Federal government to cut emissions; Threat to Land Conservation; Apple Leaves Chamber of Commerce; Audi e-tron is a go; Harness the Power of the Bay

Obama orders federal government to cut emissions President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies on Monday to set a goal within 90 days for cutting their greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, the White House said, aiming to “lead by example” in fighting climate change.

Renewable Energy the Biggest Threat to Land Conservation? The Nature Conservancy estimates that renewable energy will occupy some 73,000 square miles of land by 2030, meaning that renewable energy could be the biggest threat to land conservation in America. The only thing that comes even close is real estate development.

Apple Leaves Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Spat Apple today resigned its membership in the Chamber “effective immediately.” That’s a harsher tone than the other departures—three utilities said they’d let their membership lapse at the end of the year, and Nike simply quite the Chamber’s board of directors. At issue, again, is the Chamber of Commerce’s opposition to the Obama administration’s climate policy, most notably the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions.

Audi e-tron is a go The e-tron, based on the Audi R8, should be available in the U.S. in two to three years, de Nysschen told Automotive News. Running examples should be on the roads sometime in the next two years. The e-tron seats two and gets up to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds from its 313 hp and four electric motors. Holy. Moly.

San Francisco Set to Harness the Power of the Bay The Pacific Ocean could soon be lighting up the beautiful city of San Francisco as a tidal-energy project planned for the waters near the Golden Gate Bride is now in the final stages of acquiring the necessary permits for implementation.