Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Supreme Court to hear cases against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

Why size doesn’t matter: Divesting from fossil fuels with a small endowment (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

NTSB finds “systemic problems” in gas pipeline oversight (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY 

Utility bosses see change coming, look to clean and distributed energy (via Grist)

How these energy geeks are reimagining an old school utility (via Reuters)

The University of California’s new retail energy supplier: Itself (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

USTDA to commit nearly $2 billion to renewable energy projects in India (via PV Tech)

German ground-mount solar to be limited to 1.2GW for 2015-2017 (via PV Tech)

Brazil’s Banco Itau Unibanco to finance $408 million in renewable energy projects (via Recharge)

Bangladesh looks to establish world’s “first solar nation” (via Telesur)

U.S. solar complaint against India set to reopen as Obama leaves town (via PV Tech)

UK study says solar panels made from perovskite far cheaper, more efficient (via Reuters)

U.S. approves Argentina proposal to qualify for biodiesel credits (via Reuters)

NextEra-HECO deal likely linked with Hawaiian utility’s about face on rooftop solar (via Forbes)

Every $1 of solar incentives puts $2.46 into the economy (via CleanTechnica)

West Virginia legislature repeals state renewable portfolio standard (via Charleston Daily Mail)

Cape Wind project faces new hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Can you turn your home into a hydroelectric plant? (via Forbes)

OIL 

Obama’s plan: Allow drilling in the Atlantic, but limit it in Arctic (via New York Times)

Green light for some would-be U.S. oil exporters, more questions for others (via Reuters)

Sen. Cruz won’t seek vote to end crude oil export ban (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

American Airlines expects to save $5 billion from tumbling oil prices (via Forbes)

Kansas City Power & Light to build 1,000 EV charging sites (via Green Car Reports)

After steadily falling, gas prices notch an increase (via New York Times)

Boston Power targets own battery gigafactory (via Inside EVs)

CLIMATE 

U.S. corporate supply chains vulnerable to climate risks (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Storage to follow solar’s path of falling costs, says Citigroup (via PV Tech)

Are carbon nanoballs the answer to renewable’s grid woes? (via BusinessGreen)

The case for long duration storage: Net electricity load in California is five years ahead of schedule (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Are stranded assets wearing down oil and coal industries? (via GreenBiz)

What utility executives think the future holds (via Utility Dive)

Solar Outlook 2015: Still growing, but no longer energy’s young kid (via Renewable Energy World)

10 Members of Congress who actually get sustainable business (via GreenBiz)

Another state fights war on solar and energy efficiency (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.16.15

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

CLIMATE 

EU plans diplomatic offensive ahead of Paris climate summit (via RTCC)

New Pew survey shows Americans may finally be serious about global warming (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Michigan governor wants to wean state off coal as an energy source (via Lansing News)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind power to become cheapest energy source in Asia (via Business Standard)

Brazil wind financing deals surged 83% last year to $2.5 billion (via Bloomberg)

Wind farms could save UK £7.4 billion in gas import costs, says report (via BusinessGreen)

2015 will see first solar equipment produced in Brazil, says BNDES (via Recharge)

Merkel says Germany needs “a respite from solar” (via PV Magazine)

Dubai doubles capacity of “lowest cost” PV plant to 200MW (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green kick-starts China PV project pipeline in 2015 (via PV Tech)

Queensland businesses turn to solar to offset soaring bills (via Renew Economy)

Australian households installed a rooftop solar system every 2.8 minutes in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

U.S. solar industry adds 31,000 jobs in 2014 (via The Hill)

California regulators consider west-facing incentives for solar (via Solar Industry)

Missouri net metering bills could aid battered solar industry (via Midwest Energy News)

In Wisconsin, solar “new math” could equal big impacts (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota group wants state energy assistance to fund solar for low-income families (via Sustainable Business)

Solar cell efficiency jumps 50% with hand-build Perovskite layer (via CleanTechnica)

Small-scale hybrid energy device harvests both sun and wind (via Treehugger)

Solar Decathlon 2015 kicks off with Irvine workshop (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico considers delaying some oil exploration bidding (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Canada postpones North American summit amid Keystone XL tension (via Reuters)

Lifting U.S. crude export ban could boost production, cut gas prices, says study (via Reuters)

Judge puts BP’s top fine at $13.7 billion for Gulf oil spill; U.S. sought $18 billion (via Bloomberg)

U.S. oil train safety proposal due in May (via Reuters)

