Energy Roundup: Hydrogen-Powered Tractors, EPA's Big Plans, and More

New Holland puts hydrogen fuel cells to work in new tractors — New Holland is developing a tractor that runs on a hydrogen fuel cell instead of gasoline and hopes to have a production model ready by 2013. The NH2, which has no gears and would be emission-free, will be an expensive proposition for cash-strapped farmers. The company is marketing the pricey tractor as an investment that will save farmers money in the long run through greater efficiency and eliminating gas costs. [Source: EcoGeek, New Holland]

EPA emissions proposal, leaked document shed light on administration’s plans — Any uncertainty over the Obama administration’s plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions were quelled Tuesday with two reports — one unintentional — from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA released a proposal that would require a variety of industries to track and report greenhouse gas emissions. The rule, if enacted, would target about 13,000 facilities and account for 85 percent to 90 percent of GHG emissions in the U.S. Separately, a leaked internal EPA document, obtained by Greenwire, describes the agency’s intense scientific review on the affect of greenhouse gases. The administration is expected to release its finding in mid-April that global warming threatens public health. [Source: NYT, Oil and Gas Journal]

Cleantech faces tough 2009, sunnier outlook projected in coming decade — The Clean Energy Trends 2009 reportreleased Tuesday predicts a year of flat or declining growth, but outlined a decade of job growth in the solar, wind and biofuels industries. Clean Edge, a Portland-Ore.-based research firm, projects solar and wind industry jobs will more than quadruple from about 600,000 today to 2.65 million in 2018. [Source: Clean Edge, Cleantech Blog]

Russia, Hungary gas pipeline deal could compete with alternative project — Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas supplier and Hungary’s development bank will partner to build the Hungarian leg of the South Stream pipeline. Russia’s involvement in the project, which would bring gas from the Caspian Sea region to Europe, is seen as an attempt by the country to undercut the Nabucco pipeline, an alternative project backed by the U.S. and European Union. Hungary Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany says it wants multiple pipelines to Europe and is participating in the construction of Nabucco, which could bypass Russia on its way from the Caspian and potentially Central Asia. [Source: BusinessWeek]

Van Jones appointed as green jobs adviser — The founder of a Oakland-based green jobs advocacy group will join the White House Council on Environmental Quality as its special adviser on green jobs. The appointment of Van Jones is in line with President Obama’s emphasis on the potential of creating jobs through his clean energy initiative. [Source: Greendigs, WSJ's Environmental Capital]

Ecopetrol ponies up for oil producer Hocol — Colombia’s state-owned oil company Ecopetrol has agreed to buy oil producer Hocol from France’s Maurel & Promfor $580 million. Ecopetrol will contribute another $168 million toward Hocol’s working capital as part of the deal. Ecopetrol’s purchase of Hocol will help the company reach its plans to increase production to 1 million barrels of oil a day by 2015. [Source: Platts]