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How’s This For Energy Policy?

Portugal said today it is preparing to install some 1,300 electric-vehicle recharging stations in the next two years as the country moves aggressively to gain energy independence.

The initiative's first phase encompasses installation of charging stations in 21 of the country's major cities and most densely-populated and -trafficked rural areas, reported the Associated Press. The stations will be located in parking areas, shopping malls and gas stations.

Portugal has almost no significant internal energy sources such as coal or petroleum, yet it says it now has renewable-energy sources to supply 43 percent of its electrical demand.

With the charging stations, the country is attempting to prod demand for affordable, mass-market electric vehicles projected to go on sale next year. By 2020, officials claim Portugal could have 180,000 EVs in use and 25,000 public charging sites.

New York: Statue of Liberty’s Crown Sells Out Through September

Good news for those of you who would no doubt be browbeat into climbing the 354 cramped steps inside of an overheated Statue of Liberty during the height of summer: tickets have sold out through at least September 1.

When the tickets became available on June 13, we checked out the official site’s calendar and noticed that most weekends were swiped already. At that moment we decided to wait for cooler temperatures before attempting the climb, seeing as how the Statue staff warns visitors that the interior of the statue gets up to 20 degrees warmer than outside; that means if it’s a 90-degree day in August and you’re climbing at 2pm, you might be stairclimbing in 110-degree claustrophobic conditions.

If autumn in New York City is on your itinerary, then you can book visits to the crown for $3 on top of a $12 roundtrip ferry ticket. See if your preferred dates are still up for grab here.

Related Stories:
· Statue of Liberty crown tickets sold out through August 11 [NewYorkology]
· Statue of Liberty Crown Reservations Accepted Starting Saturday! [Gothamist]
· Cheap NYC Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: laverrue]

Magna Deal for GM’s Euro Operations Souring?

Although it has for some time enjoyed a preferred-bidder status to buy Adam Opel AG and the European operations of General Motors Corp., the grip of Canada's Magna International may be slipping.

The Financial Times reports GM is weighing a restructured offer from Belgian holding company RHJ International after detailed negotiations with Magna and its consortium partners became snarled by new conditions.

The Magna-led consortium includes Russia's second-largest automaker, GAZ, and the FT reports the group's offer to GM includes conditions that allow access to certain GM technologies, some of which GAZ seemingly intends to wield for Opel-based vehicles built in Russia.

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