The Week in CleanTech, Part 1: President Bush green-lights offshore drilling; rail net big profits in France; and Chrysler lags on electric car development.

Bush Moves to Lift Offshore Drilling Ban; Democrats Have Other Priorities: President Bush on Monday rescinded the executive order freezing offshore drilling along 90 percent of the United States’ coastline. Pressure now shifts to Congress, which could take up the issue of renewed oil development prior to the November elections. Despite the unlikelihood that offshore drilling could have any measurable effect on oil prices, recent polls show public support for new development has risen with gasoline prices. (CQ Politics)

French rail company makes $1.7 billion profit in 2007: In the United States, we subsidize passenger rail traffic. In France, it makes bug money. French rail company SNCF says they pulled in a whopping profit of over $1.7 billion in 2007, and they expect to improve that position by the end of this year. Governments are again eyeing passenger rail as domestic airlines buckle under the weight of $140 a barrel crude oil. (Autoblog Green)

Decisions Shut Door on Bush Clean-Air Steps: That screeching noise you heard Friday was the possibility of improving U.S. air quality before the Bush administration leaves office. The first blow came when a federal court issued a ruling essentially scrapping the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule. Act Two was handed down by the Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen L. Johnson, who said that the agency finds no legal mandate to address greenhouse gas emissions under current law. On Sunday, outgoing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger attacked the Bush administration for inaction on green issues. He also strongly hinted he was interested in serving as a national “energy tsar” should Barack Obama win the presidency in November. (New York Times)

Washington Whammy: With $4 Gas, Should Congress Make Stronger CAFE?: Back in December, Congress passed new mandates upping the nation’s fleet fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. Environmentalists immediately criticized the plan for its fairly timid goals. Since then, gasoline prices have increased by over a dollar per gallon. Should Congress toughen its 2020 CAFE standards? Automakers railed against the standards before their adoption last year. The Wall Street Journal examines the alternatives, including letting the marketplace dictate fuel economy levels. (WSJ.com)

Chrysler Targeting EVS in 3-5 Years: Despite the fact that several other manufacturers will bring their first electric cars to market in 2010, Chrysler says it’s still 3 to 5 years from joining the plug-in fleet. The Detroit Free Press reports that Chrysler’s new ENVI unit is in charge of development. The company showed three electric concept vehicles last year: a battery only model, and two extended range units featuring fuel cell and diesel backups. (Green Car Congress)

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