The Detroit News and WJR-Radio Tuesday hosted the premier policy panel of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Organized by yours truly and moderated by Michigan radio personality Frank Beckmann, the panel was titled “Climategate: Are green auto rules based on flawed science?” and featured a newsy and revealing debate among six leaders from the fields of climatology, politics, policy, and the auto industry. Open to media and the public, the 1.5 hour panel drew a healthy crowd at the gorgeous downtown Detroit Athletic Club venue.

Video clips from the panel as well as articles written about the event are posted at the News website. An excerpt from my event summary:

Climategate panel: Are green auto rules based on flawed science? Henry Payne / The Detroit News Detroit — The auto industry’s green efforts to meet strict new mpg rules are the dominant theme inside the 2010 North American International Auto Show. But outside Cobo Center, it’s not just the frigid winter temperatures that have cast doubt on global warming science that is driving the biggest regulatory challenge to the industry in a generation. E-mails leaked from the world’s top climatology center in England have exposed influential scientists doctoring data and suppressing scientific debate. Some in Congress have demanded an investigation.

On Tuesday before a Detroit Athletic Club audience in downtown Detroit, The Detroit News and WJR Radio brought together leaders from the fields of climatology, energy politics, and the auto industry to debate whether the so-called Climategate scandal has undermined auto regulations.

In a spirited, sometimes contentious debate moderated by radio talk show host and Detroit News op-ed columnist Frank Beckmann of WJR, the panel left no doubt that there is little consensus on global warming. . . .

Read the rest here. I will provide more coverage in subsequent posts.