Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.5.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
EU Parliament approves backloading fix to cap-and-trade market (via CleanTechnica)
Russia edges closer to carbon market pilot (via RTCC)
China’s carbon emissions could peak in 2025 (via RTCC)
Emissions trading reforms raise price of EU pollution permits (via The Guardian)
Study says deep soils store up to five times more carbon than thought (via Phys.org)
Temperature linked carbon tax could be effective (via Thompson-Reuters)
GRID
India and Pakistan discuss joint power grid (via Wall Street Journal)
Ontario announces $50 million in smart grid funds (via Renew Grid)
FERC approves Cal-ISO-PacfiCorp energy imbalance market implementation (via Wall Street Journal)
BLM advances major Wyoming-to-Nevada wind power transmission project (via Greenwire)
Texas smart meter opponents to get opt-out provision (via Austin American-Statesman)
RENEWABLES
More than 1GW of concentrating solar power headed for MENA (via Renewable Energy World)
Aggressive development in China and Japan drive 35GW solar PV demand in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)
241GW new wind capacity forecast from 2012 to 2017 (via CleanTechnica)
EU and China close in on solar panel deal (via Reuters)
Persian Gulf states plan $155 billion in solar energy projects (via Khaleej Times)
India may impose solar anti-dumping duty on four countries (via EnergyNext)
India’s renewable energy certificate market crashes (via Renewable Energy World)
Desertec’s collapse unlikely to affect EU energy plans (via RTCC)
Brazil sugar cane for fuel use seen beating outlook (via Bloomberg)
Argentina files World Trade Organization claim over biofuels duties (via Renewable Energy World)
EPA approves biofuels feedstocks from two invasive plants despite warnings (via Greenwire)
Congress could lower alt-fuel requirements in new Open Fuel Standard Act (via Autoblog Green)
Invasive species approved for renewable fuel program (via The Hill)
Flexible glass solar cells boost solar shingle effectiveness (via Yale e360)
Solar towers and storage – about to change the energy game? (via Renew Economy)
Idaho PUC to utility: don’t burn solar users (via Idaho Statesman)
US floating offshore wind pilot project put on hold (via Renewable Energy World)
OIL
Shell says Gulf of Mexico find may hold 100 million barrels of oil (via Houston Chronicle)
Oil heads near $101 ahead of US jobs report (via Yahoo! News/AP)
US crude oil prices top $100 a barrel (via Washington Post)
TRANSPORTATION
June green car sales jump 35% over 2012 numbers (via Autoblog Green)
Toyota Prius sales cross three million mark (via EarthTechling)
CLIMATE
As Arizona fire rages, scientists warn of more unpredictable blazes (via Los Angeles Times)
US drought expands for 3rd straight week (via Retuers)
Incident meteorologists are on wildfire front lines (via Climate Central)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Lithuania seeks energy independence through LNG (via New York Times)
Water conflicts escalate in fracking regions (via Greentech Media)
Chesapeake nets another $1 billion from asset sales (via The Oklahoman)
ENERGY POLICY
Obama administration’s new African energy efforts expected to benefit US companies (via SNL)
In 1776, US energy use was rooted in wood (via Houston Chronicle)
NUCLEAR
Japan says building nuclear safety culture will take a long time (via Reuters)
POLITICS
French president fires energy minister amid nuclear power debate (via Bloomberg)
GOP sees opportunity for election gains in Obama’s climate change policy (via New York Times)
OPINION
What now for the EU ETS? (via Recharge)
Why carbon’s greening effect isn’t a good news story (via Renew Economy)
Is Obama setting real climate goals? (via Renewable Energy World)
Why the military is a game changer for clean power (via GigaOm)
How higher education is powering the renewables market (via GreenBiz)
Is the United States becoming more energy efficient? (via CleanTechnica)
How hard is it to integrate renewables into the electric grid? (via Energy Collective)
How Texas won the race to harness wind power (via StateImpact Texas)