Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China calls for local targets to curb coal use, cut pollution (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing set to cover 80 percent of Canada’s economy (via RTCC)

White House methane plan takes aim at oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)

Goddard College becomes fourth Vermont school to divest from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Harvard invests tens of millions in fossil fuels despite divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Top 10 carbon market predictions for 2015 (via TriplePundit)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank predicts solar grid parity in 80% of global market by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to build 2.3GW wind capacity by 2019 (via Recharge)

Green bond market hits record $36.6 billion in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Utilities push back as solar industry booms in Japan (via Forbes)

Google’s clean energy capacity passes 2.5GW with latest solar investment (via BusinessGreen)

Report: Solar is cheaper than the grid in 42 of 50 largest U.S. cities (via Greentech Media)

U.S. homes fitted with PV attract higher prices, says report (via PV Tech)

As North Carolina solar industry booms the region takes notes (via Environmental Leader)

Ohio renewable energy policies spurred growth, now driving away business, says report (via Cleveland.com)

NREL enzyme could help offset fossil fuel dependence (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

India’s faulty grid presents a transmission opportunity (via Navigant Research)

Moody’s and Navigant offer conflicting views on economics of solar-plus storage (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE 

Developing cities hold big key to climate action (via Climate Central)

Melting glaciers imperil Kathmandu, perched high above rising seas (via Bloomberg)

Moisture shortfall, heat threaten Southwestern forests (via Climate Central)

Climate change is laying waste to water supplies, warns Farm Bureau (via Grist)

OIL 

Record oil imports take China closest ever to passing U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Commodity traders exploit crude crash to make oil storage king (via Bloomberg)

Poll: Majority of voters oppose more oil exports (via The Hill)

EIA forecasts temporary peak in U.S. oil output in May (via Reuters)

Some on Wall Street see oil plunging to $40 and below (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone-oil export ban sought by Senator backing pipeline bill (via Bloomberg)

Tool shows how taxpayer money could be spent instead of subsidizing Big Oil (via EcoWatch)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to cut subsidies for non-electric vehicles (via Bloomberg)

United Kingdom emergency services in front line of government EV rollout (via BusinessGreen)

Honda announces all-electric and PHEV model while debuting FCV concept (via Inside EVs)

Musk: Tesla can make a few million cars a year by 2025 (via GigaOm)

Nissan CEO: Chevy Bolt “not a surprise”  - Nissan has competing, long-range EV in development (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Annual revenue from fuel cell systems is expected to reach nearly $57.8 billion by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reverse net metering? California penalizes certain types of energy efficiency (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

Worries about consumers cutting utility ties are overblown, say Moody’s analysts (via Greentech Media)

Top 50 green American schools, as Stanford faculty calls for fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

The 25 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2014 (via WeatherUnderground)

POLITICS 

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening (via The Hill)

Two ways Obama can win on Keystone even if Republicans triumph (via Slate)

Ted Cruz oil export amendment difficult vote for some GOP senators (via National Journal)

The greenest governor in America tells Grist about his big climate plan (via Grist)

Massachusetts’s governor appoints controversial new energy team (via Boston Globe)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

U.S.-China rifts on hacking, spying put aside for climate collaboration (via Bloomberg)

U.S. will not commit to climate aid for poor nations at UN summit (via The Guardian)

Three decades until carbon budget is eaten through (via Climate Central)

“Largest-ever” climate change march rolls through NYC (via USA Today)

Denying climate change “will cost us billions of dollars,” warns U.S. budget director (via Climate Progress)

Climate protesters pledge risking arrest during Wall Street sit-in (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

European nations increasing electricity generation from no-carbon sources (via U.S. EIA)

China named most attractive renewables market; U.S. falls to #2 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

India to raise solar power goal to 15GW by 2019 (via BusinessGreen)

Middle East and Africa pipeline swells to 12GW (via PV Tech)

Brazil state solar auction to impose domestic content restriction (via PV Tech)

Citigroup sees 2.2GW Australian solar market by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

Coal India said to plan $1.2 billion in solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Barclays pledges £1 billion Green Bond investment (via BusinessGreen)

Abengoa offers first green bond to raise $642 million (via Bloomberg)

