Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel issues starkest warning yet on global warming (via New York Times)

UK to pledge “strongly” to support Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

Across America, science center offerings on climate change are scant (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Climate change brings pine beetles north to New York and New Jersey forests (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Denmark considers phasing out coal by 2025 (via Reuters)

Australia coal port expansion will not get environmental impact study (via Al-Jazeera America)

The demise of coal-fired power in the U.S. (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

Deserted by China, Taiwanese solar cell makers eye new markets (via Reuters)

Scottish wind energy output exceeds domestic power demand (via BusinessGreen)

Solatio, Renova, Enel biggest winners in Brazil solar auction (via Bloomberg)

Tailwinds pick up for U.S. wind market (via Navigant Research)

Ohio utilities feel burned by solar-energy users (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Australian carbon tax demise leading to large rise in emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Power producers to face shortage in South Korea carbon market (via Reuters)

Australian electricity emissions could jump 9% in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Oil rout to weigh on Alberta’s carbon emissions policy (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

U.S. crude falls below $80 (via The Hill)

Big Oil feels the need to get smaller (via Wall Street Journal)

This is how ISIS smuggles oil (via BuzzFeed)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hyundai, Kia to pay $100 million for overstating fuel economy claims (via Los Angeles Times)

Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Four trends shaping the U.S. solar-plus-storage market (via Greentech Media)

Companies see little value in switching electricity vendors (via Energy Manager Today)

Will California’s energy storage procurement process unless the battery market? (via Greentech Media)

Microgrid built in a day for VERGE San Francisco (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

A staggering 400 million birds have vanished from Europe since 1980 (via Washington Post)

Options drying up for some parched North Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

3,500 North Dakota voters could put the brakes on fracking boom (via Grist)

The Tom Steyer campaigns you haven’t heard about yet (via Grist)

LCV’s Dirty Dozen: The names are in (via Huffington Post)

Most important race you haven’t heard of: Louisiana’s battle for solar (via Huffington Post)

Fracking ban divides Denton, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Why Argentina is most attractive shale play outside U.S. (via Reuters)

How the U.S. can produce cleaner energy while capturing economic benefits (via World Resources Institute)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.3.14

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

UN IPCC REPORT 

UN climate report rings alarm, offers guidance (via Climate Central)

IPCC final report: We’ve blown two-thirds of our carbon budget (via Weather Underground)

UN warns planet headed toward “irreversible” climate damage (via The Hill)

10 things you need to know from the new IPCC climate report (via Grist)

RENEWABLES 

PSE&G building largest solar farm to date (via Renew Grid)

Emerging markets are leading the way on clean energy growth (via Forbes)

Brazil’s first solar PV power auction sets very low $86.79/MWh mark (via PV Tech)

German solar PV installations may undershoot target (via Recharge News)

Germany to reach more than 30% renewable power by 2015 (via Renewables International)

For cellulosic ethanol makers, the road ahead is still uphill (via Yale e360)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is making it harder to get to space (via National Journal)

U.S. Postal Service is worried about what climate change will mean for mail (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Australia coal mining marks challenge for UN green push (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Rio 2016 to offset Olympic Games’ entire carbon footprint (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

Crude exports and re-exports continue to rise; some volumes sent to Europe and Asia (via U.S. EIA)

Hedge funds cut bullish oil bets on rising global output (via Bloomberg)

Public opposition has cost tar sands industry $17 billion, says report (via The Guardian)

Oil sands seen reaching Gulf without Keystone XL (via Bloomberg)

BOEM increases Arctic oil estimates in move to appease court (via The Hill)

For Texas farmers, drilling boom comes with a cost (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Were small cars exactly the wrong way to launch EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

More cities experiment with electric buses and other clean mass transit (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

U.S. leads demand response, but not for long (via Energy Manager Today)

Superstorm Sandy motivates New York to explore microgrids (via Climate Central)

The next big opportunity to drop balance-of-system costs: Battery storage (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Energy issues play role in Tuesday elections (via Houston Chronicle)

Coal, carpetbaggers, and Congressional candidates (via Forbes)

Post-Election Day tax extenders will be a bipartisan opportunity (via Energy Collective)

What a Republican-controlled Senate would mean for the climate (via Climate Progress)

Why oil and gas giants are trying to buy three local elections in California (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

The UN just gave us an 85-year deadline on global warming (via National Journal)

Enough with the fat climate change reports already (via Bloomberg)

EIA study removes final barrier to U.S. oil exports (via Reuters)

The struggle to combine energy efficiency and solar power (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Millennials: Core of the green economy or overhyped as the green generation? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.29.14

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

CLIMATE 

Study: Climate change could spark conflict in emerging economies (via BusinessGreen)

EU sets ambitious 2030 climate and energy goals (via Greentech Media)

Chinese vice premier meets Obama adviser on climate change (via Xinhua)

NUCLEAR 

Japan edges back toward nuclear power with vote to restart first reactors (via BusinessGreen)

Nuclear industry touts environment benefits as it seeks to stem reactor retirements (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Poor countries tap renewables at twice the pace of rich nations (via Bloomberg)

EU on track for green energy goals, but 2030 a challenge (via Reuters)

Global PV operations and maintenance market to hit 237GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

Global hydropower to double in 20 years, but at what cost to wildlife? (via RTCC)

Millions in new investment cap record year for beyond-the-grid solar markets (via Energy Collective)

U.S. solar boom boosts European manufacturers REC and Solarworld (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

U.S. solar now 59% cheaper than analysts predicted back in 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind and solar boosted California grid reliability during tough summer (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Shell seeks five more years for Arctic oil drilling drive (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s state-owned oil giant Pemex is in uncharted waters (via New York Times)

Goldman Sachs expects U.S. crude to fall to $70 next year (via Houston Chronicle)

Scientists discover huge “bathtub ring” of sea floor oil from BP spill (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Increasing ethanol use has reduced average energy content of retail gasoline (via US EIA)

2016 Chevy Volt will have more EV range, bigger battery (via Autoblog Green)

California to require new buildings to be prepped for EV charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla announces new EV leasing package (via New York Times)

Indianapolis plans to add 425 EVs to municipal fleet by 2016 (via Green Car Congress)

GM to build Volt electric drive in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

U.S. banks deny fund to coal port near Great Barrier Reef (via RTCC)

Coal ash rule heads to White House for final review (via The Hill)

As rail congestion crimps coal supplies, expansion calls grow louder (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Australian government wins backing for compromise emissions scheme (via Reuters)

Drying Amazon could be major carbon concern (via Climate Central)

Climate change concerns push Chile to forefront of carbon tax movement (via New York Times)

EPA quietly revamps policy for alleged major air polluters, ends “watch list” (via SNL Energy)

Four carbon cap-tax hybrids (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-price plunge gives new ammo to divestment activists (via InsideClimate News)

Sen. Whitehouse to push carbon price bill (via The Hill)

GRID 

Europe blackout threat looms amid power supply risks, says study (via Bloomberg)

Sandia evaluates batteries for modular grid energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

Alevo unstealthed: New gigawatt-scale grid battery contender (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED retail participants on the rise (via Environmental Leader)

30% of building managers use no energy saving technology (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Most Canadians say environment trumps energy prices (via Bloomberg)

Environmental groups spending an unprecedented $85 million in 2014 elections (via Washington Post)

Millennials could make a difference on climate, if they voted (via Grist)

NextGen targets GOP Senate hopefuls in Michigan, Iowa (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Can OPEC survive the oil industry’s new economics? (via Bloomberg)

It’s not perfect, but EU energy and climate deal is great news for green economy (via BusinessGreen)

Liebreich: Nuclear – the thin end of a failing wedge (via Bloomberg)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

After record warm September, 2014 is on track for warmest year (via Washington Post)

Sweden pledges $500 million to Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

How climate change is fueling the Miami real estate boom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s new trade minister says will restart reactors deemed safe (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China wind-service market seen surging with $3 billion spending (via Bloomberg)

Chile will lead Latin America in renewable energy, says president (via PV Tech)

