Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.16.14

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

EMISSIONS

Carbon markets link in $500 million clean energy investment (via CleanTechnica)

Tropical rainforests not absorbing as much carbon as expected (via The Guardian)

Emissions growth slows as economies clean up (via RTCC)

United Kingdom renewables displaced 38 million tonnes of CO2 in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

COAL

China slashes coal export tariff as mining in crisis (via Reuters)

Coal-heavy rural electric cooperatives take hard line on EPA Clean Power Plan (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES

Year-end rush in China leads Asia-Pacific solar PV market to record Q4 level (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Five key stats reveal Latin American’s breakthrough year in solar (via Greentech Media)

New wind power record in Germany (via Renewables International)

Honduras in line for 81.7MW of SunEdison solar (via PV Tech)

IKEA to start selling solar panels in Switzerland (via Renewable Energy World)

Kyocera to build world’s largest floating PV project near Tokyo (via Recharge News)

Local market conditions and policies strongly influence solar PV pricing (via Phys.org)

Minnesota regulators authorize state’s largest solar power project (via Star-Tribune)

Austin, Texas plans to get hover half its power from renewables by 2025 (via ClimateProgress)

SEIA board facing call to resign over stance on US-China trade spat (via PV Tech)

SunPower backs Tendril, plans to use its energy software (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE

White House to healthcare providers: Prepare for climate impacts (via The Hill)

U.S. and India to announce joint climate change action during Obama visit (via The Guardian)

Scientists are worried Greenland might melt even faster than expected (via Washington Post)

OIL

Plunging oil prices could boost geopolitical risks, says Bank of England (via Reuters)

Big Oil could chop $930 billion in projects as prices fall (via Houston Chronicle)

U.S. oil falls to new low of $55.91 per barrel (via The Hill)

In Canada’s oil sands, a boomtown starts feeling the chill (via Reuters)

Oil plunge seen as boon for U.S. banks as traders benefit (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Only five countries will sell over 10,000 EVs in 2014 (via Autoblog Green)

France could soon have EV charging stations every 25 miles (via Green Car Reports)

2015 U.S. household gasoline expenditures on track to be lowest in 11 years (via U.S. EIA)

Electric cars could be cheaper than gas guzzlers within a decade (via Quartz)

Sunswift solar electric car reaches crowdfunding goal to hit the streets (via CNET)

GRID

Europe’s “biggest battery” sparks into life (via BusinessGreen)

United Kingdom set for £2.5 billion capacity auction to keep lights on (via Bloomberg)

ABB, Hitachi set up power grid joint venture in Japan (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS

U.S. shale junk debt tumbles amid oil crunch (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY

Evaluating 15 years of IEA energy forecasts (via Energy Collective)

The energy system in 2014 – did the ice really crack? (via Bloomberg)

A $48 billion opportunity for U.S. electric customers (via Renewable Energy World)

The race is on for solar companies to woo utilities (via Forbes)

While seeking “bailout,” Ohio utilities keep cost data secret (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS

Elizabeth Warren, GOP rookies set up energy panel for pyrotechnics (via National Journal)

OPINION

9 things scientists did this year to ensure a better climate future (via Climate Progress)

Why climate change is forcing some environmentalists to back nuclear power (via Washington Post)

Winners and losers at the UN climate talks (via RTCC0

Cleantech IPOs: Predictions revisited, 2014 winners, 2015 picks (via Greentech Media)

Will the 2,250-foot solar-wind tunnel ever be more than a pipe dream? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.15.14

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

EMISSIONS

Lawyers gird for fight against EPA’s Clean Power Plan based on states’ rights (via ClimateWire)

Half of Republicans support carbon limits, survey finds (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel companies grow nervous as divestment movement grows stronger (via Grist)

Capturing carbon as a byproduct of running a fuel cell (via New York Times)

Gov. Inslee says if polluters were charged, state would benefit (via Seattle Times)