New cost analysis shows unsubsidized renewables increasingly rival fossil fuels (via Greentech Media)

Solar capacity increases sharply at U.S. schools (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Big factories go to work on biofuels (via New York Times)

Five states leading the distributed energy revolution (via Greentech Media)

Every SolarCity customer will get battery backup within 5-10 years (via CleanTechnica)

CalSTRS to triple clean energy investments to $3.7 billion (via Reuters)

Charting solar’s spotty rise in the Sunshine State (via EnergyWire)

New York City to build 100MW of solar PV (via Recharge)

LA launches streamlined solar permitting system (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

The move to peak coal in China by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

China’s appetite for coal has likely peaked (via Bangkok Post)

The biggest loser: Bleak outlook for thermal coal (via Renew Economy)

EMISSIONS 

China, US, India push world carbon emissions up (via AP)

China surpasses EU in per-capita pollution for first time (via Bloomberg)

Carbon output seen shrinking faster as EU mulls supply fix (via Bloomberg)

Half the globe backs World Bank carbon price movement (via RTCC) 

Philanthropies including Rockefellers, and investors pledge $50 billion fossil fuel divestment (via Reuters)

NJ Gov. Christie on regional cap-and-trade: It’s “a completely useless plan” (via Climate Progress)

DeBlasio promises to reduce NYC emissions by 80% (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Exxon, Rosneft said to halt Arctic well on Russian sanctions (via Chicago Tribune)

TransCanada: Keystone cost may rise 85% before U.S. decision (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla needs $6 billion through 2025, says Goldman Sachs (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla wins in Massachusetts, tries for more in New Jersey (via Autoblog Green)

Gov. Jerry Brown seeks more electric cars in California (via New York Times)

Business group’s gas tax increase opposition gets no traction (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Surging natural gas supply masks risk of winter price shock (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $529 billion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

Is PJM costing consumers $1.3 billion by ignoring energy efficiency? (via CleanTechnica)

Green roofs sprouting up globally (via Navigant Research)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s new trade minister says energy policy difficult without nuclear (via Reuters)

Congress props up Ex-Im Bank but leaves nuclear energy to dangle (via Forbes)

GRID 

Distributed generation leads microgrid investment opportunity (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought to continue across western U.S. (via Wall Street Journal)

EPA will wait until February to decide on Alaska mine (via The Hill)

Best Buy recycles 1 billion pounds of electronics, appliances (via Environmental Leader)

Does tarantula boom signal end of California drought? (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

Environmentalists fear loss of Senate firewall (via The Hill)

Why one senator wants to halt U.S. coal leases (via Christian Science Monitor)

Sanders demands carbon score from CBO for all bills (via The Hill)

Environmentalists question Hillary’s climate chops (via The Hill)

House bill would extend wind, other renewable energy tax breaks (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Will Germany join international community to restrict overseas coal finance? (via The Energy Collective)

The coming era of unlimited, free clean energy (via Washington Post)

Good news! There’s bad news for coal (via Grist)

Philanthropies are divesting from fossil fuels – but does it matter? (via National Journal)

Lord Stern: Global warming may create billions of climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate models accurately predicted global warming when reflecting natural ocean cycles (via The Guardian)

Climate models on the mark, finds Australian-led research (via Sydney Morning-Herald)

As Arctic ice melts, polar bears find a new menu (via Climate Central)

Boston may need canals to combat climate change (via WGBH)

Religious effort to halt climate change puts Rabbi Moti Reiber behind church pulpits (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Denmark declares wind “cheapest” form of power (via BusinessGreen)

Quebec seeks to strengthen its wind market (via Recharge)

Solar, wind account for over half of all new U.S. generation in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Wind turbines could rule Tornado Alley (via Forbes)

Maryland offshore wind auction date set, New Jersey auction proposed (via TriplePundit)

Feds to announce South Carolina ocean wind tracts in North Myrtle Beach (via The Sun-News)

Washington State just cut up to $2,500 off the cost of solar panels (via Grist)

SunEdison announces IPO pricing for solar yieldco (via Solar Industry Magazine)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican energy sector reform takes step forward (via Wall Street Journal)

FERC tell utility industry group to beef up electric grid security proposal (via The Hill)

