Spending deal switches off light bulb standards

Lawmakers in both chambers signed off on the omnibus spending deal that would fund U.S. EPA, the Energy Department, the Interior Department and other agencies for the rest of fiscal 2012. The deal paves the way for votes in both chambers today, a move that would narrowly avoid a government shutdown when current funding expires at midnight. The 1,200-page conference agreement released just before midnight last night appears nearly identical to language House Republicans released as a stand-alone bill early yesterday morning, including the same steep cuts for EPA and the rider on lighting efficiency standards. [ read more … ]

Ethanol Futures Hit One-Year Low as Subsidy Nears Expiration

Ethanol futures fell to the lowest level in a year as corn dropped and the expiration of a government subsidy approached. [ read more … ]