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Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.5.13 share

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

OIL

China ousts US as world’s main oil importer (via Mining.com)

US crude exports spur shale oil refineries (via Bloomberg)

Transocean chief disappointed with Gulf oil spill insurance ruling (via Houston Chronicle)

Non-jury trial may favor BP in Gulf oil spill case (via Alabama.com)

GRID

Smart grid technology market will total $494 billion by 2020 (via Pike Research)

US transmission investment will peak at $14 billion in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

How much renewable energy can the grid handle? (via Greentech Media)

Wholesale power: bankruptcies and lessons (via Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLES

EU to register Chinese solar panels, highlighting tariff threat (via Bloomberg)

Fast-tracking patent applications bolsters green tech market (via BusinessGreen)

Solar makers turn laser-like focus on boosting solar cell efficiency (via GigaOm)

US wind industry is still clinging onto tax credit (via Politico)

US inching closer to offshore wind (via United Press International)

MIT team outlines path to low-cost solar-to-storable fuels devices (via Green Car Congress)

Now on Kickstarter: a new kind of spinning energy storage device (via GigaOm)

Buffet’s renewables investment MidAmerican Energy a top portfolio company in 2012 (via SNL Energy)

California’s solar PV rebates nearly over: is this good news? (via Renewable Energy World)

University of Maine starts $1.5 million geothermal heating project (via Portland Press Herald)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Environmental activists reeling as Keystone pipeline gains momentum (via The Hill)

Arguments over climate impacts rage in wake of State Department report (via Greenwire)

Enviros seize on State’s pipeline alternatives (via EnergyWire)

Eight figures that will define Keystone XL fight over the next 45 days (via National Journal)

Enbridge declines to pay for new studies on Michigan oil spill damage (via Detroit Free Press)

TransCanada shares rise on Keystone environmental report (via Reuters)

GREEN BUILDING/ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK launches green building hub for construction industry (via BusinessGreen)

Ireland launches energy efficiency fund (via Energy Collective)

St. Louis seeks to be model energy efficient city (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Shale boom forces Kremlin to focus on Arctic (via Moscow Times)

Chemical industry surging on US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking goes to the Texas legislature (via StateImpact Texas)

CLIMATE

Splits emerging in UN climate deal agreed in Doha (via RTCC)

Report blames climate change for extreme weather in Australia (via New York Times)

Spring may arrive five weeks earlier by 2100, study finds (via Climate Central)

Warmer climate to open new Arctic shipping routes by 2050 (via Reuters)

Global warming affects crop yields, but it’s the water not the heat (via Phys.org)

Two-thirds of Americans now believe global warming is real (via Phys.org)

The coming climate exodus: what we’re doing to help wildlife’s new migration (via Yes! Magazine)

NUCLEAR

Global nuclear capacity rises in 2012 after post-Fukushima drop (via Reuters)

Restart of Japanese nuclear reactors unlikely this year (via United Press International)

Areva plans first nuclear fuel shipment to Japan since Fukushima (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

2013 electric cars: rated range for each model, ultimate guide (via Green Car Reports)

Shell to push natural gas for trains, vehicles (via Houston Chronicle)

Zipcar says 72% of young Americans don’t care about owning a car (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Motors delays filing of annual report (via San Jose Mercury News)

EMISSIONS

Little unity over California’s cap-and-trade program (via Reuters)

Shell forecasts near-zero global emissions by 2100 (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS

Obama nominates Moniz as DOE chief, McCarthy as EPA head (via Platts)

Obama’s second-term cabinet to play bigger policy role (via Washington Post)

From “green dream team” to B team (via Politico)

McCarthy’s Republican history should smooth path to EPA (via Reuters)

Is fracking a bride to a clean-energy future? Ernest Moniz thinks so (via Washington Post)

Gina McCarthy for EPA could be Obama’s most significant nominee (via Washington Post)

America’s oil and gas billionaires (via Forbes)

Can climate-change denier Ken Cuccinelli win a swing state? (via National Journal)

OPINION

China keeps making new green pledges (via Grist)

Climate change: the scary hidden stressor (via New York Times)

Arctic ice melt will bring frosty relations as nations navigate across North Pole (via The Independent)

Cabinet picks could take on climate policy (via New York Times)

Do Obama’s cabinet picks match his greener second-term talk? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Does Keystone XL report let Obama off the hook on climate pledge? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Tesla charging situation would benefit from more flexibility, less confrontation (via Autoblog Green)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, Areva, australia, barack obama, BP, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, EU, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, fukushima, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Ireland, japan, Ken Cuccinelli, Keystone XL, Maine, michigan, MIT, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar cell efficiency, solar pv, Solar tariff, Solar trade war, St. Louis, tar sands, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transocean, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, virginia, Warren Buffet, Wholesale power, wind, Zipcar

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.13 share

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

TRANSPORTATION

High-capacity chargers target Europe’s luxury market (via Pike Research)

Estonia installs “world’s first” nationwide fast-charging network (via BusinessGreen)

