Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.24.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Japan’s 2012 LNG imports at record high on nuclear woes (via Reuters)
White House starts review of revised gas “fracking” rule (via The Hill)
GAO says regulators need to improve natural gas pipeline incident response data (via Washington Post/AP)
Dow Chemical fights ally Exxon’s natural gas export push (via Bloomberg)
Pennsylvania fracking wastewater might overwhelm Ohio injection wells (via Akron Beacon Journal)
TRANSPORTATION
Electrifying auto fleets could cut company fuel costs by 75% (via BusinessGreen)
Plug-in readiness reports show wide difference between California regions (via Green Car Congress)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Majority of US senators back Keystone XL pipeline (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Sting operations reveal mafia involvement in Italian renewable energy (via Washington Post)
Expensive loans dim prospects for renewable energy in India (via Forbes)
Big funders bought wind in 2012 (via Greentech Media)
Mitsubishi Heavy seeks 10% share of global offshore wind market (via Bloomberg)
Latin American solar markets poised for 66% growth through 2017 (via Greentech Media)
Report: lack of consistent policy holding back clean energy industry (via Midwest Energy News)
North America’s largest wind energy storage facility goes online in Texas (via CleanTechnica)
VW starts up largest solar park at US auto factory in Tennessee (via Autoblog Green)
EMISSIONS
Japan ready to ditch emissions reduction target (via Phys.org)
Beijing to scrap old cars and swap coal-burners in clean air bid (via Bloomberg)
Greenhouse gas emissions dip in Minnesota, but future is uncertain (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
ENERGY INDUSTRY
Deutsche Bank pays $1.6 million to end US energy market trading probe (via Bloomberg)
Study: college endowments triple returns on fossil fuel stocks (via Houston Chronicle)
GRID
China to cap electricity growth at 8% through 2015 (via Bloomberg)
Smart grid may be shortest route to Obama’s green energy goals (via Forbes)
The importance, challenge, and future of smart grid data analytics (via Renew Grid)
Duke completes battery storage project at Texas wind farm (via Renew Grid)
New aggregation programs drive consumer participation in Illinois energy choice (via US EIA)
NUCLEAR
Japan faces nuclear shutdown for second time since Fukushima (via Reuters)
Funding no problem for German shift from nuclear energy (via Reuters)
Fracking for uranium (via Forbes)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Companies call on EU to deliver 2030 energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)
Surge expected for utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)
Does your state lead in LEED? (via Greentech Media)
How energy literate are you? (via Mapawatt)
CLIMATE
Why Greenland’s melting could be the biggest climate disaster of all (via Mother Jones)
Andes glaciers melting at record rates (via Christian Science Monitor/Reuters)
Analysis: Obama’s next climate steps apt to be temperate (via Reuters)
Derek Jeter steps to the plate for climate change (via Politico)
Climate change bill readied for 2013 Utah state legislative session (via Salt Lake Tribune)
OIL
Alaskans want role in US Arctic offshore drilling probe (via Houston Chronicle)
POLITICS
Obama’s covert plans for climate (via Politico)
Tracking the changes at EPA in Obama’s second term (via AOL Energy)
Ashton Carter said to be leading contender for US Energy Secretary (via Bloomberg)
Sen. Kerry to divest financial holdings to avoid conflicts of interest (via Boston Globe)
Sen. Murkowski to release “comprehensive” energy blueprint next week (via The Hill)
OPINION
Why are greens so defensive about the rebound effect? (via Grist)
Uncertainty about climate change is reason for more aggressive action (via Grist)
Breaking down the Federal clean energy innovation budget: demonstration projects (via Innovation Files)
OTHER NEWS
An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress