Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.29.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
Mercury fingerprint of Pacific fish points to Asian coal plants (via Los Angeles Times)
A war on coal, or just a different playing field? (via Breaking Energy)
CLIMATE
Oceans storing Earth’s excess heat in leaked UN report (via Bloomberg)
Wildfires projected to worsen with climate change (via Phys.org)
La Nina-like conditions behind gentler global warming, study finds (via Washington Post)
Obama to name top climate-change regulator (via National Journal)
ENERGY POLICY
China to add 1,500GW of power capacity by 2030 (via Phys.org)
Germany solar pushing fossil fuel plants to close (via EarthTechling)
On fracking rules, it’s states versus feds (via National Journal)
RENEWABLES
EU-China solar deal highlights tough climate for green jobs (via Washington Post)
Wind energy taking flight in Europe and beyond (via Christian Science Monitor)
Growth seen picking up in Germany’s wind power sector (via Reuters)
Biomass power generation will reach $11.5 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
Cheap corn deters buyers in US sugar-for-ethanol plan (via Bloomberg)
Solar micro-inverter shipments to reach 2.1GW in 2017 (via Solar Industry Magazine)
DOE releases new clean energy finance guide (via Energy.gov)
Western states are going to become green energy powerhouses (via Mother Jones)
Solar industry establishes net metering principles (via Greentech Media)
Solar Exchange launching online solar marketplace (via Solar Industry Magazine)
“Solar gardens” put clean energy within reach of low-income families (via Climate Progress)
Ohioans promise to buy offshore wind from Lake Erie turbines (via Climate Progress)
GRID
Ontario government backs new smart grid laboratory (via Renew Grid)
Wildfires blamed for massive blackout in northeastern Brazil (via Reuters)
Smart, flexible energy can help communities weather future storms (via GreenBiz)
DOE and New Jersey developing first US transit system microgrid (via CleanTechnica)
TRANSPORTATION
100 times more EV fast chargers by 2020? (via Green Car Reports)
Toyota broadly outlines next-generation Prius (via Green Car Congress)
Chevy helps install EV chargers in California state parks (via Autoblog Green)
US extending vehicle-to-grid pilot program in Michigan (via Green Car Congress)
OIL
Feds net $102.4 million in Gulf lease sale (via Houston Chronicle)
BP steers clear of Interior’s latest offshore drilling lease sale (via The Hill)
Judge rejects BP’s latest request to halt oil spill payments (via Houston Chronicle)
Coalition asks Gov. Brown to halt fracking in California (via Los Angeles Times)
EMISSIONS
The world’s biggest importers and exporters of carbon pollution (via Renew Economy)
EU narrows down carbon market overhaul options (via Bloomberg)
Inside China’s emissions trading scheme: First steps and the road ahead (via WRI Insights)
RGGI provides almost $500 million to New York for cleaner air (via Albany Times-Union)
NUCLEAR
Fukushima keeps leaking, Japan keeps issuing confusing explanations (via Grist)
Nuclear plant closures at all-time high (via Environmental Leader)
Report: Nuclear received four times more subsides than solar in California (via Greentech Media)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Top 10 smart building myths (via Energy Manager Today)
DOE may be inflating the cost of efficiency standards tenfold (via Greentech Media)
Designing more energy-efficient suburbs (via Midwest Energy News)
Hyatt invests over $37 million in more than 200 energy efficiency projects (via TriplePundit)
Is California breaking the dam that restricts energy efficiency financing? (via Energy Manager Today)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Poland starts shale gas extraction (via Phys.org)
Proposed US LNG exports would exceed 25% of today’s domestic consumption (via Forbes)
Study documents Kentucky fish kill from fracking fluid spill (via Houston Chronicle)
ENVIRONMENT
Nearly half of all western wildfire costs go to California (via Climate Central)
Fertilizer spread research aims to boost crop yields (via Phys.org)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL seen as no local job starter along prairie route (via Bloomberg)
GREEN BUSINESS
Boosting sustainability policy in Russia (via Phys.org)
Should climate risks be included in sustainability reports? (via TriplePundit)
POLITICS
For Louisiana’s senators, one lease sale and two interpretations (via The Hill)
Sen. Begich’s campaign says he opposes carbon tax (via The Hill)
OPINION
In solar trade dispute’s wake, what’s next for EU markets? (via Greentech Media)
Why big, intense wildfires are the new normal (via National Geographic)
Fracking contracts can leave landowners high and dry (via Washington Post)
Why EVs are the smart grid’s killer app (via GreenBiz)
Five things automakers should do to make EVs mainstream (via Plugin cars)