Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.11.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
GRID
PJM plans billions in transmission upgrades to meet massive generation shift (via Renew Grid)
Stanford scientists calculate carbon footprint of grid-scale batteries (via EurekAlert)
Bad news: the US power grid is getting pricier, less reliable (via Washington Post)
Why smart cities need smart grids (via Pike Research)
How battery storage will change the household energy market (via Renew Economy)
NUCLEAR
In Japan, work resume on new plant two years after Fukushima (via Washington Post)
NRC chief: US plants safer after Japan crisis (via ABC News/AP)
Report: a “ripped safety net” at Midwest nuclear plants (via Midwest Energy News)
Officials rejected some fixes to San Onofre plant, shows report (via Los Angeles Times)
RENEWABLES
Panel flags 11% cut to Japan solar FIT (via Recharge)
China calls for EU talks on panel “dumping” (via Recharge)
US nuclear industry withers as wind pummels prices (via Bloomberg)
Seven next-generation energy technologies showcased by ARPA-E (via MIT Technology Review)
BPA: smaller chance of wind energy curtailment in Pacific Northwest this spring (via Renew Grid)
Getting more renewables into the Texas energy mix (via Greentech Media)
Plug pulled on huge Minnesota wind project (via Post Bulletin)
Maryland passes landmark offshore wind legislation (via CleanTechnica)
Iowa sets wind-generated electricity high (via Iowa Business Record)
Austin Energy’s value of solar tariff – could it work anywhere else? (via Greentech Media)
OIL
Dwindling production has led to lesser role for Venezuela as major oil power (via New York Times)
ConocoPhillips set to begin Arctic oil drilling in 2014 (via Zacks)
TRANSPORTATION
PwC: electrified vehicle market share will climb to 6.3% by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)
ExxonMobil: diesel will pass gasoline as top global transportation fuel by 2020 (via Green Car Congress)
UK government funds €37 million in new EV initiatives (via Pike Research)
Volkswagen Group planning to launch 6 or more plug-in hybrids in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)
California adds $4.5 million in funds to clean vehicle rebate project (via Plugin Cars)
KEYSTONE XL
Canada’s First Nations lead battle against Alberta tar sands (via RTCC)
US Chamber, API go grassroots in Keystone pipeline battle (via The Hill)
Keystone fails Texas common-carrier test, court is told (via Bloomberg)
Keystone XL pipeline will create 35 permanent jobs, State Department says (via Christian Science Monitor)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Understanding the world of consumer energy management (via Greentech Media)
Maine PUC approves plan to lower bills with increased efficiency (via CLF Scoop)
How to chose an LED light bulb (via MIT Technology Review)
CLIMATE
Poland aims to pave way for 2015 climate deal (via Yahoo! News/AP)
NYSE prepares extreme weather backup plan (via Reuters)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Maryland anti-fracking bills die (via Houston Chronicle)
Fracking health study results likely years off (via USA Today/AP)
ENVIRONMENT
Pollution now top cause of social unrest in China (via Treehugger)
Floating tsunami trash to be decades-long headache (via Phys.org)
In China, public anger over secrecy on environment (via Reuters)
Warming means wetter weather – and drier weather (via Climate Central)
Largest US dam removal releases huge amount of sediment (via Yale e360)
COAL
US coal consumption falls to 1985 levels (via Facts of the Day)
POLITICS
Sizing up Obama’s new energy, environment team (via National Journal)
Sen. Boxer calls for post-Fukushima safety report as anniversary approaches (via The Hill)
OPINION
Can the world fight climate change and energy poverty at the same time? (via Washington Post)
What will it take to boost the overall success of EVs? (via Renew Grid)
Is US energy independence realistic? (via Houston Chronicle)
Transition to low-carbon future will unfold slowly (via Houston Chronicle)
Activism and policy are not the same thing (via Grist)
How livestock can protect the land (via GreenBiz)
Washington DC wants to be the greenest city in the US (via Grist)
Nature’s prophet: Bill McKibben as journalist, public intellectual, and activist (via Energy Collective)