Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.8.14

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

EMISSIONS

Shanghai opens carbon market to trading pros to boost liquidity (via Bloomberg)

U.S. carbon markets just dropped $400 million on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

Aircraft emissions may be next for U.S. climate rules (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Scotland independence vote seen risking $23 billion in power projects (via Bloomberg)

Brazil delays power auction to attract more hydro, gas proposals (via Bloomberg)

It’s not just oil – power industry due to be overhauled in Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

China spurs rooftop solar projects in world’s top market with call for higher subsidy (via Bloomberg)

Australian government increasingly divided over plan to scrap renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

U.K. leading offshore wind power market (via CleanTechnica)

$71 trillion in net savings by 2050 from transition to renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

Ontario set for 1.7GW wind binge by end of 2015 (via Recharge News)

U.S., China account for over half the world’s solar PV pipeline (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. solar industry nears 16GW installed capacity (via Greentech Media)

Buoyed by business deals, solar dominates new U.S. clean tech jobs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Banner second quarter for new U.S. solar PV installations (via Recharge News)

California solar projects plan undergoing major overhaul (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Ohio clean energy rules favored by voters, poll finds (via Plain-Dealer)

SolarCity bolsters operations in seven states (via PV Tech)

OIL 

BP lashes out at journalists, “opportunistic” environmentalists (via Mother Jones)

BP oil spill penalty could reach 15% of company’s market cap (via Breaking Energy)

BP “grossly negligent” in 2010 oil spill, says judge (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP can absorb new oil spill fine, say analysts (via Reuters)

Ending oil export ban drawing more talk on Capitol Hill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electrified car sales stall as buyers back away from hybrids (via Los Angeles Times)

London’s double decker buses get updated with wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

U.S. vehicle fuel economy at record high (via Phys.org)

Nevada lures Tesla Gigafactory with $1.3 billion in tax breaks, expects $100 billion economic impact (via Bloomberg)

California may have shot at second Tesla Gigafactory (via San Francisco Chronicle)

COAL 

America’s coal-fired divide (via National Journal)

North Carolina says Duke Energy coal ash dams are high hazard risk (via News Observer)

CLIMATE 

World on track for 4 degrees Celsius warming by 2100 because of missed carbon targets (via The Guardian)

UN banking on business to drive climate negotiations (via RTCC)

Activists promise biggest climate march in history (via The Guardian)

Extreme snowfall events will continue even in global warming, says study (via Washington Post)

How climate change is affecting the world’s biggest food company (via Washington Post)

Yale fund takes aim at climate change (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

U.S. economy has gotten a lift by going deep to retrieve natural gas (via Forbes)

Poorly understood fracking wastewater is analyzed for first time (via InsideClimate News)

Ohio halts injections at two fracking wastewater wells after earthquake (via Columbus Dispatch/AP)

GRID 

US electricity transmission investments vary by region (via U.S. EIA)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court examines governor’s role in blessing Keystone XL (via The Guardian)

ENVIRONMENT 

8% of world’s remaining pristine forests degraded since 2000 (via World Resources Institute)

100 die in five days of flooding in Northern India (via New York Times)

Canada tops world in forest degradation thanks to climate change, logging, energy development (via Climate Progress)

Dramatic proof California’s drought is one of the worst ever (via KHON/CNN)

California governor to sign plastic bag ban measure (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul just kicked off 2016’s climate battle (via National Journal)

League of Conservation Voters expects huge jump in midterm election spending (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How the U.S. government is saving taxpayer money with clean energy (via Greentech Media)

Republicans say gas prices are rising – they’re not (via National Journal)

How methane wrecked Obama’s fracking habit (via Mother Jones)

Anthony Foxx takes futurist turn at U.S. Department of Transportation (via National Journal)

Tesla mines gold in Nevada with Gigafactory decision (via Los Angeles Times)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Irreversible damage seen from climate change in UN leak (via Bloomberg)

Obama pushing climate accord in lieu of treaty (via New York Times)

WHO urges action on climate change to protect health (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

Ukraine PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe (via Reuters)

As Japan pushes power deregulation, Tepco moves in on rivals’ turf (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar market to exceed 65GW in 2019 (via Energy Manager Today)

Clean energy investment at risk as Australia reconsiders targets (via Bloomberg)

