Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.14

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

CLIMATE

Climate change could cut global food production 18% by 2050 (via BusinessGreen)

Major coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years (via The Guardian)

NASA satellite sends back most detailed view yet of CO2 (via Climate Central)

Much of coastal U.S. will see over 30 days of flooding due to sea level rise, projects NOAA (via Huffington Post)

White House floats new climate guidelines for energy, infrastructure development (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

China solar exports may face increase in EU duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new FiT rules draw criticism from Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (via PV Tech)

India’s biggest wind company plans to enter solar market (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

BNDES approves $222 million in loans for Brazil ethanol plant (via Bloomberg)

EBRD backs Polish wind farm with €23.8 million (via Bloomberg)

South Africa fights blackouts with concentrating solar power (via TriplePundit)

GE ships first Brazil wind turbine nacelle under tough local-content rules (via Recharge News)

U.S power sector employment declines, except for renewable electricity generators (via U.S EIA)

U.S. solar-plus-storage market to surpass $1 billion by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

EIA expects 2014 U.S. wind installations to total less than 5GW (via Recharge)

New money coming home: Investors likely to continue backing residential solar in 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power (via Treehugger)

Businesses get solar at no upfront cost, encourage customers and employees to invest (via Treehugger)

Duke prepares South Carolina distributed solar program (via Renewable Energy World)

Coalition plans push to expand Minnesota’s renewable energy standard in 2015 (via Star-Tribune)

Illinois solar gets closer to game time (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

U.S. EPA set to issue long-anticipated rules for coal ash disposal (via Reuters)

Coal ash waste about to be federally regulated for the first time (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

Polluting is getting expensive again in Europe: Carbon & climate (via Bloomberg)

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral (via National Journal)

OIL

Bankers see $1 trillion in investments stranded in the oil fields (via Bloomberg)

Oil price bloodbath to spark energy sector buying spree (via Reuters)

Nebraska Supreme Court decision on Keystone XL punted to 2015 (via The Hill)

Oil crunch could cost Texas 128,000 jobs, says Fed model (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. gasoline drops below $2.50 in U.S. for first time in 2009 (via Bloomberg)

Tax breaks for EV charging, natural gas cars back through end of 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Analyst slashes Tesla sales forecast 40% due to fuel prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt to add on-demand regenerative braking (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY

German energy use sinks to lowest level since reunification (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. power sector needs $2.1 trillion in investment by 2035, says EIA (via Greentech Media)

EBay just became the latest tech company to leave conservative group ALEC (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, Maryland (via Greentech Media)

Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS

The state of shale (via Phys.org)

Here's the grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

Companies pay $9.7 million in EPA enforcement actions (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION

The top five energy and climate stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

Global biofuels industry: A promising future (via Navigant Research)

Three ways renewables could benefit from low oil prices (via Forbes)

Will coal plant retirements and fracking threaten electric reliability? (via Navigant Research)

The surprising link between what makes us happy and what saves energy (via Washington Post)

Solyndra? Solyndra! The legacy of government loan guarantees beyond politics (via Greentech Media)

Six lessons learned from the front lines of the climate fight (via Huffington Post)

Solar tariffs: Throttling America’s biggest job creation machine (via Renewable Energy World)

How Denmark and Texas became wind energy kings (via StateImpact Texas)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: June 2014 was the hottest in recorded history (via National Journal)

Climate change already having profound impacts on European lakes (via National Geographic)

Report: Higher seas mean extreme floods in South Carolina, North Carolina (via Miami Herald/AP)

Sunday TV shows cover climate change as much in 1H 2014 as in last four years combined (via Media Matters for America)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican Senate approves bulk of pending energy legislation (via Reuters)

Energy issues playing greater role in foreign policy, says State Dept. envoy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power will deliver more than seven percent of world’s electricity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

India seen adding wind capacity after tax credit revived (via Bloomberg)

Brazil gets $335 million wind power loan from German development bank (via Bloomberg)

Powering villages with solar instead of dirty fossil fuels (via EcoWatch)

Renewables make up over 50% of new U.S. power in First Half of 2014 (via Renew Grid)

Who finances residential solar in 2014? (via Greentech Media)

The solar industry’s tax credit conundrum (via Greentech Media)

Michigan legislators seek “energy freedom” for consumer through distributed renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

Offshore wind farms create “reef effect” perfect for marine wildlife – especially seals (via The Independent)

Renewables revolution could be in management, not technology (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking opponents renew call for South African shale gas halt (via Bloomberg)

U.K. shale regulation inadequate for safety, says report (via Bloomberg)

Researchers to test how Great Plains shale reacts to fracking (via Huffington Post/AP)

California halts fracking waste injection, warns it may be contaminating aquifers (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

U.K. retains target to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

Legislative attempts to block EPA standards harmful to small businesses (via The Hill)

NHL outlines plan to cut emissions, fight climate change (via The Hill)

COAL 

Dirty coal plants undermine EU climate leadership, says report (via RTCC)

China warns against “blind” rush to build coal-to-gas plants (via Reuters)

Germany, U.K., Poland top “dirty 30” list of EU coal-fired power stations (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Whirlpool wants Congress to ban class action lawsuits tied to Energy Star program (via New York Times)

Florida utilities move to slash energy conservation programs (via Climate Progress)

Third-party financing was solar’s catalyst – can energy efficiency find the same model? (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons why energy efficiency programs fail (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

As U.S. leads world on oil production, East Coast opens to exploration (via Sustainable Business)

DOT Secretary: New oil train rules could have wide reach (via Houston Chronicle)

Wisconsin oil train derailment clean up underway, evacuation lifted (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Opel dropping Ampera, Europe’s Chevy Volt, because of weak sales (via Autoblog Green)

First six months of 2014 U.S. EV sales show 33% year-over-year gain (via Forbes)

ABB and Volvo partner on fast-charging system for hybrid and electric buses (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Carbon repeal leaves Australia isolated and vulnerable (via Renew Economy)

Disney’s “Planes” sequel is an excuse to talk to your kids about climate change (via Grist)

Why has the response to California’s drought been so weak? (via Science Blogs)

Six reasons technology alone can’t solve water scarcity (via GreenBiz)

Utilities cry “fowl” over Duck Chart and distributed solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Why Tom Steyer’s millions won’t save the planet (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: June 2014 was the hottest in recorded history (via National Journal)

Climate change already having profound impacts on European lakes (via National Geographic)

Report: Higher seas mean extreme floods in South Carolina, North Carolina (via Miami Herald/AP)

Sunday TV shows cover climate change as much in 1H 2014 as in last four years combined (via Media Matters for America)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican Senate approves bulk of pending energy legislation (via Reuters)

Energy issues playing greater role in foreign policy, says State Dept. envoy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power will deliver more than seven percent of world’s electricity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

India seen adding wind capacity after tax credit revived (via Bloomberg)

Brazil gets $335 million wind power loan from German development bank (via Bloomberg)

Powering villages with solar instead of dirty fossil fuels (via EcoWatch)

Renewables make up over 50% of new U.S. power in First Half of 2014 (via Renew Grid)

Who finances residential solar in 2014? (via Greentech Media)

The solar industry’s tax credit conundrum (via Greentech Media)

Michigan legislators seek “energy freedom” for consumer through distributed renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

Offshore wind farms create “reef effect” perfect for marine wildlife – especially seals (via The Independent)

Renewables revolution could be in management, not technology (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking opponents renew call for South African shale gas halt (via Bloomberg)

U.K. shale regulation inadequate for safety, says report (via Bloomberg)

Researchers to test how Great Plains shale reacts to fracking (via Huffington Post/AP)

California halts fracking waste injection, warns it may be contaminating aquifers (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

U.K. retains target to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

Legislative attempts to block EPA standards harmful to small businesses (via The Hill)

NHL outlines plan to cut emissions, fight climate change (via The Hill)

COAL 

Dirty coal plants undermine EU climate leadership, says report (via RTCC)

China warns against “blind” rush to build coal-to-gas plants (via Reuters)

Germany, U.K., Poland top “dirty 30” list of EU coal-fired power stations (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Whirlpool wants Congress to ban class action lawsuits tied to Energy Star program (via New York Times)

Florida utilities move to slash energy conservation programs (via Climate Progress)

Third-party financing was solar’s catalyst – can energy efficiency find the same model? (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons why energy efficiency programs fail (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

As U.S. leads world on oil production, East Coast opens to exploration (via Sustainable Business)

DOT Secretary: New oil train rules could have wide reach (via Houston Chronicle)

Wisconsin oil train derailment clean up underway, evacuation lifted (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Opel dropping Ampera, Europe’s Chevy Volt, because of weak sales (via Autoblog Green)

First six months of 2014 U.S. EV sales show 33% year-over-year gain (via Forbes)

ABB and Volvo partner on fast-charging system for hybrid and electric buses (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Carbon repeal leaves Australia isolated and vulnerable (via Renew Economy)

Disney’s “Planes” sequel is an excuse to talk to your kids about climate change (via Grist)

Why has the response to California’s drought been so weak? (via Science Blogs)

Six reasons technology alone can’t solve water scarcity (via GreenBiz)

Utilities cry “fowl” over Duck Chart and distributed solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Why Tom Steyer’s millions won’t save the planet (via Forbes)