Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.22.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Hottest 12 months on record: NOAA data “show no pause in warming” (via Climate Progress)
Portugal could block EU climate deal over grid connection target (via Reuters)
Report: Insurance companies unprepared for climate change risks (via Environmental Leader)
NATURAL GAS
Ukraine, Russia gas talks end without breakthrough (via AP)
No deal yet, but EU hopes for Russia-Ukraine gas deal next week (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Australia seeks to reduce renewable energy target to “real” 20% (via Bloomberg)
China to end wind curtailment from grid in 2015 (via Recharge)
Brazil’s wind farm capacity factor at 50% (via Recharge)
Opposition party reject Abbot government’s first attempt to cut renewable energy target (via The Guardian)
Reinstating the PTC, other lapsed incentives on Senate’s lame duck to-do list (via SNL News)
U.S. wind installations in first nine months of 2014 beat 2013 total (via Bloomberg)
Big utilities pushing into booming home solar market (via Reuters)
In ethanol, cellulosic coming to push out corn (via Navigant Research)
Tidal lagoon power breakthrough project gains momentum (via Breaking Energy)
Boeing, Chinese partner to make jet fuel from used cooking oil (via Reuters)
COAL
Ex-Im Bank Inspector General investigating financing of 4GW India coal project (via Bloomberg BNA)
EMISSIONS
Divestment campaigners set their sights on UK banks (via RTCC)
Polar vortex spiked U.S. CO2 emissions in 2013 (via Climate Central)
Report: Retirees, 401Ks hold most shares in oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)
States, environmental groups slam EPA ozone limits in contentious court hearing (via Greenwire)
OIL
Triple whammy looms for China’s oil refiners as crude plunges (via Bloomberg)
U.S. shale oil producers cramming wells in risky push to extend boom (via Bloomberg)
Oil price tremors not rattling Texas…yet (via Texas Tribune)
TRANSPORTATION
German EV market has doubled since last year (via CleanTechnica)
EPA to scrutinize auto fuel economy tests, issue revised guidelines (via Autoblog)
Researchers take big-data approach to estimate EV range (via Phys.org)
GRID
Enphase charges into the energy storage market (via Greentech Media)
ENVIRONMENT
Brazil creates Amazon rainforest reserve larger than Delaware (via Huffington Post/Reuters)
POLITICS
Brazil’s Rousseff pulls ahead of Neves before Sunday’s election (via Reuters)
Environmental issues grabbing big role in political ad campaigns (via New York Times)
Is Michigan’s most powerful Republican really in political danger? (via National Journal)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairwoman heads for exit (via The Hill)
OPINION
Climate records are breaking so often, we’ve stopped paying attention (via Washington Post)
If you could build a solar-friendly grid from scratch, how would you do it? (via Greentech Media)