COAL 

India doubles coal tax to fund clean energy, environment projects (via CleanTechnica)

Minnesota governor calls for eliminating coal from state’s energy production (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Coal fuels brewpubs in Wyoming as Kentucky mines misery (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

World Bank sees “momentum” behind global carbon price (via RTCC)

Some Chinese carbon projects to exit UN offset market if allowed (via Reuters)

U.S. and China lead the way on carbon capture and storage (via Climate Central)

Some U.S. faith groups unload fossil-fuel investments (via Washington Post)

Drought hinders California’s emissions goals (via San Francisco Chronicle)

El Paso Electric to divest from coal and invest in solar (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

OIL 

Amid global turmoil, oil prices oddly stable (via Navigant Research)

Oil trains, born of U.S. energy boom, face test in new safety rules (via Reuters)

Did Obama just signal he’ll open the Atlantic Coast to drilling? (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

China now has more than 200 million EV drivers (via San Jose Mercury News)

Japan Prime Minister says country will offer $20,000 subsidy for fuel cell cars (via Reuters)

China to mandate one-third of government vehicles be plug-ins (via Green Car Report)

Fuel efficiencies drive down passenger vehicle energy demands (via Houston Chronicle)

How can the United States pay for road upkeep? (via Navigant Research)

Three things you may not know about EV maker Tesla Motors (via Motley Fool)

NUCLEAR 

“Empty and lonely” Fukushima towns struggle in catastrophe’s wake (via Greenwire)

Is EPA about to relax radiation protections from nuclear power? (via Forbes)

GRID 

India village claims first 100% solar, energy storage microgrid (via Renew Economy)

Microgrids: They’re kind of a big deal (via Renewable Energy World)

Behind the scenes at Aquion Energy’s battery factor and the future of solar storage (via GigaOm)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The ten most energy efficient states in America (via Business Cheat Sheet)

LEDs will slash energy use for lighting by 95% (via Renew Economy)

ENVIRONMENT 

The great American oyster collapse (via Al-Jazeera)

Experts say wildfire threat is already above normal in Western U.S. states (via Washington Post)

EPA moves to thwart Alaskan copper and gold mine (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Climate regulations back under the microscope in Congress (via The Hill)

Steyer cuts $2 million for climate, Mercer aids Tea Party (via Bloomberg)

A fracking problem for Colorado Democrats (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Australia’s decision to dump its carbon tax reveals more about politics than the environment (via Washington Post)

What if climate change triggers cooperation, not conflict? (via Huffington Post)

Combat global warming by taxing carbon (via The Oregonian)

Poll: Men and women think differently about energy, climate (via Time)

How should climate change be taught? (via National Journal)

Reflecting on climate change upon granddaughter’s birth (via Trenton Times)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Green bonds show path to $1 trillion market for climate (via Bloomberg)

Wall Street: Your climate war has arrived (via National Journal)

What are schools teaching your kids about global warming? (via National Journal)

New mapping technology shows whether global warming will drown your town (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

French proposal on 2030 EU energy goals could ease gridlock (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Denmark to establish $1 billion green fund (via Energy Manager Today)

China boosts solar exports to developing countries as trade tension mounts with U.S. (via BusinessGreen)

UK audit questions $28 billion in clean energy projects (via Bloomberg)

El Salvador awards contracts for 94MW of solar (via Bloomberg)

Utilities move to kick rooftop solar off the grid in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Brazil to retain transmission and distribution discount on wind energy (via Recharge)

CBO says U.S. gas prices to rise if biofuel mandate not cut (via Reuters)

Distributed renewable energy comes under fire (via CleanTechnica)

As Ohio shuts down clean energy, businesses say they want more renewables (via Greentech Media)

Wisconsin electric cooperative unveils state’s first community solar project (via Madison.com)

EMISSIONS 

EU seen curbing coal use by quadrupling carbon price (via Bloomberg)

Beijing emitters trade 1.6 million carbon permits in fist seven months of pilot program (via Reuters)

Abbott “optimistic” on carbon tax repeal despite crossbench senator’s concerns (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S. produced most oil in 2013, says BP report (via Christian Science Monitor)