Lithium-ion battery gives IBM hope of power without fires (via Bloomberg)

EPA sets renewable fuel standard, tackles fraud (via The Hill)

Tesla expects to turn its first profit in the first quarter of 2013 (via GigaOm)

2013 Nissan Leaf: 75-mile range “anticipated in new EPA test (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Report: oil sands dependence could hurt Canada’s economy (via Canadian Press)

Canadian crude rolling into Gulf Coast refineries (via Houston Chronicle)

Supporters of Keystone XL outspend opponents 35 to 1 (via Climate Progress)

ALEC pushes Keystone pipeline approval through six states (via Sustainable Business)

RENEWABLES

EU to register Chinese solar panels in move toward duties (via Reuters)

Ontario might get a 400MW pumped storage station five times the height of Niagara Falls (via TreeHugger)

Mexico just scratching the surface of solar demand (via Renewable Energy World)

Iceland looks to export geothermal power (via New York Times)

Nine amazing teenagers innovating in cleantech (via Treehugger)

Renewables increase US electricity market share 44% from 2007 to 2012 (via Facts of the Day)

Michigan sees surge in wind power, thanks to renewable portfolio standard (via Renew Grid)

Oversupply and uncertainty for Massachusetts SREC market in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Offshore wind production bill gets preliminary approval in Maryland House (via Washington Post/AP)

Minnesota bill introduced seeking 10% solar energy standard (via St. Paul Pioneer Press)

PACE funding in Florida gets $500 million boost (via CleanTechnica)

Work begins on new 400MW Texas solar PV plant (via Recharge)

How a city can get more clean, local energy (via CleanTechnica)

OIL/GASOLINE

US oil production will soar in 2013 – can it last? (via Christian Science Monitor)

AAA reports largest increase in gasoline prices in three years (via The Hill)

BP civil settlement remains elusive as trial nears (via Shreveport Times/AP)

ENERGY INDUSTRY

Germany, UK offer contrasting visions for electricity (via Reuters)

Energy to help Texas economy outpace nation’s (via Houston Chronicle)

Enron-era ruling signals $1.6 billion California consumer refunds (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Merkel leaves door open to fracking as shale gains appeal (via Bloomberg)

Marcellus production rises again in Pennsylvania (via Pittsburgh Business Times)

Chesapeake probe finds no “intentional” CEO misconduct (via Reuters)

CLIMATE

Filipino super-typhoon an ominous warning of climate change impact (via The Guardian)

If you don’t believe in climate change, talk to a clam digger (via Grist)

Activist investors put climate change issue up for vote at PNC Bank (via Los Angeles Times)

Bill would require Kansas teachers to question climate science (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT

After China’s multibillion-dollar cleanup, water still unfit to drink (via Reuters)

Explained in 90 seconds: permafrost (via Mother Jones)

Biofuel rush wiping out America’s grasslands at fastest pace since 1930’s (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS

Another study names oil and gas drilling as ozone culprit (via Climate Progress)

RGGI changes help both the environment and business (via C2ES)

GRID

PSE&G proposes $4 billion for grid resiliency in New Jersey (via Greentech Media)

EnerNOC adapting demand response for “big data” applications (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Efficiency is a more important economic driver than energy supply (via Greentech Media)

University at Albany SUNY saves $704,000 per year with energy efficiency upgrades (via Environmental Leader)

COAL

Oregon governor questions wisdom of headlong coal-export push (via Grist)

West Virginia, US Mine Safety and Health Administration seek greater focus on coal mining safety (via Charleston Gazette)

NUCLEAR

Deal advances development of a smaller nuclear reactor (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Obama settles on EPA, DOE nominees (via Reuters)

Climate change and the Obama Administration (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Kerry comes out swinging on climate change (via The Hill)

Moniz: shale gas boom a low-carbon solution – for now (via InsideClimate News)

Senate Democrat touts support for Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION

EU and China stumble toward solar trade war (via Reuters)

How the looming food and energy crises are intertwined (via Good)

Tesla’s explosive revenue suggests a bright future (via MIT Technology Review)

Low emissions are no justification for Kansas scaling back renewables (via The Guardian)

Cheap ways you can get green power (via EarthTechling)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, Angela Merkel, Aubrey McClendon, barack obama, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EnerNOC, Enron, EPA, Ernest Moniz, Estonia, EU, europe, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging infrastructure, Extreme weather, Florida, fracking, Gasoline, geothermal, germany, Gina McCarthy, grid, Hydropower, ibm, Iceland, john kerry, kansas, Keystone XL, Lithium-ion battery, marcellus shale, maryland, massachusetts, mexico, michigan, minnesota, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, ontario, oregon, Ozone, PACE, pennsylvania, Permafrost, Philippines, PNC Bank, PSE&G, Renewable fuel standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, rps, Severe weather, Shale gas, small modular reactor, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar renewable energy credit, Solar trade war, SREC, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water, West Virginia, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.20.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

China to introduce carbon tax, says official (via Xinhua)

