Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel issues starkest warning yet on global warming (via New York Times)

UK to pledge “strongly” to support Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

Across America, science center offerings on climate change are scant (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Climate change brings pine beetles north to New York and New Jersey forests (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Denmark considers phasing out coal by 2025 (via Reuters)

Australia coal port expansion will not get environmental impact study (via Al-Jazeera America)

The demise of coal-fired power in the U.S. (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

Deserted by China, Taiwanese solar cell makers eye new markets (via Reuters)

Scottish wind energy output exceeds domestic power demand (via BusinessGreen)

Solatio, Renova, Enel biggest winners in Brazil solar auction (via Bloomberg)

Tailwinds pick up for U.S. wind market (via Navigant Research)

Ohio utilities feel burned by solar-energy users (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Australian carbon tax demise leading to large rise in emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Power producers to face shortage in South Korea carbon market (via Reuters)

Australian electricity emissions could jump 9% in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Oil rout to weigh on Alberta’s carbon emissions policy (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

U.S. crude falls below $80 (via The Hill)

Big Oil feels the need to get smaller (via Wall Street Journal)

This is how ISIS smuggles oil (via BuzzFeed)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hyundai, Kia to pay $100 million for overstating fuel economy claims (via Los Angeles Times)

Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Four trends shaping the U.S. solar-plus-storage market (via Greentech Media)

Companies see little value in switching electricity vendors (via Energy Manager Today)

Will California’s energy storage procurement process unless the battery market? (via Greentech Media)

Microgrid built in a day for VERGE San Francisco (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

A staggering 400 million birds have vanished from Europe since 1980 (via Washington Post)

Options drying up for some parched North Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

3,500 North Dakota voters could put the brakes on fracking boom (via Grist)

The Tom Steyer campaigns you haven’t heard about yet (via Grist)

LCV’s Dirty Dozen: The names are in (via Huffington Post)

Most important race you haven’t heard of: Louisiana’s battle for solar (via Huffington Post)

Fracking ban divides Denton, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Why Argentina is most attractive shale play outside U.S. (via Reuters)

How the U.S. can produce cleaner energy while capturing economic benefits (via World Resources Institute)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.6.14

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

CLIMATE 

Past measurements may have missed massive ocean warming (via Science)

Could climate change affect the number of boys and girls born? (via Smithsonian)

Miami Beach prepares for annual “King Tide” flooding and a taste of sea level rise (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

U.S. sees drop in coal exports in 2014 (via Mining.com)

U.S. coal exports fall on lower European demand, increased global supply (via U.S. EIA)

U.S. coal companies having tough 2014 so far (via Knoxville News Sentinel)

New regulations, competition have coal industry reeling (via Tuscaloosa News)

RENEWABLES 

7 renewable energy lessons from Germany (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar PV market continues shrinking (via Renewables International)

U.S. DOE says 54GW of offshore wind power waiting to be tapped (via TriplePundit)

Siemens says wind power needs subsidy to compete in U.S. (via Financial Times)

U.S. DOE awarding $25 million to reduce CSP costs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OSU researchers build rechargeable solar battery (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

USDA provides $91 million for biogasoline blendstock plant (via Green Car Congress)

First commercial quantities of cellulosic ethanol from woody biomass marketed (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Shell suspends Siberian oil project, says Russian partner (via Wall Street Journal)

Orphaned Russian oil heads to U.S. west on Asia overflow (via Bloomberg)

Rosneft CEO says he’ll develop Arctic oil with or without Exxon (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

BP seeks revised verdict or new trial on spill negligence (via Bloomberg)

Gov. Inslee: “Outdated, inadequate, and dangerous” oil trains crossing state (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

TRANSPORTATION 

European regulators say incorrect C02 ratings could cost drivers $580/year (via Autoblog Green)

Carnival cruises toward $2.5 billion in fuel savings (via GreenBiz)

UMTRI monthly report shows large drop in new-vehicle fuel economy in September (via Green Car Congress)

Toyota racks up 7 million hybrids sold since 1997 (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks faster energy market integration amid crisis (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Brazil keeps renewable energy transmission & distribution discounts (via Recharge News)

Building wind power superhighways (via Chicago Tribune)

Grid-scale energy storage continues making inroads (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS 

An industry you’ve never heard of is trying to cut $1.8 billion in wasted natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Two gas drillers agree to disclose fracking risks to investors (via The Hill)

Maryland report: Fracking poses little risk to drinking water in the state (via Climate Progress)

Drilling waste site roils tiny Texas town (via Texas Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

Fish failing to adapt to rising CO2 levels in ocean (via The Guardian)

China emissions rising on high-carbon economic growth (via RTCC)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Tougher energy efficiency target would boost UK economy by £62 billion (via The Guardian)

Johnson Controls, WRI partnership targets energy efficiency in cities (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

Wilderness as economic stimulus? A closer look at the evidence (via The Hill)

In virtual mega-drought, California avoids defeat (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Rousseff in tight runoff against pro-business Neves (via Reuters)

Clashing visions of conservation shake Brazil’s presidential vote (via New York Times)

Democrats lean heavily on PACs in coordinated push to counter GOP (via New York Times)

McConnell on climate change: “Not a scientist” (via Courier-Journal)

This woman could become one of the world’s most influential environmentalists (via National Journal)

OPINION 

India’s mixed climate change forecast (via Washington Post)

Why the oil majors are backing away from renewable energy (via EnergyWire)

Cold days for coal could mean a better forecast for our climate (via Energy Collective)

A carbon tax will create jobs for Americans (via CNN)

Congress should fix the gas tax (via Washington Post)

NASA explains how climate change is like the flu (via National Journal)

Will investors flock to SunEdison’s emerging market YieldCo? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

New climate models predict an Australian perma-drought (via Motherboard)

Southern Australia faces water crisis by 2100 due to climate change (via The Guardian)

Carbon import tariffs could torpedo climate deal, says EU official (via Reuters)

Obama to push climate resilience at state, local level (via The Hill)

Climate change has created a new literary genre (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Beijing to enforce use of clean coal in anti-pollution drive (via Reuters)

Coal mining ruling: Another legal win for Obama EPA (via Charleston Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar module prices just reached a record low (via Climate Progress)

Global biofuel output expansion to slow by 2023, says OECD (via Reuters)

Led by Chile, Latin America solar PV pipeline nears 20GW (via Greentech Media)

BNEF: Europe to invest $1 trillion in renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Indian PM Modi doubles down on country’s solar revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Russia’s state-supported renewable energy auction heavily favored solar (via Renewable Energy World)

$1 billion geothermal project brings Costa Rica closer to 100% renewables (via Renew Economy)

Zurich Insurance to double investment in green bonds (via Bloomberg)

PV industry sees a “second gold rush” coming in solar sector (via Solar Industry Magazine)

USDA plants seed funding for rural clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar vs. utility battles heating up in Iowa, Wisconsin (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

CPUC report highlights California’s continued solar success (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Is Texas souring on wind power? (via Forbes)

Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of third-party solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Huge North Carolina solar project could “move the needle” for solar possibilities (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside Yingli, the giant Chinese solar company sponsoring the World Cup (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

China could reveal carbon cap by first quarter 2015 (via RTCC)

EU pollution permits to gain 28% as regulators cut supply glut (via Bloomberg)

London projected to fail EU air quality limits until 2030 (via Bloomberg)

Group representing half a billion Christians says it will no longer support fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Texas, U.S. leader in emissions stands vulnerable to their effects (via New York Times)

The plan to get New Jersey back into RGGI that Chris Christie can’t veto (via Climate Progress)

University of Dayton divests from fossil fuels (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

OPEC’s oil market share to shrink in 2015, despite growing demand (via Reuters)

Oil demand up fastest since 2010 on China growth, says IEA (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

China, U.S. to cooperate on strategic oil reserves (via Reuters)

Global oil exploration nears $1 trillion, but where are the finds? (via Reuters)

Crumbling roads in oil fields slow U.S. energy boom (via Bloomberg)

New York State won’t keep oil train details secret (via Huffington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

There are now more than 500,000 EVs on Earth (via Autoblog Green)

Report: Electric vehicle market to hit $500 billion by 2025 (via BusinessGreen)

China requires 30% of state vehicles use alternative energy (via Bloomberg)

Helsinki, Finland plans on making private car ownership obsolete in 10 years (via Time)

U.S. fuel economy improvements show diminishing fuel savings (via US EIA)

Tesla’s chargers now moving a gigawatt-hour of electricity per month (via GigaOm)