Gravy train derails for oil patch workers laid off in downturn (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Korea’s target: 200,000 EVs by 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Nissan to have longer-range EVs “relatively quickly,” says executive (via Green Car Reports)

Elon Musk: Hyperloop test track may be built in Texas (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

India’s power sector moves into the 21st century (via Navigant Research)

PJM files “stop-gap” proposal with FERC to allow demand response in capacity auctions (via SNL Energy)

Opower says 95 utility partners have saved 6TWh energy (via Energy Manager Today)

California takes lead in developing energy storage (via GreenBiz)

Solar and utilities can co-exist through EVs, says Elon Musk (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Poll: GOP clashes with voters on oil industry priorities (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar alliance in Sunshine State may be bad news for Jeb Bush (via Forbes)

OPINION 

How beyond-the-grid solar firms and lenders can make better use of capital (via Greentech Media)

A reminder to investors dumping solar stocks: PV and oil rarely mix (via Greentech Media)

Center for Public Integrity reveals how PR firms manufacture consent for oil firms (via DeSmogBlog)

Wind must cut costs in face of cheap crude (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.12.15

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama’s India visit could yield progress on climate change and solar power (via The Guardian)

Solar plus batteries unlikely to threaten utilities anytime soon, says study (via Forbes)

Wholesale power prices increase across the U.S. in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea launches carbon cap-and-trade system (via The Hill)

Stanford professors urge withdrawal from fossil fuel investments (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

India plans five separate $5 billion green energy funds (via Panchabuta)

Solar at grid parity in most of world by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Renewable energy investment surges, nearly surpasses 2011 mark (via Climate Progess)

Solar accounted for nearly half of all global clean energy investment in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

5GW wind-solar energy park planned in Gujarat, India (via CleanTechnica)

Indian oil corporation targets 10,000 solar-powered gas stations (via CleanTechnica)

SunEdison plans $4 billion India solar factory as demand climbs (via Bloomberg)

Morocco solar agency awards 350MW of concentrating solar power contracts (via PV Tech)

Chile will be home to latest challenger for world’s largest merchant solar plant (via PV Tech)

Wind developers seen bidding to build Brazil transmission lines (via Bloomberg)

Steady wave power could be cheaper than wind and solar (via BusinessGreen)

Wind forecasting receives $2.5 million boost from U.S. DOE (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley deal nudges 2015 U.S. residential solar investment toward $800 million (via PV Tech)

Net metering fight comes to New Mexico (via Navigant Research)

Utility commission order bolsters North Carolina’s status as a rising solar power (via Solar Industry Magazine)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: State Department studying Nebraska ruling on Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Not enough votes to override Keystone veto, says Sen. Coons (via The Hill)

TransCanada CEO: “We need Keystone” (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Countries could leave UN climate body if Paris fails, says Todd Stern (via RTCC)

Most physicians already seeing health effects of climate change in patients (via Yale e360)

72 percent of Republican Senators are climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Oil tumbles to 5-½ year low as OPEC reaffirms stance (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Venezuela, Saudi leaders meet to talk oil prices in Riyadh (via Houston Chronicle)

As oil plummets, how much pain still looms for U.S. energy firms? (via Reuters)

Oil drillers bail on U.S. boom, idle most rigs since 1991 (via Bloomberg)

Shell to cut five to ten percent of oil sands jobs (via Houston Chronicle)

Bakken oil producers need $55 a barrel to keep production steady (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Inflexible ethanol costs stopping further decrease in gas prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt arrives with 50-mile EV range, 41 mpg (via Autoblog)

Official Chevrolet Bolt details: 200-mile range, $30,000 starting price (via Inside EVs)

University of Tennessee to head $250M advanced composites manufacturing institute (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS 

Idea for gas terminal off East Coast rankles fracking foes (via Houston Chronicle)

New York fracking ban seen as having little impact on supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

A next-gen battery to land in Hawaii, courtesy of Aquion Energy (via GigaOm)

Massachusetts awards $18 million for microgrids, energy resiliency (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $235 billion in value by 2019 (via Environmental Leader)

New U.S. DOE lighting standards could save $15 billion (via CleanTechnica)

What’s unique about the Texas PACE-in-a-box toolkit? (via Renewable Energy World)

ENVIRONMENT 

We can fix the Gulf dead zone, for $2.7 billion a year (via Grist)

New York is biggest city to ban foam packaging (via Grist)

California’s almonds use as much water annually as Los Angeles uses in three years (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

How EVs could impact the grid in four charts (via Greentech Media)