NATURAL GAS

Can China’s shale gas help it reach peak coal by 2020? (via Motley Fool)

Ukraine says Chevron plans to pull out of $10 billion shale gas deal (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

EnergyTrend calls 2014 solar demand at 44GW with 2015 to top 50GW (via PV Tech)

The global biofuels industry: A future in doubt (via Navigant Research)

Analysis: Can Japan exceed 10GW of solar capacity installation in 2014? (via Renewable Energy World)

SunEdison to supply 570GWh of solar energy to Chile grid (via PV Tech)

Vestas gets biggest wind order as Africa market accelerates (via Bloomberg)

Solar industry trends: Capital costs continue to drop while solar companies reinvent themselves as energy companies (via Forbes)

South Carolina avoids a battle, reaches settlement on net energy metering (via Greentech Media)

New York State doubles solar net metering cap (via PV Tech)

430,000 advanced energy jobs in California…today (via CleanTechnica)

Solar and wind give California second camel hump (via Renewables International)

Study: Nebraska grid has capacity to export more wind energy (via Lincoln Journal Star)

Minnesota city freezes ground-mounted solar due to zoning concerns (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

International negotiators strike last-minute deal to reduce carbon emissions (via ClimateProgress)

UN agrees way forward on climate change but path is unclear (via The Guardian)

Paris climate summit faces tougher job after modest Lima deal (via Reuters)

Catholic bishops from every continent call for “end to the fossil fuel era” (via ClimateProgress)

Most Americans aren’t aware of the health impacts of climate change (via ClimateProgress)

People don’t work as hard on hot days – on a warming planet (via Washington Post)

COAL

Coal demand growth to slow in next five years on China, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Coal demand set to break 9 billion tonne barrier this decade (via The Guardian)

As Japan burns more coal, climate policies under pressure (via Reuters)

First U.S. coal ash regulations in the offing (via The Hill)

GRID

Fitch: U.S. utilities “well positioned” to deal with upcoming obstacles (via Renew Grid)

MISO board approves $2.5 billion in new transmission (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Mexico shale boom outlook dims as U.S. drillers struggle (via Bloomberg)

Despite lower crude oil prices, U.S. crude oil production expected to grow in 2015 (via U.S. EIA)

Early slowdown signs emerge for U.S. oil states after crude slide (via Reuters)

U.S. taxpayers help fund oil train boom amid safety concerns (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric cars: A review of 2014 (via Forbes)

Gasoline prices tend to have little effect on demand for car travel (via U.S. EIA)

Street lights add EV charging (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s stationary storage strategy: “Everywhere we look, there’s an opportunity” (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

$140 million DOE innovation hub focuses on energy efficiency in manufacturing (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Earth faces sixth “Great Extinction” with 41% of amphibians set to go to the way of the dodo (via Huffington Post)

23 pollinating species in Britain have gone extinct in last 150 years (via Inhabitat)

Congress protects new national parks and wilderness areas for first time in five years (via ClimateProgress)

OPINION

COP20 lays groundwork for Paris climate pact: 7 key developments (via WRI Insights)

Five takeaways from the Lima climate talks (via National Journal)

How the ”war on coal” went global (via Politico)

How the U.S. can beat OPEC in an oil prices war (via Christian Science Monitor)

The basic reason oil keeps getting cheaper and cheaper (via Washington Post)

Insights from the solar industry in rural Peru (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

10 energy numbers to remember from 2014 (via Outlier)

Will cheap oil kill Keystone XL? (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.11.14

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

CLIMATE

Six ways climate change threw the animal world into disarray this year (via Climate Progress)

John Kerry: Climate change is now a security issue (via The Guardian)

Top scientists to media: Stop using “skeptic” to describe deniers (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS

Poll: Majority of U.S. voters back regulating methane emissions (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Distributed solar PV poised to reach its potential in Africa (via Navigant Research)