Bay Area governments make America’s biggest-yet EV purchase (via CleanTechnica)

Chicago wants more residents to drive electric vehicles (via Southern Illinoisan)

Audi preparing an entire lineup of PHEV models (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Seven earthquakes hit Oklahoma in less than a day – is fracking to blame? (via Time)

Ohio fracking water reuse questioned (via Columbus Dispatch)

Former Pennsylvania health secretary: State failed to address fracking concerns (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENVIRONMENT 

The soil pollution crisis in China: Cleanup presents daunting challenge (via Yale e360)

California braces as drought sparks early fire season (via Sacramento Bee)

Firefighters battling seven wildfires in Washington State (via Los Angeles Times)

New data says huge West Virginia chemical spill may have been more toxic than reported (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

India PM Modi accelerates solar revolution, doubles tax on coal (via Renew Economy)

Why were this company’s computers attacked millions of times this year? Algae. (via Washington Post)

Wells Fargo’s focus on energy shows growth strategy (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Lopsided lobbying on Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL backers want to keep pipeline in the public eye (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Data shows some energy retrofits actually increase energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

ACEEE urges EPA to add building codes to Clean Power Plan (via Environmental Leader)

NUCLEAR 

Russia signs nuclear energy deal with Argentina (via Reuters)

GRID 

Blackout-plagued India moves toward a smarter grid (via Navigant Research)

Stanford working on “reversible” fuel cells for energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

2014’s sleeper campaign issue: A bank nobody’s heard about (via Politico)

House GOP votes to thwart imaginary offshore drilling restriction (via National Journal)

Influence game: Shaping railroad safety rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Coal-reliant Pennsylvania faces election showdown over EPA, natural gas, carbon trading (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Six trends illustrating the US-China trade case’s impact on the solar market (via Greentech Media)

Here’s what the fossil fuel industry thinks of the carbon bubble (via Renew Economy)

What’s at stake with the Ex-Im Bank? (via National Journal)

Will Nissan’s free EV charging rival Tesla’s Supercharger network? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons U.S. solar installers are vertically integrating…for now (via RMI Outlet)

NY Times gets it wrong with attacks on Steyer and divestment (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.19.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Obama greenhouse gas cuts split power, coal industries (via Bloomberg)

Obama’s big carbon crackdown readies for launch (via Politico)

California air board urges doubling of emission cut targets after 2020 (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Governor Brown says University of California coal divestment is a possibility (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia-China natural gas deal preparations in “final phase” says Putin (via Reuters)

Support for fracking in United Kingdom falls below 50% (via The Guardian)

A fracking boom where there is no fracking (via National Journal)

North Carolina bill would make fracking chemical disclosure a felony (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

India’s new government plans to use solar to bring power to every home by 2019 (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia in policy shift seeking solar through Aramco (via Bloomberg)

Solar versus the grid: Map shows where PV makes the most sense (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy wins in Colorado and Iowa, loses in Ohio (via Sustainable Business)

Texas renewable energy production increases 12% in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Georgia Power plan would install 90MW in solar arrays on three Army bases (via EnergyWire)

Maryland Governor O’Malley vetoes wind turbine moratorium (via EnviroPolitics)

COAL 

Pipeline collapse in China coal mine kills 11 (via ABC News/AP)

The coal plant to end all coal plants? (via Washington Post)

Michigan seeks to expand coal ash use, but at what cost? (via Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE 

Greenland glaciers more susceptible to melt than thought (via Climate Central)

Rift widening between energy, insurance industries over climate change (via Forbes)

California governor links wildfire increase to climate change (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

China’s push for better fuel economy has a bigger purpose (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla edges out Toyota as California’s top auto employer (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Coral reefs protect shorelines by reducing wave energy 97% (via Climate Progress)

Rate of US honeybee deaths “to high for long-term survival” (via The Guardian)

Drought worse than Dust Bowl in New Mexico, Colorado, Texas (via Forbes)

US wildfire season starts 75 days early (via New York Times)

California drought conditions to persist through summer (via Bloomberg)

Louisiana lawsuits seek oil and gas industry money to restore coastline (via Los Angeles Times)

Project bringing 15,000 trees to vacant lots in Detroit (via AP)

KEYSTONE XL 

Jane Kleeb versus the Keystone Pipeline (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