South Africa energy minister to “intervene” over renewable deal delays (via Bloomberg)

11.7GW of solar PV to be installed across U.S. in 2019 (via Recharge)

Trina Solar could surpass Yingli Green to market leadership in 2014 (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green loss narrows on rising panel demand (via Reuters)

New bill could make residential solar in California a lot cheaper (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii to triple rooftop solar installations by 2030 (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese public seen as biggest obstacle to nuclear restart (via Bloomberg)

NRC finalizes nuclear waste rule, lets licensing decisions resume (via Greenwire)

California earthquakes may pose threat to nuclear plant (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the majority of data centers are failing at energy efficiency (via GreenBiz)

Americans love paying extra to stay at LEED-certified hotels (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

New coal power stations a threat to EU’s emissions target (via The Guardian)

Coal to be hardest hit by fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Forbes)

Coal mining expansion sparks demonstrations along Germany-Poland border (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

Cap-and-trade saves 10x its cost in health benefits (via CleanTechnica)

Environmentalists target Pope Francis in fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Houston Chronicle)

University of Sydney joins coal divestment movement (via BusinessGreen)

Nespresso pledges £330 million to become “carbon neutral” by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

S&P: Lifting U.S. oil export ban will lift sector credit scores (via Reuters)

Who needs Keystone XL? Oil sands flow to U.S. via loophole (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Supercharger network grows in Europe and Asia (via CleanTechnica)

Natural gas truck sales struggle to gain traction in North America (via Wall Street Journal)

Tesla Gigafactory competition a “race to the bottom?” (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart grid as a service will reach $11.2 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Winter blackouts a danger in “rapid transition” from coal, warns PJM Interconnection (via Columbus Business First)

POLITICS 

How Harry Reid holds veto power over Obama (via Politico)

OPINION 

Liebreich: Climate change talks – the rocky road to Paris (via Bloomberg)

Why investors’ fossil-fuel addiction is tough to kick (via National Journal)

A climate for change: EPA limits on emissions are important but not enough (via Washington Post)

Why the Washington Post is running an editorial series on climate change (via Media Matters for America)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.14

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

COAL 

China coal demand to peak by 2020, says Standard & Poor (via RTCC)

German coal power plants are Europe’s most climate-damaging (via Bloomberg)

Labor officials promise to fix black program for coal miners with black lung (via ABC News)

EMISSIONS 

Industry to EPA: Climate rule “not workable” (via The Hill)

U.S. poll finds support for carbon tax grows when revenue funds renewables (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES 

Solar leasing market in Australia could reach $100 billion (via Renew Economy)

European wind industry slashes growth forecasts (via BusinessGreen)

Geothermal industry grows with help from oil and gas drilling (via New York Times)

Orix plans to build as many as 15 geothermal plants in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Iberdrola profit drops as Spain renewable subsidy cuts hit (via Bloomberg)

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer (via Energy Manager Today)

Google offers $1 million prize for anyone who can build a better power inverter (via Forbes)

“Pay-as-you-go” solar financing hits new milestone (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Earth’s hottest June follows hottest May – a new normal? (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. and China presidents to attend September UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Study: Natural variations explain the global warming “pause” (via Salon)

Poll: U.S. leads the world….in climate denial (via Climate Progress)

Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, says official (via The Hill)

Obama attributes wildfires to climate change (via Huffington Post/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU Commission agrees to 30% by 2030 energy savings goal (via Reuters)

In Minnesota, “behavior” programs show energy-saving results (via Midwest Energy News)

California calculates the value of time in energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

In New York, greening older buildings (via Navigant Research)

Energy efficiency finance in plain English: An intro to leases (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS 

Industry pans DOE’s plan for natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale plays reduce political risk (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania Auditor General criticizes state oversight of shale gas industry (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GRID 

Brazil to auction 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines (via Recharge)

Here’s what utilities really think about microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Keeping up with energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS 

Alberta oil clout dominating Canada’s unbalanced economy (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge mulls Midwest rail terminal to ease pipeline congestion (via Reuters)

Maine port city bans oil loading as Canada seeks export options (via Reuters)

TransCanada spends big on K Street as pipeline fight heads to finish (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Lithium-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $24 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Electric cars equal gasoline cost of just 75 cents per gallon (via Green Car Reports)

Is this the site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada? (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reef will be “pretty ugly” by 2050, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

