Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change poses growing threat of Arctic conflict, finds report (via The Guardian)

April was 2nd warmest globally; Average for U.S. (via Climate Central)

Norway bets on global warming in Arctic oil and gas drive (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Rubio can’t name a single source behind his climate denial (via Climate Progress)

COAL 

China produces and consumes almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined (via US EIA)

Turkish prime minister says 238 killed in coal mine disaster (via Reuters)

Two coal miners killed at West Virginia coal operation (via Charleston Gazette)

In Chicago, nurses take up fight against petcoke piles (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

Australia scraps $2.3 billion renewable energy agency (via Recharge)

Industry says renewables can boost EU energy security (via BusinessGreen)

$11 billion will be invested in Indian solar energy by 2017 (via Renewable Energy World)

UK sees sharp rise in percentage of onshore wind farms being rejected (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. solar experts say IRS tax proposal little help to big projects (via Reuters)

Massachusetts wants more solar energy projects (via Boston Globe/AP)

Missouri Senate rejects solar rebates revival (via KSDK/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA asked to regulate fracking’s toxic air emissions (via InsideClimate News)

Unintended consequences: Fracking and the flow of drugs (via National Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. drought speeds fire season with damage topping $1 billion (via Bloomberg)

Half of U.S. is experiencing some degree of drought (via Yale e360)

OIL 

ConocoPhillips CEO: U.S. crude keeping a check on global oil price spikes (via Houston Chronicle)

Latest oil train derailment adds pressure for stronger U.S. action (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Sales of hybrid and EV batteries have tripled in three years (via Climate Progress)

California Energy Commission publishes 2014-2015 investment plan for alternative and EV technology (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla appears to be winning direct sales battle in Missouri (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

Beijing’s smog police outgunned in China’s war on pollution (via Reuters)

GRID 

How will battery storage help utilities integrate distributed solar? (via Greentech Media)

EAGLE-I: First-ever technology to track power outages nationwide (via Breaking Energy)

NUCLEAR 

Exelon pins nuclear hopes on small modular reactors (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How mandatory disclosure of building energy use affects your 401(k) (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Blanche Lincoln: Obama will “move on” Keystone XL next year (via Politico)

POLITICS 

Front-running Ontario premier candidate would close down green energy (via Treehugger)

What would a GOP majority look like? Last week offered some clues. (via National Journal)

Welcome to energy and the midterm elections (via Politico)

Rubio walks back climate change comments during National Press Club appearance (via Washington Post)

Ohio bill to freeze efficiency, green energy rules racing toward Governor’s desk (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

OPINION 

The world needs more clean coal, or we’re screwed (via Time)

You are already paying a price on carbon (via Huffington Post)

How utilities can stop losing revenue and start making money on solar (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.28.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmentalists demand new climate analysis for Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

First Nations group calls for BC to reject Northern Gateway pipeline permits (via Vancouver Sun)

Oil sands leak on northern Alberta weapons range (via CBC News)

EMISSIONS 

World’s highest carbon price faces Australia’s new leader (via Bloomberg)

EU plans to make it mandatory for ship owners to measure carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

US CO2 emissions on the rise again (via Navigant Research)

Why a carbon tax isn’t in Obama’s climate plan (via Energy Collective)

RENEWABLES 

UK boosts Green Bank by £800 million (via Recharge)

India and Turkey to enhance cooperation on renewables (via EnergyNext)

UK green electricity generation leaps 10% (via BusinessGreen)

China plans large-scale solar PV pilot projects (via CleanTechnica)

UK shows offshore wind more costly than solar (via Reuters)

Chinese firm charged in theft of US company’s turbine software (via New York Times)

US military faces trio of renewable energy goals (via EarthTechling)

EPA says ethanol bounty may push refiners over 10% blend wall (via Bloomberg)

A whole new way of thinking about geothermal (via Greentech Media)

After much delay, US offshore wind power set to sail (via Politico)

LA launches nation’s largest solar rooftop program (via Grist)

COAL 

India to eclipse China as world’s largest coal power (via Bloomberg)

The US will stop financing coal plants abroad – that’s a huge shift (via Washington Post)

Coal exports have doubled during Obama’s so-called “war on coal” (via The Week)

Moniz sees coal’s significant role (via AP)

CLIMATE 

Researchers say global warming may affect soil microbe survival (via Phys.org)

More species at risk from climate change than thought (via CBS News)

UN climate chief welcomes Obama plan, wants US energy czar (via Reuters)

Calgary floods spotlight cities’ costly failure to plan for climate change (via CBC News)

OIL 

House advances plan to expand drilling on US-Mexico maritime border (via Houston Chronicle)

House votes to double oil revenue cap for Gulf states (via The Hill)

Deepwater drilling expansion will strain workforce, says study (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas oil output surges past North Dakota (via Reuters)

BP report could cut Gulf oil spill penalties by up to $7 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU delays CO2 car targets after fierce lobbying from Germany (via BusinessGreen)

BMW forecast for doubled EV range spurs more debate than conclusions (via Autoblog Green)

Anthony Foxx, Charlotte’s transit-friendly mayor, nominated for transportation secretary (via Grist)

Nissan offers up new Leaf battery replacement program (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to add EV charging stations in Houston, nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla Motors wins in North Carolina, anti-competitive legislation dropped (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

UK nuclear expansion advances with $15 billion loan backing (via Bloomberg)

Senate OKs Macfarlane for full term as NRC chairwoman (via The Hill)

Quarrels continue over nuclear waste repository (via New York Times)

GRID 

Microgrids and energy security: the business case (via Breaking Energy)

California’s timely demand response roadmap (via Navigant Research)

Solar PV, energy storage combine in commercial-scale Maryland microgrid (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Cloud computing can reduce GHGs 95%, save $2.2 billion (via Environmental Leader)

Obama’s Better Buildings program celebrates first year (via Greentech Media)

Energy efficiency saves AT&T at least $151 million (via Mother Nature Network)

Staples reaches milestone of 500 Energy Star buildings (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama’s climate plan silent on exports but pledges support for global gas markets (via EnergyWire)

Methane scrutiny in Obama climate plan may cost drillers (via Bloomberg)

Ohio law shielding fracking chemical details may violate federal statute (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

GOP to make EPA spending bill a climate battleground (via The Hill)

Obama’s EPA nominee in jeopardy from Senate Republicans (via Reuters)

Obama to tap Colorado regulator Binz as new FERC chief (via The Hill)

Moniz optimistic on Obama’s plan to reduce emissions (via New York Times)

OPINION 

India’s EV market falling short (via Navigant Research)

Will Obama’s climate policy spur new energy technologies? (via MIT Technology Review)

US takes key climate change steps, but the world must do more (via Washington Post)

Sports world teams up against climate change (via GreenBiz)

Figures: no country doing enough on climate change (via RTCC)