In California, a real-world proving ground for energy efficient buildings (via SmartPlanet)

Latest generation video game consoles waste energy even when you’re not playing (via NRDC Switchboard)

NUCLEAR 

U.S. ends nuclear waste fee collections with $31 billion on hand and no disposal option in sight (via Greenwire)

GRID 

Germany’s residential battery storage subsidy sees 4,000 new systems in 1st year (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Efforts to make climate deniers pay a political price may finally be getting somewhere (via National Journal)

Senate blocks $85 billion tax cut bill because it would have helped wind energy (via Climate Progress)

Miami will likely be underwater before Congress acts on climate change (via National Journal)

OPINION 

What’s exceptional about the current drought, and what isn’t (via Washington Post)

Is climate change too risky for business? (via The Hill)

Obama’s FERC problem isn’t going away (via The Hill)

Clean tech investments are sexy again, here’s why (via SmartPlanet)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change will “lead to battles for food,” says World Bank president (via The Guardian)

Global warming study casts doubt on “missing heat” hypothesis (via Washington Post)

Climate change is already altering the Australian landscape (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU concludes French feed-in tariffs for wind energy permissible (via Renewable Energy World)

Japan moves closer to approving post-Fukushima energy policy (via Bloomberg)

US used more energy, put out more CO2, in 2013 (via Greenbang)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than LNG in Asia for power, says report (via Bloomberg)

Costa Rica opens the door to more renewable energy generation (via Tico Times)

US lags behind China in renewables investments (via Climate Central)

Senate Finance Committee votes to restore wind tax credit (via The Hill)

Consortium aims to bring solar to US schools (via Solar Industry)

Vermont boosts solar by nearly quadrupling net metering cap (via CleanTechnica)

Low-income rooftop solar program helping hundreds of California families (via Renewable Energy World)

SolarCity’s new $70 million securitized rooftop solar portfolio (via Greentech Media)

Robots find a job in the emerging world of solar energy (via Washington Post)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2014: Patience rewarded (via Renewable Energy World)

South Dakota senators confident in wind energy tax credit extension (via Prairie Business)

OIL 

UN panel to weigh dangers of oil-by-rail cargo (via Reuters)

Bakken Shale oil output to soar as spending hits $15 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

High gas prices not fueling decline in driving (via The Hill)

Average fuel economy of new US vehicles was 25.4 mpg in March; best mark yet (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Exxon agrees to disclose fracking risk, quells shareholder action (via Dallas Morning News)

Mind the fracking data gap, says study (via Climate Central)

Toxic emission spikes at fracking sites are rarely monitored, finds study (via InsideClimate News)

Interior IG says agency’s injection wells “a threat to the nation’s drinking water” (via Greenwire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

$13.2 billion derived from sales of energy efficiency services by end of 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

Studies show efficiency still the cheapest energy resources (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy-saving company Opower set for public offering (via New York Times)

Opower prices IPO at high end of $19 per share (via GigaOm)

GRID 

Millions of smart meters are coming to Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

Texas grid upgrade spurs wind records (via Recharge)

COAL 

China to close nearly two thousand small coal mines (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

El Nino probably won’t quench California’s thirst (via FiveThirtyEight)

OPINION 

Earth has a fever, but the heat is sloshing into the oceans (via The Guardian)

“Big green bucket” needed for development bank loans (via Bloomberg)

Three “next steps” for California climate action (via National Geographic)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.17.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Earth’s record 41 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2013 (via Weather Underground) 

California drought expands, fueling heat and fire (via Climate Central)

West Virginia spill heightens concerns about Ohio waterways (via Public News Service)

What Californians can expect from the drought (via Significant Figures)

COAL 

Japan utilities December coal use rises 15% year-over-year (via Reuters)

First lawsuit against Obama’s new coal limits just got filed (via Mother Jones)

Despite decline, states still spending billions to import coal (via Midwest Energy News)

Feds pledge $1 billion to build FutureGen 2.0 (via Springfield State Journal-Register)

RENEWABLES 

India could reach 100% renewables by mid-century (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank projects 56GW of solar to be installed in 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

John Hancock backs US solar PV build (via Recharge)

Solar on a grand scale: Big power plants coming online in the West (via Washington Post)

Military deployment of clean technology accelerates (via San Jose Mercury-News)

