Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.15

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

EMISSIONS 

EU power sector emissions drop a “staggering” eight percent (via BusinessGreen)

South Korea cap-and-trade market becomes world’s second-largest (via CleanTechnica)

Warm weather sinking EU emissions-market plans (via Bloomberg)

EPA air chief “confident” as rulemakings face legal, political fire (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Drillers say Obama plan to plug methane leaks imperils boom (via Bloomberg)

President Obama’s gas-drilling dance (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Germany passes 1GW offshore wind, set to triple this year (via Recharge)

Wind and bioenergy star in 2030 U.S. green energy mix, PV not so much (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. solar jobs climb 22% as clean power aids economic recovery (via Bloomberg)

Policy uncertainty drives 25 percent of wind industry suppliers out of business (via CleanTechnica)

SolarCity taps Credit Suisse for $200 million on “MyPower” financing (via PV Tech)

Net metering for rooftop solar: How to fix the problems (via The Energy Collective)

Xcel’s community solar program creates “bite-sized” utility projects (via Solar Industry)

Florida Tea Party helps launch ballot initiative for third-party solar (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to see market share drop even as oil slump slows shale boom (via Reuters)

Wells Fargo examines its energy loans after oil-price drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

The $2.4 billion plan to get Germans to buy EVs (via Autoblog)

Production and sales of plug-in EVs boomed in China in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla chief asks automakers to support electric cars (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

Rate of sea-level rise more significant than thought (via BBC)

Map reveals which countries will survive climate change (via Inhabitat)

Scientists reveal which coral reefs can survive global warming (via The Guardian)

Pope Francis says climate change is mostly man’s fault (via The Guardian)

Global Climate Fund on GOP’s budget hit list (via InsideClimate News)

For vulnerable barrier islands, a rush to rebuild on U.S. coast (via Yale e360)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada still expecting Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

GRID 

Clean Line scores key approval for Plains & Eastern transmission line (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima meltdowns pervade South Korea debate on reactor renewal (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

USDA to provide $370 million for environmental conservation projects (via The Hill)

State of the California drought: Still very bad (via ScienceBlogs)

OPINION 

Could China become the OPEC of solar manufacturing? (via Forbes)

Institutional investors are blowing it on renewable energy (via GreenBiz)

Cost-competitive clean energy well placed to rise out oil price slump (via Forbes)

Solar industry added jobs nearly 20 times faster than overall U.S. economy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China calls for local targets to curb coal use, cut pollution (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing set to cover 80 percent of Canada’s economy (via RTCC)

White House methane plan takes aim at oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)

Goddard College becomes fourth Vermont school to divest from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Harvard invests tens of millions in fossil fuels despite divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Top 10 carbon market predictions for 2015 (via TriplePundit)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank predicts solar grid parity in 80% of global market by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to build 2.3GW wind capacity by 2019 (via Recharge)

Green bond market hits record $36.6 billion in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Utilities push back as solar industry booms in Japan (via Forbes)

Google’s clean energy capacity passes 2.5GW with latest solar investment (via BusinessGreen)

Report: Solar is cheaper than the grid in 42 of 50 largest U.S. cities (via Greentech Media)

U.S. homes fitted with PV attract higher prices, says report (via PV Tech)

As North Carolina solar industry booms the region takes notes (via Environmental Leader)

Ohio renewable energy policies spurred growth, now driving away business, says report (via Cleveland.com)

NREL enzyme could help offset fossil fuel dependence (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

India’s faulty grid presents a transmission opportunity (via Navigant Research)

Moody’s and Navigant offer conflicting views on economics of solar-plus storage (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE 

Developing cities hold big key to climate action (via Climate Central)

Melting glaciers imperil Kathmandu, perched high above rising seas (via Bloomberg)

Moisture shortfall, heat threaten Southwestern forests (via Climate Central)

Climate change is laying waste to water supplies, warns Farm Bureau (via Grist)

OIL 

Record oil imports take China closest ever to passing U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Commodity traders exploit crude crash to make oil storage king (via Bloomberg)

Poll: Majority of voters oppose more oil exports (via The Hill)

EIA forecasts temporary peak in U.S. oil output in May (via Reuters)

Some on Wall Street see oil plunging to $40 and below (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone-oil export ban sought by Senator backing pipeline bill (via Bloomberg)

Tool shows how taxpayer money could be spent instead of subsidizing Big Oil (via EcoWatch)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to cut subsidies for non-electric vehicles (via Bloomberg)

United Kingdom emergency services in front line of government EV rollout (via BusinessGreen)

Honda announces all-electric and PHEV model while debuting FCV concept (via Inside EVs)

Musk: Tesla can make a few million cars a year by 2025 (via GigaOm)

Nissan CEO: Chevy Bolt “not a surprise”  - Nissan has competing, long-range EV in development (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Annual revenue from fuel cell systems is expected to reach nearly $57.8 billion by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reverse net metering? California penalizes certain types of energy efficiency (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

Worries about consumers cutting utility ties are overblown, say Moody’s analysts (via Greentech Media)

Top 50 green American schools, as Stanford faculty calls for fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

The 25 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2014 (via WeatherUnderground)

POLITICS 

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening (via The Hill)

Two ways Obama can win on Keystone even if Republicans triumph (via Slate)

Ted Cruz oil export amendment difficult vote for some GOP senators (via National Journal)

The greenest governor in America tells Grist about his big climate plan (via Grist)

Massachusetts’s governor appoints controversial new energy team (via Boston Globe)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court approves Keystone XL route through Nebraska (via The Hill)

Keystone foes cite foreign oil users to undercut Republican push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Prepare for rising migration driven by climate change, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

U.S. hot streak now old enough to vote (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Solar took half of all global renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF (via PV Tech)

Rebound in clean energy investment beats expectations in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar investment surged an incredible 175% in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Key solar PV market trends in 2015: IHS (via PV Tech)

Deutsche Bank lowers PV market demand forecast for 2014-2015 (via PV Tech)

FiT and net-metering charges confirmed for Italian solar PV installations (via PV Tech)

Japan funding $779 in million energy-saving battery storage installations (via Bloomberg)

China clarifies plans for cuts to onshore wind FiT (via Recharge)

Brazil minister sees no changes to auction system for wind and solar (via Recharge)

Korean researchers deliver record 18.4% efficient perovskite solar cell (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy rising across all spheres of U.S. society (via TriplePundit)

Industry says wind saved consumers $1 billion during 2014 Polar Vortex (via Breaking Energy)

Sunrun Investec deal completes bumper week for U.S. residential PV investment (via PV Tech)

Colorado utility leads the way for community solar (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

How OPEC weaponized the price of oil against U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry group to score lawmakers’ energy votes (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump taking a toll on U.S. alternative fuels (via Reuters)

Mexico proposes historic crude oil swap with U.S. (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China plug-in EV sales target 336,000 units by end of 2015 (via Inside EVs)

European Leaf owners drive 50% more per year on average than gas-powered owners (via Green Car Congress)

House Speaker Boehner signals he’s opposed to gas tax hike (via The Hill)

Boston Power aims to rival Tesla with gigawatt battery factories (via Greentech Media)

West Coast electric highway serves thousands of EV drivers (via Green Car Reports)

EMISSIONS 

DOE project captures and stores one million metric tons of carbon (via Green Car Congress)

Xcel Energy plans 40% carbon emissions cut (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking data sought by environmental groups in EPA lawsuit (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

California issues roadmap for grid-connected energy storage technology (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

On energy efficiency, easy money not always an easy sell (via Midwest Energy News)

Chicago’s first benchmarking report showcases energy savings opportunities (via NRDC Switchboard)

POLITICS 

The anti-science climate denier caucus: 114th Congress edition (via Climate Progress)

Boxer retirement a big loss for environmentalists (via The Hill)

Steyer ally says California Senate run a possibility (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How falling oil prices will impact the economy and the Keystone XL debate (via Forbes)

In Keystone fight and beyond, infrastructure is energy policy (via InsideClimate News)

Why California needs to think differently about how it supports energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The point of the Keystone XL fight (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.29.14

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

CLIMATE

Greenland ice loss outpaces climate models (via RTCC)

Pope Francis expected to instruct one billion Catholics to act on climate change (via Climate Progress)

Hedegaard: Credibility of UN climate process hangs on Paris talks (via The Guardian)

Almost 7,000 UK properties to be sacrificed to rising seas (via The Guardian)

2014 may be Anchorage, Alaska’s first year ever with no below-zero temperatures (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY POLICY

UK, Germany, Australia all see energy and emissions drop in 2014 (via Treehugger)

China forms $32 billion energy company to help clean up Beijing (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

Hanwha subsidiaries merging into world’s largest solar cell manufacturer (via CleanTechnica)

Spain “has to install up to 6.5GW of wind by 2020” (via Recharge News)

Scotland’s solar capacity climbs 32 percent in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Raizen to invest $927 million in sugarcane cellulosic ethanol plants in Brazil by 2024 (via Green Car Congress)

Distributed renewables will reduce utility revenues up to $124 billion a year by 2025 (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

Canadian oil surge to U.S. Gulf puts Mexico on defensive (via Bloomberg)

India refiners boom amid global oil bust as investors eye risks (via Bloomberg)

Race to build on Columbia River could block Pacific oil route (via New York Times)

Residents along Kinder Morgan pipeline from Ohio to Gulf concerned about use (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices fall, Alaska governor halts project spending (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION

China’s Shenzen caps new car plates to control smog, congestion (via Bloomberg)

Germany plans EV motorway charging station expansion (via Reuters)

Tesla Roadster 3.0 prototype announced with 400-mile possibilities (via Autoblog)

Report: Millennials own fewer cars, seek other ways to travel (via Green Car Reports)

Hawaii #2 behind California in EV registrations per 1,000 vehicles (via Inside EVs)

EMISSIONS

UK government unveils £35 million fund to curb air pollution (via BusinessGreen)

Curbing fugitive methane costs little, buys time on climate change (via The Hill)

Washington State offers ambitious cap-and-trade plan (via Climate Central)

GRID

This year’s key developments in distributed energy and utility disruption (via Greentech Media)

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, and Maryland (via Energy Collective)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Stronger energy codes don’t limit construction, says SEEA (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy efficient buildings could save Chicago $77 million (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

2015: A year for carbon pricing, peer pressure, and Paris (via RTCC)

New York takes the wrong approach to fracking (via Washington Post)

The biggest winter energy myth: That you need to idle your car before driving (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Biggest Arctic gas project seeks route around U.S. sanctions (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas falls to two-year low with no cold in sight (via Reuters)

Groups urge administration to steer clear of gas exports bill (via The Hill)

New York and Maryland had the same information about fracking, and they made very different decisions (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany’s electricity mix: Solar capacity reigns, but coal generation sustains (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Canadian pension funds divert investment to solar (via PV Tech)

UK and US yieldcos on Christmas acquisition spree (via PV Tech)

Wind and solar = 77% of new U.S. electricity generating capacity in November (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy policy wins and losses of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

2014 renewable energy recap: Stepping backward, crawling forward (via IEEE Spectrum)

Apple, IKEA, Walmart: 12 leaders in on-site renewables (via GreenBiz)

Cloudy future for wind farms in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

As the weather turns frightful, keep placed in service deadlines delightful (via Renewable Energy World)

Did OPIC just finish a watershed beyond-the-grid solar deal? (via Energy Collective)

Austin’s balancing act: Solar policy and affordability (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

CLIMATE 

Pacific coral shows global warming’s tie to wind (via Bloomberg)

Wheat yields to fall more than expected in warmer world (via Reuters)

Atmospheric rivers to soak California as climate warms (via LiveScience)

New York’s fracking ban divides experts on climate impacts (via Climate Central)

Miami’s climate catch-22: Building waterfront condos to pay for protection against rising seas (via Washington Post)

Wyoming Republican fights ban on controversial climate-science standards (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

World’s top 500 firms’ emissions rise, despite call for cuts (via Reuters)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia vows not to cut output to prop up oil markets (via Reuters)

Shell collaborating with regulators over Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil crash wipes $11.7 billion from buyout firms’ holdings (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

AAA: Falling gas prices break record (via The Hill)

Congress lets $8,000 hydrogen vehicle tax credit expire (via Autoblog)

To challenge Tesla, Volkswagen will buy solid-state battery startup (via Inside EVs)

Living the EV-PV dream: How I paired my solar system with an electric car (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Germany power demand plummets, renewables rise, fossil power at a 35-year low (via Renewables International)

