Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
UN envoys consider 2050 carbon target in climate talks (via Bloomberg)
Was efficiency responsible for 75% of CO2 reductions in 2012? (via Greentech Media)
GREEN BUSINESS
Green building materials will reach $254 billion in annual market value by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
General Motors urges Obama and Congress to unite on climate change (via The Guardian)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
US predicted to be a top liquefied natural gas exporter by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)
Moody’s: modest amount of US natural gas exports will get approval (via The Hill)
Shell makes big bet on boom in natural gas (via New York Times)
Fracking spread could strain water resources in West, study finds (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
EU solar groups lobby against duties on Chinese solar products (via Recharge)
China wants to use curtailed wind power to replace coal-fired heating (via CleanTechnica)
Indonesia plans rural solar electrification push (via Recharge)
Is there hope for hydropower as the climate changes? (via EarthTechling)
US-designed no-emission ocean thermal energy power plant will debut off China’s coast (via ClimateWire)
Renewable energy groups spar over biofuel imports (via Politico)
Legislators fail to reform Hawaii solar tax credit (via Honolulu Star Advertiser)
Massachusetts crushes solar goals, aims much higher (via CleanTechnica)
Los Angeles urged to expand solar power to 20% of all energy by 2020 (via Los Angeles Daily News)
OIL
Who’s in charge here? At US oil spills, it’s whoever made the mess (via OnEarth)
Fracking boom in North Dakota is here to stay (via Mother Jones)
TRANSPORTATION
Survey shows strong US support for fuel efficiency standards (via New York Times)
Nissan Leaf has second-best sales month, Chevy Volt declines slightly (via Autoblog Green)
EV maker Coda files for bankruptcy, focuses on energy storage (via GigaOm)
CLIMATE
Poll: majority see climate change affecting US weather (via The Hill)
Climate change: when rain, rain won’t go away (via USA Today)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Enbridge pipeline expansion could turn into Keystone-like fight (via Bloomberg)
Alaska watches as Canada considers shipping tar sands across Arctic (via Alaska Dispatch)
Elected officials in rural Nebraska pass anti-Keystone pipeline resolution (via Omaha World-Herald)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
US banks reluctant to finance energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)
Internet of Things extends under your sink with new water and electricity sensors (via Treehugger)
GRID
Who are the top utilities in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)
NYSERDA awards $1.4 million to advanced energy storage projects (via Green Car Congress)
ENVIRONMENT
Cash for doomed crops means US farmers avoid disaster cost (via Bloomberg)
42% of Americans live with dangerous pollution; check your zip code (via The Good Human)
ENERGY POLICY
Report: EU facing €1 trillion energy investment black hole (via RTCC)
For Obama and Pena Nieto, a delicate “first dance” around energy (via Reuters)
Texas power supplies for summer peak season seen as tight but improving (via Fort-Worth Star Telegram)
OTHER NEWS
An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress