Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Global CO2 levels pass long-feared milestone (via New York Times)
UNFCC Paris meeting projected as pivotal climate point (via USA Today)
We’ve hit 400ppm – here’s what that means (via Mother Jones)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Is Canada’s oil too dirty for Europe? (via International Herald Tribune)
US decision on Keystone XL pipeline seen dragging past summer (via Reuters)
TransCanada files lawsuit to block Keystone XL protests (via The Oklahoman)
ENVIRONMENT
White House outlines framework for managing Arctic (via The Hill)
Half world’s plants, third of animals threatened by climate change (via Los Angeles Times)
RENEWABLES
PwC questions EU-China solar PV tariff claims (via Recharge)
Solar module manufacturing trends in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)
Hyundai’s 50-acre rooftop solar system will be South Korea’s largest PV system (via Autoblog Green)
Better batteries could revolutionize solar, wind power (via USA Today)
Wind industry wants PTC extended for big piece of energy pie (via Greentech Media)
A rare bipartisan clean energy bill is ready for passage (via InsideClimate News)
Is Xcel’s top spot in US wind power in jeopardy? (via Star-Tribune)
Maine governor wants wind energy goals out of state law (via Bangor Daily News)
Rooftop solar firms launch net metering advocacy alliance (via Solar Industry Magazine)
GRID
UK regulators defer smart meter rollout (via Navigant Research)
Smart grid revenue in China will surpass $15 billion a year by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
COAL
India’s coal import boom has limited beneficiaries (via Reuters)
Coal-export plans going off the rails in Pacific Northwest (via Grist)
EMISSIONS
Project aims to track carbon footprints of big cities (via Phys.org)
It’s not all about CO2: a plan to help cut short-term climate pollutants (via Grist)
Texas project called milestone for carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)
NUCLEAR
Russia plowing $32 billion into nuclear over next two years (via SmartPlanet)
Exelon waiting for pricier power (via Crain’s Chicago Business)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Efficiency gains could cut cellphone network power use 90% (via GreenBiz)
DOE energy efficiency upgrade program nets over $41 million in savings (via EarthTechling)
TRANSPORTATION
Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 (via Autoblog Green)
New interactive map tracks plug-in vehicle adoption in California (via Green Car Congress)
Ohio a potential hub for EV jobs (via EarthTechling)
OIL
Global oil prices pressured by US tripling crude exports to Canada (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)
ENERGY POLICY
Tennessee Valley Authority to remain publicly owned (via Reuters)
NATURAL GAS
US natural gas export plans stir debate (via NPR/AP)
POLITICS
Washington politics splits Silicon Valley on Keystone XL (via Greentech Media)
150 major Democratic donors urge Obama to reject Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)
Elon Musk bails on Zuckerberg group after Keystone, drilling ads (via The Hill)
OPINION
We just passed the climate’s “grim milestone” (via Mother Jones)
Should Washington go small on energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)
Adding an EV cut payback point of solar panel investment in half (via GigaOm)
Two conversations the wind industry must own, and soon (via Renewable Energy World)