Southerners are looking to their forests for alternative fuel.

Advanced geothermal technology -- deep drilling to fracture rock far underground -- threatens to cause earthquakes when deployed along faults. The Energy Department is funding private firms to try such projects in the U.S.

"As the House barrels toward a vote on climate and energy legislation, a group headed by a prominent Republican is launching a national campaign aimed at scuttling the bill."

"The Department of Energy has released the first third of its $25 billion advanced technology loan fund for automakers to 'create thousands of green jobs while helping reduce the nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil.'

A Senate Appropriations subcommitte slashed $200 million from the spending bill for the Interior Department and EPA.

"People living in nearly 600 neighborhoods across the country are breathing concentrations of toxic air pollutants that put them at a much greater risk of contracting cancer, according to new data from the Environmental Protection Agency."

"President Obama on Tuesday gave a full endorsement to energy and climate change legislation now pending before the House, calling it 'extraordinarily important.'"

"Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives hope to debate and pass a climate change bill on Friday, although negotiations were continuing with farm-state lawmakers who have concerns, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday."