Tax-cut bill includes big boost for liquid coal

Dec. 17-- WASHINGTON -- The tax-cut bill that the House of Representatives was expected to pass late Thursday does more than prevent taxes from going up next year. It also provides some energy tax breaks, including a subsidy for producing liquid coal.

Environmental groups oppose the subsidy because of its impact on climate change. Making a liquid fuel from coal adds twice the global warming pollution to the atmosphere as gasoline does because it requires so much energy to produce.

Nissan Delivers Seattle's First 100% Electric Nissan LEAF - PRNewswire - Wire - BradentonHerald.com

Area couple Jennifer Steele and Jonathan Hoekstra took delivery of their red Nissan LEAF SL today at Stadium Nissan. This groundbreaking moment represents the state's first delivery of an affordable, mass-market, all-electric car.

Hoekstra is a senior scientist with The Nature Conservancy. Steele is a small business owner. They live in Seattle. Hoekstra and Steele are customers of Seattle City Light, the first electric utility in the country to become carbon neutral. Since 2005, Seattle City Light has achieved net carbon neutral carbon dioxide emissions, every year.