India uses coal tax to help fund 21GW new solar development (via PV Tech)

South Africa plans to triple renewables output to curb blackouts (via Blomberg)

Australia adds another 75MW rooftop solar in November (via Renew Economy)

World’s largest coal miner announces 1GW solar power plan (via CleanTechnica)

Climate Bonds Initiative lifts lid on green bond market (via BusinessGreen)

US-China solar trade deal still possible despite breakdown claims (via PV Tech)

Over a third of new U.S. electricity came from solar this year (via GigaOm)

Off-grid solar companies closed $64 million in 2014: Start of a bigger trend? (via Greentech Media)

Lawmakers frustrated at EPA over ethanol mandate delay (via The Hill)

First Solar gives U.S. residential market another try (via Forbes)

A small-town Kansas bank is helping lead a solar revolution (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY POLICY

Coal wins, sage grouse loses in $1.1 trillion U.S. budget deal (via Bloomberg)

SDG&E: Utilities need to set “proper price signals” to manage distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Oil price hit by OPEC numbers as Saudis stand firm on output (via Houston Chronicle)

Alaska faces $3.5 billion deficit amid lower oil prices (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

China offers billions to subsidize EV charging build-out (via Bloomberg)

Several states are adding or increasing incentives for EV charging stations (via US EIA)

Boeing completes first flight powered with “green diesel” (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

Nuclear poised to be winner as Abe eyes broader Japan majority (via Bloomberg)

DOE announces $12.5 billion in loans for advanced nuclear (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficient buildings expected to reach nearly $623 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Database showcases 37 net-zero energy buildings across U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

New Honda “Green Dealer Guide” spells out energy efficiency for dealership buildings (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

Microgrids create energy-resilient communities (via Renewable Energy World)

Broaching the baseload issue: Finding hybrid solutions to stabilize the grid (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

Visualizing the rise of carbon pricing around the world (via Fast Company)

ENVIRONMENT

Study shows 270,000 tons of plastic float in the ocean (via Huffington Post)

OPINION

Is cellulosic ethanol all it’s cracked up to be? (via Breaking Energy)

Cheap oil’s make-or-break moment for clean energy (via Huffington Post)

Will new technologies give a critical boost to solar power? (via Yale e360)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.5.14

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

CLIMATE

Australia says it won’t pay into UN Green Climate Fund (via Huffington Post)

Antarctic ice sheets threatened by warm water rising from below (via Bloomberg)

Africa rainfall may rise with greenhouse gas emissions (via Bloomberg)

White House announces initiative to improve climate education in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill rises from the dead (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Annual installed capacity of distributed generation is expected to double by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Indonesia’s new government announces a jump start for solar (via PV Tech)

Brazil starts-up more new wind as grid bottlenecks ease (via Recharge)

UK, Belgium research teams aim for offshore wind grid-boost (via Recharge)

Investors take pragmatic view as wind, solar deliver returns (via Recharge)

Solar stock selloff creates buying opportunity as sector caught in oil’s volatility (via MarketWatch)

$6 billion opportunity: Rural electric cooperatives could lead on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

As coal crashes, U.S. governors push wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

Survey: California boasts almost 73,000 workers in solar industry (via PV Tech)

CaliforniaFIRST offers new rates and terms for PACE financing (via Solar Industry)

Missouri’s largest investor-owned utility scale solar energy center goes live (via Energy Manager Today)

Michigan legislature passes bill to include burning tires as renewable energy (via Michigan Live)

COAL

BLM has not performed an environmental review of coal leasing program since 1979 (via Desmog Blog)

EMISSIONS

China broadens pollution pledge in call for climate funding (via Bloomberg)

India says its carbon emissions will keep rising (via The Hill)

Obama’s clean power plan getting dirtied but it has key business support (via Forbes)

OIL

More than $150 billion of oil projects face the axe in 2015 (via Reuters)

Plunging oil prices spell trouble for Alaska – America’s own petro state (via Washington Post)

U.S. oil reserves continue rising, surpass 36 billion barrels for first time since 1975 (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

DOE’s EV Everywhere workplace charging program is working (via Autoblog Green)

Questions bubble up about Tesla Model S sales numbers (via Autoblog Green)

Ford’s aluminum body F-150 makes its debut (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY

Rising power demand means $65 billion a year task for China’s grid (via Bloomberg)

Obama’s climate critique of Australia draws utility rebuttal (via Bloomberg)

Forecast of Brazil rain will halt expensive power plants (via Bloomberg)

U.S. energy policy taking dramatic shift to the right (via Breaking Energy)

Bird’s fate shaping energy development in U.S. West (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS

U.S. natural gas reserves hit all-time high (via The Hill)

Study: Fracking chemicals pose potential health threat to children and mothers (via Business Green)

POLITICS

White House official: Obama will use executive powers to meet climate goals (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

Will low oil prices derail renewable energy growth? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Why Tesla’s batteries scale the hell out of electric companies (via Bloomberg)

Can solar thermal desalination make sustainable agriculture possible? (via CleanTechnica)

The funny thing about Google’s decision to stop renewable energy research (via Climate Progress)

Why is a three-week Production Tax Credit extension worthless? (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.31.14

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

CLIMATE 

IPCC preparing “most important” document on climate change (BBC)

Bangladesh leads 32 nations hit by extreme climate risk (via Bloomberg)

Brazil’s dangerous climate spiral (via National Journal)

Climate change a threat multiplier for farming-dependent states (via Reuters)

38 federal agencies reveal their climate change vulnerabilities – and what they’re doing about it (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Moscow clinch deal on Russian natural gas supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil rout seen diluting price appeal of U.S. LNG exports (via Bloomberg)

Toxic chemicals, carcinogens skyrocket near fracking sites (via U.S. News and World Report)

RENEWABLES 

U.K. Green Bank mobilizes $8 billion for clean energy since launch (via Bloomberg)

Why are solar’s largest players entering the Latin American market? (via Greentech Media)

China is top developing nation for clean energy investment, finds analysis (via Yale e360)

Brazil election opens solar growth (via Recharge Magazine)

India’s wind energy capacity to double in five years: GWEC (via CleanTechnica)

Politics dim Obama’s Africa power plan as lights go out (via Bloomberg)

U.S. trade policy in action: SolarWorld now adding jobs and solar module capacity (via Greentech Media)

SunEdison’s plan to go big in China (via Forbes)

OIL 

Report: U.S. gas prices driven more by international crude (via The Hill)

TransCanada applies to build Energy East oil pipeline (via Bloomberg)

Scientists investigate link between newborn deaths and Utah oil drilling (via Inhabitat)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla looks to solar to power Australian supercharging network (via Renew Economy)

Volkswagen planning 20 new plug-in models for China (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota to test EV and PHV charging infrastructure expansion in Japan (via Green Car Congress)

Nissan Leaf breaks its own annual U.S. EV sales record (via Green Car Congress)

Startup borrows financing model from solar, efficiency sectors to launch EVs in fleets (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Southeast Asia to be the next hot spot for smart grid investment (via Breaking Energy)

Survey: Utilities expect strong competition in U.S. grid build-out (via Renew Grid)

The electricity grid gets a value chain (via RMI Outlet)

Two years after Superstorm Sandy, utilities highlight grid efforts (via Renew Grid)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear industry lobbies to preserve tax credit; opposes similar wind incentive (via Bloomberg BNA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green buildings market grows to $260 billion (via Environmental Leader)

Energy codes help drive green buildings, says Lux Research (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Race for top House Energy Committee seat brings windfall to Democrats (via National Journal)

Poll: Swing state voters back climate action (via The Hill)

California’s Brown pushes water bond as election nears (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

The world’s climate change watchdog may be underestimating global warming (via Washington Post)

