Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.30.13

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

COAL 

Goldman Sachs says coal-export terminals are a bad investment (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

UK government unveils next steps to zero carbon homes (via BusinessGreen)

Study: Energy efficiency drove US emissions decline, not natural gas (via InsideClimate News)

Report: Carbon markets offer “cheap” aviation emissions cuts (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

State Department: Keystone XL jobs impact “negligible” (via The Hill)

Analysts say Obama “headed toward yes” on Keystone pipeline (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

China’s renewable energy spending may total $300 billion through 2015 (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

New solar homes: Japanese builders helping fight for energy independence (via Renewable Energy World)

Saudi Arabia “committed” to 54GW green revolution (via RTCC)

Chinese solar eyes US market after EU agreement (via Environmental Leader)

Wind developers ready US offshore bids (via Recharge)

RMI: New insights into the real value of distributed solar (via Greentech Media)

Algae-to-crude company Sapphire Energy pays of US government loan guarantee (via Green Car Congress)

UCLA scientists double efficiency of novel solar cell (via Phys.org)

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate nears first big energy bill since 2007 (via The Hill)

Deloitte: Energy deals tumble 30% from 2012 activity (via Houston Chronicle)

FERC says JPMorgan manipulated power prices in 2010-2011 (via USA Today)

GRID

Demand response could double to 155.4GW worldwide by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas plants account for 53% of new generation capacity in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

North Dakota natural gas flaring equivalent to 1 million cars per year (via Climate Progress)

Federal government begins probe of Gulf gas well blowout (via Houston Chronicle)

BLM will lease rights for natural gas development in Ohio forest (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Study: Global warming puts South American water supplies at risk (via United Press International)

2013 shaping up to be one of Australia’s hottest years ever (via Renew Economy)

Study: sea-level rise threatens 1,400 US cities (via USA Today)

Cornell opens climate change and agriculture center (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

Shale threatens Saudi economy, warns prince (via Wall Street Journal)

Saudi prince says global oil markets are “in decline” (via RTCC)

Texas will continue to lead US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry works to reduce flaring in North Dakota (via The Oklahoman)

Oil industry fights safety retrofit of older rail cars (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP’s Deepwater compensation fund running dry (via The Guardian)

As Texas drilling expands, so do fights over land rights (via StateImpact Texas)

TRANSPORTATION 

Japanese carmakers partner to double public EV fast chargers (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla sets sights on fledgling China EV market (via TriplePundit)

Ford data shows its PHEV owners operate in electric mode 60% of the time (via Green Car Congress)

DOE Inspector General: Grants to EV charging company were “overly generous” (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial LED lighting revenue will reach $25 billion annually by 2021 (via Navigant Research)

DOE invests in energy efficiency for small buildings (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

A smaller-than-predicted Dead Zone is still toxic for the Gulf of Mexico (via Time)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Research says green corporate policies tied to brand strength (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

Some Republicans, not all, clamor for a vote against a carbon tax (via ClimateWire)

EPA chief takes climate push on the road (via The Hill)

Political ad targets Cuccinelli fight with climate scientist (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

The consequences of affordable green energy options (via Washington Post)

Flood, rebuild, repeat: Are we ready for a Superstorm Sandy every other year? (via Grist)

Renewables only marginally more expensive (via Breaking Energy)

How fit are feed-in tariffs? (via Renewable Energy World)

How bracing for superstorms will reshape New York City (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China agrees to impose carbon reduction targets by 2016 (via The Independent)

California carbon permits sell for record high price (via Reuters)

64 companies follow Wal-Mart’s effort to reduce supplier emissions (via ClimateWire)

Infographic: where are all our carbon emissions being stored? (via Inhabitat)

NAUTRAL GAS/FRACKING 

DOE Secretary Moniz vows review of natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Lawmakers press Interior Department to slow down fracking rules (via The Hill)

BNSF Railway launches rail loop for fracking sand (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

EU and US not coordinating on China solar dispute (via Reuters)

Global solar manufacturers poised to make come back (via Sustainable Business)

Goldman Sachs to invest $486 million in Japan renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds marine life unhindered by offshore wind farm (via Renewable Energy World)

Vertical axis wind turbines make a return (via Navigant Research)

Solar’s growing role in the US military (via Sustainable Business)

Federal government will build its largest wind farm to power nuclear assembly plant (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Businesses urge EU to adopt energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Moniz vows to advance efficiency bill, sees “real chance” (via The Hill)

30% energy efficiency gain would create $275 billion US tech market (via Energy Manager Today)

Hospitals can reduce energy consumption 62% (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

European coal’s record slump poised to end on output cuts (via Houston Chronicle)

The two faces of coal power (via EnergyBiz)

Southern Company’s coal gasification plant balloons over $4 billion to $7 per watt (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Widespread Greenland melting a sign of things to come (via Climate Central)

70% of Americans say global warming should be a priority (via Yale e360)

Tornado-proofing cities in the age of extreme weather (via Time)

GRID

Smart meter shipments for commercial and industrial markets will reach 12.7 million annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

US grid balancing could go further to increase renewables (via Reuters)

Report finds US grid vulnerable to cyber-attacks (via Politico)

The smart meter stimulus-cash-to-integration equation (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid program created 2,700 jobs in Q1 (via Renew Grid)

Some US utilities say they’re under constant cyber attack (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ban Ki-Moon: world on course to run out of water (via RTCC)

Corn-producing states face high water-shortage risk (via Environmental Leader)

Ogallala Aquifer in Texas panhandle suffers big drop (via Texas Tribune)

NOAA still planning to furlough storm forecasters (via Politico)

Wolves in US won’t lose protections, for now (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment campaign’s victory in Australia will be a moral one (via The Guardian)

Can local Chambers of Commerce be clean energy catalysts? (via GreenBiz)

Tesla repaying loan gives Obama a green win (via Bloomberg)

Oklahoma tornado: is climate change to blame? (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

On climate change, Obama faces an attack from his left flank (via Washington Post)

White House threatens veto of Keystone bill (via The Hill)

NJ Gov. Christie: no proof climate change caused Sandy (via The Hill)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13

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

CLIMATE 

Satellite data reveals major loss in volume of Arctic sea-ice since 2003 (via Green Car Congress)

60% of Americans agree with Obama on climate change action (via Greentech Media)

Major climate change bill coming to US Senate (via The Nation)

The most influential climate science paper today remains unknown to most people (via InsideClimate News)

The $188 billion price tag from US extreme weather from 2011 to 2012 (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pressure builds on Keystone pipeline decision after Obama speech (via Reuters)

Keystone pipeline protesters arrested at White House (via The Hill)

GRID 

India faces major energy shortfalls (The National)

CAISO and PacificCorp join forces to boost western grid reliability, integrate renewables (via Renew Grid)

California sets 50MW target for grid energy storage (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

PwC: shale oil surge poses threat to renewables (via BusinessGreen)

White House outlines request for Congress to create $2 billion green energy fund (via Reuters)

Obama’s energy trust proposal doesn’t include expanded drilling (via Greenwire)

Yet another storm brewing over wind production tax credit (via CleanTechnica)

Net metering debate rages despite calls for calm (via Renewable Energy World)

ERCOT finds 10-13GW of solar PV competitive in Texas power market (via Solar Server)

Conflict of interest: California solar projects compete with prime farmland (via Sustainable Business)

Cape Wind hopes federal loan not blown (via Boston Herald)

In Indiana, seeking to ramp up wind without state mandates (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Exxon Mobil grows Arctic reach in Russia (via Houston Chronicle)

Crude oil and gasoline prices will drop through 2014, EIA projects (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil production forecast to increase 40% from 2011 to 2014 (via Facts of the Day)

Using federal oil revenues to cut America’s oil use (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle charging equipment market to surpass $3.8 billion by 2020 (via Pike Research)

Smart highways to be installed in Netherlands this year (via Triple Pundit)

DOE IG: grant money for battery company not “managed effectively” (via Washington Post)

Fisker Karma drivers averaging 150 mpg (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

European corporations demand EU carbon market action (via BusinessGreen)

Carbon Disclosure Project investors up 10% in 2013 (via Environmental Leader)

