After hearing from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that the popular ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program was running out of money, Congress rushed to authorize a $2 billion injection that would keep the program afloat as more and more Americans take advantage of the service.

In an effort to fend off a projected temperature rise in London in the next several decades, the mayor of London’s environment advisor announced a plan to increase the amount of trees

Between 2007 and 2008, renewable energy consumption grew by 7 percent, according to a report just issued by the Department of Energy. This is the highest renewable energy estimate going back to 1949 as a result of increased use of biofuels, wind and solar energy, it says.

Most non-organic cosmetics and personal care products currently sold contain five major types of toxins that cause cancer and other health problems, according to the Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC).

If the United States commits to energy efficiency and cleaner energy in the next 10 years, it will set the course for the nation’s energy options for decades into the future, a new report by the National Research Council says. Likewise, actions we do not take as a nation will also shape our energy options in the long-term future, the report warns.

The world’s ocean surface temperature was the warmest yet for June, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center. Previously, the highest mark was set in 2005. In fact, each hemisphere broke the record for highest June ocean surface temperature, according to the NCDC.

Hannaford Supermarkets opened its new Augusta, Maine, supermarket on July 25 – the first U.S. supermarket to be awarded Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the highest certification from the U.S. Green Buildings Council.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 27 recognized 20 organizations generating their own power and providing leadership in clean energy.

The American Geophysical Union and the University of Colorado on July 20 released a study concluding that the reservoirs along the Colorado River could dry up by the middle of the century due to temperature increases. The likelihood is high unless water management policies are changed, researchers suggest.

In Uummannaq County on the west coast of Greenland, the Greenland shark is being looked to as an option for powering the community’s energy demand.