Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.16.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
GRID
Offshore transmission line breaks new ground on grid rules (via New York Times)
Why military microgrids influence exceeds their market share (via Pike Research)
ENERGY POLICY
Large mergers drive changes in ownership of electric generating capacity in 2012 (via US EIA)
Oil lobby touts Keystone XL pipeline, natural gas exports (via Politico)
Oil refiners ask Congress to scrap renewable fuels mandate (via Houston Chronicle)
EMISSIONS
Hong Kong offers $1.3 billion to replace polluting vehicles (via Bloomberg)
EPA says final revisions to 2010 air quality rule will cut industry costs, health risks (via The Hill)
California cuts GHGs for third year (via Environmental Leader)
RENEWABLES
“Advanced energy” is a trillion-dollar market, and actually grew in 2012 (via GigaOm)
China passes 60GW grid-connected wind capacity (via Recharge)
Inside MENA countries’ solar energy plans (via Renewable Energy World)
Saudi Arabia will set up power buyer for renewables electricity (via Bloomberg)
Royal family investing £20 million in UK wave and tidal power (via BusinessGreen)
Solar provides 5.6% of Italian electricity demand in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)
Morocco to launch new concentrated solar power tenders (via Recharge)
50% solar cell efficiency could be in sight (via EarthTechling)
PTC in place, the US wind industry looks ahead (via Greentech Media)
Solar net metering will provide over $92 million in benefits to California ratepayers (via Electric Light & Power)
Sungevity scores $125 million for third-party solar financing (via Greentech Media)
ALEC to attack North Carolina renewable energy initiative (via DeSmogBlog)
Virginia attorney general targets utility renewable energy incentives (via Washington Times/AP)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Texas study finds increase in water used for fracking (via Texas Tribune)
CLIMATE
2012 was Earth’s 10th warmest year on record, warmest with a La Nina (via Weather Underground)
US climate diplomat says emissions deal is in nations’ core interest (via The Hill)
Black carbon 2x larger cause of climate change than previously assessed (via Green Car Reports)
Record taxpayer cost is seen for US crop insurance (via New York Times)
Decades of temperature changes where you lived mapped online (via The Guardian)
National Flood Insurance Program – a mighty engine that couldn’t (via ClimateWire)
Science and religion meet at a climate protest (via New York Times)
Do cities really take the lead on climate change? (via Grist)
Sandy relief bill passes House despite conservative opposition (via Huffington Post)
TRANSPORTATION
Cadillac and Nissan press the case for electric cars (via New York Times)
Tesla Model S to hit UK market in early 2014 (via BusinessGreen)
Cadillac introduces 2014 ELR extended range electric vehicle (via Green Car Congress)
Nissan to use US battery plant for hybrid vehicles (via Bloomberg)
Johnson Controls offers start-stop battery system for vehicles (via New York Times)
GREEN BUSINESS
Google makes new electricity push with funding to Energy Foundation (via The Hill)
How Ford and Adidas are making climate change work in their favor (via GreenBiz)
US government seeing big savings from green buildings (via Greentech Media)
COAL
10 things to know about leasing coal on public land (via Oregon Public Radio)
POLITICS
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to leave Obama administration (via Reuters)
Ken Salazar’s legacy includes push for wind, solar energy (via Politico)
Chuck Hagel’s Chevron tie not criticized (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
2013: the year of climate decision (via Climate Progress)
Can the Chinese rescue Fisker? (via Autoblog)
For greater job growth, invest in clean energy, not US coal exports (via National Geographic)
Wind might not roar in 2013, even with PTC (via EarthTechling)
The extreme weather threat that’s all around us (via Huffington Post)
Why is net metering under attack? (via Greentech Media)
A holding pattern at Tesla (via New York Times)