How innovative solar business models can benefit all (via GreenBiz)

Bakken oil wells and the Red Queen’s revenge (via Reuters)

U.S. car travel has been on the decline for a decade – will cheap gas change that? (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court approves Keystone XL route through Nebraska (via The Hill)

Keystone foes cite foreign oil users to undercut Republican push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Prepare for rising migration driven by climate change, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

U.S. hot streak now old enough to vote (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Solar took half of all global renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF (via PV Tech)

Rebound in clean energy investment beats expectations in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar investment surged an incredible 175% in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Key solar PV market trends in 2015: IHS (via PV Tech)

Deutsche Bank lowers PV market demand forecast for 2014-2015 (via PV Tech)

FiT and net-metering charges confirmed for Italian solar PV installations (via PV Tech)

Japan funding $779 in million energy-saving battery storage installations (via Bloomberg)

China clarifies plans for cuts to onshore wind FiT (via Recharge)

Brazil minister sees no changes to auction system for wind and solar (via Recharge)

Korean researchers deliver record 18.4% efficient perovskite solar cell (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy rising across all spheres of U.S. society (via TriplePundit)

Industry says wind saved consumers $1 billion during 2014 Polar Vortex (via Breaking Energy)

Sunrun Investec deal completes bumper week for U.S. residential PV investment (via PV Tech)

Colorado utility leads the way for community solar (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

How OPEC weaponized the price of oil against U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry group to score lawmakers’ energy votes (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump taking a toll on U.S. alternative fuels (via Reuters)

Mexico proposes historic crude oil swap with U.S. (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China plug-in EV sales target 336,000 units by end of 2015 (via Inside EVs)

European Leaf owners drive 50% more per year on average than gas-powered owners (via Green Car Congress)

House Speaker Boehner signals he’s opposed to gas tax hike (via The Hill)

Boston Power aims to rival Tesla with gigawatt battery factories (via Greentech Media)

West Coast electric highway serves thousands of EV drivers (via Green Car Reports)

EMISSIONS 

DOE project captures and stores one million metric tons of carbon (via Green Car Congress)

Xcel Energy plans 40% carbon emissions cut (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking data sought by environmental groups in EPA lawsuit (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

California issues roadmap for grid-connected energy storage technology (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

On energy efficiency, easy money not always an easy sell (via Midwest Energy News)

Chicago’s first benchmarking report showcases energy savings opportunities (via NRDC Switchboard)

POLITICS 

The anti-science climate denier caucus: 114th Congress edition (via Climate Progress)

Boxer retirement a big loss for environmentalists (via The Hill)

Steyer ally says California Senate run a possibility (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How falling oil prices will impact the economy and the Keystone XL debate (via Forbes)

In Keystone fight and beyond, infrastructure is energy policy (via InsideClimate News)

Why California needs to think differently about how it supports energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The point of the Keystone XL fight (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China carbon trading to almost double in 2015 (via RTCC)

California carbon market off to strong start in 2015 (via Reuters)

Low gas prices smooth path for carbon add-on in California (via Scientific American/ClimateWire)

COAL 

China’s declining coal dependence is evident in the data (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

India cuts floor price for solar energy credits to boost demand (via Bloomberg)

Denmark delivers “one-of-a-kind” wind power record (via BusinessGreen)

Pakistan to pull solar energy into national power grid (via Reuters)

Residential FiT aims to make Thailand the ASEAN solar leader in 10 years (via PV Tech)

Brazil approves $9.6 million financing for solar panel factory (via Bloomberg)

Solar cements status as low-risk investment in 2014 (via PV Tech)

U.S. solar tariff review hints at halved Chinese cells rate (via Bloomberg)

Fact sheet: Renewable energy job numbers (via Renewable Energy World)

Major setback for Cape Wind as two utilities opt out of power purchase agreement (via Boston Globe)

New York State solar growth is 63% per year (via CleanTechnica)

Republican-led group launches ballot petition to boost solar power in Florida (via Tampa Bay Times)

SolarCity inks $350 million solar fund deal with JP Morgan (via PV Tech)

OIL 

Oil extends drop below $48 as U.S. stockpiles seen rising (via Bloomberg)

Oil lobby sets sights on export ban (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Solar-powered EV charging network takes shape in Jordan (via Navigant Research)

December 2014 EV sales hit record high in U.S. – almost 120,000 sold for year (via Inside EVs)

Clean energy banks could foster private investment (via Energy Manager Today)