Carbon price plunges 20 percent after EU backloading vote (via BusinessGreen)

Businesses line up to back UK decarbonization target (via BusinessGreen)

Landmark carbon assessment developed for Australia (via Phys.org)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

TransCanada says Keystone XL won’t affect climate (via Houston Chronicle)

Re-defining “energy independence” in the Keystone era (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS

Japanese prime minister to ask Obama to approve shale gas exports (via Bloomberg)

Specialists working to kill Apache natural gas well in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

EU tariffs on Chinese solar goods could cost UK €3.5 billion (via BusinessGreen)

What the global renewables industry might look like in 2050 (via Greentech Media)

Big banks, Big Oil pile into Japan’s burgeoning solar market (via Sustainable Business)

Wind blows German power swings to five-year high (via Bloomberg)

German solar PV prices fall to €1.52 per watt in January (via CleanTechnica)

1MW solar system shapes Brazil’s World Cup stadium (via BusinessGreen)

US ethanol groups decry EU tariff as “blatant protectionism” (via Reuters)

100% of electric capacity added in US last month was renewable (via Grist)

Are direct-drive turbines the future of wind energy? (via EarthTechling)

Sewage status grows as resource for methane generation (via Bloomberg)

Sleeping geothermal giant stirs (via Pike Research)

LA’s solar feed-in tariff attracts strong interest during first week (via Renew Grid)

Bill proposed to increase Pennsylvania renewable portfolio standard (via Renew Grid)

GRID

Texas and Inner Mongolia need transmission to integrate wind (via Greentech Media)

German town goes off the grid, achieves energy independence (via TreeHugger)

Energy storage in commercial buildings to reach “$7.5 billion in 2022” (via Energy Manager Today)

USDA awards $330 more for transmission upgrades and smart grid tech (via Renew Grid)

Cal-ISO and PacifiCorp agreement paves way for lower-cost solar integration (via Renewable Energy World)

NREL eyes intersection of EVs, green power and the grid (via GreenBiz)

OIL

US judge approves Transocean civil spill settlement (via Reuters)

BP challenges “excessive” spill claims (via The Hill)

Battle lines drawn for BP’s day in court (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION

Chinese companies slowly collecting discounted US electric car assets (via GigaOm)

UK to accelerate EVs with €37 million charging fund (via BusinessGreen)

Home solar systems to be an option for Honda customers (via New York Times)

New lithium-ion battery tech could appear in next few years (via Green Car Reports)

US gas prices are on a mysterious climb (via Washington Post)

All eyes on Tesla as it inches toward profitability in 2013 (via GigaOm)

$20 million DOE funding targets $30,000 EV with 240 miles of range (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE

Jurassic records warn of risk to marine life from global warming (via Phys.org)

COAL

Research finds additional harm from coal dust exposure (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Daylighting in New York City could save 160 megawatts (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS

Top EPA official used personal email address (via The Hill)

OPINION

The virtues of being unreasonable on Keystone (via Grist)

Joe Nocera’s wrong: a carbon tax wouldn’t help Canada’s tar sands (via Washington Post)

EU emissions trade is sputtering (via New York Times)

Musk-New York Times debate highlights electric car shortcomings (via MIT Technology Review)

Is free charging for EVs actually a long-term hindrance? (via Autoblog Green)

Posted: | Categories: Apache, australia, barack obama, battery, Bob Perciasepe, BP, Brazil, California ISO, canada, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Curtailment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV charging infrastructure, ev charging station, feed-in tariff, FIT, Gasoline, geothermal, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, honda, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, methane, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York City, News, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, PacifiCorp, pennsylvania, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, Tariff, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transocean, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, usda, V2G, wind, world cup

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.13 share

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Green groups rally on climate, urge Obama to reject Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Canada defends climate record amid Keystone XL protests in US (via Canadian Press)

Canadian ambassador slams press coverage of Keystone XL pipeline battle (via The Hill)

Oil sands tailings leaking into groundwater, Canadian Natural Resources Minister told in memo (via Canada.com)

Nebraska utility says transmission project for Keystone XL will be delayed (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Shale LPG poised to make US net exporter for first time (via Bloomberg)

Fracking is only way to achieve Obama climate goals, says senior scientist (via The Guardian)

Apache natural gas well has leak beneath floor of Gulf of Mexico (via Reuters)

Shale gas boom slows in Marcellus formation (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Illinois fracking rules could be strictest in America (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES

China on track to exceed targets, install 140GW of wind capacity by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Why German solar is so much cheaper than US solar – updated study (via CleanTechnica)

Solar PV below $2/watt in Australia (via CleanTechnica)

US bioethanol makers face 5-year EU anti-dumping tariff (via Bloomberg)

New trends in financing wind power (via Greentech Media)

Wind energy records fall in Washington, Texas, Colorado (via EarthTechling)

Bill proposed in Congress would streamline US solar and wind permits (via Recharge)

Wyden floats plan to boost geothermal energy (via The Hill)

Could wind power cool New England’s price fever? (via New York Times)

Federal approval near for sprawling California wind project (via Greenwire)

Offshore wind gets another try in Maryland (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION

EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers (via Autoblog)

What does a sub-$20k EV mean for the industry? (via EarthTechling)

More electric car owners install home charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

ARPA-E funds $20 million to develop energy storage systems for EVs (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE

Global warming affects Arctic and Antarctic regions differently (via Phys.org)

Extreme rainfall rises with global temperatures (via Climate Progress)

Tens of thousands demand action on climate change (via USA Today)

Secret funding of climate skeptics is not restricted to the US (via The Guardian)

Two thirds of Americans want Obama to act on climate (via Climate Central)

OIL

Direct threat to Canadian economy posed by US shale oil production (via Edmonton Journal)

Elegiac images from North Dakota’s boom (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS

BASIC countries oppose EU carbon tax model (via Yahoo! News/Hindustan Times)

Obama’s carbon “cavalry” may help revive EU market (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas isn’t the only reason US carbon emissions are falling (via Washington Post)

GRID

Electricity costs up in gas-dependent New England (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Military facilities benefit from using LEED (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

The low-tech solution to big cities’ climate woes: triple-pane windows (via Grist)

Defense Department “should continue” LEED certifications (via Environmental Leader)

COAL

Misunderstanding coal in Europe (via Christian Science Monitor)

Developers drop plans for Texas coal plant (via Houston Chronicle)

After White Stallion power plant canceled, coal faces dark future in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

ENVIRONMENT

NOAA head: weather forecasts at risk over budget cuts (via Climate Central)

Report points to risk of serious gap in weather satellite data (via New York Times)

The top 10 hardest-hit states for crop damage (via Climate Central)

TESLA-NEW YORK TIMES CONFLICT

Tesla, the New York Times, and the leveling of the media playing field (via PaidContent)

Tesla Model S owners crowdsource trip to counter NYT report (via Green Car Reports)

Sparks fly between Tesla and NYT, but here’s what matters to the rest of us (via OnEarth)

POLITICS

Obama faces risks in pipeline decision (via New York Times)

Keystone for climate: could Obama craft a horse trade? (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama acknowledges climate change difficulties (via Politico)

Billionaire Steyer has unique role in official Washington: climate change radical (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Environmentalists and the military should play nice (via Slate)

Oil and gas feeding off each other while they fuel an economic recovery (via Forbes)

Will shale oil stop the Keystone XL pipeline? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: | Categories: Antarctic, arctic, ARPA-E, australia, barack obama, Bioethanol, biofuel, california, canada, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Defense Department, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, Fuel Economy, geothermal, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, LEED, marcellus shale, maryland, natural gas, Nebraska, New England, News, noaa, north dakota, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, renewables, Ron Wyden, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Washington State, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Satellite data reveals major loss in volume of Arctic sea-ice since 2003 (via Green Car Congress)

60% of Americans agree with Obama on climate change action (via Greentech Media)

Major climate change bill coming to US Senate (via The Nation)

The most influential climate science paper today remains unknown to most people (via InsideClimate News)

The $188 billion price tag from US extreme weather from 2011 to 2012 (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Pressure builds on Keystone pipeline decision after Obama speech (via Reuters)

Keystone pipeline protesters arrested at White House (via The Hill)

GRID

India faces major energy shortfalls (The National)

CAISO and PacificCorp join forces to boost western grid reliability, integrate renewables (via Renew Grid)

California sets 50MW target for grid energy storage (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES

PwC: shale oil surge poses threat to renewables (via BusinessGreen)

White House outlines request for Congress to create $2 billion green energy fund (via Reuters)

Obama’s energy trust proposal doesn’t include expanded drilling (via Greenwire)

Yet another storm brewing over wind production tax credit (via CleanTechnica)

Net metering debate rages despite calls for calm (via Renewable Energy World)

ERCOT finds 10-13GW of solar PV competitive in Texas power market (via Solar Server)

Conflict of interest: California solar projects compete with prime farmland (via Sustainable Business)

Cape Wind hopes federal loan not blown (via Boston Herald)

In Indiana, seeking to ramp up wind without state mandates (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL

Exxon Mobil grows Arctic reach in Russia (via Houston Chronicle)

Crude oil and gasoline prices will drop through 2014, EIA projects (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil production forecast to increase 40% from 2011 to 2014 (via Facts of the Day)

Using federal oil revenues to cut America’s oil use (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric vehicle charging equipment market to surpass $3.8 billion by 2020 (via Pike Research)

Smart highways to be installed in Netherlands this year (via Triple Pundit)

DOE IG: grant money for battery company not “managed effectively” (via Washington Post)

Fisker Karma drivers averaging 150 mpg (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS

European corporations demand EU carbon market action (via BusinessGreen)

Carbon Disclosure Project investors up 10% in 2013 (via Environmental Leader)

Nations seen going separate ways on carbon as EU efforts falter (via Reuters)

