Study: ending tolls would undercut transportation needs.

A state panel that is warning against ending tolls on the turnpike west of Route 128 will get a report this week saying that Massachusetts faces a shortfall of as much as $16 billion to meet its basic transportation needs over the next 20 years.

[News Source]

Energy suit settled; consumers will save. New energy standards for appliances such as refrigerators, water heaters and air conditioners will help consumers save on utility bills and reduce air pollution under a national settlement announced Monday. [News Source]

U.N.: China faces pollution challenges. The United Nations said Tuesday that China has made progress in increasing access to water for its citizens but still faces serious challenges in fighting pollution. [News Source]

U.N.: China faces pollution challenges . The United Nations said Tuesday that China has made progress in increasing access to water for its citizens but still faces serious challenges in fighting pollution. [News Source]

Air quality tests for busy road. A major six-month project to test the air quality on one of Powys, Great Britian's busiest roads is about to begin. Sensors will be used to measure pollution in New Road, Newtown, in the first scheme of its type in the county. [News Source]

London mayor plans tripled traffic charge on big cars. London Mayor Ken Livingstone plans to punish the drivers of large cars and trucks by tripling the daily congestion charge they must pay in the center of the city to 25 pounds in a bid to improve air quality. [News Source]

Luxury meets clean diesel technology. Mercedes-Benz is slated to roll out a luxury sedan that gets 35 mpg and doesn't pollute the air. [News Source]

Court pulls plug on power plant. For now, the Medicine Lake highlands in California will remain free from geothermal power development. [News Source]

Alternative energy comes with a ‘moo’ in Vermont. Besides pumping out 8,000 gallons of milk a day, 2,000 cows on Blue Spruce Farm also light up 400 homes. The fuel is methane gas that bubbles from manure treated with bovine bacteria in heated underground tanks. [News Source]

Company moves ahead on coal gasification plant. Buoyed by expectations that Wyoming will add power transmission capability soon, a company is moving ahead on plans for a low-emission, coal gasification-powered generation plant here. [News Source]

US to publish new efficiency rules for appliances. The US Energy Department will impose stricter energy-efficiency standards for 22 categories of appliances over the next 5 years. [News Source]