Nine significant findings too recent to be included in the new IPCC report (via WRI Insights)

California’s carbon market is leaking (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.29.14

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

CLIMATE 

Study: Climate change could spark conflict in emerging economies (via BusinessGreen)

EU sets ambitious 2030 climate and energy goals (via Greentech Media)

Chinese vice premier meets Obama adviser on climate change (via Xinhua)

NUCLEAR 

Japan edges back toward nuclear power with vote to restart first reactors (via BusinessGreen)

Nuclear industry touts environment benefits as it seeks to stem reactor retirements (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Poor countries tap renewables at twice the pace of rich nations (via Bloomberg)

EU on track for green energy goals, but 2030 a challenge (via Reuters)

Global PV operations and maintenance market to hit 237GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

Global hydropower to double in 20 years, but at what cost to wildlife? (via RTCC)

Millions in new investment cap record year for beyond-the-grid solar markets (via Energy Collective)

U.S. solar boom boosts European manufacturers REC and Solarworld (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

U.S. solar now 59% cheaper than analysts predicted back in 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind and solar boosted California grid reliability during tough summer (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Shell seeks five more years for Arctic oil drilling drive (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s state-owned oil giant Pemex is in uncharted waters (via New York Times)

Goldman Sachs expects U.S. crude to fall to $70 next year (via Houston Chronicle)

Scientists discover huge “bathtub ring” of sea floor oil from BP spill (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Increasing ethanol use has reduced average energy content of retail gasoline (via US EIA)

2016 Chevy Volt will have more EV range, bigger battery (via Autoblog Green)

California to require new buildings to be prepped for EV charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla announces new EV leasing package (via New York Times)

Indianapolis plans to add 425 EVs to municipal fleet by 2016 (via Green Car Congress)

GM to build Volt electric drive in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

U.S. banks deny fund to coal port near Great Barrier Reef (via RTCC)

Coal ash rule heads to White House for final review (via The Hill)

As rail congestion crimps coal supplies, expansion calls grow louder (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Australian government wins backing for compromise emissions scheme (via Reuters)

Drying Amazon could be major carbon concern (via Climate Central)

Climate change concerns push Chile to forefront of carbon tax movement (via New York Times)

EPA quietly revamps policy for alleged major air polluters, ends “watch list” (via SNL Energy)

Four carbon cap-tax hybrids (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-price plunge gives new ammo to divestment activists (via InsideClimate News)

Sen. Whitehouse to push carbon price bill (via The Hill)

GRID 

Europe blackout threat looms amid power supply risks, says study (via Bloomberg)

Sandia evaluates batteries for modular grid energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

Alevo unstealthed: New gigawatt-scale grid battery contender (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED retail participants on the rise (via Environmental Leader)

30% of building managers use no energy saving technology (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Most Canadians say environment trumps energy prices (via Bloomberg)

Environmental groups spending an unprecedented $85 million in 2014 elections (via Washington Post)

Millennials could make a difference on climate, if they voted (via Grist)

NextGen targets GOP Senate hopefuls in Michigan, Iowa (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Can OPEC survive the oil industry’s new economics? (via Bloomberg)

It’s not perfect, but EU energy and climate deal is great news for green economy (via BusinessGreen)

Liebreich: Nuclear – the thin end of a failing wedge (via Bloomberg)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.19.14

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

COAL 

China power plants exempts from low-quality coal ban: Sources (via Reuters)

With China coal ban, has Australia’s luck run out? (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek) 

Battery storage to make reserve coal plants redundant (via Renewables International)

A month of disappointments for coal exporters (via Sightline Daily)

Scientists on a quest for knowledge about coal dust risks (via EarthFix)

Ohio Supreme Court approves coal strip mining in state wildlife area (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

Scotland “No” vote removes doubt for $23 billion in new renewables (via Bloomberg)