California groundbreaking marks true beginning of high-speed rail in America (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: Obama won’t sign Keystone XL pipeline bill (via National Journal)

White House riles new GOP-led Congress with threat to veto Keystone XL pipeline bill (via Washington Post)

Obama Keystone veto threat spurs Democrat’s plea for deal (via Bloomberg)

Keystone bill said to be four votes shy of a veto-proof majority (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Machu Picchu threatened by climate change (via Euronews)

Ken Cuccinelli’s new business will not survive climate change (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Senators introduce bill to speed natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Fracking ban bill introduced in Florida (via EcoWatch)

GRID 

Germany solar power storage system prices drop 25% (via CleanTechnica)

Which solar companies are active in the solar-plus-storage market today? (via Greentech Media)

Going off-grid might mean staying on grid in Germany (via Renewables International)

PG&E partners with BMW to test how EVs perform in demand response programs (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

China to boost support for NGOs that sue environmental polluters (via Bloomberg)

Limits on rare-earth metals to end after China loses global trade case (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

Going solar: From Millennials to Baby Boomers (via Renewable Energy World)

Seven surprise Republicans to watch if you care about climate change (via National Journal)

U.S. oil production will be falling by end of 2015 (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.5.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon emissions to rise 2.5% in 2015 (via RTCC)

Four questions for global carbon markets in 2015 (via The Energy Collective)

Aviation industry set to triple emissions by 2050 (via EcoWatch)

California cap-and-trade now covers transportation fuel retailers (via CleanTechnica)

Former Obama advisor calls for carbon tax (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China struggles to find prospective blocks for third shale auction (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell criticizes fracking bans (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar announces construction of four Pacific island PV projects (via PV Tech)

Scotland’s power grid could be fossil fuel free by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

2015 outlook: Brazil gets serious about solar (via Recharge)

UK wind power up 15%, smashes annual output record (via BusinessGreen)

Egypt’s first renewable energy tender twice oversubscribed on solar projects (via PV Tech)

SolarWorld speaks out against latest EU trade case on solar glass (via PV Tech)

Santander, Gamesa request permits for Mexico wind (via Bloomberg)

La Paz, Mexico to be 100% solar powered (via CleanTechnica)

A setback for SolarWorld, a trade case win for Chinese solar manufacturers (via Greentech Media)

Hanwha SolarOne says it can provide 600MW of tariff-free PV modules to U.S. in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

Community and home solar remain great investments (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables over 13% of U.S. electricity production Jan-Oct 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel doubling renewable energy generation in Minnesota (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Future of wind farms cloudy in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

Solar-powered EV charging initiative aids San Francisco apartment dwellers (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE

2014 was hottest year on record globally, says Japan meteorological agency (via Climate Progress)

2014 was UK’s “warmest year on record,” confirms Met Office (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Oil below $60 tests economics of U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

U.S. Senate panel to introduce Keystone XL bill Thursday (via Reuters)

GOP prepares Keystone blitz (via The Hill)

Alaska Governor Walker bracing for budget crisis amid oil price crash (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to extend new EV subsidies through 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Mexico to re-launch $3.75 billion high-speed train tender January 14 (via Reuters)

By 2017, under 50% of new cars will use conventional gas engines (via Autoblog)

Nissan Leaf set U.S. EV sales record in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

First hybrid-electric airplane uses 30% less fuel (via CleanTechnica)

Lower fuel prices could save U.S. motorists $80 billion in 2015 (via Autoblog)

December 2014 plug-in EV sales report card (via Inside EVs)

Tesla Model S demand continues to outstrip supply (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.S. office buildings and schools to save $15 billion with new DOE standards (via Energy Manager Today)

Green buildings cost 25% less to operate (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Government confirms £960 million cost of capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

Massachusetts cities get $18.4 million for energy resiliency projects (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Voters give Obama, Congress poor grades on energy (via The Hill)

New Senate chairmen aim to undo Obama’s policies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Sen. Thune leaves wiggle room on gas tax (via The Hill)

EPA says Google, Kohl’s, REI reflect trends in green power (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

South Africa faces looming water crisis, says newspaper (via Bloomberg) 

Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The top ten electricity stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

The year of concentrating solar power: Five new plants to power America with clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

The Sol-Wind IPO: Can a renewable YieldCo win master limited partnership benefits? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.2.15

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

EMISSIONS

Tropical forests may inhale a third of fossil fuel emissions (via Climate Central)

EU carbon market has first volume decline after brake on supply (via Bloomberg)

Americans favor EPA regulation over carbon tax or cap-and-trade (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES

India’s Modi raises solar investment target to $100 billion by 2022 (via Reuters)

New markets help utility-scale solar surge to another record year (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar energy: How low oil prices change the game (via Bloomberg)

Transportation logistics trouble wind energy industry (via TriplePundit)

Strategic policy stacking can lead to solar market success (via Renewable Energy World)

States work to meet new renewable energy standards (via Houston Chronicle)

Greenwood Energy to expand DG solar business with Fortress Investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

New York plants seeds for energy reform in 2014 that will bloom in 2015 (via Energy Collective)

Top 10 largest solar projects under construction (via Forbes)

OIL

OPEC December crude output slips as global prices tumble (via Bloomberg)

U.S. easing of oil exports challenges OPEC strategy (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Almost 10,000 EVs were sold in China in November (via Inside EVs)

EVs coast through 2014, pin hopes on 2015 (via Greentech Media)

AAA: U.S. drivers saved $14 billion on gasoline in 2014 (via Houston Chronicle)

Electric power industry expects 400% growth in annual EV sales by 2023 (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

2015 green building trends (via Environmental Leader)

DOE sets efficiency standards for light bulbs, icemakers (via The Hill)

GRID

California could supercharge the distribution grid (via Greentech Media)

A look inside ERCOT’s control room (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

Wildfires rage across Southern Australia as temperatures rise (via Bloomberg)

FEMA overpaid $177 million on hurricane damages (via The Hill)

Plastic bag manufacturers spend $3 million to repeal California ban (via EcoWatch)

OPINION

Three ways for cities to go carbon negative (via Greenbiz)

Three steps toward clean technology business success in Brazil (via Renewable Energy World)

Is there any way to slow aviation’s soaring emissions? (via RTCC)

Five top stories from India’s solar market in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

What does $60 oil mean for biofuel industry? (via Renewable Energy World)

In Keystone pipeline case, what might Nebraska court do? (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.29.14

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

CLIMATE

Greenland ice loss outpaces climate models (via RTCC)

Pope Francis expected to instruct one billion Catholics to act on climate change (via Climate Progress)

Hedegaard: Credibility of UN climate process hangs on Paris talks (via The Guardian)

Almost 7,000 UK properties to be sacrificed to rising seas (via The Guardian)

2014 may be Anchorage, Alaska’s first year ever with no below-zero temperatures (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY POLICY

UK, Germany, Australia all see energy and emissions drop in 2014 (via Treehugger)

China forms $32 billion energy company to help clean up Beijing (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

Hanwha subsidiaries merging into world’s largest solar cell manufacturer (via CleanTechnica)

Spain “has to install up to 6.5GW of wind by 2020” (via Recharge News)

Scotland’s solar capacity climbs 32 percent in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Raizen to invest $927 million in sugarcane cellulosic ethanol plants in Brazil by 2024 (via Green Car Congress)

Distributed renewables will reduce utility revenues up to $124 billion a year by 2025 (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

Canadian oil surge to U.S. Gulf puts Mexico on defensive (via Bloomberg)

India refiners boom amid global oil bust as investors eye risks (via Bloomberg)

Race to build on Columbia River could block Pacific oil route (via New York Times)

Residents along Kinder Morgan pipeline from Ohio to Gulf concerned about use (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices fall, Alaska governor halts project spending (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION

China’s Shenzen caps new car plates to control smog, congestion (via Bloomberg)

Germany plans EV motorway charging station expansion (via Reuters)

Tesla Roadster 3.0 prototype announced with 400-mile possibilities (via Autoblog)

Report: Millennials own fewer cars, seek other ways to travel (via Green Car Reports)

Hawaii #2 behind California in EV registrations per 1,000 vehicles (via Inside EVs)

EMISSIONS

UK government unveils £35 million fund to curb air pollution (via BusinessGreen)

Curbing fugitive methane costs little, buys time on climate change (via The Hill)

Washington State offers ambitious cap-and-trade plan (via Climate Central)

GRID

This year’s key developments in distributed energy and utility disruption (via Greentech Media)

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, and Maryland (via Energy Collective)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Stronger energy codes don’t limit construction, says SEEA (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy efficient buildings could save Chicago $77 million (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

2015: A year for carbon pricing, peer pressure, and Paris (via RTCC)

New York takes the wrong approach to fracking (via Washington Post)

The biggest winter energy myth: That you need to idle your car before driving (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.26.14