Solar energy and storage helps Caribbean expats live the food life (via Renewable Energy World)

Can distributed generation replace $1 billion in substation upgrades? New York will soon find out (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

What was the biggest energy success story of 2014? (via National Journal)

Could flooding finally wake Americans up to the climate crisis? (via Grist)

The year ahead: 2015 trends in clean tech (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.14

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

CLIMATE

Climate change could cut global food production 18% by 2050 (via BusinessGreen)

Major coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years (via The Guardian)

NASA satellite sends back most detailed view yet of CO2 (via Climate Central)

Much of coastal U.S. will see over 30 days of flooding due to sea level rise, projects NOAA (via Huffington Post)

White House floats new climate guidelines for energy, infrastructure development (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

China solar exports may face increase in EU duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new FiT rules draw criticism from Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (via PV Tech)

India’s biggest wind company plans to enter solar market (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

BNDES approves $222 million in loans for Brazil ethanol plant (via Bloomberg)

EBRD backs Polish wind farm with €23.8 million (via Bloomberg)

South Africa fights blackouts with concentrating solar power (via TriplePundit)

GE ships first Brazil wind turbine nacelle under tough local-content rules (via Recharge News)

U.S power sector employment declines, except for renewable electricity generators (via U.S EIA)

U.S. solar-plus-storage market to surpass $1 billion by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

EIA expects 2014 U.S. wind installations to total less than 5GW (via Recharge)

New money coming home: Investors likely to continue backing residential solar in 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power (via Treehugger)

Businesses get solar at no upfront cost, encourage customers and employees to invest (via Treehugger)

Duke prepares South Carolina distributed solar program (via Renewable Energy World)

Coalition plans push to expand Minnesota’s renewable energy standard in 2015 (via Star-Tribune)

Illinois solar gets closer to game time (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

U.S. EPA set to issue long-anticipated rules for coal ash disposal (via Reuters)

Coal ash waste about to be federally regulated for the first time (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

Polluting is getting expensive again in Europe: Carbon & climate (via Bloomberg)

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral (via National Journal)

OIL

Bankers see $1 trillion in investments stranded in the oil fields (via Bloomberg)

Oil price bloodbath to spark energy sector buying spree (via Reuters)

Nebraska Supreme Court decision on Keystone XL punted to 2015 (via The Hill)

Oil crunch could cost Texas 128,000 jobs, says Fed model (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. gasoline drops below $2.50 in U.S. for first time in 2009 (via Bloomberg)

Tax breaks for EV charging, natural gas cars back through end of 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Analyst slashes Tesla sales forecast 40% due to fuel prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt to add on-demand regenerative braking (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY

German energy use sinks to lowest level since reunification (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. power sector needs $2.1 trillion in investment by 2035, says EIA (via Greentech Media)

EBay just became the latest tech company to leave conservative group ALEC (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, Maryland (via Greentech Media)

Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS

The state of shale (via Phys.org)

Here's the grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

Companies pay $9.7 million in EPA enforcement actions (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION

The top five energy and climate stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

Global biofuels industry: A promising future (via Navigant Research)

Three ways renewables could benefit from low oil prices (via Forbes)

Will coal plant retirements and fracking threaten electric reliability? (via Navigant Research)

The surprising link between what makes us happy and what saves energy (via Washington Post)

Solyndra? Solyndra! The legacy of government loan guarantees beyond politics (via Greentech Media)

Six lessons learned from the front lines of the climate fight (via Huffington Post)

Solar tariffs: Throttling America’s biggest job creation machine (via Renewable Energy World)

How Denmark and Texas became wind energy kings (via StateImpact Texas)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.18.14

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

EMISSIONS

EU decides to ratify Kyoto Protocol extension (via RTCC)

EPA punts decision on methane regulations (via The Hill)

Gov. Inslee want to cap and tax emissions from Washington State’s major polluters (via Climate Progress)

Department of Energy announces 22 new emissions reductions, energy efficiency projects (via Breaking Energy)

COAL

McConnell wants to stop coal rules (via AP)

ERCOT report re-ignites war of words over coal plant shutdowns (via Austin American-Statesman)

RENEWABLES

Green bonds sell big in 2014 as finance bids to help climate (via Reuters)

