Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

When CO2 levels doubled 55 million years ago, Earth may have warmed 9 degrees F in 13 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon markets 16 times cheaper than renewable aid, OECD says (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

UK shale drillers offered water cheaper than residents (via Bloomberg)

EIA raises 2013 US natgas production, demand (via Reuters)

Some foes of fracking reach out to drillers on safety (via National Journal)

GRID 

US smart grid could save each consumer $100 annually (via Energy Manager Today)

15 European national power markets set to link in search for best price (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

UK plans to increase solar power eight-fold by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy is taking a beating in Spain (via New York Times)

At what point will small-scale solar energy storage become viable? (via CleanTechnica)

Wind turbine blade maker ramps up in US (via Breaking Energy)

Oil industry sues EPA over Renewable Fuel Standard (via The Hill)

AWEA sees strong 2014 for US wind (via Recharge)

Boom and bust in New Jersey SREC market (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside DOE, one of world’s biggest clean energy finance shops is back in business (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE 

OECD: “No bailout” for climate threat (via BBC News)

80% of ecosystems vulnerable to climate change, finds study (via Yale e360)

IMF director Lagarde sounds warning on climate action (via The Hill)

World Bank and IMF stress urgency of climate action (via RTCC)

Alaska sinks as climate change thaws permafrost (via Des Moines Register)

After Sandy, group calls for federal fund to deal with extreme weather (via Star-Ledger)

COAL 

Peak coal in China, or a long and high plateau? (via Energy Collective)

150 plants retired: Another major milestone in moving beyond coal (via Grist) 

New England’s largest coal-fired plant is shutting down (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Official says Mexican energy reform will require new laws (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of utilities predict “complete transformation” by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

Keystone XL’s not the only cross-border energy fight (via Greenwire)

The South’s new power push: Natural gas and tiny nukes (via Climate Central)

Eight practical local energy policies to boost the economy (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sports beginning to see the energy-efficient light (via New York Times)

New York City apartment dwellers can compare energy, water use online (via Sustainable Business)

San Francisco public buildings’ energy use down 3.6% from 2011 (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Analyst predicts growing North American production unless oil falls to $60 (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs find a growing market in China (via Navigant Research)

California backs hydrogen stations in a big way (via EarthTechling)

NUCLEAR 

Report says a shortage of nuclear ingredient looms (via New York Times)

EU energy guidelines leave out nuclear in blow for Britain (via Reuters)

Nuclear plants vexed at prices that shift as demand does (via New York Times)

Small nuclear-fossil fuel reactors attracting attention but not capital (via Forbes)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens elect new leaders before talks with Merkel (via Reuters)

Poll: Plurality of Virginians favor EPA climate rule (via Politico)

OPINION 

Carbon emissions explained, with my son’s Legos (via Energy Collective)

US can still be the world’s solar manufacturing leader (via Sustainable Business)

Three models that could help utilities make money from solar (via Greentech Media)

The Model S fire was a good thing for Tesla (via Plugin Cars)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.5.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Growing concern on water use of tar sands development (via Yale e360)

Canada’s Harper insists Keystone XL is important for jobs (via Reuters)

Little-known pipeline nearly as big as Keystone could win race to Gulf (via InsideClimate News)

Nebraska trial could delay Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

State Department watchdog launches inquiry into Keystone environmental report (via The Hill)

NUCLEAR 

South Korean scandal over nuclear safety revelations (via New York Times)

Amid concerns, nuclear advocates pin their hopes on new designs (via Time)

RENEWABLES 

Australia’s solar revolution has been led by its suburbs (via Renew Economy)

Finland scientists turn dead wood into cheap biofuels (via RTCC)

South Korea completes first solar PV plant (via RTCC)

Spain seeks to charge for on-site renewables (via BusinessGreen)

US solar targets could save Americans $20 billion annually by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

PUCs on the front lines of brewing net metering battle (via Energy Collective)

Solar innovation gets new ARPA-E funding chance (via EarthTechling)

DOE issues RFI for next-generation solar PV technology (via Green Car Congress)

US to hold second auction for offshore wind on Outer Continental Shelf (via Green Car Congress)

Solazyme’s twisted path to an algae-based future (via GreenBiz)

Inadequate transmission lines keeping some Maine wind power off the grid (via Portland Press Herald)

Minnesota utility will meet its renewable energy mandate 10 years early (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Climate change pushing marine life toward the poles, says study (via The Guardian)

Ecosystems face unprecedented “climate change velocity” (via Climate Central)

Australia faces increased disease from climate change, reports find (via The Guardian)

Models for a more effective response to climate change (via Phys.org)

Fund managers worth $14 trillion say climate change influences investments (via RTCC)

US companies don’t want to talk about preventing climate change disaster (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Despite boom, higher costs push Big Oil into slump (via Houston Chronicle)

In wake of Canadian disaster, US issues emergency rules for trains (via Houston Chronicle)

BLM approves environmental probe on public land drilling in California (via Greenwire)

Oil companies used fracking in coastal waters off California (via Houston Chronicle)

Police in California arrest over 200 at Chevron refinery protest (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Kick starting Europe’s electric vehicle industry (via Phys.org)

A hankering for hybrids in America (via New York Times)

Jump-starting EV sales with workplace charging stations (via Los Angeles Times)

Burlington-Montreal EV fast-charging corridor opening this fall (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

How 10 Western US cities are dealing with water scarcity and drought (via StateImpact Texas)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Earthquakes “may contribute to methane leaks” (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency market “hard to reach” in multi-tenant buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

August recess now high season for interests lobbying lawmakers (via Washington Post)

Congress can’t agree on most energy issues, but it loves dams (via Washington Post)

House slams door on carbon tax (via The Hill)

Billionaire environmentalist goes big in Virginia governor’s race (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Ill wind blows for German offshore industry (via Der Spiegel)

Wind power is killing birds and bats – so what? (via Navigant Research)

The rise and rise of American carbon (via The Guardian)

How coal imports are adding to India’s energy security problems (via Renew Economy)

As temperatures rise, empires fall: heat and human behavior (via Time)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.5.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Growing concern on water use of tar sands development (via Yale e360)

Canada’s Harper insists Keystone XL is important for jobs (via Reuters)

Little-known pipeline nearly as big as Keystone could win race to Gulf (via InsideClimate News)

Nebraska trial could delay Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

State Department watchdog launches inquiry into Keystone environmental report (via The Hill)

NUCLEAR 

South Korean scandal over nuclear safety revelations (via New York Times)

Amid concerns, nuclear advocates pin their hopes on new designs (via Time)

RENEWABLES 

Australia’s solar revolution has been led by its suburbs (via Renew Economy)

Finland scientists turn dead wood into cheap biofuels (via RTCC)

South Korea completes first solar PV plant (via RTCC)

Spain seeks to charge for on-site renewables (via BusinessGreen)

US solar targets could save Americans $20 billion annually by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

PUCs on the front lines of brewing net metering battle (via Energy Collective)

Solar innovation gets new ARPA-E funding chance (via EarthTechling)

DOE issues RFI for next-generation solar PV technology (via Green Car Congress)

US to hold second auction for offshore wind on Outer Continental Shelf (via Green Car Congress)

Solazyme’s twisted path to an algae-based future (via GreenBiz)

Inadequate transmission lines keeping some Maine wind power off the grid (via Portland Press Herald)

Minnesota utility will meet its renewable energy mandate 10 years early (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Climate change pushing marine life toward the poles, says study (via The Guardian)

Ecosystems face unprecedented “climate change velocity” (via Climate Central)

Australia faces increased disease from climate change, reports find (via The Guardian)

Models for a more effective response to climate change (via Phys.org)

Fund managers worth $14 trillion say climate change influences investments (via RTCC)

US companies don’t want to talk about preventing climate change disaster (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Despite boom, higher costs push Big Oil into slump (via Houston Chronicle)

In wake of Canadian disaster, US issues emergency rules for trains (via Houston Chronicle)

BLM approves environmental probe on public land drilling in California (via Greenwire)

Oil companies used fracking in coastal waters off California (via Houston Chronicle)

Police in California arrest over 200 at Chevron refinery protest (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Kick starting Europe’s electric vehicle industry (via Phys.org)

A hankering for hybrids in America (via New York Times)

Jump-starting EV sales with workplace charging stations (via Los Angeles Times)

Burlington-Montreal EV fast-charging corridor opening this fall (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

How 10 Western US cities are dealing with water scarcity and drought (via StateImpact Texas)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Earthquakes “may contribute to methane leaks” (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency market “hard to reach” in multi-tenant buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

August recess now high season for interests lobbying lawmakers (via Washington Post)

Congress can’t agree on most energy issues, but it loves dams (via Washington Post)

House slams door on carbon tax (via The Hill)

Billionaire environmentalist goes big in Virginia governor’s race (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Ill wind blows for German offshore industry (via Der Spiegel)

Wind power is killing birds and bats – so what? (via Navigant Research)

The rise and rise of American carbon (via The Guardian)

How coal imports are adding to India’s energy security problems (via Renew Economy)

As temperatures rise, empires fall: heat and human behavior (via Time)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.2.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

As Keystone stalls, TransCanada OKs bigger East Coast line (via Reuters)

TransCanada to build $300 million New Brunswick tar sands export terminal (via Reuters)

Enviros target Keystone in new pipeline spill video (via Politico)

CLIMATE 

Study: hotter temperatures lead to hotter tempers, more conflict (via AP)

Heat-related deaths in Australia set to quadruple by 2050 (via Climate Progress)

Greenland hits highest temperature ever, almost 80 degrees (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

EU approves China solar deal, no state votes against (via Reuters)

Solar PV about to enter “third growth phase” – Deutsche Bank (via CleanTechnica)

Cuba’s first solar farm a step toward renewables (via Phys.org)

UK bets on offshore wind boom (via Recharge)

Azerbaijan aims to boost renewable energy output to 9.7% total demand (via Renewable Energy World)

ARPA-E announces different path for solar innovation (via Innovation Files)

Matching renewable power, worth billions, to load (via Navigant Research)

Solar energy could supply one-third of power in US West (via Phys.org)

2.8 acres of land generate 1GWh of solar energy per year, says NREL (via Energy Manager Today)

Utility Xcel wants to grow wind portfolio by 30% (via Renew Grid)

Deepwater Wind wins America’s first offshore wind competitive lease sale (via CleanTechnica)

Arizona mulls solar tax (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

Moniz: coal commitment is part of US national energy strategy (via Huffington Post/AP)

Lummi Nation’s stance could stop proposed Washington coal terminal (via Bellingham Herald)

Scope of Gateway Pacific analysis is bad news for coal industry (via Sightline Daily)

Southern Company vows to continue Mississippi “clean coal” plant despite mounting losses (via ClimateWire)

Will another Illinois coal plant bite the dust? (via Midwest Energy News)

EFFICIENCY 

Japan’s appetite for demand response awakens (via Energy Collective)

America’s most unpopular way of saving energy is one of Europe’s favorites (via Outlier)

EPA to publish companies’ water data (via Environmental Leader)

Washington DC wants to lead the nation in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Washington DC launches real-time building energy data project (via GigaOm)

NUCLEAR 

Duke Energy shelves major nuclear project in Florida (via Reuters)

Exelon not yet bailing on any of its nuclear reactors (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

Two Missouri universities set to research small modular nuclear reactors (via AP)

GRID 

Companies launch Europe’s largest energy storage trial (via Renew Grid)

Germany rejects EU smart meter recommendations on cost concerns (via Bloomberg)

Connecticut funds statewide microgrid pilot program (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

US oil reserves rise to highest level since 1985 (via Washington Post)

Interior Department meets with oil execs about Gulf accidents (via Houston Chronicle)

Decades-old defect caused Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

During domestic drilling boom, why are gas prices still high? (via StateImpact Texas)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,788, Nissan Leaf up to 1,864 in July (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Ernest Moniz: natural gas helps battle climate change – for now (via The Hill)

Insurance issues loom over shale gas development (via EnergyWire)

Scientists, industry, regulators struggle with suspect math of natural gas leaks (via ClimateWire)

Natural gas price increase jumps wholesale electricity prices up to 101% (via Facts of the Day)

EMISSIONS 

Australian emissions target should be 15% by 2020, says Climate Change Authority (via The Guardian)

Japan’s power companies miss their CO2 pledge (via Reuters Point Carbon)

How data centers make high returns from low carbon (via GreenBiz)

Climate Catch-22: how a carbon tax could save coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico president to present energy reform next week (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

70% of Nebraska now in considerable drought (via Omaha World-Herald)

To avoid killing birds with wind turbines, researchers track flight patterns off Maine coast (via Bangor Daily News)

POLITICS 

Right’s new attack on clean energy detailed (via EarthTechnling)

Carbon tax vote looms in House of Representatives (via The Hill)

