Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank President urges carbon price (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon price crisis spreads to Australia (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading system remains in peril, but rescue attempts is launched (via ClimateWire)

Carbon market champions unfazed by Kyoto dead end (via Bloomberg)

Cap and trade auction investment plan a win for California (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

Another Northwest coal export project falls by the wayside (via The Oregonian)

ENERGY POLICY 

The 2013 US utility outlook on renewables, smart grid (via Greentech Media)

Foes suggest a climate trade-off if Keystone XL is approved (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind industry will become €130 billion annual market by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

World’s first green bank loans $1 billion in first five months of operation (via Reuters)

World Bank turns to hydropower to square development with climate change (via Washington Post)

German scientists use offshore wind farms to replenish lobsters (via Bloomberg)

Study finds tiny rate increases from state renewable portfolio standards (via Greentech Media)

US job market bursting with green tech opportunities (via EarthTechling)

Weak 2013 US wind turbine market predicted (via Recharge)

Minnesota House approves 4% by 2025 solar PV mandate (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico still far from tapping shale potential, says energy minister (via Reuters)

US natural gas exports: friend or foe? (via WRI Insights)

US will use less natural gas in 2014 than in 2012, according to EIA (via Facts of the Day)

Interior Department’s fracking rules in cross hairs ahead of upcoming release (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

European plug-in EV sales will reach 670,000 unites annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla posts first profit as Model S becomes best-selling US plug-in (via Autoblog Green)

California legislature aims to make public charging networks available to all (via Plugin Cars)

Consumer Reports gives near-perfect score to Tesla Model S (via Reuters)

OIL 

How oil travels around the world, in one map (via Washington Post)

Shell announces plans to build world’s deepest production facility (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior Secretary to oil industry: don’t throw regulators under the bus (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf of Mexico emergency oil spill equipment put to the test (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

North American smart meter shipments will continue decline through 2014 (via Navigant Research)

Demand response cuts need for new generation in PJM grid (via Energy Collective)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it may take EU to WTO over oil sands dispute (via Reuters)

Can carbon capture clean up Canada’s oil sands? (via MIT Technology Review)

Academics warn Canada against further tar sands production (via The Guardian)

Pipeline wars seen spreading after Keystone XL fight (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill clears Senate panel (via The Hill)

Big data means big savings for big buildings (via GreenBiz)

Boston mandates energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

Declining snow cover imperils plant and animal species, study says (via Yale e360)

After swimming through Sandy’s havoc, New Jersey beach towns want to stay put (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS

Congressional scholar says holds on top administration posts “not business as usual” (via SNL Energy)

Environmentalists seize on Biden’s Keystone XL remarks to launch new attack (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

How the anti-coal campaign is protecting Australia’s economy (via Renew Economy)

Carbon tax is best option Congress has (via Washington Post)

It’s official: $1 invested in EPA yields $10 in benefits (via Climate Progress)

Why aren’t environmental groups divesting from fossil fuels? (via The Nation)

Carbon tax has very broad, bipartisan support – outside of Congress (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

China and India’s energy resource rivalry extends to the Arctic (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government postpones oil, gas lease auctions in California (via Houston Chronicle)

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge breaks safety rules at 117 of 125 pipeline pump stations across Canada (via CBC)

EMISSIONS 

New emissions plan could energize global climate talks, says US envoy (via The Guardian)

Ministers urge long term fix for EU emissions system (via RTCC)

“Inconsistency” between British Columbia’s carbon tax and fossil fuel exports (via The Tyee)

US appeals court judges skeptical of states challenging EPA regulatory authority (via Greenwire)

RENEWABLES 

EU-China solar trade war entering endgame? (via Renewable Energy World)

Latin America sees $4.6 billion in 2012 clean energy investment (via EarthTechling)

UK proposes $170 billion in low-carbon energy investment (via Bloomberg)

UK renewable energy generation increases 20% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s dominance in PV solar market over, says industry lobby (via Recharge)

Army to spur geothermal with $7 billion contract (via Federal Times)

Experts back continued dominance of US wind supply chain (via Recharge)

NCAR powers up renewable energy forecasts (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

G8 set to discuss climate change at summit (via RTCC)

US defends plan for countries to set their own climate goals (via RTCC)

Study says media ignore climate context of Midwest floods (via Climate Progress)

NJ town, flood-soaked and weary, tries to back away from the water (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Ohio may open national forest to coal mining (via Columbus Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama on natural gas exports – “I’ve got to make a decision” (via EnergyWire)

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

US DOE to award up to $20 million for methane hydrate research (via Green Car Congress)

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

California urges record $2.5 billion fine for 2010 natural gas blast (via Christian Science Monitor)

Local governments in Pennsylvania fail to disclose millions in shale gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

As North Carolina weighs fracking, questions loom on wastewater (via Stateline)

New 250-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for Ohio (via Akron Beacon Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency lags in the US South (via Navigant Research)

How Nest and Opower quietly morphed into competitors (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Shell pushes innovation to stay in deepwater drilling game (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

