(From the AP) California is expanding a rebate program for shoppers purchasing energy efficient appliances. The state’s “cash for appliances” program is adding dishwashers, freezers, water heaters and heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems to the list of appliances eligible for rebates. The amount of the rebate varies from $50 to $1,000 depending on the appliance.

The “cash for appliances” program, which began in the spring, is designed to cut energy use. The state Energy Commission says about $19 million is still available for consumers. Officials say consumers seeking the rebates must submit proof that they bought a new, qualifying appliance and disposed of their old one.

The expanded program begins July 29.

(From the AP) A survey says the average price of regular gasoline in the United States has gone up in the last two weeks, but by less than a cent. The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday said the price of regular rose slightly to $2.73. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) In the midst of the worst oil-spill disaster in U.S. history, California voters’ opinion of allowing new drilling off their coast took a nose dive from two years ago, according to a Field Poll released today. Voter support for drilling in state water began to slide 30 years ago, but the poll shows it plunged from 43 percent two years ago to only 31 percent today. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) A few hundred bucks for new, energy-efficient refrigerators, clothes washers and room air conditioners was not enough to send recession-pinched Californians rushing to appliance stores. So the state is going to sweeten the offer. When it meets next Wednesday, the California Energy Commission is expected to approve a major expansion of the state’s Cash for Appliances program, adding energy-efficient dishwashers, freezers, water heaters and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) The California Energy Commission has added five General Electric brand clothes washers to the state’s Cash for Appliances program. The CEC, which is administering the program that began April 22, said there are now 260 clothes washers, more than 125 refrigerators and 314 room air conditioners that qualify for rebates. Mail-in rebates on approved appliances are $200 for a refrigerator, $100 for a washing machine and up to $50 for a room air conditioner. The program will continue until the rebate money runs out. For additional information on qualifying appliances and the program, visit www.cash4appliances.org or call (888) 390-4034.

(From the sacbee.com) About $20.5 million in rebate funds remains in the state’s Cash for Appliances program. The California Energy Commission, which is administering the program that began April 22, said more than $2.5 million in rebates had been paid through Wednesday and an estimated $8.6 million had been requested by consumers. (more…)

(From Science Daily) Switching off lights, turning the television off at the mains and using cooler washing cycles could have a much bigger impact on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power stations than previously thought, according to a new study published this month in the journal Energy Policy. The study shows that the figure used by government advisors to estimate the amount of carbon dioxide saved by reducing people’s electricity consumption is up to 60 percent too low. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) It was the last line of defense, the final barrier between the rushing volcanic fury of oil and gas and one of the worst environmental disasters in United States history.  Its very name — the blind shear ram — suggested its blunt purpose. When all else failed, if the crew of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig lost control of a well, if a dreaded blowout came, the blind shear ram’s two tough blades were poised to slice through the drill pipe, seal the well and save the day. Everything else could go wrong, just so long as “the pinchers” went right. All it took was one mighty stroke. (more…)

(From the www.sacbee.com) The California Energy Commission, which is administering the state’s Cash for Appliances program, has added three new clothes washers and five new refrigerator brands to its list of appliances qualifying for rebates. There are now more than 250 clothes washers, more than 125 refrigerators and 300 room air conditioners qualifying for rebates. (more…)

(From the nytimes.com) Four days of intense negotiations between the White House and BP lawyers allowed President Obama to announce Wednesday that the oil giant would create a $20 billion fund to pay damage claims to thousands of fishermen and others along the Gulf Coast. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) About $24 million in rebate funds remains in the state’s Cash for Appliances program. The California Energy Commission said about 38,000 rebate applications accounting for nearly $7.6 million had been received through Thursday. Mail-in rebates on approved appliances are $200 for a refrigerator, $100 for a washing machine and up to $50 for a room air conditioner.  For additional information on qualifying appliances and the program, visit www.cash4appliances.org. or call (888) 390-4034.

(From Science Daily) A nano-scale solar cell inspired by the coaxial cable offers greater efficiency than any previously designed nanotech thin film solar cell by resolving the “thick & thin” challenge inherent to capturing light and extracting current for solar power, Boston College researchers report in the current online edition of the journal Physica Status Solidi. (more…)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted today to authorize the establishment of the proposed Los Angeles County Energy Program (LACEP), a program that will allow qualified property-owners to finance renewable energy upgrades through property tax assessments, resulting in long-term cost savings. At the April 6, 2010 Board the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution of intention to implement the LACEP to provide financing to qualified County property owners for the installation of distributed generation renewable projects and energy and water efficiency improvements to their respective properties. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) The California Energy Commission, which is administering the state’s Cash for Appliances program, has set up an online link listing appliances qualifying for rebates. The link is www.cash4appliances.org/consumers. On Wednesday, the CEC added 38 clothes washers and 30 refrigerators to the list for a combined total of 259 eligible clothes washers, 126 refrigerators, and 300 room air conditioners. (more…)

(From the AP) The average price of regular gasoline in the United States has jumped more than seven cents over a two-week period to $2.92. That’s according to the national Lundberg Survey of fuel prices released Sunday. (more…)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger withdrew his support Monday for a new oil drilling project off the Santa Barbara coast in the wake of a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The Republican governor for two years had pushed the Tranquillon Ridge project as a way to raise money for California’s strapped budget. (more…)

(From the sacbee.com) A week into California’s Cash for Appliances program, thousands of rebate applications have poured in, retailers are reporting brisk sales and state officials are pleased with the so-far orderly process. By Tuesday night, about 6,000 rebate applications had come in – relatively the tip of the iceberg, the first few forms filled out and mailed in after the program kicked off April 22. (more…)

(From the AP) The federal government is giving away $35.2 million to Californians who are buying energy-efficient appliances, but consumers will have to act fast to get the mail-in rebates provided by the latest federal stimulus program. (more…)