Geothermal power industry lost steam but may be poised for comeback (via Los Angeles Times)

Solar energy prices see double-digit decline in 2013; trend expected to continue (via NREL)

Solar lease securitization encounters tax challenges (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Solar consolidation expected in U.S. as tax credit drives deals (via Bloomberg)

Solar companies look to batteries, financing, soft costs as the future (via GigaOm)

$200 million more flows to residential solar loans through Sungage and Mosiac (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Indonesia developing mega coal mine five times larger than Singapore (via Mongabay)

India pushes ahead with coal reforms (via Reuters)

Peabody posts quarterly loss as coal prices fall (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Renewables, efficiency made up 70% of U.S. emissions drop since 2007 (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Russia gas deal may be just enough to get through winter (via Reuters)

Tougher greenhouse goals could cut EU’s natural gas imports in half (via WRI Insights)

British Columbia to outline carbon, tax polices for LNG (via Bloomberg)

Energy Department: U.S. must act now on methane emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

Regulations could douse North Dakota gas flaring (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Transmission superhighway takes shape in central U.S. (via Navigant Research)

Innovative energy storage technologies gain ground (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

Oil falls on speculation OPEC won’t cut production (via The Hill)

Report: ISIS oil production worth $800 million per year (via The Hill)

Government lags in measuring gush of U.S. crude (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale oil producers face low price consequences of their success (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil at $80 a barrel muffles forecasts for U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Crude oil spills into Louisiana bayou, kills wildlife (via Shreveport Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

As China gets tougher on fuel economy, some carmakers may be left behind (via Reuters)

UK hails best-ever quarter for EV sales as demand revs up (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark’s plan to offset transportation emissions sparks EV row (via The Guardian)

Ford Focus Electric gets $6,000 price drop, now starts at $29,995 (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan does demand response via Leaf EVs (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Amid California’s drought, a bruising battle for cheap water (via Los Angeles Times)

Land records show many Ohio state parks could see mining, drilling (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Sao Paulo water cuts used by Rousseff against challenger (via Bloomberg)

In key midterm races, Democrats sound like Republicans on climate (via InsideClimate News)

Five lose-lose Senate races for climate advocates (via InsideClimate News)

OPINION 

What's the value of divestment? (via National Journal)

Will the solar industry get behind CPS Energy’s alternative to net metering in San Antonio? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.17.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Russia’s Putin threatens to reduce European gas supplies (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Winter unlikely to see repeat of frigid polar vortex (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

France signs agreement to build nuclear reactors in South Africa (via Yahoo! News/AFP)

UK’s Hinkley nuclear deal to face National Audit Office probe (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

Europe’s biggest solar bonds downgraded on Italy’s policy (via Bloomberg)

As Japan eyes nuclear restarts, renewables get shut out of grid (via Reuters)

India announces 15GW solar power purchase program (via Renewable Energy World)

China to phase out financial support for solar sector by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

JinkoSolar adds 200MW to China PV project pipeline (via PV Tech)

GTM Research expects equivalent of 25GW new polysilicon production by 2016 (via PV Tech)

Minneapolis utility fight ends with unique clean-energy deal (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Pacific islanders blockade Australian coal port to protest rising sea levels (via The Guardian)

Britain’s battered coal industry sees glimmer of hope in carbon capture (via Reuters)

For $20 million, a coal utility bought an Ohio town and a clean conscience (via The Atlantic)

EMISSIONS 

Qingdao prepares China’s 8th regional carbon market (via RTCC)

Sweden calls on EU to agree to 50% carbon cuts for 2030 (via RTCC)

Texas plant to capture, then reuse carbon (via New York Times)

OIL 

Falling oil prices shake up global economies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices plummet, Saudi Arabia faces a test of strategy (via New York Times)

Oil-by-rail fuels record U.S. imports of Canadian oil (via DeSmogBlog)

Shale oil boom helping American consumers like never before (via Bloomberg)

U.S. moves ahead with central Gulf of Mexico offshore auction (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Americans could waste $2.8 trillion stuck in traffic by 2030 (via Autoblog)