Wind adds 1.4GW to upcoming Brazil renewables auction (via Recharge News)

Jamaica aims to double renewable energy capacity (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek) 

German PV equipment manufacturing up 39% in 2014 (via Renewables International)

Solar power making big competitive gains, new studies show (via Breaking Energy)

Technology advances wind energy development (via The Energy Collective)

Food versus fuel in U.S. renewable energy showdown (via Thompson Reuters)

Report: U.S. solar costs continue rapid decline (via PV Tech)

U.S. solar and wind start to outshine gas (via Financial Times)

Wind power could improve grid resiliency, says GE (via CleanTechnica)

Putting solar panels on school roofs could increase U.S. solar capacity (via Climate Progress)

U.S. DOE targets 50,000 new solar installers by 2020 (via PV Tech)

Vivint Solar, 2nd U.S. solar installer, sets IPO terms to raise $370 million (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

2014 on track to be warmest year on record (via Climate Central)

Summer 2014 was a sizzler: Earth’s hottest on record (via USA Today)

China cautious on fresh commitments ahead of climate change summit (via South China Morning Post)

Obama to tout U.S. climate plan at UN summit (via Reuters)

Report warns Superstorm Sandy was not “The Big One” (via Huffington Post)

White House officials acknowledge climate plan’s limits, but decry inaction (via ClimateWire)

HUD launches $1 billion national disaster resilience competition (via Inhabitat)

OIL 

Oil prices at two-year low, OPEC may change that (via Christian Science Monitor)

Oxfam sues SEC over oil payment disclosure rule (via The Hill)

Oklahoma to pass California, Alaska in oil production (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

French group develops mass electric vehicle charging stations (via Reuters)

IRS won’t (or can’t) revel how many plug-in vehicle tax credits are left (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Obama urged to plug methane leaks to meet climate goal (via Bloomberg) 

EMISSIONS

Hard truths about world power plant carbon emissions (via CleanTechnica)

California and Quebec announce first joint cap-and-trade auction (via Green Car Congress)

MISO study suggests regional approach is better when it comes to EPA carbon compliance (via EnergyWire)

UN hired PR firm that won’t rule out clients who oppose carbon regulations (via The Guardian)

KEYSTONE XL 

TransCanada CEO “frustrated” by linkage of Keystone XL to climate change (via Bloomberg BNA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ruling against FERC order could cost U.S. demand response market $4.4 billion (via Greentech Media)

LEED-certified professionals in great demand (via Sustainable Business)

ENVIRONMENT 

Why fewer acres have burned this year despite California drought (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Massive Northern California fire outrunning firefighters (via Los Angeles Times)

Despite some rain, drought still grips Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

White House cranks up heat ahead of UN climate summit (via The Hill)

Brazil’s Rousseff closes in on Silva ahead of October vote (via Reuters)

Al Gore: Climate skepticism will haunt GOP in 2016 (via National Journal)

With an eye on 2016, Christie resists climate change plan for New Jersey (via New York Times)

Frank Pallone builds support for top spot on Energy Committee (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why higher education is a bright green market (via GreenBiz)

U.S. schools go solar (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

13 states say EPA climate regulations illegally left out data (via The Hill)

GAO finds no fault with “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment: A $5 trillion challenge (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

UBS analysts: “Large-scale power stations could be on path to extinction” (via Greentech Media)

“Major investment cycle” and rapidly changing U.S. energy markets pose challenges for FERC, says new chairman (via EnergyWire)

One electric utility is carbon neutral, today (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

India plans to add 10,000MW wind energy capacity every year (via CleanTechnica)

Pattern turns to solar after building top Chile wind farm (via Bloomberg)

Verizon to boost solar by $40 million, almost doubling its clean energy (via GigaOm)

SolarWorld wins trade case but faces sliding stock, parts recall, and more (via Greentech Media)

Trina Solar posts profit as module shipments jump (via Reuters)

