Congress passed a major energy bill that included subsidies for alternative and renewable fuels, loan guarantees for clean tech and reliability standards for utility companies.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The report calls for requiring nursing homes and adult-care facilities to have evacuation plans and backup power sources and asks for stricter enforcement of standards for utility companies.

WSJ: After Sandy, More in New York City Could Face Storm Evacuations

Today, the Bush administration proposed raising the minimum fuel economy standards for sport utility vehicles and light trucks.

NPR: The Marketplace Report: New SUV Mileage Standards

Some state programs also legislate mandatory renewable portfolio standards that require electric utility companies to purchase designated amounts of energy from wind, solar and bio-fuel providers, typically at premium costs that are passed on to customers.

FORBES: Wind Energy's Overblown Prospects

For example, nearly 60 percent of all coal-fired boilers that submitted data to EPA are currently achieving the Utility Toxics Rule's proposed mercury standards.

WHITEHOUSE: Energy and Environment Latest News | The White House

None of this should surprise environmentalists: Fuel-efficiency standards sparked the boom in the ultimate symbol of wasteful consumption, the sport utility vehicle.

FORBES: When the National Nanny Does Your Laundry

The Welsh government will propose a new set standards and hold a statutory consultation with the public sector, voluntary organisations and utility companies.

BBC: Wales politics

He figures that when General Motors one day launches a sport utility vehicle with interactive ads, it won't have to wade through rival technical standards for cable, DirecTV and the broadcast networks.

FORBES: Taking Liberty