• The Department of Energy released new requirements for funding under its new approach to FutureGen. Rather than pushing all the funds into a single "zero-emissions" plant in Illinois, DOE announced several months ago that the department will instead concentrate on carbon capture and sequestration components for multiple commercial power plants. Under threat of subpoena, DOE also handed over ($ub req'd) documents to the House Science and Technology Committee's Investigations and Oversight panel on its decision to yank funding for FutureGen. Meanwhile, Congress is still trying to insert funding for FutureGen into other appropriations.

• Toy-making giant Mattel is lobbying Congress for a loophole that would let them skip out on independent lab testing of children's products and instead conduct their own in-house certification.

• Guy Caruso, head of the Energy Information Administration, said on Wednesday that offshore drilling wouldn't affect the price of gas very much, citing a recent report from his agency. This directly counters claims by the Bush administration, presidential candidate John McCain, and Congressional Republicans that drilling would bring down energy prices in the short term. "It does take a long time to develop those resources," said Caruso. "Therefore the price impact is muted by that."

• The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that includes $1 million in funding for clean-energy initiatives at two Puget Sound area utilities.

• The House Committee on Science and Technology approved a measure to provide funding for the study of ocean acidification.

• By unanimous consent, the Senate passed the "Marine Pollution Prevention Act of 2008," which will allow the U.S. to join an international treaty to cut ocean ship pollution. The House passed the bill last year.

• The Massachusetts legislature passed a "Green Communities Act" by unanimous consent on Thursday, which contains measures to encourage energy efficiency programs, provide incentives for towns to move forward with wind and solar energy projects, and requires that utilities enter into long-term contracts with renewable energy generators.

• While John McCain traveled the country talking up his energy plan and his idea to give a $300 million prize to the inventor of a better electric car battery, Fox News made the rather astute point (not something you get to say every day, eh?) that we already have a battery.

• National Review tried to accuse NASA climatologist James Hansen of violating the Hatch Act by talking about the presidential candidates' policies in 2004, but Think Progress set the record straight.