Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.19.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENERGY POLICY
Report: fossil fuel carbon bubble will plunge world into another financial crisis (via The Guardian)
EIA projects fossil fuels will still provide 78% of US energy in 2040 (via Facts of the Day)
CLIMATE
China and India talk up plans for national climate action (via BusinessGreen)
China plans to complete climate change draft law in two years (via Bloomberg)
World Bank president: climate change is urgent “today” problem (via PBS News)
RENEWABLES
Masdar unveils Africa’s largest solar PV plant (via BusinessGreen)
South Africa sees a 20,000% increase in clean energy investment (via Greentech Media)
Japan plans major solar storage project (via Recharge)
How does the California solar initiative compare to Japan’s FIT? (via Solar Magazine)
99% of 2012 US solar PV installations were net metered (via CleanTechnica)
California has more solar jobs than actors (via Greentech Media)
Midwest wind energy plan tests power of farmers (via Houston Chronicle)
Solar wins in Louisiana net metering fight (via Renewable Energy World)
Solar cooling panel could provide AC without electricity by sending heat to outer space (via Treehugger)
TRANSPORTATION
Nearly 22 million electric vehicles will be sold from 2012 to 2020 (via Navigant Research)
Microbattery technology could shrink battery sizes by a factor of ten (via United Press International)
FAA set to approve Boeing’s fixes for Dreamliner problem batteries (via Washington Post/AP)
Fisker spent $660,000 on each $103,000 plug-in car (via Bloomberg)
EMISSIONS
Almost official: California’s cap and trade program finally linking with Quebec (via Triple Pundit)
Chevron defies California on carbon emissions (via Bloomberg)
GRID
Report: higher level of renewables poses no problem for the grid (via Renew Grid)
Demand response needed to beat the heat in Texas (via Greentech Media)
KEYSTONE XL
The first – and last – hearing on Keystone XL environmental impact (via Mother Jones)
Rowdy Keystone pipeline hearing pits workers vs greens (via Reuters)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Senators reveal slimmer energy-efficiency bill with eye toward GOP (via The Hill)
Energy efficiency stocks rally on Shaheen-Portman bill (via Forbes)
OIL
Interior Department: emergency containment equipment a must for Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)
More US oil probably won’t destroy the climate (via Council on Foreign Relations)
Arkansas homeowners file class action lawsuit against ExxonMobil (via KARK News)
NATURAL GAS
Energy Department: LNG export decisions coming soon (via Houston Chronicle)