Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.31.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENVIRONMENT
China says 8 million acres of farmland now too polluted for food (via Climate Progress)
Losses from Yosemite wildfire could reach $2 billion (via ABC News)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Natural gas is trying, but it just can’t kill coal (via Motley Fool)
Study says majority of Americans don’t understand fracking (via The Hill)
EMISSIONS
Earth’s carbon dioxide levels now 61% higher than 1990 (via RTCC)
DOE stands by “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)
New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions drop 19% since 2005 (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
All new Australian power plants will be renewable through 2020 (via CleanTechnica)
How wind is helping deliver record-cheap solar (via EarthTechling)
EIA: US biodiesel production hits high in October (via Green Car Congress)
Shipping container with rollable PV panels inside could become instant 100kW solar plant (via TreeHugger)
CLIMATE
96% of nightly news segments on extreme weather don’t mention climate change (via EcoAffect)
GRID
Massachusetts makes smart grid mandatory (via Greentech Media)
California’s risky path to grid reform (via Navigant Research)
OIL
North Dakota community evacuated after oil train collision and fire (via Los Angeles Times)
TRANSPORTATION
Number of US public charging stations climbed 30% this year (via Autoblog Green)
California ISO rolls out roadmap on vehicle-grid integration (via Renew Grid)
TAR SANDS
Scientists find 7,300-mile mercury contamination “bullseye” around Canadian tar sands (via Climate Progress)