Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.5.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
China sticks to carbon-intensity target, dismisses CO2 cap (via Bloomberg)
UK decarbonization target narrowly defeated in legislature (via The Guardian)
Congress hates carbon pricing – the rest of the world doesn’t (via Washington Post)
KEYSTONE XL
Climate change and Keystone XL: the numbers behind the debate (via Energy Collective)
Scientists tell State Department key parts of Keystone review are “without merit” (via InsideClimate News)
API says State Department considering Keystone hearing in Washington, DC (via The Hill)
TransCanada digging up defective segments of new pipeline, angering landowners in Texas (via InsideClimate News)
RENEWABLES
Renewable energy investments in Middle East and North Africa grew 40% in 2012 (via Recharge)
EU solar tariffs may spur short-term imports as deal is sought (via Bloomberg)
EU imposes provisional 11.8% tariffs on Chinese solar imports (via Greentech Media)
Mining-dependent Mongolia pushes renewables as climate change hits (via Reuters)
UK government considers plans to compensate homes near wind farms (via BusinessGreen)
Wine industry dragged into EU-China solar trade war (via BusinessGreen)
New hybrid wind-solar technology could change the future of renewables (via Phys.org)
Offshore wind projects to advance as US sets auction (via Bloomberg)
EPA tool determines viability of solar projects on contaminated sites (via The Good Human)
San Francisco, San Jose dominate ranking of clean tech cities (via San Jose Mercury News)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Germany drops fracking law until after September’s election (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
US Forest Service tells Congress climate change causing longer wildfire season (via The Guardian)
GRID
The billion-dollar smart grid storm and summer spending surge (via Greentech Media)
As energy picture changes, Midwest grid operator considers a longer outlook (via Midwest Energy News)
California takes the lead in using batteries for grid storage (via Green Car Reports)
5MW energy storage system headlines Oregon smart grid project (via Renew Grid)
Siemens installing America’s first regenerative energy storage unit (via CleanTechnica)
OIL
Large oil firms hit record US spending in 2012 as profits drop (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
United Airlines planes to fly on advanced biofuel (via Houston Chronicle)
Tesla loses fight to set up its own dealers in Texas (via Autoblog)
ENVIRONMENT
EPA says US water infrastructure needs $384 billion upgrade (via Los Angeles Times)
When will the Texas drought end? (via StateImpact Texas)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Walgreens building net zero energy store outside Chicago (via New York Times)
POLITICS
GOP attacks landmark offshore wind power plan (via Houston Chronicle)
House panel erupts over Endangered Species Act debate (via The Hill)
Dim GOP enthusiasm for cap-and-trade bill in 2009 even dimmer now (via E&E Daily)
OPINION
Imagining power utilities for the 21st century (via Grist)
Nuclear energy and my Greenpeace conundrum (via Energy Collective)