UK low-carbon electricity generation up 24% in 3Q 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Faced with a surge in PV, Japan will allow utilities to restrict solar output on grid (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

Seabirds “steer clear” of offshore wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

Big energy retailers intensify attack on Australia rooftop solar subsidies (via Renew Economy)

U.S. wind power capacity additions expected to increase in last quarter of 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

Wind power getting the PTC extension it didn’t want (via Breaking Energy)

Supporters decry short break extension for wind industry (via The Hill)

Nearly $1 billion available for PACE projects in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

CNEE releases energy legislation year in review (via Energy Manager Today)

Report sees bright future for renewable energy in Minnesota (via Midwest Energy News)

National Grid planning 16 megawatts of Massachusetts solar (via Bloomberg)

SunPower prepares for “disruptive shift in energy market” with Sunverge solar-plus-storage deal (via PV Tech)

NATURAL GAS

Poland and Ukraine to look at expanding gas transport links (via Reuters)

Cuomo to ban fracking; health officials call it unsafe (via Bloomberg)

New York unlikely to face lawsuits over fracking ban, say experts (via Reuters)

CLIMATE

Persistent warming driving big Arctic changes (via Climate Central)

UN’s Clean Development Market mechanism future in doubt, largely sidelined in Lima (via Bloomberg BNA)

Four signs the Arctic is getting baked by climate change (via Mother Jones)

Front yards turn to wetlands as climate change takes toll in Virginia (via Bloomberg)

OIL

World market shockwaves ripple far and wide from oil prices epicenter (via Reuters)

Oil plunge sets stage for energy defaults: Credit markets (via Bloomberg)

EU lawmakers fail to approve tar sands oil veto (via Reuters)

Enbridge shuts oil pipeline to U.S. after spill in Canada (via Houston Chronicle)

Chevron cancels Canadian Arctic drilling as oil prices slide (via Reuters)

Cheap oil jamming rails means higher U.S. power bills (via Bloomberg)

DOT Secretary to talk oil train safety in Canada (via The Hill)

Petrobas CEO says Rousseff refused offer to resign on scandal (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Smarter charging, load leveling can save $10,000 a month in EV electricity costs (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla to miss 2020 delivery target by 40%, forecasts analyst (via Greentech Media)

Siemens, Duke Energy, Ford team up to demonstrate lower-cost home charging (via Inside EVs)

How electric car advertising has changed over time (via Inside EVs)

GRID

The intersection of solar energy and energy storage (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Revenue from zero-energy buildings is expected to hit $4.6 trillion through 2035 (via Navigant Research)

OPINION

How cheaper oil is shaping the world (via New York Times)

Seven radical ideas for a 2015 climate change deal (via RTCC)

Trade tariffs old and new mean U.S. will face PV module supply crunch, says Jigar Shah (via PV Tech)

Fed’s Yellen: Oil price decline is good for U.S. economy (via Nasdaq)

Top cleantech buzzwords and phrases from 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Are solar microgrids a step on the ladder toward grid access? (via Energy Collective)

What the Senate’s tax extender bill means for wind energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.14

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

CLIMATE

Research says latest international climate pledges still fall short of 2C goal (via ClimateProgress)

Europe’s record-hot year made 35 times more likely by climate change (via The Guardian)

New York, other major cities face more power outages thanks to climate change (via ClimateProgress)

Rutgers research shows climate change driving fish north (via Newark Star-Ledger)

NUCLEAR

Japan approves two new nuclear reactors (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Duties set by U.S. on imports of China, Taiwan solar goods (via Bloomberg)

New tariffs on Chinese solar-panel makers split the U.S. solar industry (via Greentech Media)

Beijing urges U.S. to be reasonable in search for trade settlement (via PV Tech)

David Cameron declares UK has “enough” onshore wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

British Columbia approves $7.5 billion hydropower dam (via Reuters)

Central America’s biggest wind farm gets $300 million from IFC (via Bloomberg)

Chile’s mines set hot pace on renewables – Australia should take notice (via Renew Economy)

Where does solar make sense? New state study shows big differences and surprises (via Breaking Energy)

NREL demonstrates 45.7% efficiency for solar cell (via NREL)

California approves major revisions in its Renewable Auction Mechanism (via Greentech Media)

Rural co-ops promise net metering but don’t always deliver (via Midwest Energy News)