Drier than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for relief in rural America (via Washington Post)

Unprecedented spate of wildfires incinerates homes in Pacific Northwest (via Scientific American)

POLITICS 

Group tries to make climate change a winning wedge issue (via Huffington Post)

EPA chief in hot seat as lawmakers dissect carbon rule (via Reuters)

Obama announces nominations for Nuclear Regulator Commission (via The Hill)

OPINION 

British Columbia’s climate plan is working, so why stop now? (via The Tyee)

Why Australia’s carbon tax repeal is an economic step back (via CleanTechnica)

The dangerous truth behind wildfires (via Huffington Post)

I crashed a climate change denial conference in Las Vegas (via Vice)

How the South Portland city council foiled Big Oil’s plan to sneak tar sands out of Canada (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.14

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

COAL 

China coal demand to peak by 2020, says Standard & Poor (via RTCC)

German coal power plants are Europe’s most climate-damaging (via Bloomberg)

Labor officials promise to fix black program for coal miners with black lung (via ABC News)

EMISSIONS 

Industry to EPA: Climate rule “not workable” (via The Hill)

U.S. poll finds support for carbon tax grows when revenue funds renewables (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES 

Solar leasing market in Australia could reach $100 billion (via Renew Economy)

European wind industry slashes growth forecasts (via BusinessGreen)

Geothermal industry grows with help from oil and gas drilling (via New York Times)

Orix plans to build as many as 15 geothermal plants in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Iberdrola profit drops as Spain renewable subsidy cuts hit (via Bloomberg)

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer (via Energy Manager Today)

Google offers $1 million prize for anyone who can build a better power inverter (via Forbes)

“Pay-as-you-go” solar financing hits new milestone (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Earth’s hottest June follows hottest May – a new normal? (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. and China presidents to attend September UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Study: Natural variations explain the global warming “pause” (via Salon)

Poll: U.S. leads the world….in climate denial (via Climate Progress)

Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, says official (via The Hill)

Obama attributes wildfires to climate change (via Huffington Post/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU Commission agrees to 30% by 2030 energy savings goal (via Reuters)

In Minnesota, “behavior” programs show energy-saving results (via Midwest Energy News)

California calculates the value of time in energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

In New York, greening older buildings (via Navigant Research)

Energy efficiency finance in plain English: An intro to leases (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS 

Industry pans DOE’s plan for natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale plays reduce political risk (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania Auditor General criticizes state oversight of shale gas industry (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GRID 

Brazil to auction 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines (via Recharge)

Here’s what utilities really think about microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Keeping up with energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS 

Alberta oil clout dominating Canada’s unbalanced economy (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge mulls Midwest rail terminal to ease pipeline congestion (via Reuters)

Maine port city bans oil loading as Canada seeks export options (via Reuters)

TransCanada spends big on K Street as pipeline fight heads to finish (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Lithium-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $24 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Electric cars equal gasoline cost of just 75 cents per gallon (via Green Car Reports)

Is this the site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada? (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reef will be “pretty ugly” by 2050, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

Drier than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for relief in rural America (via Washington Post)

Unprecedented spate of wildfires incinerates homes in Pacific Northwest (via Scientific American)

POLITICS 

Group tries to make climate change a winning wedge issue (via Huffington Post)

EPA chief in hot seat as lawmakers dissect carbon rule (via Reuters)

Obama announces nominations for Nuclear Regulator Commission (via The Hill)

OPINION 

British Columbia’s climate plan is working, so why stop now? (via The Tyee)

Why Australia’s carbon tax repeal is an economic step back (via CleanTechnica)

The dangerous truth behind wildfires (via Huffington Post)

I crashed a climate change denial conference in Las Vegas (via Vice)

How the South Portland city council foiled Big Oil’s plan to sneak tar sands out of Canada (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.14

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

CLIMATE 

Western Antarctic ice sheet collapse has already begun, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

Melt of key Antarctic glaciers “unstoppable,” find studies (via Climate Central)

How cities in developing countries are becoming climate resilient (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Alabama avoids preparing for rising seas menacing Mobile (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency bill dies in U.S. Senate after feud (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Think green jobs can’t grow? 6.5 million workers think you’re wrong. (via CleanTechnica)

UK unveils shock changes to solar farm subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

