New York City's congestion pricing plan died on Monday in the New York State Assembly. Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, echoing calls from Assembly Democrats to oppose the plan, said only the "congestion pricing bill not have anywhere near a majority of the Democratic conference and will not be on the floor of the Assembly." The proposed $8-$21 congestion fees were aimed at traffic entering New York City south of 60th St in a bid to cut pollution and traffic in the city. Mayor Bloomberg commented "It takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience." The New York Post is reporting Sen. Joe Bruno may lead an attempt to revive the bill in New York State Senate, though the deadline to receive $354 million in federal transportation grants tied to the congestion plan came and went on Monday.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel will withdraw his country's biofuels roadmap plan after receiving news that not enough cars would be able to run on an E10 mix. Gabriel's plan would have introduced an E10 mix into the country, with a goal of reaching 20 percent market penetration by 2020, and an eventual E17 fuel mix. However, ADAC - the German Automotive Club - has raised concerns that close to 3.4 million German cars would be unable to handle the fuel mix, lobbying successfully to push back E10 introduction until 2012. Perhaps they should talk to the Brazilians.
Boston-based smart grid startup Ambient has signed a $10.7 million contract with Duke Energy to develop its "broadband over power lines" network. The company's BPL infrastructure aims to enhance real-time information transfer across power networks, which will let network utilities deploy demand side management and intelligent billing systems, as well as a let them control direct power loads. Other smart grid companies to receive money within the last week were Gridpoint, which picked up $15 million, and eMeter, which grabbed $12.5 million and announced a strategic relationship with Siemens. Gridpoint and Duke Energy have recently completed the first commercial test of their smart grid PHEV-charging system.
The Morning Feedstock
Daniel Englander: April 8, 2008, 1:28 AM
New York City's congestion pricing plan died on Monday in the New York State Assembly. Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, echoing calls from Assembly Democrats to oppose the plan, said only the "congestion pricing bill not have anywhere near a majority of the Democratic conference and will not be on the floor of the Assembly." The proposed $8-$21 congestion fees were aimed at traffic entering New York City south of 60th St in a bid to cut pollution and traffic in the city. Mayor Bloomberg commented "It takes a special type of cowardice for elected officials to refuse to stand up and vote their conscience." The New York Post is reporting Sen. Joe Bruno may lead an attempt to revive the bill in New York State Senate, though the deadline to receive $354 million in federal transportation grants tied to the congestion plan came and went on Monday.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel will withdraw his country's biofuels roadmap plan after receiving news that not enough cars would be able to run on an E10 mix. Gabriel's plan would have introduced an E10 mix into the country, with a goal of reaching 20 percent market penetration by 2020, and an eventual E17 fuel mix. However, ADAC - the German Automotive Club - has raised concerns that close to 3.4 million German cars would be unable to handle the fuel mix, lobbying successfully to push back E10 introduction until 2012. Perhaps they should talk to the Brazilians.
Boston-based smart grid startup Ambient has signed a $10.7 million contract with Duke Energy to develop its "broadband over power lines" network. The company's BPL infrastructure aims to enhance real-time information transfer across power networks, which will let network utilities deploy demand side management and intelligent billing systems, as well as a let them control direct power loads. Other smart grid companies to receive money within the last week were Gridpoint, which picked up $15 million, and eMeter, which grabbed $12.5 million and announced a strategic relationship with Siemens. Gridpoint and Duke Energy have recently completed the first commercial test of their smart grid PHEV-charging system.