Tesla says first battery-swapping site will go live in December (via Green Car Reports)

11 more GM facilities worldwide go landfill-free; total rises to 122 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC investigating polar vortex impact on grid (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sao Paulo running out of water unless reserve tapped now (via Bloomberg)

U.S. plastic bottle recycling increases for 24th year (via Environmental Leader)

Whole Foods launches environmental ratings for its produce (via BusinessGreen)

Tornadoes increasingly coming in swarms in U.S., study says (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Neves closing campaign cash gap thanks to banks and ethanol (via Reuters)

OPINION 

PJM’s capacity market: Model to copy or avoid? (via Breaking Energy)

Why you should question the value proposition of energy storage (via Greentech Media)

We don’t, and can’t know how much it will cost to tackle climate change (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

New study details alarming acceleration in sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Smart cities are driving change across the energy sector (via Navigant Research)

Evidence connects quakes to oil, natural gas boom (via Climate Central)

Lockheed claims breakthrough on fusion energy project (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

German clean-energy costs drop for first time (via Bloomberg)

U.S. residential solar demand could approach 1GW annually (via Renewable Energy World)

Refiners press Obama to lower renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

Retailers, seeking out bargains, continue to lead on solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Georgia the latest state to produce dirt-cheap power (via Greentech Media)

Hawaiian utility targets 92% renewable energy by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Wisconsin: America’s latest solar energy battleground (via The Energy Collective)

SolarCity offers bonds, wants everybody to invest in solar (via Forbes)

OIL 

Plummeting oil prices sting Russia, other “Petro States” (via U.S. News & World Report)

Report: Oil exports could drive manufacturing renaissance (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump could lead to production cuts, shakeouts at shale companies (via EnergyWire)

North Dakota oil formations produce 1 billion cumulative barrels (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen: Plug-in hybrids a “bridge” to pure electric cars in future (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline prices fall to lowest average since 2011 (via The Hill)

Automakers, utilities studying how to manage electric vehicles (via Houston Chronicle)

California high court clears way for more bullet train work (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla face possible sales prohibition in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

Battery storage breakthrough allows recharge in two minutes (via Renew Economy)

NATURAL GAS 

Long after fracking stops, the noise lives on (via NPR)

EMISSIONS 

Exxon, Shell carbon emissions rise even as output drops (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

In South Korea, an energy storage bonanza (via Navigant Research)

Giant energy storage project aims at renewable energy’s holy grail (via Renewable Energy World)

The opportunity of time-of-use pricing (via RMI Outlet)

OPINION 

Why natural gas won’t help save the planet (via National Journal)

Coal industry still in denial over prices, regulation (via Reuters)

Are Wal-Mart’s owners really a threat to distributed energy? (via Greentech Media)

Can a low-carbon fuels standard work in Washington? (via Washington State Wire)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EPA ozone-pollution standard left intact by Supreme Court (via Bloomberg)

Methane pollution from federal lands rising, oil boom to blame (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Leading Australian pension fund ditches coal holdings (via RTCC)

Complex market forces are challenging Appalachian coal mining (via Center for American Progress)

Coal miners to march on EPA against climate rule (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar power market could hit 200GW by end of 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. solar trade case could expand to include Chinese modules with any cell origin (via PV Tech)

Chinese, Japanese solar PV to soar in Q4 2014 (via Recharge)

Solar PV catching on fast in Latin America, Caribbean (via Triple Pundit)

UK offers $482 million for renewable energy auctions (via Energy Manager Today)

China’s solar industry continues rebound (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar, wind cost may fall to level for coal by 2020s (via Bloomberg)

First-ever global life cycle assessment of renewable energy future (via Phys.org)

Solar companies fall on U.S. stock market on heavy volume (via Reuters)

Despite political setback, high hopes for Ohio clean energy (via Midwest Energy News)

Researchers develop technique to turn winery waste into biofuel (via Breaking Energy)