Hungry solar developers look to booming South Africa (via Navigant Research)

How the GE-Alstom combination could save the offshore wind industry (via Navigant Research)

Renewables surged to 74% of German demand last Sunday (via Renew Economy)

Can the Texas solar market live up to its potential? (via Greentech Media)

The high cost of the solar middleman (via Grist)

Why solar net metering beats a value-of-solar tariff every time (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

Banning HFCs from 2020 could make big climate impact, says study (via RTCC)

Guandong carbon market sparks China green-vs-growth dispute (via Reuters)

Draft letter from EPA advisors urges tougher ozone standard (via Greenwire)

OIL 

New projections show oil production soaring as rigs boost efficiency (via Houston Chronicle)

Spills at drilling sites up 18% across U.S. in 2013 (via EnergyWire)

House panel seeks briefing on DOE’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

China promotes fuel efficiency and alternative-fuel vehicles to curb growing oil use (via US EIA)

Will Tesla Gigafactory fight come down to Texas v. California? (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

EV charging station startup ChargePoint raises $22.6 million (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia repeats Ukraine natural gas cutoff threat by June 2 (via Reuters)

Chile green tax on coal increases cheap shale gas gamble (via Bloomberg)

EPA regulations probably won’t tell us everything in fracking fluid (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Microgrid energy storage systems to reach nearly $4.2 billion in market value by 2024 (via Navigant Research)

Why the power grid will remain reliable without coal plants (via GreenBiz)

Testing ground for new energy storage in New York State (via Greentech Media)

California heat pushes power to six-year seasonal high (via Bloomberg)

UTILITIES 

Six electric utilities charging a new energy course (via GreenBiz)

Why coal-dependent utilities shouldn’t be so scared of carbon regulations (via Greentech Media)

New York State prodding utilities to shift from monopoly model (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Acid rain’s dirty legacy (via FiveThirtyEight)

Southwest struggles to adapt to year-round fire season (via ClimateWire)

EPA unearths $3.6 million for green jobs in brownfields (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

U.S. Senate Republicans block energy efficiency bill, forfeit Keystone vote (via Reuters)

Why Democrats are afraid of a man who’s giving them millions (via National Journal)

A Senate race about…climate change! (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

America versus China: The new reality of global energy (via Energy Collective)

This is what a holy shit moment for global warming looks like (via Mother Jones)

Why society is failing to stop global warming in one 90-second video (via Washington Post)

Americans’ aversion to science carries a high price (via Washington Post)

Marco Rubio makes a wrong turn on climate change (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.22.14

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

COAL 

China’s coal boom is waning with ambitious reductions targets (via Triple Pundit)

Ontario closes last coal-fired power plant (via Solar Industry)

Federal judge strikes part of Minnesota energy law preventing coal power (via MPR News)

CLIMATE 

China spreading the use of insurance to cope with climate change damage (via ClimateWire)

Climate-linked drought adding to Syria’s misery (via RTCC)

Hot West, cold East may be new normal as world warms (via Climate Central)

Since first Earth Day, US temperatures marching upward (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

China Premier Li reiterates plans to boost clean energy (via Bloomberg)

Australia’s renewables review kicks off with battle over numbers (via Renew Economy)

Top ten trends in Brazil biofuels for 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

US to dodge solar shortage in 2014 despite looming PV tariffs (via Solar Industry)

Next step for solar industry: Leases for solar plus storage (via Renew Economy)

Study: Fuels from corn waste not better than gasoline (via AP)

US Army to build military’s largest solar array in Arizona (via The Hill)

Dropping cost of “grid defection” means you could soon ditch your utility (via Fast Company)

RMI’s plan to help Fortune 500 companies up their renewables game (via GreenBiz)

Surpassing milestone of 100,000 solar roofs, PG&E calls for “sustainable” solar policy (via Greentech Media)

Western Texas college joins Texas Tech University on wind energy degree (via PR Web)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone backers keep their faith in embattled pipeline plan (via Reuters)

Horses, teepees arrive on Mall for Keystone XL protest (via Politico)

Keystone XL pipeline fate now in hands of Nebraska court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s new environmental protection law submitted to parliament (via Reuters)

Brazil strips protected status from 5.2 million hectares of land (via Mongabay)

Consumer electronics industry sets recycling record (via Environmental Leader)

