Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Russia says 2C climate goal shouldn’t dictate carbon pledges (via Bloomberg)

UK and Japan pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)

“Voice mails from the future” elicit personal views on dealing with climate change (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US to map the risks of man-made earthquakes (via Wall Street Journal)

The seismic link between fracking and earthquakes (via Time)

RENEWABLES 

Demand for India renewable energy credits plunges to seven-month low (via Bloomberg)

US wind power’s problem will remain speed and direction forecasts (via Fitch Ratings)

Financing utility-scale solar in the years ahead (via Greentech Media)

Drones could be a boon for wind and solar industries (via SustainableBusiness)

ERCOT to add 8.6GW new wind capacity through 2016 (via Recharge News)

Xcel Energy sets wind power record with 46% of customer supply (via Post Bulletin)

SolarCity launches operations in Nevada (via Solar Industry)

In Michigan, debate over burning trees for biomass energy (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Clean coal to be put to the test at two plants this year (via Scientific American)

Durbin talks FutureGen with DOE secretary (via Washington Post/AP)

EMISSIONS 

Arctic methane emissions “certain to trigger warming” (via Climate Central)

Obama’s emissions plan comes under coordinated line of attack (via The Guardian)

Scalia gets his facts wrong in EPA dissent (via AP)

KEYSTONE XL 

Senators introduce pro-Keystone XL bill to bypass Obama (via The Guardian)

Clock ticks on Keystone XL vote (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Net-zero buildings an inexpensive next step from LEED-Platinum (via SustainableBusiness)

Energy benchmarking goes countrywide in Maryland (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Exxon says all activities in Russia proceeding as planned (via Reuters)

Virginia oil-train wreck brings demands for more regulation (via Washington Post/AP)

New “safer” tank cars were involved in Virginia oil train fire (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-rich North Dakota sees highest worker fatality rate (via The Hill)

California’s oil refiners double crude-by-rail import volumes (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Test loopholes take gloss off Europe’s cleaner cars (via Reuters)

Nissan Leaf keeps plug-in vehicle sales crown for 6th straight month (via Autoblog Green)

California to use one billion less gallons of gasoline in six years (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

This year’s wildfires could incinerate America’s fire budget (via Mother Jones)

Wildfire threatens homes in drought-parched Southern California (via Chicago Tribune/Reuters)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Stand-alone power becomes growing reality for utilities (via Renew Economy)

Exelon doubles down on regulated assets with Pepco buy (via EnergyWire)

Exelon touts customer benefits in buying Pepco, but regulators will scrutinize claims (via Forbes)

Shareholders, protesters, speak out at Duke board meeting (via Washington Post)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima frozen wall needs risk assessment, says Tepco adviser (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

It’s time to look beyond the UN’s $100 billion climate finance target (via RTCC)

How does Vivint Solar compare to SolarCity? (via Huffington Post)

Inside New York’s historic move to remake the utility business model (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.11.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global warming is unpaused and stuck on fast forward, says new research (via The Guardian)

Survey lists best and worst financial funds for climate change risk (via DeSmog Blog)

COAL 

Another global financial institution moves beyond coal (via Huffington Post)

Four proposed coal export terminals have now failed this year due to “diminished” market (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

European Investment Bank invests €50 million into clean energy fund (via CleanTechnica)

A rare win for Australian renewables – national green bank saved in Senate (via Renew Economy)

Offshore wind farms could protect cities from hurricanes (via Climate Central)

When solar & wind capacities rise, electricity generation from solar & wind rise (via CleanTechnica)

US solar energy industry shines in record-setting 3Q 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power’s growth blown away by tax uncertainty (via National Journal)

Study links taller wind turbines to more bird deaths (via EarthTechling)

Saying goodbye to the wind production tax credit (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

New greenhouse gas 7,000 times more harmful than CO2 (via Time)

Australian Senate creates roadblock to carbon tax repeal (via Business Spectator)

Australian offset scheme reaches milestone but future uncertain (via Reuters)

2014 World Cup to nearly double carbon emissions over 2010 (via Climate Progress)

Supreme Court hears case on cross-state air pollution rules (via New York Times)

Justices may back EPA on air pollution rule (via USA Today)

The carbon time bomb in your retirement account (via Mother Jones)

GRID 

True smart grids may have to play the waiting game (via Renew Grid)

Dynamic pricing moves from theory to practice (via Navigant Research)

ETT energizes last of seven West Texas CREZ transmission lines (via Renew Grid)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee proposes microgrid (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Chinese LED market set to double by 2017 (via Energy Manager Today)

Goodbye Megatons to Megawatts, hello energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)

Map shows which cities are buying the most LEDs and CFLs (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric cars: Which states are doing it right and which states lag? (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

The green industrial revolution and the United States (via Center for American Progress)

Why your pension fund could be heading for a “carbon crash” (via BusinessGreen)

After net metering battle, is Arizona getting ready to explore the grid edge? (via Greentech Media)

The new war between the states centers on air pollution (via Forbes)

How long will the fracking boom last? (via Forbes)

Podesta and the pipeline (via The New Yorker)