Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

MIT predicts 2015 UN climate talks likely to fail (via Environmental Leader)

BASIC nations urge rich countries to act on climate change (via RTCC)

UN releases Ban Ki-moon climate summit plan (via RTCC)

The world’s first climate change refugees were granted residency in New Zealand (via Smithsonian)

87 cities, 4 scenarios, and 1 really hot future (via Climate Central)

Edelman formally declares it will not accept climate denial campaigns (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal’s price seen stunted at year-end amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India invites bids for $8 billion renewable grid upgrade (via Bloomberg)

In Asia, wind industry picks up again (via Navigant Research)

China adds 3.3GW of solar PV in first half 2014 (via Recharge)

U.S. imposes tariffs on solar imports from Taiwan, adds new duties on China imports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

No end in sight for America’s solar revolution (via EcoWatch)

Flaw and order: How Brookings got its analysis of wind and solar costs so wrong (via Greentech Media)

Michigan net metering program shows steady increase (via Energy Manager Today)

Price of wind energy goes down in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Minnesota regulators side with utility in value-of-solar case (via Midwest Energy News)

SpaceX is going solar with Elon Musk’s other company, SolarCity (via GigaOm)

SolarCity loss widens as new rooftop installations surge (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit (via GigaOm)

OIL 

From Russia to Iraq, rising oil risks push 2015 prices to a premium (via Reuters)

DOT: Rail insurance inadequate for oil train accidents (via Politico)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla X to devour premium SUV market, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

2016 Chevy Volt teased ahead of debut at Detroit Auto Show (via Autoblog)

No million by 2015, but electric vehicles are surging (via Breaking Energy)

Electric vehicles could save U.S. utilities from a death spiral (via Forbes)

Latest services from Uber and Lyft will upend transportation even more (via Washington Post)

Nissan, Mitsubishi team up for $14,000 EV (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Marcellus Shale hits gas production milestone (via The Hill)

Anti-fracking measures to be officially pulled from Colorado ballot (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Deep emissions cuts needed by 2050 to limit warming, says UN (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Air traffic growth rates will outpace emissions reductions, research shows (via The Guardian)

White House says emissions delay will raise climate costs (via Bloomberg)

New lawsuits unlikely to touch EPA’s carbon rule, at least in near term (via ClimateWire)

Environmental groups to sue EPA over aircraft emissions (via The Hill)

Carbon pricing and Northwest businesses: a match made in tax-swap heaven? (via Sightline Daily)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. insurance industry changes with energy industry (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina just passed a major solar bill and sued EPA (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency? (via GreenBiz)

Investment districts may help clean energy reach minority communities (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Cracking the code on the business of energy management (via Energy Trends Insider)

California could rewrite the rules for distributed demand response (via Greentech Media)

Seattle’s energy code bests national standard (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Mercury pollution in oceans has tripled since Industrial Revolution (via Yale e360)

U.S. forecasters lower hurricane season expectations (via Climate Central)

California’s severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Has the era of the “climate refugee” begun? (via Washington Post)

Fools at the fire (via New York Times)

U.S. Commerce Department should allow exports of crude oil (via Washington Post)

Why a global warming pact won’t stop global warming (via National Journal)

Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes (via The Guardian)

This data on how consumers use energy may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

MIT predicts 2015 UN climate talks likely to fail (via Environmental Leader)

BASIC nations urge rich countries to act on climate change (via RTCC)

UN releases Ban Ki-moon climate summit plan (via RTCC)

The world’s first climate change refugees were granted residency in New Zealand (via Smithsonian)

87 cities, 4 scenarios, and 1 really hot future (via Climate Central)

Edelman formally declares it will not accept climate denial campaigns (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal’s price seen stunted at year-end amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India invites bids for $8 billion renewable grid upgrade (via Bloomberg)

In Asia, wind industry picks up again (via Navigant Research)

China adds 3.3GW of solar PV in first half 2014 (via Recharge)

