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Vermont's bid to curb emissions heads to court

A week after the U.S. Supreme Court said vehicle carbon dioxide emissions can be regulated like other pollutants, an effort by several states to do that is about to get its first court test, according to the Associated Press.
California long has been the pacesetter in regulating car emissions, setting tougher limits than those imposed by the federal government. To avoid having cars built to meet 50 different sets of state rules, federal law allows other states to choose between the federal and the California rules. Vermont and nine other states follow California.
But the focus shifts to Vermont tomorrow, where a trial begins over new rules - adopted by California in 2005 and soon after by the other states - designed to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Posted by   at 10:43 AM to Environment | Permalink | Comments 0

Oil prices decline following Iran's release of British sailors

Oil prices fell Monday following last week's release of British sailors detained by Iran, but concerns over the tight U.S. demand-supply balance and other geopolitical issues supported prices, according to the Associated Press. Volume was light with much of Europe celebrating an extended Easter holiday.
Light, sweet crude for May delivery fell 44 cents to $63.84 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at midday in Europe.

Posted by   at 10:36 AM to Oil | Permalink | Comments 0

Supreme Court rulings cast pall over NY Auto Show

Just as automakers prepared to parade their signature V-8 models with 300, 400 and even 500-plus horsepower last week at the opening of the New York International Auto Show, the New York Times noted yesterday, a landmark Supreme Court ruling on greenhouse gas emissions wafted a message to the petrol-fueled party in Manhattan: enjoy the fun while it lasts.

Posted by   at 10:31 AM to Alternative fuels , Environment , Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

In Pictures: Best Of 2007 New York Auto Show

Check out photos of Forbes.com's favorite debuts from the New York Auto Show - although the slide show does not include one of my favorites - the Kia Soul.

Posted by   at 10:14 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

More than 4,000 Chrysler workers take buyout

More than 4,300 hourly employees of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group have accepted early retirement and buyout packages offered as part of the automaker's recovery plan, the company said last week, according to USA Today.
In the United States and Canada, 4,312 hourly workers have accepted the packages offered as part of the company's plans to reduce its workforce by 13,000 people in three years. The goal for 2007 is 5,875 hourly employees; some employees are still eligible to accept the offers.

Posted by   at 9:24 AM to Companies | Permalink | Comments 0

Crossovers remain hot at NY Auto Show

Automakers are showing plenty of crossover SUVs at the New York International Auto Show as well as a small car or three, according to USA Today's James R. Healey.
Included in his list are the 2009 Ford Flex, 2008 Volvo XC70, 2008 Jeep Liberty, VW Jetta SportWagon, 2008 Subaru Tribeca, 2008 Infiniti EX 3.5 and 2008 Lexus LX 570.

Posted by   at 9:16 AM to Shows | Permalink | Comments 0

Kerkorian bid for Chrysler seen getting cold shoulder

The $4.5 billion bid for DaimlerChrysler by Los Angeles billionaire Kirk Kerkorian is likely to get a very chilly reception in Germany, according to thecarconnection.com
Even without the standard German aversion to meddlesome corporate raiders, DaimlerChrysler's directors have a deep-seated mistrust of Kerkorian and his automotive adviser, Jerry York, because of the litigation that followed the original merger that created DaimlerChrysler in 1998, the Web site says.

Posted by   at 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments 0