Federal officials say oil train dangers extend past Bakken shipments (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil boom fuels drop in average age of Great Plains states (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota plans to double pipeline capacity in just two years (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs get support in Canada with tax incentives, wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s patent giveaway paves the EV freeway (via Navigant Research)

Will Georgia’s $5,000 EV tax credit be axed in 2015? (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

U.S. shale spurs record investments by foreign chemical makers (via Bloomberg)

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas exploring possible connections between fracking, earthquakes (via Topeka Capital-Journal)

Goldman says shale gas boom driving fear from market (via Bloomberg)

Air pollution spikes in homes near fracking wells (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

High-tech firms focus on energy efficiency to confront climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

LEED for roads: Greener infrastructure gains momentum (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Support for Keystone XL is almost universal (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

Indonesia seeks $5 billion to cut CO2 from deforestation (via Bloomberg)

Battle gets underway for control of .eco domain name (via The Guardian)

California wind farm first in U.S. to avoid penalty for dead eagles (via Wall Street Journal)

NASA shows big drop in air pollution over D.C., I-95 corridor since 2005 (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

Obama has a response to GOP “I am not a scientist” line (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Scorched farms, flooded homes, lower productivity: The cost of doing nothing (via The Economist)

Solar tariffs seem certain to hurt U.S. installation market (via Solar Industry Magazine)

How solar finance is driving solar businesses to change (via CleanTechnica)

The oil boom in one slick infographic (via Grist)

How climate change ate conservatism’s smartest thinkers (via The Week)

Lessons from Rhode Island: How to pass climate laws in the U.S. (via RTCC)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.5.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EU agrees to watered-down deal on aviation carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

Minnesota power supplier calls for regional carbon pricing (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine seen building support for US natural gas export (via Bloomberg)

Don’t expect international shale boom quite yet, say experts (via Houston Chronicle)

Maryland court rules in favor of natural gas export proposal (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Flow reversal provides major “de-bottlenecking” for Marcellus Shale gas (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

PV capacity in the Americas to rise tenfold by 2030 (via Solar Industry)

$200 million coal tax revenue to fund 1GW solar park in India (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to add 500MW of new wind projects (via Bloomberg)

China promoting recovery in solar industry, says official (via Bloomberg)

Japan to “mobilize all necessary” renewables measures (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar expects up to 3.8GW module shipments in 2014 (via Recharge)

US solar jumps 41% in 2013, driven by residential demand (via Bloomberg)

Morgan Stanley says US could have 129GW commercial solar by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

Wind brings carbon-free economic boom to northwest Iowa (via EarthTechling)

Oregon wave energy plan collapses (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

DOE prepares for deeper look at US crude oil exports (via National Journal)

Enbridge to spend $7 billion to double capacity of cross-border pipeline (via Financial Post)

Governor Cuomo urges DHS, DOT to strengthen oil train safety (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla to open 30 new service centers and stores in Europe, expand Supercharger network (via Green Car Congress)

Average US new vehicle fuel economy hit 25.2 mpg in February (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

Global warming may threaten World Heritage sites (via Agence France-Presse)

Obama stands by energy strategy while pushing climate change fund (via The Hill)

House passes flood insurance bill (via USA Today)

Chipotle warns it might stop serving guacamole if climate change worsens (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Transformers could be weak link in US power grid (via United Press International)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought linked to polluted winter air (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Harry Reid continues showdown with Kochs (via Politico)

John Podesta: The man behind Obama’s new environment push (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.5.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EU agrees to watered-down deal on aviation carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

Minnesota power supplier calls for regional carbon pricing (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine seen building support for US natural gas export (via Bloomberg)

Don’t expect international shale boom quite yet, say experts (via Houston Chronicle)

Maryland court rules in favor of natural gas export proposal (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Flow reversal provides major “de-bottlenecking” for Marcellus Shale gas (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

PV capacity in the Americas to rise tenfold by 2030 (via Solar Industry)

$200 million coal tax revenue to fund 1GW solar park in India (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to add 500MW of new wind projects (via Bloomberg)

China promoting recovery in solar industry, says official (via Bloomberg)

Japan to “mobilize all necessary” renewables measures (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar expects up to 3.8GW module shipments in 2014 (via Recharge)

US solar jumps 41% in 2013, driven by residential demand (via Bloomberg)

Morgan Stanley says US could have 129GW commercial solar by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

Wind brings carbon-free economic boom to northwest Iowa (via EarthTechling)

Oregon wave energy plan collapses (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

DOE prepares for deeper look at US crude oil exports (via National Journal)

Enbridge to spend $7 billion to double capacity of cross-border pipeline (via Financial Post)

Governor Cuomo urges DHS, DOT to strengthen oil train safety (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla to open 30 new service centers and stores in Europe, expand Supercharger network (via Green Car Congress)

Average US new vehicle fuel economy hit 25.2 mpg in February (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

Global warming may threaten World Heritage sites (via Agence France-Presse)

Obama stands by energy strategy while pushing climate change fund (via The Hill)

House passes flood insurance bill (via USA Today)

Chipotle warns it might stop serving guacamole if climate change worsens (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Transformers could be weak link in US power grid (via United Press International)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought linked to polluted winter air (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Harry Reid continues showdown with Kochs (via Politico)

John Podesta: The man behind Obama’s new environment push (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.13.13

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

COP 19 

China to participate in international climate pact, says official (via Xinhua)

Japan to provide $16 billion for climate efforts, reports Nikkei (via Bloomberg)

US fears climate talks will focus on compensation for extreme weather (via The Guardian)

Russia cools talk of separate loss and damage climate mechanism at COP 19 (via RTCC)

AP BIOFUELS STORY 

Vilsack disputes AP ethanol report (via National Journal)

Ethanol industry takes aim at AP investigation (via Huffington Post/AP)

Breaking down the numbers on ethanol: Inside the AP biofuels report (via Climate Progress)

Green energy push replaces native prairie with corn as ethanol turns profitable (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

China to build more renewables than EU, US combined says IEA (via Bloomberg)

10GW of wind and solar in Brazil’s next power auction (via Recharge)

Australia cuts $435 million in funding to renewables (via Renew Economy)

67% of consumers would pay more for clean energy (via Greentech Media)

Biofuels industry renews cellulosic ethanol push (via Kansas City Star)

Pennsylvania may double its renewable energy standard (via Climate Progress)

Amidst solar battle, Arizona’s largest utility renews ALEC membership (via Climate Progress)

Remotely controlled turbines help protect raptors (via Billings Gazette)

NASCAR reaches ethanol use milestone (via The Oklahoman)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon pricing buoyed by China and the US (via Environmental Leader)

Australian prime minister starts carbon tax repeal push (via National Journal)

US hunts for cheaper ways to capture CO2 (via Reuters)

OIL 

China, Norway may team up in search for Arctic oil (via Reuters)

Brazil set to become major global oil supplier by 2015 (via Reuters)

Top scientists call for California fracking ban in letter to Gov. Brown (via San Jose Mercury-News)

TRANSPORTATION 

An EV recharging industry rises (via New York Times)

Need an alternative fuel station? Now there’s an app for that (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR 

Japan readies additional $30 billion for Fukushima cleanup (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Haiti, Philippines, Pakistan hardest hit by extreme weather in 2012 (via Toronto Star)

Inland states most likely to ignore climate hazards, says study (via Climate Central)

IEA report says climate measures falling short of global target (via The Hill)

World will need 48% renewables by 2035 to address climate change (via Renew Economy)

Global warming since 1997 more than twice as fast as estimated (via The Guardian)

California headed for driest year on record (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Landowners to sue Cuomo, New York over “arbitrary” fracking delay (via Democrat & Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart grid benefits set to surpass industry forecasts (via Renew Grid)

Half of consumers have never heard of the smart grid (via Energy Manager Today)

Smart grid success hinges on consumer education (via Renew Grid)

COAL 

Five bad arguments from the coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Environmentalists challenge coal lease deal in Ohio national forest (via Columbus Dispatch)

GREEN BUILDING 

LEED’s stunning growth, and what’s behind it (via EarthTechling)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL study warns of defective segments on pipeline’s southern leg (via InsideClimate News)

OPINION 

What a deadly typhoon in the Philippines can tell us about climate adaptation (via Washington Post)

Is your state ready for climate disasters? (via Grist)

It doesn’t have to be so hard: Making renewable energy siting easier (via Renewable Energy World)

Work not done, Obama climate adviser moves on (via AP)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.28.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmentalists demand new climate analysis for Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

First Nations group calls for BC to reject Northern Gateway pipeline permits (via Vancouver Sun)

Oil sands leak on northern Alberta weapons range (via CBC News)

EMISSIONS 

World’s highest carbon price faces Australia’s new leader (via Bloomberg)

EU plans to make it mandatory for ship owners to measure carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

US CO2 emissions on the rise again (via Navigant Research)

Why a carbon tax isn’t in Obama’s climate plan (via Energy Collective)

RENEWABLES 

UK boosts Green Bank by £800 million (via Recharge)

India and Turkey to enhance cooperation on renewables (via EnergyNext)

UK green electricity generation leaps 10% (via BusinessGreen)

China plans large-scale solar PV pilot projects (via CleanTechnica)

UK shows offshore wind more costly than solar (via Reuters)

Chinese firm charged in theft of US company’s turbine software (via New York Times)

US military faces trio of renewable energy goals (via EarthTechling)

EPA says ethanol bounty may push refiners over 10% blend wall (via Bloomberg)

A whole new way of thinking about geothermal (via Greentech Media)

After much delay, US offshore wind power set to sail (via Politico)

LA launches nation’s largest solar rooftop program (via Grist)

COAL 

India to eclipse China as world’s largest coal power (via Bloomberg)

The US will stop financing coal plants abroad – that’s a huge shift (via Washington Post)

Coal exports have doubled during Obama’s so-called “war on coal” (via The Week)

Moniz sees coal’s significant role (via AP)

CLIMATE 

Researchers say global warming may affect soil microbe survival (via Phys.org)

More species at risk from climate change than thought (via CBS News)

UN climate chief welcomes Obama plan, wants US energy czar (via Reuters)

Calgary floods spotlight cities’ costly failure to plan for climate change (via CBC News)

OIL 

House advances plan to expand drilling on US-Mexico maritime border (via Houston Chronicle)

House votes to double oil revenue cap for Gulf states (via The Hill)

Deepwater drilling expansion will strain workforce, says study (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas oil output surges past North Dakota (via Reuters)

BP report could cut Gulf oil spill penalties by up to $7 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU delays CO2 car targets after fierce lobbying from Germany (via BusinessGreen)

BMW forecast for doubled EV range spurs more debate than conclusions (via Autoblog Green)

Anthony Foxx, Charlotte’s transit-friendly mayor, nominated for transportation secretary (via Grist)

Nissan offers up new Leaf battery replacement program (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to add EV charging stations in Houston, nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla Motors wins in North Carolina, anti-competitive legislation dropped (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

UK nuclear expansion advances with $15 billion loan backing (via Bloomberg)

Senate OKs Macfarlane for full term as NRC chairwoman (via The Hill)

Quarrels continue over nuclear waste repository (via New York Times)

GRID 

Microgrids and energy security: the business case (via Breaking Energy)

California’s timely demand response roadmap (via Navigant Research)

Solar PV, energy storage combine in commercial-scale Maryland microgrid (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Cloud computing can reduce GHGs 95%, save $2.2 billion (via Environmental Leader)

Obama’s Better Buildings program celebrates first year (via Greentech Media)

Energy efficiency saves AT&T at least $151 million (via Mother Nature Network)

Staples reaches milestone of 500 Energy Star buildings (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama’s climate plan silent on exports but pledges support for global gas markets (via EnergyWire)

Methane scrutiny in Obama climate plan may cost drillers (via Bloomberg)

Ohio law shielding fracking chemical details may violate federal statute (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

GOP to make EPA spending bill a climate battleground (via The Hill)

Obama’s EPA nominee in jeopardy from Senate Republicans (via Reuters)

Obama to tap Colorado regulator Binz as new FERC chief (via The Hill)

Moniz optimistic on Obama’s plan to reduce emissions (via New York Times)

OPINION 

India’s EV market falling short (via Navigant Research)

Will Obama’s climate policy spur new energy technologies? (via MIT Technology Review)

US takes key climate change steps, but the world must do more (via Washington Post)

Sports world teams up against climate change (via GreenBiz)

Figures: no country doing enough on climate change (via RTCC)