Apple offering free recycling on all used products (via ABC News/AP)

Interior Department launches landscape mitigation strategy (via Triple Pundit)

Wildfires in West increasing burn area at rate of one Denver per year (via Climate Progress)

Fields and farm jobs dry up with California’s worsening drought (via NPR)

Texas city first to reuse water from sewers as drought continues (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

Alaska lawmakers back natural gas export plans (via New York Times)

Ohio utilities replacing thousands of miles of gas pipeline (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

Divestment campaigns struggle against stock market, profits (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Russia ships its first Arctic oil – is a boom coming? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Four years later, a sharp divide on Gulf oil spill (via National Journal)

US railroads show untapped value of delay in building oil pipeline (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Musk says Tesla will make cars in China within four years (via Bloomberg)

Hybrids significantly more fuel-efficient in India and China than US (via CleanTechnica)

US exporting a “tidal wave” of gasoline, other fuels (via Houston Chronicle)

Nissan Leaf likely to offer larger battery for longer range (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Gigafactory seeks North American raw materials to cut pollution (via Green Car Reports)

A detailed look at the dreams and failure of Better Place (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY POLICY 

Renewable energy gains in 2013 but coal and gas still dominate (via Greentech Media)

Power players muster forces for electricity market reforms (via EnergyWire)

Obama Administration spared developers millions in fees for Georgia nuclear project (via Greenwire)

POLITICS 

Not a single Republican has mentioned Earth Day in Congress since 2010 (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Two degrees: How the world failed on climate change (via Vox)

The clean energy transition is unstoppable, so why fight it? (via Smart Planet)

Where is the real innovation in wind energy? (via CleanTechnica)

World’s top serial bird killers put infamous windmills to shame (via Bloomberg)

Right wing trains its hysterical eye on renewable energy (via Mother Jones)

How conserving water, energy isn’t always about a green lifestyle (via Daily News)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.31.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a threat to security, food, and humankind – UN IPCC report (via The Guardian)

UN panel’s warning on climate risk: Worst is yet to come (via New York Times)

UN report: Effects of climate change seen everywhere (via USA Today)

Pacific Ocean is acidifying faster than expected, shows study (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Record natural gas demand keeps bulls betting on rising prices (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

UK Green Investment Bank launches £461 million wave of offshore wind funding (via BusinessGreen)

Japan’s ruling parties seek clean energy 2030 target (via Bloomberg)

German regional politicians resist green energy reforms (via Reuters)

Mexico tapping its wind potential (via Houston Chronicle)

US DOE to offer new loan aid program to renewable energy companies (via Reuters)

Wind power sets new 10GW record in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

Cool Planet closes $100 million capital round for biofuels (via Forbes)

MIT Energy Initiative announces $1.6 million in energy innovation funding (via Green Car Congress)

The pros’ clean energy picks: Solar dominates, emerging markets drag (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

China’s war on smog will be won or lost in polluted Hebei (via Reuters)

Obama considers new climate regulations for oil, gas sectors (via Reuters)

California climate-change fight results in utility bill credits for consumers (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Heartland, rejecting climate change harm, says more CO2 is good for the planet (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

US government: Industry hampering oil train safety (via Houston Chronicle)

5 states and Gulf of Mexico produce more than 80% of US crude oil (via US EIA)

BP raises Lake Michigan oil spill estimate (via Chicago Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

GM recall total in 2014 reaches 4.8 million (via New York Times)

Tesla’s $5 billion Giga-Factory factory and deep politics in AZ, TX, NV, and NM (via Greentech Media)

Massachusetts to offer rebates on plug-in EV purchases (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency progress by America’s utilities: An update (via Energy Collective)

9 ways to get stakeholders to care about energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Desalination is now a billion-dollar industry, shows report (via Triple Pundit)

Long California drought could harm utility ratings, says Fitch (via Reuters)

Mini gold rush spurred by historic California drought (via Christian Science Monitor)

OPINION 

How climate change will affect where you live (via New Scientist)

When Obama’s “All of the Above” and global warming collide (via National Journal)

4 takeaways from IPCC report show worsening climate change impacts (via WRI Insights)

California regulators hitting climate policies out of the park (via Bloomberg BNA)

Climate change report: Five key points (via The Guardian)

Is a Value of Solar tariff really better than net metering? (via CleanTechnica)