US Marine ExFOB 2014 seeks next-gen energy harvesting systems (via CleanTechnica)

California gives go-ahead to Blythe solar plan (via Renewable Energy World)

New Mexico joins the geothermal power ranks (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Europe to America: We want your natural gas (via National Journal)

UK thwarts EU plan to create binding fracking rules (via EnergyWire)

Report predicts 20 years of stable natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals (via US EIA)

Oklahoma regulators consider new rules for wastewater disposal wells (via The Oklahoman)

Study finds 5,893 natural gas leaks in Washington DC (via USA Today)

CLIMATE 

Climate protection may cut world GDP 4% by 2030, says UN (via Bloomberg)

Sluggish economy prompts Europe to reconsider its climate change intentions (via New York Times)

Environmental groups say Obama needs to address climate change more aggressively (via Washington Post)

Extreme weather wreaking havoc on food as farmers suffer (via Bloomberg)

US Chamber’s new energy plan disregards previous climate change concerns (via SNL Energy)

Climate change will cut California’s ability to make electricity just as more is needed (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada loses patience on Keystone XL, tells US to decide (via Chicago Tribune)

Canadian support of Keystone XL pipeline is falling, says new poll (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

EPA chief: No politics behind delay in climate rule (via National Journal)

Mitch McConnell aims to torpedo EPA carbon rules with obscure legislative tool (via Huffington Post)

Emails between EPA, Sierra Club become talking point in emissions rule battle (via Greenwire)

OIL 

How the oil boom could change US foreign policy (via Washington Post)

Investigation shows feds knew of risks ahead of crude-by-rail accidents (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Toyota pledges to top US effort to double fuel economy by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

IHS says grid-connected energy storage set to “explode” (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GREEN BUILDING 

Net-zero energy buildings double in 2013 (via Sustainable Business)

Bringing a touch of green to American capitals (via EarthTechling)

OPINION 

How the SEC can fight climate change (via Huffington Post)

The most impressive clean tech comeback story you haven’t heard (via CleanTechnica)

National “Shout Out for Solar” day enjoys broad support (via Renewable Energy World)

Better to export natural gas fracking or advanced coal technologies? (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

Europe’s floods trump Haiyan as costliest natural disaster of 2013 (via RTCC)

Australia heat wave sets records across continent (via Huffington Post/AP)

Flooding could cost UK insurance industry £400 million (via RTCC)

US cold snap inspires climate change denial, while scientists see little room for doubt (via National Geographic)

White House says polar temperatures part of climate change (via The Hill)

Why some mushrooms may be magic for climate change (via Time)

OIL 

Unforeseen US oil boom upends markets as drilling spreads (via Bloomberg)

US oil exports have been banned for 40 years – is it time for that to change? (via Washington Post)

Train carrying oil derails, catches fire in Canada (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

New German solar PV installations fall by half to 3.3GW in 2013 (via Recharge)

Austria adds record 309MW new wind energy capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australia reaches two million small-scale solar systems (via Renew Economy)

US installed record 4.2GW solar PV in 2013 (via Recharge)

DOE’s $3 million clean energy incubator funding is very NIICE (via CleanTechnica)

CRS report outlines PTC phase-out allowing wind, gas parity (via E&E Daily)

New battery material could help wind power go big (via MIT Technology Review)

Wind aids grid as cold hits conventional power (via EarthTechling)

Thanks to wind energy, Texans didn’t lose power during polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

Solar gardens grow in Colorado (via CleanTechnica)

California leads clean energy patent pack (via Energy Manager Today)

Political activism at the grid’s edge: Ethical Electric scores $11 million (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity: Taking on and powering big companies around the world (via The Guardian)

Company pushing massive tar sands pipeline drops $200 million on Texas mega-wind project (via Climate Progress)

COAL 

Wall Street backs away from Washington coal export facility (via Huffington Post)

GRID 

FERC’s new “fast track” interconnection rules will make clean energy development easier (via Greentech Media)

Rural cooperatives: The next smart grid investment frontier (via Navigant Research)

As winter takes hold, plunging temperatures test utilities (via New York Times)

Cold knocks out 36.6GW of power generation in PJM, proving no power plant is 100% dispatchable (via Facts of the Day)

