Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.8.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine leader warns of Russian natural gas shut-off (via Wall Street Journal)

Half of 2013 US power plant capacity additions came from natural gas (via US EIA)

EMISSIONS 

EPA’s McCarthy says draft emissions rules will give states new tools (via Los Angeles Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Where clean energy dollars went in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Four snapshots of American energy use (via Energy.gov)

RENEWABLES 

Cheap solar power pushes renewables growth worldwide (via Climate Central)

Germany ushers in renewable energy reform (via Reuters)

India ups 2014 solar PV target by 30% to 1,000MW (via CleanTechnica)

Chile installs record-breaking 150MW solar PV in Q1, 380MW under construction (via Greentech Media)

SunEdison quits 20MW India PV project over domestic content requirements (via Recharge)

US wind power blows to new records, again and again (via Bloomberg)

Capital keeps pouring into booming US residential solar market (via Greentech Media)

EPA delays, ethanol credits take center stage in RFS court battle (via Greenwire)

New York Green Bank open for business, deals in the works (via Breaking Energy)

Texas awards $2.2 million to fund offshore wind research (via Recharge)

State regulators approve Block Island offshore wind deal (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

When will Obama make his call on Keystone XL? (via The Hill)

Does Koch Industries hold most Canadian oil sands leases? It’s complicated. (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

How climate change can make food less nutritious (via Climate Progress)

Three-quarters of World Bank-backed projects still don’t evaluate climate risks (via Huffington Post)

Green scientist is Tom Steyer’s new policy guru (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Maersk Line lowers shipping emissions 12% during 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

Why the US government just invested $225 million on hybrid electric trains (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Britain’s honeybee colony deaths among worst in Europe, reveals study (via The Guardian)

In another blow to Pebble Mine, Rio Tinto pulls out (via Washington Post)

Drought now affecting two thirds of Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Renewable energy investment is down – and that’s okay (via Time)

Cellulosic biofuels aren’t dead (via Navigant Research)

Why are so many veterans serving in the US solar industry? (via GreenBiz)

Demand response the best cure for ailing Texas grid (via Energy Manager Today)

Spotted: How to Grow Your Own Easter Grass

Grow Your Own Easter Grass

Give plastic Easter grass the boot! Learn how to grow your own Easter grass!

Conventional Easter grass is the pits. That low-quality shredded plastic isn't recyclable, so it just sits in the landfill leaching toxins into the soil and groundwater. That doesn't feel like something that's in the spirit of Easter at all, does it?

If you want to grow you own Easter grass, you should get on it as soon as possible. It takes about two weeks to grow, so you can just make it if you start this week! The secret? Wheat seeds! Yep, we're basically growing wheat grass. How fun, right?

You'll want to choose a pretty container to grow your Easter grass, because it's going to double as your Easter basket. My favorite option that Your Homemade Mom shows is brightly colored metal pails with handles. Those are going to feel the most like traditional Easter baskets.

Here's what you'll need to grow your own Easter grass:

  • pretty "Easter basket" to plant your seeds in
  • wheat seeds
  • potting soil
  • plastic wrap
  • small pebbles
  • small plastic tray, if your container has drainage holes

That's it! You can use your home-grown Easter grass as an Easter decor piece or nestle your child's Easter treats right in the grass. Ready to grow some Easter grass? Click here for the tutorial!