DuPont, P&G partner to use cellulosic ethanol in Tide laundry detergent, replacing corn ethanol (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU moves closer to 2030 deal on climate, energy (via Bloomberg)

Japan nuclear restart to hit oil usage hardest (via Reuters)

Regulatory complexities, natural gas economics driving power markets (via Energy Manager Today)

California drought leads to less hydropower, increased natural gas generation (via U.S. EIA)

OIL 

EU abandons “dirty” label for tar sands oil (via Reuters)

DOE Secretary skeptical U.S. will export oil anytime soon (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

EV sales charge up 50% in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Fast charging your EV might not be as bad for batteries as predicted (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla to join luxury race into automated driving (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

The ocean’s surface layer has been warming much faster than previously thought (via Climate Progress)

10 countries have pledged $2.3 billion to fight climate change – the U.S. isn’t one of them (via Mother Jones)

NATURAL GAS 

A push to make “fracking” sound better (via Wall Street Journal)

Cuomo administration edited and delayed key fracking study (via Capital New York)

GRID 

Battery storage costs could plunge below $100/kWh (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Anti-ALEC activists pressure eBay to drop conservative group (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Are Russian energy sanctions working? (via National Journal)

Why are institutional investors still hesitating on solar? (via Greentech Media)

Carbon capture’s energy penalty problem (via Reuters)

Can sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere really work? (via MIT Technology Review)

Why solar power is taking off at airports across the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.6.14

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

CLIMATE 

Past measurements may have missed massive ocean warming (via Science)

Could climate change affect the number of boys and girls born? (via Smithsonian)

Miami Beach prepares for annual “King Tide” flooding and a taste of sea level rise (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

U.S. sees drop in coal exports in 2014 (via Mining.com)

U.S. coal exports fall on lower European demand, increased global supply (via U.S. EIA)

U.S. coal companies having tough 2014 so far (via Knoxville News Sentinel)

New regulations, competition have coal industry reeling (via Tuscaloosa News)

RENEWABLES 

7 renewable energy lessons from Germany (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar PV market continues shrinking (via Renewables International)

U.S. DOE says 54GW of offshore wind power waiting to be tapped (via TriplePundit)

Siemens says wind power needs subsidy to compete in U.S. (via Financial Times)

U.S. DOE awarding $25 million to reduce CSP costs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OSU researchers build rechargeable solar battery (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

USDA provides $91 million for biogasoline blendstock plant (via Green Car Congress)

First commercial quantities of cellulosic ethanol from woody biomass marketed (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Shell suspends Siberian oil project, says Russian partner (via Wall Street Journal)

Orphaned Russian oil heads to U.S. west on Asia overflow (via Bloomberg)

Rosneft CEO says he’ll develop Arctic oil with or without Exxon (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

BP seeks revised verdict or new trial on spill negligence (via Bloomberg)

Gov. Inslee: “Outdated, inadequate, and dangerous” oil trains crossing state (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

TRANSPORTATION 

European regulators say incorrect C02 ratings could cost drivers $580/year (via Autoblog Green)

Carnival cruises toward $2.5 billion in fuel savings (via GreenBiz)

UMTRI monthly report shows large drop in new-vehicle fuel economy in September (via Green Car Congress)

Toyota racks up 7 million hybrids sold since 1997 (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks faster energy market integration amid crisis (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Brazil keeps renewable energy transmission & distribution discounts (via Recharge News)

Building wind power superhighways (via Chicago Tribune)

Grid-scale energy storage continues making inroads (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS 

An industry you’ve never heard of is trying to cut $1.8 billion in wasted natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Two gas drillers agree to disclose fracking risks to investors (via The Hill)

Maryland report: Fracking poses little risk to drinking water in the state (via Climate Progress)

Drilling waste site roils tiny Texas town (via Texas Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

Fish failing to adapt to rising CO2 levels in ocean (via The Guardian)

China emissions rising on high-carbon economic growth (via RTCC)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Tougher energy efficiency target would boost UK economy by £62 billion (via The Guardian)

Johnson Controls, WRI partnership targets energy efficiency in cities (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

