Daniels wants to attract private investment in biomass, clean coal technologies. Building on his commitment to corn- and soybean-based biofuels, Gov. Mitch Daniels on Friday unveiled an energy plan that relies on wind power, high-sulfur Indiana coal and even pig manure to meet the state's growing power demands. [News Source]

Mechanism in need of a more efficient form. It would be a brave engineer, or car company chief, who would predict the downfall of the internal combustion engine. [News Source]

Wind-powered skiing. Less than 10 years ago the Aspen Skiing Company introduced the first wind-powered lift in the American ski industry. In April, Skico switched to 100 percent renewable energy, followed this summer by Vail Resorts and the town of Vail. [News Source]

Reef madness. Tons of "nutrients" that a Delray Beach pipe spits out each month can at times act as a virtual steroid for algae, which, in amounts too great, smother and kill coral reef. [News Source]

Negotiators fine-tune plan on greenhouse gas emissions. Negotiations are intensifying between the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. [News Source]

DEP to review sites after day-care fiasco. State environmental officials will inspect 1,846 sites previously removed from a list of contaminated properties, following a scandal in which one still-polluted site was converted into a day-care center. [News Source]

Mercury-filled switches will be removed from wrecked cars. The US EPA and the auto industry have announced a voluntary program intended to keep mercury out of the nation's air and water. [News Source]

Development plan runs on sunshine. A new development planned for an area of San Francisco known for its toxic soil and polluted air could become the city's first to run entirely on clean, renewable energy. [News Source]

Home and garden news and notes (The Pueblo Chieftain) WHAT'S NEW: CARPET TOUTED AS AIR CLEANER Carpet is often singled out for contributing to indoor air pollution. But Beaulieu is making a new type of carpet that's touted as actually improving the air quality in a home. Beaulieu's Puresque collection has a backing coated with a salt-based formula that captures odors and pollutants. The carpet is available in 31 styles including various fibers, [News Source]

Port of Los Angeles to pay for ideas to reduce pollution.

The Port of Los Angeles is offering $6 million in financial incentives as part of an effort to reduce air pollution generated by port operations.

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TXU’s emissions claim examined. TXU Corp.'s repeated claim that its 11 new coal plants will reduce air pollution emissions 20 percent is not relevant in terms of Dallas-Fort Worth's summer smog problem, a consultant says. [News Source]