London mayor unveils ultra-low emission zone plan for city (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas glut leads to tough times for power generators (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

Desalination seen booming at 15% a year as world’s water dries up (via Bloomberg)

South Americans face upheaval in deadly water battles (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

Obama faces clean energy constraints (via Recharge)

Obama’s threat to act unilaterally on climate change looking empty (via Grist)

Obama wants to double US energy efficiency by 2030 – is that possible? (via Washington Post)

Will Chuck Hagel keep DoD’s commitment to renewable energy? (via Sustainable Business)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, arra, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, bernie sanders, Boris Johnson, california, California ISO, cap and trade, cape wind, carbon disclosure project, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Department of Defense, desalination, drought, electric vehicles, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, EV charging infrastructure, EV charging stations, Exxon Mobil, Fisker Karma, Gasoline, green business, grid, india, indiana, Keystone XL, London, natural gas, Net metering, Netherlands, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, PacificCorp, production tax credit, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shale oil, solar, stimulus, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Water access, Water scarcity, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.13 share

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

STATE OF THE UNION

Obama gives Congress a climate change ultimatum (via Reuters)

Obama vows executive action climate push but many specifics remain absent (via The Hill)

Obama floats “Energy Security Trust” in State of the Union (via The Hill)

Obama calls for doubling US energy efficiency by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

Obama talks tough on climate, proposes “drilling for clean energy” program (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama promises cap-and-trade action (via Washington Post)

Obama cites storms, drought to build case for climate action (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS

Australia’s electricity emissions fall to 10-year low as coal sidelined by renewables (via Renew Economy)

EU aviation carbon emissions to decline in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

North American carbon markets to “more than double” this year (via Environmental Leader)

On-ship carbon capture concept developed, could reduce ship emissions up to 65% (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES

Three charts to help you understand Chile’s emerging utility-scale solar market (via Greentech Media)

Tea party targets renewable energy standard in Kansas (via Grist)

New York State solar market shows significant promise for 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Maine leads trend toward floating offshore wind turbines (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US Senate Energy Committee mulls future of natural gas policy (via Reuters)

Beyond the boom, unanswered questions about the life of new natural gas wells (via EnergyWire)

New York State puts off fracking decision (via New York Times)

New York State may issue fracking permits without final regulations (via Bloomberg)

GRID

Germany may implement energy storage incentive (via CleanTechnica)

Data centers morphing into virtual power plants (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE

Climate change outpacing green investment, report shows (via GreenBiz)

Why Tokyo has more to fear from sea-level rise than Vancouver (via Washington Post)

East Coast faces rising seas from slowing Gulf Stream (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Almost two-thirds of consumers remain unaware of UK’s energy efficiency Green Deal (via BusinessGreen)

Newer US homes are 30% larger but consumer about as much energy as older homes (via US EIA)

EPEAT green electronics registry adds printers, copiers (via GreenBiz)

Minneapolis commercial buildings to report energy use starting in 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION

Holland’s plan to go EV is working (via Autoblog Green)

The charges are flying over a test of Tesla’s charging network (via New York Times)

San Jose State University and CalCharge launch “Battery University” program (via Green Car Congress)

OIL

US approves Chinese-Canadian oil deal (via The Hill)

Russia plans $25-30 billion oil-for-loans deal with China (via Reuters)

GREEN BUSINESS

Corporations face mounting investor demand to enhance environmental performance (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT

Deaths of endangered fish curtail California water exports (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS

Top Republican to Obama: don’t bypass Congress on climate (via The Hill)

Sen. Boxer’s ideal EPA candidate seems to describe Gina McCarthy (via The Hill)

OPINION

Obama can’t change polarization on climate change (via Grist)

Can Congress compromise on clean energy? (via Midwest Energy News)

Is exporting natural gas a problem? (via Politico)

Is another Enron possible in today’s energy market? (via Forbes)

Is more charging needed to sell electric cars in Northeast US? (via Green Car Reports)

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.6.13 share

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

CLIMATE

USDA: climate change could devastate US agriculture (via USA Today)

Preparing for the rising tide across New England (via CLF Scoop)

How climate change impacts America’s energy infrastructure (via WRI Insights)

Warm weather forces changes ahead of Iditarod race (via New York Times)

Boston mayor calls on city to prepare for climate change (via Reuters)

New York Governor seeking home buyouts in flood zones (via New York Times)

Alaska climate taskforce hasn’t met since 2011, documents show (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS

UK emissions fall seven percent in 2011 as gas use plunges (via BusinessGreen)

White House weighs emissions rules for power plants (via Wall Street Journal)

EPA: power plants accounted for two-thirds of US industrial emissions in 2011 (via The Hill)

CARB chair Mary Nichols discusses state carbon trading (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV installations hit 32GW in 2012, 35GW projected for 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind could power nine million homes in Eastern Europe (via BusinessGreen)

Europe’s first wind-powered province touts renewables as key to recovery (via BusinessGreen)