Wilderness as economic stimulus? A closer look at the evidence (via The Hill)

In virtual mega-drought, California avoids defeat (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Rousseff in tight runoff against pro-business Neves (via Reuters)

Clashing visions of conservation shake Brazil’s presidential vote (via New York Times)

Democrats lean heavily on PACs in coordinated push to counter GOP (via New York Times)

McConnell on climate change: “Not a scientist” (via Courier-Journal)

This woman could become one of the world’s most influential environmentalists (via National Journal)

OPINION 

India’s mixed climate change forecast (via Washington Post)

Why the oil majors are backing away from renewable energy (via EnergyWire)

Cold days for coal could mean a better forecast for our climate (via Energy Collective)

A carbon tax will create jobs for Americans (via CNN)

Congress should fix the gas tax (via Washington Post)

NASA explains how climate change is like the flu (via National Journal)

Will investors flock to SunEdison’s emerging market YieldCo? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.14.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Worst drought in 50 years hits China’s breadbasket (via Market Watch)

Brown signs $7.5 billion plan to ease California drought (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Report: Some retiring U.S. power plants may not need to be replaced (via Renew Grid)

PJM may expand capacity market rules: Handout to fossil fuels, or needed reliability boost? (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Global renewable energy status uncovered (via Renewable Energy World)

Wave and tidal power costing more than forecast (via Bloomberg)

U.K. renewables industry celebrates record start to 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Minnesota PUC passes on value of solar, but likely not for long (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Which solar company boasts the highest market cap? (via Greentech Media)

NRG’s portable solar deal gives it a new place in the sun (via Houston Chronicle)

More “Made in the USA” solar modules coming soon (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

Oil nationalism seen reversing by IEA amid shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Mexico opens oil fields to foreigners (via New York Times)

Mexico hopes to lure $50.5 billion in historic oil tender (via Reuters)

Feds urged to put Atlantic waters on auction block (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking opponents renew calls for moratorium amid drought (via CBS Los Angeles)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Roadster to get replacement battery, 400-mile range (via Green Car Reports)

Chevy Volt: Only current GM model not recalled this year (via Green Car Reports)

COAL 

U.S. coal imports fall as natural gas advances (via Houston Chronicle)

North Carolina tells Duke Energy to submit ash removal plans (via Charlotte Observer)

EMISSIONS 

New CO2 satellite sends first data back to Earth (via Climate Central)

Will CO2 emissions standards spur carbon capture technology? (via Energy Collective)

Here’s one company that’s really psyched about EPA’s climate change rule (via National Journal)

Coal-fired rural co-ops dig in against EPA emission rules, but a few mavericks flirt with renewables (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Diesel is used in fracking without permits, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Fracking operations get even closer to drinking water sources than we thought (via Grist)

Why railroads are taking a fresh look at natural gas (via Reuters)

Texas regulator unveils proposed rules on fracking disposal wells (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking companies fight Texas families’ air pollution suits, fearing precedent (via InsideClimate News)

Colorado senator defends fracking, says “burning water” helped Native Americans (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Antarctica may lift sea level faster in threat to megacities (via Bloomberg)

Expanding existing farmland would benefit climate (via Climate Central)

India PM Modi to miss UN climate change summit in New York (via Economic Times)

National parks could suffer due to climate change, says study (via AccuWeather)

Heavy downpours increasing in U.S. due to global warming

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canadian oil sands crude is X factor in crude-by-rail rule (via EnergyWire)

Former Hillary aide sought to “neutralize” greens on Keystone XL (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU regulators say German, others in breach of energy efficiency law (via Reuters)

CBRE releases list of Top 30 cities for green real estate (via Triple Pundit)

POLITICS 

Sarah Palin jumps in, Mark Begich ducks on Alaska oil tax vote (via Politico)

Coal campaigns: Diverting the public from real issues (via Charleston Gazette)

OPINION 

How to stop tax inversions with a carbon levy. Seriously. (via Bloomberg)

How cap-and-trade helps forest and businesses grow together (via GreenBiz)

How your breakfast is fighting climate change (via The Hill)

