United States – May 8

Click on the headline (link) for the full text.

Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletin homepage

All of Inflation’s Little Parts
New York Times
Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics gathers 84,000 prices in about 200 categories – like gasoline, bananas, dresses and garbage collection – to form the Consumer Price Index, one measure of inflation.

It’s among the statistics that the Federal Reserve considered when it cut interest rates on Wednesday. The categories are weighted according to an estimate of what the average American spends, as shown below.

Average Consumer’s Spending

Each shape below represents how much the average American spends in different categories.
Larger shapes make up a larger part of spending.

[Graphic]
(3 May 2008)
Fascinating graphic. Recommended at WorldChanging: “Great graphic, fun tool, fascinating data — but beware, if you don’t have a lot of time to waste this afternoon, do not click.”

Senator: Drilling not answer to rising gas
Senator Bill Nelson, US Congress via Energy Policy TV
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) argues that drilling in environmentally sensitive areas is not a remedy for rising fuel prices.
(1 May 2008)
Issue is increasingly become prominent.

The Federal Gov’t’s Bio-Preferred Sustainability Buying Program (video)
Scott Nance, Energy Policy TV
Boyd Rutherford, Assistant Secretary for Administration, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is interviewed about the Bio-Preferred Program which mandates federal government procure renewable, bio-based products where possible. The government hopes to expand the program to certify consumer products as “bio-preferred” as well.
(6 May 2008)
USDA’s Bio-Prefered website.

Website looks interesting, but needs a tech writer or marketing person to make it more informative and inviting. -BA.