New German wind installations expected to top “up to 3.5GW this year” (via Recharge)

Norway expects onshore wind lift-off (via Recharge)

Wind energy fund plans $320 million IPO with UK government backing (via Reuters)

Novel designs are taking wind power to the next level (via MIT Technology Review)

US solar will eclipse wind in 2013, says Duke Energy (via Bloomberg)

Midwest gets into clean tech investing with energy foundry (via Greentech Media)

Beyond tax incentives: how to make solar attractive to universities (via Good)

ENERGY POLICY

Time for change: China flags peak in coal usage (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Canada set to cut direct spending on fossil fuel sector (via Reuters)

Seattle and San Francisco consider divesting from fossil fuels (via Grist)

OIL

Deep-sea drilling muddles political waters (via New York Times)

Canada not ready for major offshore spill, says environmental agency (via Reuters)

North Dakota’s Bakken Oil finally hits the East Coast (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

As profits sag, BP girds for “trial of the year” (via Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION

China to roll out cleaner fuel standards, says government (via Reuters)

Better Place to shut down US, Australian operations (via Forbes)

Americans now spending most on gas since early 1980s (via Washington Post)

Toyota recycles hybrid batteries into energy management systems (via CleanTechnica)

Boeing 787 batteries: what’s causing their “thermal runaways?” (via Christian Science Monitor)

UPS deploys 100 commercial EVs in California (via Green Car Congress)

Volt owners are almost equally Republicans & Democrats (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron hit all-time low water levels (via Weather Underground)

Some parts of Texas approaching worst-ever drought (via Star-Telegram/AP)

Wyoming explores oil-gas regulations for groundwater testing (via Casper Star-Tribune)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Alberta may offer more environmental initiatives to smooth way for Keystone XL (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Debunking Nature’s arguments in favor of Keystone XL (via Grist)

GREEN BUSINESS

How to get your CFO to love your sustainability director (via GreenBiz)

Alaskan Brewing Company runs on energy generated by its own beer (via AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

MIT engineers develop process to treat produced water from natgas wells at low cost (via Green Car Congress)

Shale industry moves to ship fracking waste via barge down Ohio River (via DeSmog Blog)

Former PA Governor Rendell intervened on behalf of gas driller in Texas contamination case (via StateImpact Texas)

VEHICLE-TO-GRID

Connecting EVs to the grid – NREL takes the lead (via CleanTechnica)

Pentagon places $20 million bet on vehicle-to-grid technology (via Greenwire)

POLITICS

Waxman to push for Congressional climate hearings (via The Hill)

Can Congress ever agree on climate change? An interview with Henry Waxman (via Washington Post)

Obama to nominate CEO of REI for Interior Secretary (via Washington Post)

OPINION

How can we prepare for climate change without screwing poor people? (via Grist)

Work less, save the planet? (via Mother Jones)

Analysts: energy policy not keeping pace with technology (via Houston Chronicle)

Will climate change be President Obama’s legacy? (via EarthTechling)

Posted: | Categories: alaska, Alberta, Andrew Cuomo, australia, Bakken Shale, barack obama, Batteries, better place, Boeing Dreamliner, Boston, BP, california, california air resources board, canada, CARB, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, duke energy, Ed Rendell, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, europe, ev, fracking, Fracking wastewater, Fuel standard, Gasoline, germany, global warming, green business, Henry Waxman, hybrid, Iditarod, Illinois, interior department, Keystone XL, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Mary Nichols, MIT, natural gas, New England, new york state, News, north dakota, norway, NREL, Offshore drilling Oil spill, Ohio, oil, renewables, Sally Jewell, san francisco, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Subsidies, tar sands, Tax incentives, texas, Tom Menino, Toyota, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, ups, usda, V2G, wind, wyoming

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.5.13 share

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

TRANSPORTATION

Japan probe of Dreamliner battery finds signs of thermal runaway (via Washington Post/AP)

US households spent record amount on gasoline in 2012 (via Reuters)

Analysts forecast extended range EV market to reach more than 329k units by 2018 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID

Polish utility chief questions EU energy market integration (via Recharge)

US Energy Department hacked, says no classified data was compromised (via Reuters)

Energy storage: crossing the chasm to commercialization (via Greentech Media)

Midwest grid operator expanding south, to “last frontier” for renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES

IEA chief: fossil fuel subsidies are public enemy number one for green energy (via BusinessGreen)

Wind overtakes nuclear in Chinese energy league table (via BusinessGreen)

Top Chinese manufacturers will produce solar panels for 42 cents per watt in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Unusual allies fight renewable fuel standard (via Houston Chronicle)

US net meter capacity exceeds 2,688MW & 225,000 customers (via Facts of the Day)

DOE study quantifies county-level employment & income gains from wind energy development (via CleanTechnica)

Solar development absorbing California farmland (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ERCOT may add 1.2GW of wind in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

35MW “solar forest” sprouts in North Carolina (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS

Fears mount over Japan’s carbon target (via BusinessGreen)