U.S. students demand clean energy (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.14

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

GREEN BUSINESS 

Report: U.S. green employment surge takes clean job opportunities past 2.6 million (via BusinessGreen)

America’s Top 10 “coolest schools” in sustainability (via EcoWatch)

COAL 

U.S. anti-coal dominoes hit BRICS wall, other skeptics (via Reuters)

Coal generation down as Germany breaks yet another renewables record (via BusinessGreen)

Coal makes a comeback, for now (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Europe’s green energy rules cost UK $156 billion (via Bloomberg)

China and India’s GW-scale solar plans (via Renew Economy)

Chinese offshore wind market stagnating, disappointing investors (via Renewable Energy World)

Central America poised for clean tech investment boom (via BusinessGreen)

Citigroup: Global solar outlook is getting brighter (via Renew Economy)

Poor installation, grid constraints, defective panels plague China’s huge solar program (via Greenwire)

Over 26GW wind, solar power capacity offered for Brazil’s upcoming auction (via CleanTechnica)

IRS clarifies beginning of construction rules for renewable energy projects (via Renewable Energy World)

Despite uptick in activity, wind industry faces uncertainty in Congress (via Greenwire)

U.S. solar carport market poised for record year, continued growth (via Greentech Media)

U.S. wind farm construction is surging in 2014 (via Transmission & Distribution World)

OSU campus derives more than 70% of energy from wind (via Energy Manager Today)

New energy-rich sorghum offers ethanol without the corn (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

Saudi Arabia, China sign nuclear and renewable energy agreement (via Al-Awsat)

CLIMATE 

Rising economies “ahead on climate” (via BBC)

Call for finance to top agenda at 2015 UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Climate change and health – joining the dots (via Deutche Welle)

That sinking feeling: The Coastal cities doomed to disappear beneath the waves (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

What climate change in the Rockies means for its water (via Climate Central)

California has hottest start to year while Midwest chills (via Climate Central)

“Unprecedented” Detroit flooding event fits global warming pattern (via Mashable)

OIL 

World awash in oil shields markets from 2008 price shock (via Bloomberg)

Oil companies fracking into drinking water sources, shows new research (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Green signal for “Britain’s first” battery-powered train (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. public in favor of higher truck fuel efficiency standards (via Autoblog Green)

Gas prices to drop through end of 2014 (via The Hill)

California could give lower-income EV buyers a financial boost (via Autoblog Green)

Next-gen power electronics could cut $6,000 from Tesla Model S (via GigaOm)

Tesla Gigafactory: California could waive environmental rules to get it (via Green Car Reports)

Toyota: East Coast hydrogen cars on the horizon (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Germany added a lot of wind and solar power, and its grid became more reliable (via Climate Progress)

Key Brazil wind grid link set for completion by November (via Recharge)

U.S. DOE clears Quebec-to-NYC transmission line (via Albany Times Union)

Vermont breaks ground on “perfect” solar + storage microgrid that can provide resilient power (via Renewable Energy World)

Suntech invests $25 million in U.S. energy storage developer (via Solar Industry)

NATURAL GAS 

China’s shale gas bust (via MIT Technology Review)

ENVIRONMENT 

Declining Lake Mead water levels raise concerns for future of parched region (via Huffington Post/AP)

Lightning sparks new wildfires in Oregon, Washington (via The Columbian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

An energy cure for hospitals (via Navigant Research)

POLITICS 

Senators want more comment time on EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

Democrats increasingly backing oil and gas industry (via Wall Street Journal)

How to eliminate almost every federal agency (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Ebola and climate change: Are humans responsible for severity of current outbreak? (via Newsweek)

The African case for U.S. climate leadership (via WRI Insights)

How far away is grid parity for residential battery storage? (via Renew Economy)

The frustrating climate change memes that just won’t die (via New Republic)

Toyota executive: We’re on the cusp of the automotive hydrogen age (via Green Car Congress)

Journalists to EPA: Stop muzzling scientists (via The Hill)

How I went off-grid with solar in Hawaii (via Greentech Media)