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

OIL 

Oil’s swift fall raises fortunes of U.S. abroad (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Is Europe leaving electric vehicle range anxiety behind? (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf may overtake Chevy Volt on cumulative sales in 2015 (via Autoblog)

EMISSIONS 

China on pace to beat 2014 energy intensity reduction target (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Germans balk at plan for wind power lines (via New York Times)

Japan to build world’s biggest floating solar farm (via Greentech Media)

America’s place in the Sun: Energy Department report sets goal (via Phys.org)

CASE says U.S. solar sector harmed by decision to impose PV tariffs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

India announces 1.3GW solar projects to support domestic manufacturers (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

Investment in microgrid technologies expected to exceed $155 billion through 2023 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

New transmission replaces retiring coal plants (via Navigant Research)

Largest behind-the-meter energy storage system deployed in LA (via Energy Manager Today)

Flywheels get their spin back with Beacon Power’s rebound (via IEEE Spectrum)

Orix offers energy storage twist on solar leasing (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the LEED Dynamic plaque is the way to go (via GreenBiz)

Ameren Missouri energy efficiency plan to save customers $260 million (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazil appoints agribusiness advocate as agriculture minister (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

An open Cuba is poised for a green future (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.14

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

CLIMATE

Climate change could cut global food production 18% by 2050 (via BusinessGreen)

Major coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years (via The Guardian)

NASA satellite sends back most detailed view yet of CO2 (via Climate Central)

Much of coastal U.S. will see over 30 days of flooding due to sea level rise, projects NOAA (via Huffington Post)

White House floats new climate guidelines for energy, infrastructure development (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

China solar exports may face increase in EU duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new FiT rules draw criticism from Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (via PV Tech)

India’s biggest wind company plans to enter solar market (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

BNDES approves $222 million in loans for Brazil ethanol plant (via Bloomberg)

EBRD backs Polish wind farm with €23.8 million (via Bloomberg)

South Africa fights blackouts with concentrating solar power (via TriplePundit)

GE ships first Brazil wind turbine nacelle under tough local-content rules (via Recharge News)

U.S power sector employment declines, except for renewable electricity generators (via U.S EIA)

U.S. solar-plus-storage market to surpass $1 billion by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

EIA expects 2014 U.S. wind installations to total less than 5GW (via Recharge)

New money coming home: Investors likely to continue backing residential solar in 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power (via Treehugger)

Businesses get solar at no upfront cost, encourage customers and employees to invest (via Treehugger)

Duke prepares South Carolina distributed solar program (via Renewable Energy World)

Coalition plans push to expand Minnesota’s renewable energy standard in 2015 (via Star-Tribune)

Illinois solar gets closer to game time (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

U.S. EPA set to issue long-anticipated rules for coal ash disposal (via Reuters)

Coal ash waste about to be federally regulated for the first time (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

Polluting is getting expensive again in Europe: Carbon & climate (via Bloomberg)

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral (via National Journal)

OIL

Bankers see $1 trillion in investments stranded in the oil fields (via Bloomberg)

Oil price bloodbath to spark energy sector buying spree (via Reuters)

Nebraska Supreme Court decision on Keystone XL punted to 2015 (via The Hill)

Oil crunch could cost Texas 128,000 jobs, says Fed model (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. gasoline drops below $2.50 in U.S. for first time in 2009 (via Bloomberg)

Tax breaks for EV charging, natural gas cars back through end of 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Analyst slashes Tesla sales forecast 40% due to fuel prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt to add on-demand regenerative braking (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY

German energy use sinks to lowest level since reunification (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. power sector needs $2.1 trillion in investment by 2035, says EIA (via Greentech Media)

EBay just became the latest tech company to leave conservative group ALEC (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, Maryland (via Greentech Media)

Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS

The state of shale (via Phys.org)

Here's the grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

Companies pay $9.7 million in EPA enforcement actions (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION

The top five energy and climate stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

Global biofuels industry: A promising future (via Navigant Research)

Three ways renewables could benefit from low oil prices (via Forbes)

Will coal plant retirements and fracking threaten electric reliability? (via Navigant Research)

The surprising link between what makes us happy and what saves energy (via Washington Post)

Solyndra? Solyndra! The legacy of government loan guarantees beyond politics (via Greentech Media)

Six lessons learned from the front lines of the climate fight (via Huffington Post)

Solar tariffs: Throttling America’s biggest job creation machine (via Renewable Energy World)

How Denmark and Texas became wind energy kings (via StateImpact Texas)