Energy News: According to U.S. News & World Report, "Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the new chair of the National Governors Association, was in Washington this week to argue that state governments should be a driving force in reducing the nation's dependence on foreign oil and in fighting greenhouse gas emissions. ... Pawlenty appeared with Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman at the National Press Club to outline how states can advance 'smart energy' agendas, such as by setting energy efficiency goals for their own buildings and vehicle fleets. He has also said that states can take steps to encourage more funding for energy research and development." Not linked in the article is a new web page from the NGA devoted to clean energy. And there's one big outstanding question: with federal elections ahead, will the White House support or stand in the way of states' energy efficiency initiatives? That's for others to say; here in the EZ we believe that any clean energy discussion is healthy.