US urban trees store 708 million tons of carbon, provide $50 billion economic value (via Phys.org)

Texas groundwater levels suffer sharp drop, study finds (via Texas Tribune)

GRID 

Energy harvesting the next big thing for the smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Berkeley lab tests utility-customer smart grid communication (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Australian fast charger slashes EV charging time (via Renew Economy)

US lowers forecast for summer 2013 gasoline prices (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

California faces another summer without San Onofre nuclear plant (via Los Angeles Times)

As price of nuclear energy drops, a Wisconsin plant is shut (via New York Times)

OPINION 

This isn’t the weather we grew up with (via The Guardian)

A carbon trading system worth saving (via New York Times)

Solyndra was this much of an outlier in DOE’s loan portfolio (via Atlantic)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA projects US per capita energy use will fall to 1963 levels (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

Germany on the verge of an energy storage subsidy (via Greentech Media)

Report: US electrical grid could be reliable with much higher level of renewables (via Reuters)

US smart grid cybersecurity spending to reach $7.25B by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal ranks as “most environmentally costly” business (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

China trounces US in green energy investments (via CNN Money)

Solar trade war opens new front as India questions US subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

World to get fewer new wind turbines in 2013 (via Reuters)

Global wind power capacity increased 19% in 2012 (via Renewable Energy World)

PV solar dominates new renewable installations in Japan (via Recharge)

Vestas and GE neck and neck at top of wind industry (via BusinessGreen)

UK’s National Trust launches 50% renewable energy target by 2020 (via RTCC)

India to double renewable energy capacity to 55GW by 2017 (via EnergyNext)

SEPA names top 10 US electric utilities for solar power usage (via Solar Industry)

Environmentalists sue officials over Duke Energy wind project (via Charlotte Business Journal)

EMISSIONS 

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely change in last 20 years (via Green Car Congress)

EU climate chief vows to fight on to save emissions trading scheme (via The Guardian)

Europe’s rollercoaster carbon prices set to hit Australia (via Phys.org)

China climate chief says EU CO2 crisis will not hurt domestic plans (via Reuters)

EPA faces lawsuit threats over blown climate rule deadline (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

US hybrids save a half billion gallons of gas a year (via Sustainable Business)

A look under the hood: why EV startup Fisker crashed and burned (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Asian nations eagerly eye cheap US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas industry to develop fast in China, says expert (via Xinhua)

Natural gas prices rise from historic lows (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

How Cheniere Energy got first in line to export America’s natural gas (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists raise questions on drought and climate (via Climate Central)

Amid Keystone fight, Canadian official defends climate comments (via The Hill)

Gov. Brown says changes to California’s environmental law unlikely this year (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

A polarized Energy & Commerce Committee reflects a gridlocked Congress (via National Journal)

Sens. Shaheen, Portman have high hopes for energy efficiency bill (via Politico)

What the House GOP doesn’t want you to know about wind vs. oil tax credits (via Climate Progress)

GOP Representative: ExxonMobil deserves pat on the back for Arkansas spill response (via Grist)

OPINION 

Lighting a spark on the High Plains (via New York Times)

None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use (via Grist)

Why more US oil may not mean cheaper US gasoline (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Activism is half the battle: the need for clean energy policymakers (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.21.13

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

TAR SANDS 

Canada’s First Nations say they will fight oil sands, pipeline (via CBC News)

Michigan oil spill cleanup may exceed insurance (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

World Bank to prioritize support for climate vulnerable states (via RTCC)

Americans’ belief in global warming rises with thermometer (via Times-Picayune/AP)

If you thought 2012 was hot, just wait a few years (via Climate Central)

GRID

Grid operator warns of future power problems in New England (via Boston Globe/AP)

Texas legislature approves electric market cost-benefit measure (via Houston Chronicle)

California lawmakers hammer utilities panel for shoddy forecasting (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

China’s wind power production increased more than coal power did for first time ever in 2012 (via Climate Progress)

India to install 1.3-1.4GW solar power in 2013 (via Panchabuta)

Australia sticks with renewable energy target (via Recharge)

1GW of new PV seen in Mideast and Africa in 2013 (via Recharge)

German insurers urge easing green energy investment rules (via Reuters)

US Senate rejects amendment gutting military biofuels program by 40-59 vote (via The Hill)

Small wind power annual installations will double in capacity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

Oil companies bid $1.6 billion for Gulf drilling rights (via Houston Chronicle)

Coastal states want more offshore drilling revenue (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s coastal waters increasingly polluted (via Phys.org)

New pope: “let us be protectors of creation” (via Mongabay)

Four ways to harvest rainwater and save resources (via The Good Human)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear regulators under fire for delay of post-Fukushima safety requirement (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

NRC: Car petroleum use, GHG emissions could drop 80% (via Environmental Leader)

US lawmakers say ethanol mandate may hike gasoline price (via Reuters)

Study says EV drivers will pay more per kWh to charge at work (via Green Car Reports)

DOE tool scores EV readiness for cities, counties, states (via EarthTechling)

SuperTruck semi achieves 54-percent increase in fuel economy (via Autoblog)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

UK budget promises shale gas tax breaks, public benefits (via Reuters)

Pact reached on voluntary standards for fracking in Northeast US (via New York Times/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Study shows energy-efficient homes are 32% less risky for lenders (via Greentech Media)

Walgreens launches first net-zero retail store in US (via Sustainable Business)

New reasons to change light bulbs (via New York Times)

COAL 

Coal plants belching out less mercury (via Forbes)

How coal affects water quality: state of the science (via Sightline Daily)

POLITICS 

The wealth of business connections for Obama’s Energy pick (via ProPublica)

Keystone XL pipeline debate rattles Massachusetts Senate race (via Reuters)

OPINION 

A Chinese solar giant goes bankrupt, and that’s a good thing (via GigaOm)

UK budget sets green alarm bells ringing (via Recharge)

Protecting renewable portfolio standards from cynical attacks (via Forbes)

How to cut US gasoline use in half by 2030 (via Washington Post)

Two ways Americans may get more ownership of their energy future (via CleanTechnica)

More coal-fired idiocy and mendacity in Nevada (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.11.13

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

CLIMATE 

The scary truth about how much climate change is costing you (via National Journal)

EPA publishes climate change protection plan, asks for comments (via The Hill)

Science groups push Obama for climate change summit (via Climate Central)

New map pinpoints cities to avoid as sea levels rise (via NewScientist)

Attention investors: climate policy could knock off half the value of fossil fuel companies (via Grist)

COAL 

Interior Department will investigate coal export royalty payments (via The Hill)

Big Coal’s big problems (via Rolling Stone)

Flexibility key to carbon limits on US coal-fired power (via Reuters)

Coal exports are a no-win business model (via The Oregonian)

RENEWABLES

Wind industry installs almost 5.3GW of capacity in December (via US EIA)

World added 30GW of PV solar in 2012, EPIA says (via Recharge)

Clean energy a $2 trillion market through 2018 (via Pike Research)

China, US lead global wind installations in 2012 (via Renew Economy)

Germany has five times as much solar power as the US – despite Alaska levels of sun (via Washington Post)

Tidal power concept fails in UK demo (via EarthTechling)

GWEC: “Africa to emerge as wind hotspot” (via Recharge)

US residential solar financing to reach $5.7 billion by 2016 (via Greentech Media)

Obama Administration to stay course on biofuel law, Vilsack says (via Bloomberg)

DOE launches database to support sustainable development of ocean energy resources (via Green Car Congress)

In the Rockies, growing support for renewables (via New York Times)

Solar outside the Sunbelt: Minnesota (via Greentech Media)

Rhode Island feed-in tariff schedule announced for 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon Emissions Globe provides 3D visualization of world’s increasing emissions (via Inhabitat)

Japan proposes pollution meeting with China (via Phys.org)

Business gains seen in US standards for power plant emissions (via Bloomberg)

RGGI’s tougher carbon cap seen doubling revenues by 2020 (via InsideClimate News)

Ohio State’s carbon-capture breakthrough still has long road to adoption (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

US Army makes progress on vehicle fleet efficiency (via Triple Pundit)

How battery improvements will revolutionize electric car design (via GigaOm)

Stalled out on Tesla’s electric highway (via New York Times)

Toward a cure for range anxiety (via New York Times)

Automakers straddle the EV charging chasm (via Pike Research)

MyFord mobile app now directs C-Max and Fusion Energi drivers to nearest EV chargers (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

Kerry wants Keystone pipeline decision in “near term” (via The Hill)

Is Keystone XL Obama’s line in the sand? (via The Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

€600 million approved UK’s Green Deal energy efficiency program (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency could save US billions, create 1.3 million jobs by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency prospects: what to watch (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Oil exports trim US deficit as fuel gap shrinks (via Bloomberg)

Higher oil taxes would lift the economy (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Major oil company breaks with trade group over SEC disclosure lawsuit (via The Hill)

GRID 

Exelon: wind power subsidies could threaten nuclear plant closings (via Chicago Tribune)

Texas wind power transmission set to skyrocket (via CleanTechnica)

Governor’s office, California ISO square off on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

In North Carolina, fracking rights rise to the surface (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Sizing up Obama’s State of the Union address (via National Journal)

Obama to lay out economic growth plan in State of Union speech (via Reuters)

Q&A: Sen. Murkowski on her “20/20” energy policy vision (via Washington Post)

Marco Rubio not convinced climate change an actual problem (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

It’s not easy being green (via New York Times)

10 lessons learned from solar power success in Germany (via CleanTechnica)

More clean energy cometh (via EarthTechling)

Why Keystone XL is not in the US national interest (via Energy Collective)

Cap-and-trade is still alive in New England – is it working? (via Washington Post)

Germany has more solar power because everyone wins (via CleanTechnica)

Could Nemo inspire more dubious climate change coverage? (via Mother Jones)

Can USDA’s climate reality message take root with denialist farmers? (via Grist)