U.S. House Passes US $1 Billion Wind R&D Bill
Renewable Energy World
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, a bill that would a program to improve the efficiency, reliability and cost effectiveness of domestic wind energy systems. In order to accomplish this goal, DOE will work with wind companies to optimize the design and adaptability of their systems, as well as reduce the cost of construction, generation, and maintenance of wind energy systems.More

Manufacturers Call for Federal Strategy to Transform Factories
Control Engineering
A group of manufacturing industry representatives - including the National Association of Manufacturers, American National Electrical Manufacturers Association, the Manufacturers Alliance, and Rockwell Automation - has gone on record noting that a federal strategy and support is critical if American manufacturers are to thrive in the post-recession global economy.More

Freshly Minted Opel Deal Draws Critics
The New York Times
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is having to defend the sale of the troubled carmaker Opel to a Canadian-Russian consortium, just days after hailing the deal. Criticism grew sharper over the weekend on the terms of the deal, which was announced in Berlin, beginning with unions that said more jobs would be cut than expected. Among the most vocal critics were government representatives of the Opel Trust, which was established in May to oversee the search for a buyer of 65 percent of Opel.More

New Car Shortage (We Told You It Would Happen) is Good News For Industry
The Auto Channel
After struggling with historically low auto sales for much of the past year, automakers are confronting a more-welcome problem: some of the lowest inventory levels in about three decades. According to the Detroit Free Press, with auto factories abuzz to replenish low stocks of cars – a consequence of the popular cash-for-clunkers program that ended last month – it's a problem that workers are greeting with open arms, too. More

Tariffs Placed on Chinese Steel Following Finding
WFMJ-TV
The United States Commerce Department has ordered tariffs of up to 31 percent on steel pipe from China. The tariffs are in response to a preliminary finding that the Chinese government is subsidizing production of steel pipe, giving them an unfair advantage over U.S. producers.More

China Investigates U.S. Auto, Chicken Imports
Business Week
China is launching antidumping investigations into imported U.S. auto and chicken products, the government said, adding to a string of trade disputes with Washington including a recent decision to raise tariffs on Chinese-made tires. The Commerce Ministry said it would look into complaints that American auto and chicken products are being dumped into the Chinese market or are benefiting from subsidies. More

Emerging Waste-Not, Harm-Not Trend a New Automotive Threat
The Detroit Free Press
Automakers aren't just feeling threatened by other automakers these days. Today and in the future, the new threats come from creative new companies that don't even build cars and even an evolving ethos around the world about driving and cars. Creative car-sharing companies like Zipcar are growing in popularity and could help to reduce demand for new vehicles in the future.More

Fractional Jet Industry Undergoing Overhaul
Aviation Week
The fractional jet industry is in the midst of a major transformation caused by shakeups in executive suites, startup failures and questions of survival for some established providers, according to Brian Foley, president of Sparta, N.J.-based Brian Foley Associates.More