Cape Wind will miss 2014 goal to close project financing (via Recharge)

Power options: Comparing costs of rooftop solar to traditional electricity (via WRI Insights)

Think tank proposes 40 options to change ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Staples California announces green energy offering for small businesses (via Environmental Leader)

EMISSIONS

Beijing reveals bottom-up approach to national carbon market (via RTCC)

Australia quietly re-instates a carbon-trading scheme (via Renew Economy)

Industry’s mercury challenge could undermine attack on EPA climate rule (via Greenwire)

A carbon pollution policy with all the fixins’ (via Sightline Daily)

California pensions should divest coal assets, says state senate leader (via Reuters)

Washington Governor proposes carbon tax to fund pressing transportation needs (via Huffington Post)

OIL

OPEC net oil export revenues expected to fall in 2014-2015 (via U.S. EIA)

An OPEC of the West? North American nations eye stronger oil and gas ties (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. talking oil exports just when the world needs it least (via Bloomberg)

Investors in beat-up oil bonds lean on banks for rescue (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

ABB-led consortium launches $10.5 million project to install EV fast chargers along key European highways (via Green Car Congress)

4,700 all-electric cars sold in Europe during October (via Inside EVs)

U.S. households to spend $550 less on gasoline in 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

California, Washington lead all other states in EV ownership rates (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

Utility distribution microgrids are expected to reach $6 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Developing a reliable wind “super grid” for Europe (via Phys.org)

Cautiously, private utilities dip toes into microgrid pool (via Navigant Research)

Will states take over demand response markets in the U.S.? (via Renewable Energy World)

PG&E testing new grid-scale battery system at $160 per kWh (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Italy says it will oppose EU plans to scrap environmental law (via The Guardian)

Obama withdraws Alaska’s Bristol Bay from drilling (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Top 10 universities taking the lead on sustainability worldwide (via EcoWatch)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working on more regulations than EPA (via Greenwire)

Rocky Mountain Institute, Carbon War Room join forces (via BusinessGreen)

Cutting the cord without blowing your power bill (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

POLITICS

McConnell says Keystone first item on GOP Senate agenda (via The Hill)

Lobbying of Hillary begins (via The Hill)

Jeb Bush may be “the smart brother” but he’s as much a climate denier as any conservative (via The Guardian)

Renewable energy companies use new clout in statehouses (via Stateline)

OPINION

Is India’s grand solar vision becoming reality? (via Renewable Energy World)

Plunging oil prices are doing Obama’s foreign policy for him (via Washington Post)

Protecting Bristol Bay was an easy call for Obama – the hard ones come next (via National Journal)

Should the price of oil really impact renewable energy adoption? (via Greentech Media)

In defense of Massachusetts: Why the Bay State is leading in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The real reason Tesla’s stock is tanking (via Huffington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.15.14

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

EMISSIONS

Lawyers gird for fight against EPA’s Clean Power Plan based on states’ rights (via ClimateWire)

Half of Republicans support carbon limits, survey finds (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel companies grow nervous as divestment movement grows stronger (via Grist)

Capturing carbon as a byproduct of running a fuel cell (via New York Times)

Gov. Inslee says if polluters were charged, state would benefit (via Seattle Times)

NATURAL GAS

Can China’s shale gas help it reach peak coal by 2020? (via Motley Fool)

Ukraine says Chevron plans to pull out of $10 billion shale gas deal (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

EnergyTrend calls 2014 solar demand at 44GW with 2015 to top 50GW (via PV Tech)

The global biofuels industry: A future in doubt (via Navigant Research)

Analysis: Can Japan exceed 10GW of solar capacity installation in 2014? (via Renewable Energy World)

SunEdison to supply 570GWh of solar energy to Chile grid (via PV Tech)

Vestas gets biggest wind order as Africa market accelerates (via Bloomberg)

Solar industry trends: Capital costs continue to drop while solar companies reinvent themselves as energy companies (via Forbes)

South Carolina avoids a battle, reaches settlement on net energy metering (via Greentech Media)

New York State doubles solar net metering cap (via PV Tech)

430,000 advanced energy jobs in California…today (via CleanTechnica)

Solar and wind give California second camel hump (via Renewables International)

Study: Nebraska grid has capacity to export more wind energy (via Lincoln Journal Star)