Nations seen going separate ways on carbon as EU efforts falter (via Reuters)

London mayor unveils ultra-low emission zone plan for city (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas glut leads to tough times for power generators (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Desalination seen booming at 15% a year as world’s water dries up (via Bloomberg)

South Americans face upheaval in deadly water battles (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Obama faces clean energy constraints (via Recharge)

Obama’s threat to act unilaterally on climate change looking empty (via Grist)

Obama wants to double US energy efficiency by 2030 – is that possible? (via Washington Post)

Will Chuck Hagel keep DoD’s commitment to renewable energy? (via Sustainable Business)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.13

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

CLIMATE 

UN climate official wants “strong” US response to record heat (via The Hill)

Arab Spring spawns Middle East youth climate change movement (via Sustainable Business)

Five charts help illustrate 2012 as warmest year on record (via Climate Central)

By the numbers: the hottest year on record (via WRI Insights)

Local governments answer America’s climate change wake-up call (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change and the shrinking Mississippi River (via Huffington Post)

Since 2009, Sunday TV shows haven’t quoted a single scientist on climate change (via Treehugger)

RENEWABLES 

Solar shakeout expected to slash solar equipment makers by 70% (via GigaOm)

MENA solar markets to exceed 3GW annually by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

China’s plan to double solar capacity in 2013 boosts industry (via Reuters)

China and renewables: the outlook for growth (via CleanTechnica)

Nearly 12% of UK electricity now produced by renewables (via Energy Collective)

In India, solar ambitions are suddenly outsized (via New York Times)

Wind power to provide 5% of America’s electricity by 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

Answers about tax credit specifics are still blowin’ in the wind (via Houston Chronicle)

New York Gov. Cuomo announces $1 billion green bank, new energy czar (via Greentech Media)

BP cuts ribbon on 600MW worth of US wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

Google invests $200 million in Texas wind farm, has now backed 2GW of clean power (via GigaOm)

Chinese firm buys US solar start-up MiaSole (via New York Times)

OIL 

Arctic standards urged for oil drilling in forbidding region (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil imports are falling to their lowest level since 1987 (via Washington Post)

Shale oil output anchors a record growth in US production (via EnergyWire)

Interior Department, Coast Guard launch separate probes of Shell Arctic operations (via EnergyWire)

BP’s oil and dispersant toxic to baby corals (via Mother Jones)

Phillips makes $1 billion commitment to ship Bakken shale oil (via Reuters)

Big Oil lobby claims the industry “gets no subsidies, zero, nothing” (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Smart meter opponents turn to Maryland state legislature (via Capital Gazette)

California awards $1.8 million to UCSD microgrid project (via Green Car Congress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen wants to be “the leader in electrification” (via Autoblog Green)

China to offer electric car incentives soon, says official (via Bloomberg)

2013 Nissan Leaf now more efficient, charges in half the time (via Inhabitat)

Virginia Gov. McDonnell proposes eliminating state’s gas tax (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

California ratepayers to receive 85% of cap-and-trade revenue as climate dividend (via AOL Energy)

COAL 

EIA projects slight bump up for coal this year, but long-term projections show decline (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Utilities can save big with next-generation energy efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Back from the brink: home energy efficiency tax credits (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US Chamber’s fracking jobs boom: behind the numbers (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS 

Obama’s first term: assessing progress on top energy and climate priorities (via Climate Progress)

Former White House aide defends “green” stimulus, says created 720,000 jobs (via The Hill)

Sen. Sanders floats new climate bill after US hits heat record (via The Hill)

MIT to Obama: get serious about climate change (via Triple Pundit)

Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew has ties to energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Tom Steyer might be the next big name in US energy politics (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

China’s solar PV goal masks a fallacy (via Recharge)

Solyndra stunk. The green stimulus didn’t. (via Washington Post)

Climate-proofing cities: not something conservatives will be good at (via Grist)

Heat: Hell on poor countries, no biggie for the rich (via Grist)

Clarifying public investments in clean energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Innovation should be central to next Energy Secretary’s agenda (via Innovation Files)

The science of why comment trolls suck (via Mother Jones)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress