Lafarge’s profit from CO2 sales slumps to 99 mln euros

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters Point Carbon) – Cement firm Lafarge earned 99 million euros ($132 million) from selling EU carbon permits in 2012, 44 percent down on the 177 million euros it made a year earlier, it said in annual results on Wednesday, almost matching a decline in market prices.

California governor overestimating CO2 market revenues: watchdog - News - Point Carbon

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 20 (Reuters Point Carbon) – California Governor Jerry Brown is overstating the amount of money the state earn from the sale of carbon permits in its cap-and-trade program by tens of millions of dollars, California’s budget watchdog said Tuesday, dealing a possible blow to the state's plans to invest in clean energy.

Nervous sellers send NZ carbon prices 8 pct lower - News - Point Carbon

BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters Point Carbon) - Spot permits in New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme closed Thursday at NZ$1.75, down 7.9 percent week-on-week but up 30 cents from Tuesday, when the contract hit an all-time low as nervous sellers offloaded permits, traders said.

Obama settles on EPA, Energy Department nominees - News - Point Carbon

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama intends to nominate air quality expert Gina McCarthy to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz to head the Department of Energy as early as this week, according to a source familiar with the process.

The Reference Frame: Ernest Moniz, MIT: Chu's successor?

At any rate, with a climate alarmist hybridized with a nuclear bull who is affiliated with MIT, I would have mixed feelings about this possible future U.S. energy secretary. And there's one extra silver lining here: Moniz is actually a fracking supporter.