Amtrak reports record bookings as travels seek fuel price relief; a sneak peak at the UK’s green energy blueprint; and Bob Lutz talks up lithium ion battery tech.

Travelers Shift to Rail as Cost of Fuel Rises: An article in this morning’s New York Times lends credence to reports of changing consumer habits in the face of rising energy costs. Amtrak says May ticket sales were up sharply, setting new records in a month not known for heavy rail travel. But there’s a downside: the rail carrier has taken such a beating in recent years that its capacity is already being outstripped by demand. Large blocks of summer dates along popular routes are already sold out. The company says the general decline of rail travel and the industries which support it make expansion a long and expensive process. (New York Times)

Revealed — UK’s blueprint for a green revolution: Britain’s Guardian newspaper has gotten a look at the nation’s 12-year renewable energy plan. The plan — soon to be finalized by government officials — calls for massive investment in wind power and one in four British homes being heated by on-site solar power no later than 2020. Ministry official estimate it will require at least £100bn in government subsidies if the country is to hit its European Union-mandated clean ebergy requirement on schedule. (Guardian)

Pay Me — CEOs Tell G-8 Diplomats to Get Green Subsidies Flowing: The CEOs of 99 multinational corporations — representing about 10 percent of the world’s total market capitalization — are signaling the G-8 league of nations to accelerate efforts to stem climate change. While we’d like to think their motives are philanthropic, the reality is that there are billions of dollars in CleanTech subsidies on the line. The industry group recommends first targets for cutting global carbon emissions through 2050; an overhaul of major economic sectors, particularly transportation; and a vibrant carbon trading market. (WSJ.com)

China Gives The World An Oil Break: China has taken steps to cool-off its national hunger for petroleum resources. On Friday, sharp reductions on government energy subsidies went into effect, in some cases upping actual prices by up to 18 percent. Beijing believes this will have the effect of reducing demand, relieving pressure on global oil markets. Oil futures fell at the news before rallying late Friday, closing up $2.76 a barrel on the New York market. (Forbes)

Car Batteries — Acid-Lead vs. Lithium Ion: General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz says that while he wishes that GM could enjoy exclusivity in the lithium ion battery powered automotive market, competition from other companies will eventually work to lower everyone’s costs. Lutz discusses GM’s decision to be an early adopter of lithium ion technology in a video posted by tech blogger Chris Pirillo. The same companies which blasted GM for choosing an unproven technology 18 months ago, says Lutz, are now racing to eneter the market themselves. (Chris Pirillo)

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