Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.11.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
FY2014 FEDERAL BUDGET
Obama budget seeks defenses against climate-fueled extreme weather (via The Hill)
Obama budget revives battle over oil industry tax breaks (via The Hill)
Obama budget would end oil industry tax breaks, hike royalties (via Houston Chronicle)
Obama’s FY2014 budget boosts DOE vehicle technology spending 75% to $575M; $282M for advanced biofuels (via Green Car Congress)
Obama budget hints at sale of Tennessee Valley Authority (via Houston Chronicle)
Obama budget promises action on climate change (via Politico)
ENERGY POLICY
Asia’s soaring energy demands will post major economic, climate, health risks (via ClimateWire)
Renewables, efficiency take flight in US Air Force energy strategy (via CleanTechnica)
Antitrust case tied to California energy crisis revived (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Asia-Pacific renewable energy market to hit 535.2GW by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)
Is the Middle East and Africa the next solar development hotbed? (via Solar Industry Magazine)
EU seeks new anti-dumping trade powers with China in mind (via Reuters)
Germany expected to install 3.2GW of wind in 2014 (via Recharge)
Renewable energy continues to build momentum in US power mix (via Renew Grid)
US wind market forecast to shrink slightly to 11GW in 2013-2014 (via Recharge)
Renewables made up 82% of new US capacity in Q1 2013 (via Solar Industry Magazine)
US wind in January 2013 set monthly record & produced more than in all of 2004 (via Facts of the Day)
US ethanol producers brace for biofuel mandate fight in Congress (via Reuters)
Solar panels could destroy US utilities, according to US utilities (via Grist)
After mega-rally, First Solar outlook meets skepticism (via Reuters)
New wind energy harvester design looks like giant window blinds (via Treehugger)
Texas solar-powered public property bill backed by education, military (via StateImpact Texas)
Maryland 210MW offshore wind bill signed into law (via Recharge)
COAL
Environmentalists say “war on coal” a fabrication (via AP)
CRS report casts doubt on FutureGen, carbon capture technology (via SNL Energy)
CLIMATE
In global warming, Northern Hemisphere is outpacing the South (via Climate Central)
Business giants urge US to seize climate change “opportunity” (via BusinessGreen)
Olympians to Obama: climate change jeopardizes winter sports’ survival (via The Guardian)
Nike, Starbucks: betting against climate scientists is “false hope” (via The Hill)
OIL
ConocoPhillips, citing regulator uncertainty, delays Arctic drilling (via The Hill)
White House proposes royalty, permitting changes on energy development (via The Hill)
California’s fracking bonanza may fall short of promise (via Bloomberg)
Arkansas AG says oil pipeline gash is 22 feet long (via Miami Herald/AP)
TRANSPORTATION
Soaring hybrid demand accounts for a fifth of all European Toyota sales (via BusinessGreen)
Six new plug-in electric cars coming in 2014 (via Green Car Reports)
Alternative transportation fuel use jumps 13% (via Environmental Leader)
Tesla messes with Texas over how to sell its electric cars (via GigaOm)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Israel’s natural gas find wins the world’s notice (via Forbes)
US LNG no cure for high European gas prices (via AOL Energy)
Moniz backs increased use of natural gas (via Washington Post)
New solar process gets more out of natural gas (via New York Times)
Frack sand mining: what are the alternatives? (via Minnesota Public Radio)
GRID
The UK’s retailer-led smart meter rollout (via Greentech Media)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
This Army camp can cut soldier energy use by 75% (via Greentech Media)
EMISSIONS
California and China sign agreement to strengthen and coordinate efforts to improve air quality (via Green Car Congress)
Australian power emissions fall to 10-year low as coal output drops (via Renew Economy)
Copenhagen’s ambitious push to be carbon-neutral by 2025 (via Yale e360)
ENVIRONMENT
Top US storm team sees above average Atlantic hurricane season (via Reuters)
POLITICS
Senate votes 87-11 to confirm Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary (via The Hill)
Moniz sees gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables future (via Greentech Media)
GOP to begin new assault on Obama’s climate plans at EPA nominee hearing (via National Journal)
OPINION
Using aging, retrofitted pipelines to ship oil – what could go wrong? (via Grist)
How Obama’s new budget targets oil and gas (via Forbes)
How can we boost distributed solar and save utilities at the same time? (via Grist)
Obama goes big on clean energy in budget (via EarthTechling)
OTHER NEWS
An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress