Climate Progress:  Markey to take chairmanship of new Energy and Environment Subcommittee

With this move, Pelosi’s House further cements itself as the likely force for boldness on climate/energy issues in coming years. The Speaker is by all accounts a sincere and committed greenie. She has Waxman at the helm of the relevant committee. She has Markey running the relevant subcommittee and doing education/advocacy. Dingell and his allies — the go-slow lobby — have been cleared away. All systems are go.

Carbon hysteria market worth up to $118 bln in 2008-report | Reuters

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The global carbon market was worth around $118 billion in 2008, rising 84 percent from the previous year due to higher trading volumes and prices, research group New Carbon Finance said.

The market's value should swell to $150 billion in 2009, in spite of the gloomy backdrop of a global recession, the group forecast in a quarterly trading update.

"For 2009, we anticipate continued market growth albeit at a slower rate than that seen between 2007 and 2008," it said.

Spokane's global warming fighter Mayor Verner: 'Times of hardship are not completely over'

Mayor Verner also noted that the cost per day for snow removal, during the height of the storms, was in excess of $150,000. On a side note, in 2008 the City budgeted $2 million for snow removal and ended up spending $4.5 million. Verner said that safety always comes first and City will do their best to maintain safety during crisis moments without regard to the money being spent.