Minnesota city freezes ground-mounted solar due to zoning concerns (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

International negotiators strike last-minute deal to reduce carbon emissions (via ClimateProgress)

UN agrees way forward on climate change but path is unclear (via The Guardian)

Paris climate summit faces tougher job after modest Lima deal (via Reuters)

Catholic bishops from every continent call for “end to the fossil fuel era” (via ClimateProgress)

Most Americans aren’t aware of the health impacts of climate change (via ClimateProgress)

People don’t work as hard on hot days – on a warming planet (via Washington Post)

COAL

Coal demand growth to slow in next five years on China, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Coal demand set to break 9 billion tonne barrier this decade (via The Guardian)

As Japan burns more coal, climate policies under pressure (via Reuters)

First U.S. coal ash regulations in the offing (via The Hill)

GRID

Fitch: U.S. utilities “well positioned” to deal with upcoming obstacles (via Renew Grid)

MISO board approves $2.5 billion in new transmission (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Mexico shale boom outlook dims as U.S. drillers struggle (via Bloomberg)

Despite lower crude oil prices, U.S. crude oil production expected to grow in 2015 (via U.S. EIA)

Early slowdown signs emerge for U.S. oil states after crude slide (via Reuters)

U.S. taxpayers help fund oil train boom amid safety concerns (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric cars: A review of 2014 (via Forbes)

Gasoline prices tend to have little effect on demand for car travel (via U.S. EIA)

Street lights add EV charging (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s stationary storage strategy: “Everywhere we look, there’s an opportunity” (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

$140 million DOE innovation hub focuses on energy efficiency in manufacturing (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Earth faces sixth “Great Extinction” with 41% of amphibians set to go to the way of the dodo (via Huffington Post)

23 pollinating species in Britain have gone extinct in last 150 years (via Inhabitat)

Congress protects new national parks and wilderness areas for first time in five years (via ClimateProgress)

OPINION

COP20 lays groundwork for Paris climate pact: 7 key developments (via WRI Insights)

Five takeaways from the Lima climate talks (via National Journal)

How the ”war on coal” went global (via Politico)

How the U.S. can beat OPEC in an oil prices war (via Christian Science Monitor)

The basic reason oil keeps getting cheaper and cheaper (via Washington Post)

Insights from the solar industry in rural Peru (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

10 energy numbers to remember from 2014 (via Outlier)

Will cheap oil kill Keystone XL? (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.10.14

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

CLIMATE

India planning $100 billion on climate-related projects (via Bloomberg)

Green Climate Fund will get $200 million from Australia after Tony Abbott’s about turn (via The Guardian)

Belgian pledge pushes Green Climate Fund to $10 billion goal (via Reuters)

Kerry going to Peru for climate talks (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY

Canada will not impose oil and gas regulations unilaterally, given prices (via Reuters)

UK business energy costs predicted to rise by around a third by 2030 (via Business Green)

RENEWABLES

“Explosive growth” in solar distributed generation market to take China to 14GW (via PV Tech)

Renewable energy grows, large and small, in Africa (via Navigant Research)

Pakistan repeals import tax on solar equipment (via PV Tech)

Russian, Indian funds to invest $1 billion in hydropower (via Reuters)

Belgian wind energy island may get go-ahead in early 2015 (via Reuters)

10 slides show the complex future and “tipping point” of U.S. solar (via Greentech Media)

Solar and wind increasingly shaping CAISO load curves (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Small wind leases open up new markets (via Navigant Research)

Testimonies coming out of the US solar anti-dumping hearings (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

OPEC sees weakest demand for its crude in 12 years across 2015 (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils Australian Supercharger network plan, delivers first EVs to country (via Renew Economy)

Gas could hit $2.50 by Christmas (via The Hill)

California leads the nation in adoption of EVs (via US EIA)

EMISSIONS

Senate Dems to EPA: Make climate rule stronger (via The Hill)

Researchers say carbon tax could reduce Oregon’s emissions without hurting economy (via The Oregonian)

GRID

Lower-cost batteries likely to create $190 million storage market in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT

Japan’s weather bureau declares first El Nino (via The Guardian)

OPINION

What can Hawaii expect from NextEra’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric? (via Greentech Media)

How EVs can aid the smart grid (via Navigant Research)