US lawmakers vote to thwart EPA move on social cost of carbon (via The Hill)

Sally Jewell doesn’t want any climate deniers at Interior (via Grist)

OPINION 

A Republican case for climate action (via New York Times)

How clean energy victory bonds can power our future (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.2.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

As Keystone stalls, TransCanada OKs bigger East Coast line (via Reuters)

TransCanada to build $300 million New Brunswick tar sands export terminal (via Reuters)

Enviros target Keystone in new pipeline spill video (via Politico)

CLIMATE 

Study: hotter temperatures lead to hotter tempers, more conflict (via AP)

Heat-related deaths in Australia set to quadruple by 2050 (via Climate Progress)

Greenland hits highest temperature ever, almost 80 degrees (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

EU approves China solar deal, no state votes against (via Reuters)

Solar PV about to enter “third growth phase” – Deutsche Bank (via CleanTechnica)

Cuba’s first solar farm a step toward renewables (via Phys.org)

UK bets on offshore wind boom (via Recharge)

Azerbaijan aims to boost renewable energy output to 9.7% total demand (via Renewable Energy World)

ARPA-E announces different path for solar innovation (via Innovation Files)

Matching renewable power, worth billions, to load (via Navigant Research)

Solar energy could supply one-third of power in US West (via Phys.org)

2.8 acres of land generate 1GWh of solar energy per year, says NREL (via Energy Manager Today)

Utility Xcel wants to grow wind portfolio by 30% (via Renew Grid)

Deepwater Wind wins America’s first offshore wind competitive lease sale (via CleanTechnica)

Arizona mulls solar tax (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

Moniz: coal commitment is part of US national energy strategy (via Huffington Post/AP)

Lummi Nation’s stance could stop proposed Washington coal terminal (via Bellingham Herald)

Scope of Gateway Pacific analysis is bad news for coal industry (via Sightline Daily)

Southern Company vows to continue Mississippi “clean coal” plant despite mounting losses (via ClimateWire)

Will another Illinois coal plant bite the dust? (via Midwest Energy News)

EFFICIENCY 

Japan’s appetite for demand response awakens (via Energy Collective)

America’s most unpopular way of saving energy is one of Europe’s favorites (via Outlier)

EPA to publish companies’ water data (via Environmental Leader)

Washington DC wants to lead the nation in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Washington DC launches real-time building energy data project (via GigaOm)

NUCLEAR 

Duke Energy shelves major nuclear project in Florida (via Reuters)

Exelon not yet bailing on any of its nuclear reactors (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

Two Missouri universities set to research small modular nuclear reactors (via AP)

GRID 

Companies launch Europe’s largest energy storage trial (via Renew Grid)

Germany rejects EU smart meter recommendations on cost concerns (via Bloomberg)

Connecticut funds statewide microgrid pilot program (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

US oil reserves rise to highest level since 1985 (via Washington Post)

Interior Department meets with oil execs about Gulf accidents (via Houston Chronicle)

Decades-old defect caused Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

During domestic drilling boom, why are gas prices still high? (via StateImpact Texas)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,788, Nissan Leaf up to 1,864 in July (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Ernest Moniz: natural gas helps battle climate change – for now (via The Hill)

Insurance issues loom over shale gas development (via EnergyWire)

Scientists, industry, regulators struggle with suspect math of natural gas leaks (via ClimateWire)

Natural gas price increase jumps wholesale electricity prices up to 101% (via Facts of the Day)

EMISSIONS 

Australian emissions target should be 15% by 2020, says Climate Change Authority (via The Guardian)

Japan’s power companies miss their CO2 pledge (via Reuters Point Carbon)

How data centers make high returns from low carbon (via GreenBiz)

Climate Catch-22: how a carbon tax could save coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico president to present energy reform next week (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

70% of Nebraska now in considerable drought (via Omaha World-Herald)

To avoid killing birds with wind turbines, researchers track flight patterns off Maine coast (via Bangor Daily News)

POLITICS 

Right’s new attack on clean energy detailed (via EarthTechnling)

Carbon tax vote looms in House of Representatives (via The Hill)

US lawmakers vote to thwart EPA move on social cost of carbon (via The Hill)

Sally Jewell doesn’t want any climate deniers at Interior (via Grist)

OPINION 

A Republican case for climate action (via New York Times)

How clean energy victory bonds can power our future (via Renewable Energy World)