Energy storage company completes $55 million financing round (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Location, location, lifestyle determines global warming pollution (via Scientific American)

EPA publishes emissions rule to GOP’s dismay (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL 

Former top Obama security aide endorses Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

China sets air particulate pollution reduction goals (via The Guardian)

Tree islands more effective way to replant the world’s forests (via Mongabay)

Can America’s grasslands be saved? (via Think Progress)

Celebrating deep freeze, insect experts see a chance to kill off invasive species (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips promises to halve commercial lighting energy use with new LED tube (via BusinessGreen)

Seattle’s latest benchmarking data shows where efficiency programs should focus (via Greentech Media)

Houston boosts energy efficiency in new homes (via Texas Tribune)

NUCLEAR 

300 groups oppose top climate scientists’ call to embrace nuclear power (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Aerodynamic trailer design more than doubles fuel economy (via CleanTechnica)

OPINION 

Five reasons the clean tech industry is stronger than ever (via Renew Grid)

Four reasons California cap and trade had an extraordinary first year (via Forbes)

Oil trains: What you should be reading (via Sightline Daily)

Cap and trade throws a wrench into gears of green consumerism (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

US Supreme Court to hear cross-state air pollution rule (via The Hill)

Companies increasingly counting internal cost of carbon (via BusinessGreen)

Eastern US states press Midwest to improve air (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

LNG’s future hinges on demand more than exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Battle widens over “gas rush” climate footprint (via National Journal)

Marcellus region to provide 18% total US natural gas production this month (via US EIA)

USGS sending instruments to record Texas quakes (via EnergyWire)

Ohio shale gas boom closer than many realize (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

RENEWABLES 

US wind farms get extended leeway on eagle deaths (via Los Angeles Times)

Which states win and which states lose on the Production Tax Credit? (via CleanTechnica)

Wind energy projects rush to start construction in advance of expiring PTC – again (via Energy Collective)

Has concentrated solar power run out of steam in the US? (via Greentech Media)

Reservoir emissions: A quiet threat to expanding hydropower (via ClimateWire)

Bioports emerge as runway for aviation biofuels (via Navigant Research)

New wind farms in New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota cost just 2.2-3.3 cents/KWh (via Facts of the Day)

TVA to increase renewable energy capacity by 126MW in 2014 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

California utility merges forecasting, weather, economics to handle renewables (via Greentech Media)

Wind power and wildlife can get along, birders say (via EarthTechling)

Kansas lawmaker, religious allies push for renewable energy (via News OK/AP)

KEYSTONE XL 

Clock ticks on Canadian carbon rules as Keystone decision looms (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Study says Arctic thaw tied to European, US heat waves and downpours (via Reuters)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

US Navy predicts summer ice-free Arctic by 2016 (via The Guardian)

Australian firefighter numbers “will need to double by 2030 as climate change bites” (via The Guardian)

What London would have looked like on Friday without flood defenses (via Forbes)

Two big issues to tackle as the green climate fund sets up shop (via WRI Insights)

OIL 

Oil near $98 as US economy shows improvement (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Offshore drilling industry takes aim at safety rule (via Houston Chronicle)

Northeast Nevada eyed for more oil exploration (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US partners with China to put auto emissions in check (via Washington Post)

Advanced batteries reached $10.8 billion in market value in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Average new-vehicle MPG ratings continue to climb, now up to 24.8 (via Autoblog Green)

Americans are driving less and taking public transit more: Let’s invest accordingly (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Minnesota orders Xcel Energy to study shutting down two large coal units (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Will costs delay energy efficiency gains in developing countries? (via Breaking Energy)

Interest groups call on EPA to write energy efficiency into upcoming regulations (via National Journal)

Expanded “Green Button” will reach federal agencies, more US energy consumers (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Four possible scenarios for Australia’s energy future (via CleanTechnica)

Five ways wind power can survive without extending the Production Tax Credit (via Christian Science Monitor)

How best can we use natural gas, or should we use it at all? (via National Journal)

Bye, bye biofuels: Why the US Renewable Fuels Standard failed (via Forbes)

The fracking-earthquake connection (Dallas Morning News)

Monterey Shale isn’t all it’s fracked up to be (via Smart Planet)

Cap, trade, and profit (via Albany Times-Union)

Renewable energy might save thousands of lives in Ohio (via Crain’s Cleveland Business)