Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.11.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Canada ignores climate warnings in drive for tar sands oil (via RTCC)
Keystone XL carbon emissions “would be four times higher than U.S. thought” (via The Guardian)
CLIMATE
EPA roadshow highlights polarized U.S. climate debate (via RTCC)
Planners in southeast Florida try to awaken their state to sea level rise (via ClimateWire)
EPA chief: Teach global warming in schools (via National Journal)
RENEWABLES
China will install more solar in 2014 than the U.S. ever has (via Climate Progress)
Japan solar industry forecasts 100GW capacity by FY 2030 (via Bloomberg)
U.K. wind power surge sees renewables outstrip coal (via BusinessGreen)
Over 3GW of large-scale U.S. solar PV projects at risk from anti-dumping actions (via Solar Industry Magazine)
U.S. installs 835MW new wind energy so far in 2014, 14.6GW on the way (via CleanTechnica)
U.S. IRS clarifies wind PTC eligibility rules (via Recharge)
States dangle property tax abatements to draw new solar customers (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Chill from Ohio RPS freeze extends to neighboring solar markets (via Renewable Energy World)
Wyoming regulators give key approval for America’s largest wind farm (via Casper Star-Tribune)
A landmark deal in Mississippi could give a big boost to utility-scale solar (via Greentech Media)
South Carolina will let people lease equipment for solar energy (via Washington Post)
Report says Wisconsin solar growth has been hampered by policy, utilities (via Wisconsin Public Radio)
OIL
U.S. oil falls to six-month low on refinery outlook (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
EV car sales are up over 70% in Europe and the U.S. (via Climate Progress)
The challenge for EV sales is car dealers, again (via Green Car Reports)
EV charging stations sprouting all over California (via Sacramento Bee)
COAL
Waste Management sees growth with EPA coal-ash disposal rule (via Bloomberg Businessweek)
EMISSIONS
Texas may refuse to follow EPA climate rules (via Texas Tribune)
Obama action group joins fight against Christie’s climate pact exit (via InsideClimate News)
NATURAL GAS
What’s fueling the fracking boom? Debt (via Christian Science Monitor)
GAO criticizes EPA’s fracking injection well oversight (via Environmental Leader)
Northeast U.S. natural gas spot prices particularly sensitive to temperature swings (via U.S. EIA)
FERC authorizes Texas LNG export terminal (via Breaking Energy)
ENVIRONMENT
China’s coastal economic boom on track to “burn out” its marine resources (via ClimateWire)
California drought transforms global food market (via Bloomberg)
Bottled water comes from the most drought-ridden places in America (via Mother Jones)
California lawmakers consider historic rules to limit groundwater pumping (via San Jose Mercury-News)
Lightning-sparked California wildfires burn more than 134,000 acres (via Los Angeles Times)
GRID
China’s State Grid quietly builds Mediterranean power network (via Reuters)
Can we make America’s power grid blackout-proof? (via GreenBiz)
POLITICS
Obama’s offshore drilling move opens rift with environmental groups (via The Hill)
House Republicans to combine energy, jobs efforts (via Politico)
Colorado’s frack-free movement sacrificed for Democrats facing re-election (via InsideClimate News)
OPINION
What’s driving millions of dollars back into energy efficiency? (via The Guardian)
Why creative industries won’t follow PR lead on climate change (via The Guardian)
The contentious, complicated fight for water in California (via Los Angeles Times)