U.S. imposes tariffs on solar imports from Taiwan, adds new duties on China imports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

No end in sight for America’s solar revolution (via EcoWatch)

Flaw and order: How Brookings got its analysis of wind and solar costs so wrong (via Greentech Media)

Michigan net metering program shows steady increase (via Energy Manager Today)

Price of wind energy goes down in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Minnesota regulators side with utility in value-of-solar case (via Midwest Energy News)

SpaceX is going solar with Elon Musk’s other company, SolarCity (via GigaOm)

SolarCity loss widens as new rooftop installations surge (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit (via GigaOm)

OIL 

From Russia to Iraq, rising oil risks push 2015 prices to a premium (via Reuters)

DOT: Rail insurance inadequate for oil train accidents (via Politico)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla X to devour premium SUV market, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

2016 Chevy Volt teased ahead of debut at Detroit Auto Show (via Autoblog)

No million by 2015, but electric vehicles are surging (via Breaking Energy)

Electric vehicles could save U.S. utilities from a death spiral (via Forbes)

Latest services from Uber and Lyft will upend transportation even more (via Washington Post)

Nissan, Mitsubishi team up for $14,000 EV (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Marcellus Shale hits gas production milestone (via The Hill)

Anti-fracking measures to be officially pulled from Colorado ballot (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Deep emissions cuts needed by 2050 to limit warming, says UN (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Air traffic growth rates will outpace emissions reductions, research shows (via The Guardian)

White House says emissions delay will raise climate costs (via Bloomberg)

New lawsuits unlikely to touch EPA’s carbon rule, at least in near term (via ClimateWire)

Environmental groups to sue EPA over aircraft emissions (via The Hill)

Carbon pricing and Northwest businesses: a match made in tax-swap heaven? (via Sightline Daily)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. insurance industry changes with energy industry (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina just passed a major solar bill and sued EPA (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency? (via GreenBiz)

Investment districts may help clean energy reach minority communities (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Cracking the code on the business of energy management (via Energy Trends Insider)

California could rewrite the rules for distributed demand response (via Greentech Media)

Seattle’s energy code bests national standard (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Mercury pollution in oceans has tripled since Industrial Revolution (via Yale e360)

U.S. forecasters lower hurricane season expectations (via Climate Central)

California’s severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Has the era of the “climate refugee” begun? (via Washington Post)

Fools at the fire (via New York Times)

U.S. Commerce Department should allow exports of crude oil (via Washington Post)

Why a global warming pact won’t stop global warming (via National Journal)

Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes (via The Guardian)

This data on how consumers use energy may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.24.14

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

CLIMATE 

June 2014: Earth’s 3rd consecutive warmest month on record (via Weather Underground)

Report: Gulf and Atlantic Coasts not prepared for sea-level rise (via National Geographic)

Chicago’s race to outbuild the rain (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Q2 2014 VC smart grid funding at $81 million, says Mercom (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Australian renewables compete in carbon tax vacuum (via Xinhua)

India set for 1.5GW solar PV projects auction (via CleanTechnica)

U.K. announces $340 million renewable power auction (via Bloomberg)

Scotland approves two wind farms to power more than 100,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

New biofuels match crude oil’s energy, but there’s a catch (via Christian Science Monitor)

Ethanol needs separate treatment in U.S. rail rules, say biofuel groups (via Reuters)

Ethanol producers squeezing more fuel from corn crops (via Midwest Energy News)

Are utilities about to kill solar energy’s future in North Carolina? (via CleanTechnica)

Texas is wired for wind power and more farms are plugging in (via New York Times)

Beyond the rooftop: Commercial net metering in California (via Greentech Media)

For Californians, higher costs dampen support for clean energy (via Reuters)

Most Ohio utilities plan to keep investing in clean energy despite new law (via Columbus Dispatch) 

COAL 

Japan boosts support for overseas coal plants despite Obama push to cut funding (via International Business Times)

China’s coal industry says times are hard, outlook is worse (via Reuters)

Japanese trading houses look to sell Australian coal assets (via Financial Times)

Environmentalists: Coal ash layers still evident in Dan River (via News & Record)

Court ruling says Illinois can force consumers to buy power from FutureGen (via Chicago Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

China’s planned coal-to-gas plants would emit more CO2, says report (via Al-Jazeera America)

States most against EPA rule would gain the most, finds study (via New York Times)

Court ruling may reverberate on “social cost” of carbon (via Climate Central)

EPA gears up for public hearings on climate rule (via The Hill)

OIL 

U.S. petroleum refineries running at record levels (via U.S. EIA)

DOT proposes stricter oil train safety rules (via Politico)

Construction of first U.S. tar sands mine begins, even as it’s blockaded (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU regulators propose 30% energy savings target for 2030 (via Bloomberg)

The NFL’s newest stadium is also one of the greenest (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

Fire season in U.S. West so far below expectations (via AP)

Amid extreme drought, California sees big jump in brush fires (via Los Angeles Times)

California water prices soar for farmers as drought grows (via Bloomberg)

Federal agency pledges new West Virginia chemical leak health studies (via Charleston Daily Mail)

POLITICS 

GOP senator slams EPA chief: “You don’t run this country” (via The Hill)

Mitch McConnell’s mythmaking on coal jobs (via The Hill)

A one-step guide to infuriating an EPA official (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Has China “messed up” its EV charging standards? (via Green Car Reports)

Is climate change changing you? (via Washington Post)

Four reasons U.S. fracking could turn out to be a bubble (via Quartz)

Seven charts explain changing U.S. power sector (via WRI Insights)

Sure, the utility business model is changing, but not so fast (via Breaking Energy)

Why a minimum bill may solve net metering battles (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.5.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN chief urges “bold” action to curb global warming (via The Nation/BBC)

Climate change warming up business in the Arctic (via NPR)

Australia risks “going backwards” on climate change, straining Pacific ties (via The Guardian)

Climate change is clear and present danger, says landmark US report (via The Guardian)

What happens when Washington State attempts major climate action? (via CleanTechnica)

Scientists race to develop farm animals to survive climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

“We don’t know what normal is anymore”: Confronting extreme weather on US farms (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

China’s thirsty coal industry guzzles precious water (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

US ethanol imports from Brazil down 40% in 2013 (via US EIA)

Dam it: Feds say US can double hydropower (via Climate Central)

New ad links US oil industry’s anti-biofuel campaign to Saudi Arabia (via InsideClimate News)

O’Malley to decided whether some wind turbine projects should be delayed until 2015 (via Washington Post)

Kansas state lawmakers to vote on ending renewable energy standard (via Kansas City Star)

Hawaii’s largest utility ordered to help customers install more rooftop solar (via Climate Progress)

Superfund site is latest conquest in solar’s brownfields campaign (via Solar Industry)

Renewables get vote of financial confidence in NextEra spinoff plans (via EnergyWire)

SunEdison may be too reliant on renewable tax credits, says Barron’s (via Reuters)

OIL 

US DOT says energy companies not sharing test data on Bakken oil (via Wall Street Journal)

Oil-by-rail shippers withholding important data, says DOT (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK electric vehicle sales speed up as UK plugs into global trend (via The Guardian)

China’s BYD electric bus factory comes online in California (via Autoblog)

Why European gas-mileage ratings are so high, and often wrong (via Green Car Reports)

DOE to establish gasoline stockpiles in Northeast (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Switch from gasoline to ethanol linked to higher ozone levels in Brazil (via Los Angeles Times)

Supreme Court cross-state ruling leaves much unsettled for EPA (via Greenwire)

Australian banks lose millions as customers divest (via RTCC)

Seven Washington University students arrested protesting Peabody Coal (via EcoWatch)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green stock index rejects natural gas, oil, and coal (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Democrats push Obama on LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking may induce quakes at greater distance than previously thought (via Yale e360)

Stronger “frackquakes” are on the way, scientists warn (via Climate Progress)

Sources and solutions for carbon pollution along the LNG supply chain (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

US national budget for fighting wildfires is $400 million short (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada finds China option no easy answer to Keystone snub (via Bloomberg)

Wooing of senators to force Keystone XL falling short of votes (via Bloomberg)

Keystone pipeline issue looms as Senate takes up energy efficiency bill (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICENCY 

Top 10 countries for LEED outside the US (via Environmental Leader)

Cree takes on $4 billion fluorescent lighting market with LEDs (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Introducing New York State’s energy storage testing center (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama re-nominates LaFleur as FERC commissioner (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Dissenting voices on climate change (via Washington Post)

A renewables club to change the world (via WRI Insights)

Will midterm elections move the needle on energy issues? (via National Journal)

For Obama, a renewed focus on climate (via Washington Post)

With hope and horror, climate fiction writers depict the future (via ClimateWire)

Divestment and Arctic development, between drilling and the deep blue sea (via EnergyCollective)

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 – 2.26.14

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

COAL

Japan continues to fund coal despite increasing US pressure (via RTCC)

Researchers say 35 million gallons of coal ash spilled in North Carolina (via Boston Herald/AP) 

EMISSIONS 

South Africa delays carbon tax implementation to 2016 (via Bloomberg)

RGGI revenues to encourage $2 billion in energy bill savings (via Environmental Leader)

ALEC drums up opposition to upcoming EPA power plant limits (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Grivalja: GAO set to investigate Keystone XL conflict (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Growth in solar reshaping world’s renewables market (via RTCC)

Europe to lose renewables grip to Asia and Africa (via Renewable Energy World)

Nearly 100GW in worldwide solar pipeline (via Sustainable Business)

Mexico building Latin America’s largest solar farm to replace oil-power plant (via Climate Progress)

India to install 1GW new solar in 2014 (via Panchabuta)

GE targets Japanese onshore wind market (via Recharge)

Brazil’s small PV installations think big (via Recharge)

Offshore wind power’s eye-popping capacity factors (via EarthTechling)

Growth of solar market depends on PV module reliability and performance (via Greentech Media)

Renewables account for 99% of new US generation in January (via Renew Grid)

22 ARPA-E projects have attracted more than $625 million in private investment (via Green Car Congress)

New power lines will make Texas world’s 5th largest wind power producer (via ClimateWire)

NC Sustainable Energy Association acts to protect rooftop solar market (via Solar Industry)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Value of natural gas net imports has declined dramatically in recent years (via US EIA)

Colorado fracking rules could become national blueprint (via Forbes)

Maps show where droughts and fracking collide (via Fast Company)

Chesapeake plans to cut drilling costs by $900 million (via Reuters)

Ohio wants to plug more abandoned gas wells (via Plain-Dealer)

CLIMATE 

World begins 2014 with unusual number of extreme weather events (via The Guardian)

Extreme heat days multiply despite global warming “hiatus” (via CBC News)

Geoengineering side effects could be potentially disastrous, research shows (via The Guardian)

UK PM Cameron warns climate change one of biggest threats facing world (via BusinessGreen)

New York State expects all utilities to prep for climate change (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima radiation could reach Pacific coast by April (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Tepco says Fukushima radiation “significantly” undercounted (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

China on track to meet 2020 forest targets, but concerns linger (via Reuters)

John Kerry calls for expansion of world’s marine reserves (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Surge in fuel exports boosting US trade balance (via Houston Chronicle)

Emergency DOT order mandates rail crude oil tests (via The Hill)

US lawmakers to question oil-by-rail safety (via Reuters)

North Dakota county wants state to take stand on illegal oilfield waste (via Inforum)

TRANSPORTATION 

Psychology can wipe out 20-25% of your EV’s range (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla Motors shares zoom to record high on favorable reports (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla Model S wins “best overall” car by Consumer Reports (via CNET)

Why a gigafactory? Because Tesla used 1/3 all EV batteries last year (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US electricity use declines, says ACEEE (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Who owns weather, the feds or the states? (via National Journal)

Will Tesla disrupt the electric utility industry? (via Smart Planet)

Energy economist says shale fever soon will decline (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla’s stock is up 644% - why it may not last (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.29.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China makes strides to curb carbon emissions (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

San Francisco and Seattle lead US cities pulling funds from fossil fuel firms (via The Guardian)

Volkswagen sustainability report shows emissions, production progress (via Autoblog Green)

Can fossil fuel divestment prevent the carbon bubble from bursting? (via CleanTechnica)

How the NFL became a champion of sustainability (via The Guardian)

How sustainability metrics help build trust in the financial sector (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Land-locked Alberta mulls tar sands pipeline to Arctic port (via Reuters)

TransCanada sees Keystone XL delayed until second half 2015 (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

100% renewables for Australia not so costly after all (via Renew Economy)

Solar PV module revenues to turn upward, but not until 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

European Commission launches Chinese solar glass subsidy inquiry (via Reuters)

Amonix claims 36.2% solar energy efficiency record (via Recharge)

DOE, Stanford unveil solar, wind battery (via Energy Manager Today)

Floating wind turbines with undersea energy storage (via EarthTechnling)

Geothermal saves $117 million per year for California and Nevada (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina notches a win against ALEC anti-renewables effort (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles launches largest municipal solar program in US (via Triple Pundit)

Community colleges help prepare students for a green job market (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

Massachusetts ski resort runs completely on solar and wind (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

In Montana, ranchers line up against coal (via Los Angeles Times)

Bankrupt Patriot Coal asks court to slash union pensions (via Reuters)

FutureGen 2.0 gets clean environmental impact statement (via Jacksonville Journal Courier)

CLIMATE 

UN climate talks kick off in Bonn (via The Guardian)

China leading in climate change fight, argues Australian government report (via BusinessGreen)

Ocean surface temperatures off Northeast US coast highest in 150 years (via Bangor Daily News)

Major pan-European study conducted on ocean acidification (via Phys.org)

Wild weather swings may be a sign of climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA lowers estimates of methane leaks during natural gas production (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ready (or not?) for a great coming Texas shale boom (via New York Times)

Ohio tries to avoid repeat of 2011 injection well quakes (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Rapid transition of climate zones could speed extinction (via RTCC)

US to remove gray wolves from endangered list (via The Hill)

Empty nets in Louisiana three years after the BP oil spill (via CNN)

EPA deals blow to Alaska mine project (via The Hill)

New Mexico grapples with tough choices as drought persists (via Yahoo! News/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Bike-sharing programs now in 49 countries, 500 cities (via Sustainable Business)

Tesla to offer loaners to customers with cars in the shop (via GigaOm)

Chicago car charging station feud goes to court (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

One month after Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill, still no answers to basic questions (via InsideClimate News)

Oil rig worker ranks among worst jobs of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Study: buyers of energy-efficient homes less likely to default (via Today Show)

NREL teams with US Navy to cut energy use (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY 

Europe bids to marry natural gas and renewable energy (via Recharge)

Colorado senate votes to strengthen state’s clean energy standard (via ClimateProgress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese nuclear reactors may come back online soon (via United Press International)

Thinking small, nuclear power enters distributed era (via Navigant Research)

FBI investigating weekend shootout at Watts Bar nuclear power plant (via Knoxville News)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens lurch left in bid to beat Merkel (via Reuters)

Charlotte Mayor Foxx to be named US Transportation Secretary (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How can Congress boost renewable-energy requirements? (via National Journal)

Everybody chill out a little, carbon trading will be fine (via Grist)

Would a carbon tax boost clean energy? (via Christian Science Monitor)

People who believe in free markets more likely to reject climate science (via Sustainable Business)