Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.14

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

STATE OF THE UNION 

Obama touts “responsible” energy development, climate goals (via Reuters)

Obama calls for new incentives for cleaner fuel (via ABC News)

In State of the Union, Obama pledges strong action on climate (via Washington Post)

Here are seven policies Obama just said he’d pursue without Congress (via Washington Post)

Natural gas big winner in Obama’s SOTU address (via The Hill)

Obama, in speech, defends “all of the above” energy plan (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Controlled EV charging cuts power costs 50% - even more with wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

ACEEE picks “greenest” and “meanest” cars of 2014 (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

Which country leads in wind generation? (via GreenBiz)

Wind power growth to sharpen in emerging markets (via CleanTechnica)

Solar mergers likely to accelerate, says Trina founder (via Bloomberg)

Why is Hawaii scaling back on solar? (via GreenBiz)

Can California’s clean energy ambitions survive the shale oil and gas surge? (via Greentech Media)

DIVESTMENT 

Norway’s sovereign fund halves coal exposure (via Reuters)

Is the public blind to “carbon bubble” risk? (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

The Great Lakes go dry: How one-fifth of the world’s fresh water is dwindling away (via Think Progress)

California drought: 17 communities could run out of water within 60-120 days (via San Jose Mercury News)

California farms going thirsty as drought burns $5 billion hole (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone opponents use rail constraints to urge pipeline’s rejection (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Entrepreneurs looking for “windfall” cash in on climate change (via NPR)

El Nino may return as models signal warming of Pacific Ocean (via Bloomberg)

Popular flood insurance law is target of both political parties (via New York Times)

Obama urged to act alone on climate if Congress unwilling to pass legislation (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas goes over $5, up 180%, reminds why wind and solar are so valuable (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio fracking: So where’s the promised economic boom? (via Columbus Dispatch)

GRID 

New research warns of more regular and severe blackouts (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea approves $7 billion reactor plans in boost for nuclear power (via Reuters)

Company struggles to keep U.S. in the uranium enrichment game (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED marketing potential “breeds greener buildings” (via Environmental Leader)

Ikea reveals demand for LEDs has reached a tipping point (via BusinessGreen)

SEAA finds a 387% ROI from energy efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

State of the Union: What Obama didn’t say about energy, environment (via Los Angeles Times)

Jekyll and Hyde: The two sides of Obama’s energy strategy (via Climate Progress)

President Obama on energy: Having it both ways (via Politico)

The four men who caused a majority of global warming (via Energy Collective)

You might be cold right now, but your planet isn’t (via Mother Jones)