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Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Tuesday disavowed his 2008 comments about increasing gas prices to European levels, remarks that Republicans have pounced on in recent weeks. “I no longer share that view,” Chu said during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing,... Read More

Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended his department’s investments in energy-efficient light bulbs Tuesday amid growing GOP criticism. Republicans have pounced on a Washington Post story that notes the Energy Department awarded its $10 million “L Prize” to Philips for an LED light... Read More

Moving the electric vehicle market into higher gear will take far more than production of nifty cars and financial incentives to help people overcome the high up-front costs. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and an array of partners hope to boost what’s now a... Read More

The Senate on Tuesday blocked an amendment to pending transportation legislation that would have mandated a huge expansion of offshore oil-and-gas leasing, opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling and approved construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. Sen.... Read More

The Senate on Tuesday rejected plans to extend a host of lapsed or soon-to-expire tax breaks for renewable fuels and power sources. Lawmakers voted 49-49 for Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s (D-Mich.) amendment to transportation legislation, but 60 votes were needed for approval. The vote... Read More

Problems with wells used in natural-gas drilling could be to blame for water contamination, not hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” itself, The Wall Street Journal reports. Top union leaders hope to fix a divide over the Keystone XL oil pipeline, The Associated Press reports.... Read More

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) predicted on Monday afternoon that an amendment to the highway bill creating a new tax incentive for companies to use natural-gas-powered vehicles will probably not pass the Senate this week. “This is the first chance to come to the Senate floor... Read More

President Obama said Monday that “loose talk” of war is contributing to the recent spike in gas prices. “The biggest driver of these high gas prices is speculation about possible war in the Middle East, which is why we have been trying to reduce some of the loose talk... Read More

State of play: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the Energy Department’s loan program Tuesday, an issue that has risen to the top of House Republicans’ agenda but has gotten little play in the upper chamber. Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman... Read More

The White House scrambled Monday to contain the political damage from rising gas prices, which have emerged as a primary threat to President Obama’s reelection.  Obama gave White House interviews touting his energy policies to TV stations in several regions, including the... Read More