Retail vs. wholesale energy pricing: One reason it’s easy for rooftop solar to be cost effective (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Enbridge case reflects broader effort to fast-track pipelines (via Midwest Energy News)

Grain piles up, waiting for a ride, as trains move North Dakota oil (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

China said to consider $16 billion EV-charging fund (via Bloomberg)

Are the EPA’s MPGe ratings hurting EV sales? (via Autoblog Green)

The story of Elon Musk and GM’s race to build the first mass-market EV (via Quartz)

NATURAL GAS 

Labour party attempts to strengthen UK fracking industry regulation (via BusinessGreen)

Fracking link to birth defects probed in early research (via Bloomberg)

Drilling underway at Pittsburgh International Airport (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

CLIMATE 

Small island states, facing rising seas, seek economic overhaul (via Reuters)

Health benefits offset costs of climate policies: MIT study (via Greenwire)

Visualize it: Old weather data feeds new climate models (via Climate Central)

Scientists go beyond science to explain their climate terror (via National Journal)

GRID 

Investment in U.S. electricity transmission infrastructure shows steady increase (via U.S. EIA)

The Catch-22 of energy storage (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Chart: How many birds are killed by wind, solar, oil, and coal? (via Climate Progress)

San Joaquin is America’s most endangered river (via EcoWatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sustainability standard developed for home appliances (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

In race for solar power, China is winning (via Christian Science Monitor)

Europe is burning our forests for “renewable” energy. Wait, what? (via Grist)

A climate for change: America should not wait while the world warms (via Washington Post)

How WWI killed the dream of a solar-powered world (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.25.14

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

COAL 

China’s coal gas plants to emit massive greenhouse gases (via The Hill)

India’s top court rules allocations of 218 coal mines illegal (via Bloomberg)

India markets slip after coal block allocations are termed illegal (via Business Standard)

British Columbia coal export terminal gets the green light (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

EMISSIONS 

Hundreds of methane plumes spotted on Atlantic sea floor (via Scientific American/Nature)

California’s latest carbon auction raises $331.8 million (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

Leading Chinese solar PV suppliers continue to increase market share despite global trade disputes (via Solarbuzz)

EPA ethanol mandate goes to White House for review (via The Hill)

Geothermal power steaming over wind and solar energies (via Forbes)

$500 million invested in Mexico distributed solar (via Energy Manager Today)

SolarCity expects Silevo 1GW factory to cost up to $450 million (via PV Tech)

New York’s solar programs merge under NY-Sun initiative (via Energy Manager Today)

Berkshire Hathaway says net metering should be “eliminated” (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

Climate change could happen slower for the next decade, says study (via Time)

“Incredible” rate of polar ice loss alarms scientists (via The Guardian)

Don’t even think about it: Why we are wired to ignore climate change (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Energy reform could increase Mexico’s long-term oil production 75% (via U.S. EIA)

Iraqi, Kurdistan lawyers face off in U.S. court over stranded tanker’s oil (via Houston Chronicle)

West Texas energy bills show oil boom’s unexpected costs (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama urges renewal of U.S. Export-Import Bank (via Washington Post)

Watch six months of fracking fires blaze across America (via National Journal)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge tries new strategy to sidestep Keystone-style permitting fight (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Vanishing bird ignites debate over endangered species rules (via The Hill)

Ecologists just saved miles of Texas coastline using BP oil spill money (via Climate Progress)

POLITICS 

Will Hispanic voters alter the politics of climate change? (via National Journal)

Steyer PAC gets just $501,000 from outside donors in July (via Politico)

OPINION 

How the U.S. and Korea could work together to reduce carbon emissions (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Generation Y have “very little interest” in challenging unsustainable investment (via Blue & Green)

Here’s what EVs need to succeed: Roaming for charging stations (via GigaOm)

Lifestyles of California’s rich and parched (via Politico)

Why the Gulf job market actually improved after the BP oil spill (via Washington Post)

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)