US Pacific Northwest paying high price for carbon emissions (via Grist)

Arizona sues US EPA over coal power plant emissions (via Reuters)

COAL

Under Obama, coal country fights for its way of life (via Reuters)

DOE moves FutureGen CCS project forward into second phase (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK PM Cameron pushes energy efficiency as motor of green growth (via The Guardian)

Spending on US utility efficiency programs to double by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

California budget proposes shifting energy-efficiency funds (via Energy Manager Today)

SUPER BOWL BLACKOUT

Super Bowl power outage was known fear (via ESPN)

NFL: halftime show had no role in Super Bowl blackout (via Chicago Tribune/Reuters)

Super Bowl: who turned out the lights? (via Politico)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

New York State: no timetable for fracking decision (via Corning Leader/AP)

GREEN BUSINESS

Deep green investing: a closer look (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE

Blowing hot and cold: US belief in climate change shifts with weather (via Phys.org)

POLITICS

Biden vows climate change action in meeting with French president (via The Hill)

Outgoing EPA chief regrets lack of dialogue with rural America (via The Hill)

Outgoing EPA chief convinced Obama serious on climate change (via Reuters)

Top Senate Republican unveils broad energy blueprint (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION

Sen. Murkowski unveils her energy plan – here’s a breakdown (via Washington Post)

Chu navigated energy policy through changing tides in US production (via EnergyWire)

Electric cars head toward another dead end (via Reuters)

Posted: | Categories: arizona, barack obama, battery, biofuel, Blackout, Boeing Dreamliner, california, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cybersecurity, David Cameron, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, fracking, France, FutureGen, Gasoline, green business, grid, IEA, japan, Joe Biden, lisa jackson, Lisa Murkowski, MISO, natural gas, Net metering, new york state, News, North Carolina, Poland, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, solar, steven chu, Subsidies, Super Bowl, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.4.13 share

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

TRANSPORTATION

Germany could have a million plug-in vehicles by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota recycling old hybrid batteries into energy-storage systems for dealers (via Autoblog Green)

Secretary Chu says 1 million EVs by 2015 is “ambitious” (via Plugin Cars)

DOE launches workplace charging challenge (via Energy Manager Today)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,140 in January, Nissan Leaf falls to 650 (via Autoblog Green)

OIL

Land battles rise as US eyes 450,000 miles of new pipeline (via Bloomberg)

Vast California oil reserve may now be within reach, and battle heats up (via New York Times)

North Dakota weighs industrial water extraction tax for shale oil use (via Fargo-Mooread Forum)

RENEWABLES

Red tape trips up France’s green energy hopes for wind power (via Reuters)

China adds one-third of world’s onshore wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Solar power giving Haiti a hospital it can use (via EarthTechling)

Sabotage may have felled UK wind turbine (via United Press International)

First Solar may sell solar power cheaper than coal (via Bloomberg)

The top 10 wind energy states in 2012 (via AOL Energy)

Government’s plan to expand biofuel use runs into bumps on road (via Washington Post)

Wind now supplies 6% of US electricity (via Sustainable Business)

Texas grid operator says renewables competitive with natgas over next decade (via Facts of the Day)

Georgia Power planning 1.5GW of renewables by 2016, less coal-fired generation (via Renew Grid)

North Carolina governor boosts offshore wind (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Reshaping Panama Canal trade means boom in US gas to Asia (via Bloomberg)

US shale gas revolution throws down the gauntlet to Europe (via Reuters)

Legal loophole keeps fracking mixes murky (via Houston Chronicle)

US Senators propose making LNG exports automatic (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking for state dollars (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Ohio farmers divided on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

GRID

Pentagon promises massive response to increasing cyber attacks (via AOL Energy)

Energy companies and landowners are clashing over property rights (via Forbes)

SPP approves $751 million in transmission-expansion projects (via Renew Grid)

10-year low for electricity prices across ISO-New England in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Texas mega-battery aims to green up the grid (via New Scientist)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

White House delay on efficiency standards costs consumers $300 million per month (via Greentech Media)

Employee “green teams” deliver $76 million boost for US Postal Service (via BusinessGreen)

Minneapolis considers energy benchmarking for commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE

Outgoing Energy Secretary Chu’s parting warning on warming (via Time)

Research shows the Antarctic ozone hole has changed ocean circulation (via Inhabitat)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Why Canada’s oil sands industry wants a CO2 tax (via Bloomberg)

Rethinking opposition to Keystone XL (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS

For US and China, world’s biggest climate polluters, it’s still business as usual (via InsideClimate News)

Like everything else, carbon emissions are bigger in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL

Colorado communities take on fight against energy land leases (via New York Times)

Seattle’s coal training (via Seattle Weekly)

POLITICS

Obama’s climate team appears primed for action (via Politico)

Top EPA air quality official in line to replace outgoing administrator (via The Hill)

Murkowski launches push for expanded drilling, green energy policy revamp (via The Hill)

Gore presses Obama to “follow through” on climate change promises (via The Hill)

Kerry: climate bill failure among biggest Senate regrets (via The Hill)

OPINION

UK Green Power Auction Market a “win-win-win” for renewables, consumers, suppliers (via BusinessGreen)

How will energy productivity jumpstart the US economy? (via National Journal)

Steven Chu steps down as energy secretary – so how did he do? (via Washington Post)

Is wind power reaching a tipping point? (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted: | Categories: al gore, Antarctic, Asia, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, Cybersecurity, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, europe, ev, EV charger, First Solar, fracking, Fracking fluid, France, Georgia, Georgia Power, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Haiti, hybrid, ISO New England, john kerry, Keystone XL, Lisa Murkowski, LNG export, Minneapolis, natural gas, Natural gas export, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Panama Canal, Pipeline, renewables, seattle, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Southwest Power Pool, SPP, steven chu, tar sands, texas, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Postal Service, USPS, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.30.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Report finds climate change a threat to wildlife (via USA Today)

Spring may come 17 days earlier for North American forests (via Phys.org)

Redrawn New York City FEMA flood zone map contains twice as many structures (via New York Times)

Why San Francisco can lead the way on resiliency planning (via GreenBiz)

COAL

China consumes nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined (via US EIA)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

EU maintains plan to label Canadian tar sands oil as highly polluting (via Reuters)

US State Department’s Keystone XL review will face EPA scrutiny a third time (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL decision may loom large for red state Democrats in 2014 midterms (via The Hill)

House GOP, citing North African turmoil, boosts Keystone pipeline pressure (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Germany adds 2.4GW of wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Denmark announces 1.5GW offshore wind tender (via Recharge)

German wind market may defy global slump to grow 43% this year (via Bloomberg)

9 in 10 French favor renewables but perceive high costs (via Renewable Energy World)

The rapid rise of UK offshore wind (via Greentech Media)

Chinese company sues to void blocked US wind farm purchase (via Bloomberg)

Top solar states vs top solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

Scaling solar and wind: a hard look at innovation priorities (via Energy Collective)

Oil-and-gas lobby might take ethanol fight to Supreme Court (via The Hill)

EPA reveals 100% green power users list (via Environmental Leader)

Can wind developers halt “the march of the buffer zones’? (via BusinessGreen)

Solar industry gets burned in Arizona (via Energy Manager Today)

Solar with energy storage coming to California, at a cost (via EarthTechling)

EMISSIONS

Russia exploring plans for domestic carbon market (via RTCC)

Scotland pledges to decarbonize power sector by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

Australian businesses counting carbon tax (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Missoula city council passes plan to be carbon neutral by 2025 (via Missoulian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Pipeline explosion rattles natural gas industry (via Forbes)

Can natural gas undo nuclear power? (via Wall Street Journal)

Chesapeake chief McClendon quits, cites “philosophical differences” (via Houston Chronicle)

McClendon out at Chesapeake – is a takeover next? (via Forbes)

Departure of Chesapeake CEO McClendon signals new era in natural gas (via Christian Science Monitor)

Congressmen supporting LNG exports received $11.5 million from Big Oil, electric utilities (via DeSmog Blog)

GRID

German grid operators coping with power supply swings (via Reuters)

Survey to utilities: stress smart grid benefits to win over consumers (via Energy Manager Today)

Silver Spring Networks could finally go public within a month (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION

Hybrids outsell many market segments in 2012 but still struggling (via Autoblog)

Wanxiang wins US approval to buy battery maker A123 (via Bloomberg)

Boeing Dreamliner battery was a concern before failure (via New York Times)

Nissan “almost” sold out of 2012 Leafs (via Autoblog Green)

OIL

Judge accepts BP’s $4 billion criminal settlement over Gulf oil spill (via New York Times)

Texas oil output hits highest level in two decades (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

Recapping a year of weather extremes (via C2ES)

Colorado wildfire air pollution rivaled worst days in Mexico City, Los Angeles (via Phys.org)

Stretches of upper Mississippi River near record-low levels (via US EIA)

POLITICS

Yale poll finds climate change action is a political winner (via Climate Progress)

John Kerry’s Secretary of State confirmation delights climate campaigners (via The Guardian)

Kerry likely to face great green expectations at State Department (via E&E Daily)

Al Gore faces “The Future” with optimism (via The Hill)

LaHood to step down as head of US Transportation Department (via The Hill)

Top Ohio utility regulator tied to group pushing repeal of state renewable energy targets (via Columbus Republic)

Posted: | Categories: A123, al gore, ALEC, arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon neutral, carbon tax, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, denmark, drought, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Flooding, fracking, France, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, john kerry, Keystone XL, LNG, los angeles, Mexico City, Mississippi River, Missoula, Montana, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York City, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, Ray LaHood, renewables, Russia, san francisco, Scotland, Severe weather, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, smart grid, smart meters, Smog, solar, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wanxiang, Wildfire, wind

Category Archives:energy storage

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