I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day and is looking forward to fall!

In Green Reading This Week, a recap of last week’s announcement on fuel-efficiency standards, fracking in New York State, Climate Change and a dose of politics (I couldn’t resist after the planet jokes at the RNC…).

Fuel Efficiency

US Sets Higher Fuel-Efficiency Standards – New York Times
The Obama administration issued new fuel economy rules on Tuesday that require auto manufacturers to increase the average efficiency of new cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

Cleaner Cars, A Safer Planet – New York Times
A NYT Editorial Piece on the new Obama Administration standards.

Fracking

State Considering Studying Health Impacts of Fracking – New York Times Green Blog
Fracking is a controversial method that is transforming the energy landscape in the US, bringing cheap US natural gas to the market. New York State is considering a study into yet another concerning aspect of fracking: the public health implications.

The Inevitable Slow Path to New York Shale Gas – Dot Earth Blog
Another interesting perspective on shale gas in New York State

Climate Change

Arctic Sea Ice Hits New and Early Summer Low for Satellite Era – Dot Earth Blog
Really neat blog post that continues to get updated with commentary from scientists, video on ice movement and the significance of setting a record.

Why We Need to Stop Talking About Climate Change - Green Biz
In many ways I agree with this author: we don’t need a climate change consensus and we need to make sure our energy efficient products are marketed based on their superior economics rather than their green-ness. Our customers in the end still buy on dollars and cents–and our products deliver on that basis. So lets keep innovating and making products that save money and energy and use our potentially limited resources in the most economically efficient way.

Politics

Mitt Romney’s Energy Plan: Of the Fossil Fuel Lobby, by the Fossil Fuel Lobby – Huffington Post Green
A (biased, I’ll admit) dissection of the Romney energy plan and some sobering statistics around oil and gas lobby political donations to date.

Romney Mocks Planet; Will Obama Mock Arctic? – Huffington Post Green
My twitter feed blew up during this quote at the RNC. One of many articles reacting to the soon-to-be infamous line in Romney’s speech.