal year starting next April to foster use of solar panel equipment in homes.

Algae in the Air: 5 Startups Turning Algae Into Jet Fuel
A kerosene-based aviation fuel called Jet Propellant 8 made up more than 90 percent of the fuel used by the Department of Defense in 2006, at a cost of $6 billion, according to Cleantech Group . Take all of that fuel, and combine it with commercial airlines’ needs, volatile fuel prices, and urgent calls for energy independence, and you have a massive market all but begging for a cheaper, renewable alternative. A growing number of companies are now racing to supply it with algae.

An Ethanol Bailout?
Along with Russia, Venezuela, Iran and the Dubai property market, add another name to the list of bubble economies hurt by the falling price of oil: the ethanol industry. And naturally, the ethanol lobby is looking for a bailout on top of its regular taxpayer subsidies.

Modified Plants May Yield More Biofuel
Plants, genetically modified to ease the breaking down of their woody material, could be the key to a cheaper and greener way of making ethanol, according to researchers who add that the approach could also help turn agricultural waste into food for livestock.

This is “Clean Coal”: Massive Coal Sludge Spill Dwarfs Exxon Valdez Disaster
[A] retention pond holding toxic coal ash slurry burst Monday in Roane County, Tennessee, releasing over half a billion gallons of potentially toxic sludge that swept into the nearby town of Harriman and contaminated tributaries of the Tennessee River… [The] tragedy struck at the coal ash impoundment associated with the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kingston coal-fired steam plant and released about 2.6 million cubic yards of slurry, the Tennessean reports.

Obama Science Adviser Supports Long-Term Coal, Nuclear Devt
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- President-elect Barack Obama’s next senior science adviser, Harvard academic and vociferous climate change advocate John Holdren, is a proponent for clean coal and advanced nuclear energy, according to his previous speeches and policy work. But the types of coal and nuclear generation that Holdren advocates is years away from commercial development, and it’s questionable whether he will encourage near-term private-sector expansion of the two sectors.

Toshiba to Boost EV Battery Production by 2010
The global market for electric vehicle batteries could grow to $19 billion by 2010, and Japan’s Toshiba Corp. wants an ample piece of it. The electronics giant stepped up the race to supply rechargeable batteries to automakers with news that it plans to build a second factory for its rapid-charge lithium-ion battery.

Hawaiian Electric in Smart Meter Deal With Sensus
The Aloha State will be getting a smart grid under a new contract announced today between Hawaiian Electric and Sensus Metering Systems . Sensus said that Hawaiian Electric, which provides electricity for 95 percent of Hawaii’s residents, plans to install Sensus FlexNet smart meters for 430,000 residential and commercial electric customers, subject to approval of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission.

New Bigger, Flashier Times Square Ball is Powered by LEDs
The new Ball, which weighs 11,875 pounds and is double the size of previous Balls, will light up with help from 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.

Efficient Organic LEDs A Step Toward Better Lights
For those who love “green” compact fluorescent bulbs but hate their cold light, here’s some good news: Researchers are closer to flipping the switch on cheaper, richer LED-type room lighting.

In China, overambition reins in eco-city plans
In a country overloaded with environmental challenges, Dongtan is a symbol of political overreach that straddles nearby Shanghai and Britain, the home base of Arup, the firm that dreamed up Dongtan. Its failings show the limits to getting bold ideas off the drawing board, even in China’s top-down political culture, where outsized schemes get traction.

Italian architect Renzo ‘inspired’ by need to be green
GENOA, Italy (AFP) – Environmental protection, far from being a constraint, should be a source of inspiration, in the view of celebrated Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Converted Organics Turns Food Waste into Fertilizer
BOSTON, Mass. — Table scraps, discarded meals that never make it to the dining room and aging leftovers. Garbage to you and many in the food industry, perhaps, but it’s a windfall for New England firm Converted Organics.

Starchy packing peanuts fail to flush
Public utility crews in Raleigh, N.C., have tested biodegradable packing peanuts and discovered that if they’re flushed down the drain, they’re a menace to plumbing pipes.

Recycling market crumples
People are still putting their bins of recyclables out on curbs. But the recyclable materials market, which was booming only a few months ago, has dropped sharply, along with the worldwide economy, creating a backlog of materials at processing plants.

Africa’s oldest chimp, a conservation icon, dies
Jane Goodall Institute staff members are mourning the death of Gregoire, Africa’s oldest known chimpanzee. Gregoire, who was 66 years old, was international symbol for the conservation of all animals, particularly those which suffered human-inflicted abuse prior to their rescue.