Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.24.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
May 2014: Earth’s 2nd consecutive warmest month on record (via Weather Underground)
Bipartisan report tallies high toll on economy from global warming (via New York Times)
World Bank says tackling climate change would grow global economy (via The Guardian)
With rising heat and humidity, many U.S. areas will be “unsuited for outdoor activity” (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
Australian PM Tony Abbott introduces carbon tax repeal bill (via Huffington Post)
U.S. Supreme Court nibbles at EPA’s greenhouse gas powers (via Politico)
University of Dayton ditches fossil fuels (via BusinessGreen)
RENEWABLES
UK Green Investment Bank plans $1.7 billion offshore wind fund (via Bloomberg)
German state will soon go 100% renewable electricity (via Renew Economy)
Three lessons learned from Latin America’s red-hot solar market (via CleanTechnica)
U.S. wind headed for dismal year as carbon emissions rise (via RTCC)
Market share for leasing residential solar to peak in 2014 (via Greentech Media)
Renewables provided 88% of new U.S. electrical generating capacity in May 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)
Rooftop solar leases scaring buyers when homeowners sell (via Bloomberg)
Texas hits new peak wind output of 29% total electricity load (via U.S. EIA)
Setback rule will end new wind farms in Ohio (via Greentech Media/Midwest Energy News)
Ohio’s freeze on renewable mandates encourages clean energy foes (via Navigant Research)
SunPower offers batteries to hold solar power until night (via Bloomberg)
Solar installer to use drones for rooftop inspections (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Mosiac expands solar loan program for residential installers (via Solar Industry Magazine)
COAL
King Coal faces rising investment backlash in Australia (via Reuters)
ENVIRONMENT
U.S. Midwest receives two months of rainfall in one week (via Climate Progress)
California drought poised to drive up food prices as it worsens (via International Business Times)
Half of Colorado in some level of drought (via AP)
Greenpeace losses: Leaked documents reveal extent of financial disarray (via The Guardian)
NUCLEAR
UK nuclear cleanup bill rises by £2.2 billion (via Financial Times)
TRANSPORTATION
Consumer group: U.S. drivers buying more fuel-efficient cars (via The Hill)
California puts its EV-owner survey info online (via Green Car Reports)
GRID
Wind industry unites to support 3.5GW Clean Line transmission project (via Renew Grid)
ComEd to complete smart meter rollout three years early (via Renew Grid)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Thanks to tablets and better TV tech, more gadgets use less energy (via GigaOm)
POLITICS
White House planning another big climate push (via Huffington Post)
Gasoline fears drive congressional energy agenda (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
The losing bet on climate change (via Bloomberg)
Could Obama’s climate rule come undone? (via National Journal)
Why a national carbon tax would be amazing – in four charts (via Climate Progress)
Storm clouds gathering over the U.S. solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)