Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.7.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
GRID
Utilities outline smarter, more resilient grid to cope with future storms (via ClimateWire)
During major storms, utilities turn to technology (via Navigant Research)
What municipal utilities want from the smart grid (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Global coal consumption booms nearly 60% as China consumes 47% of total (via Facts of the Day)
RENEWABLES
US mulling solar trade agreement with EU, China (via Reuters)
Major global markets continue to determine wind’s path (via Renewable Energy World)
Feed-in tariff spurs Japan solar power boom (via Washington Post)
North America and Asia-Pacific lead geothermal market (via Navigant Research)
Tidal energy could be next big wave (via Forbes)
Report shows US solar annual capacity passed 2GW in 2012 (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Ethanol leading to a corn-based bubble (via Houston Chronicle)
DOE launches geothermal regulatory roadmap for project developers (via CleanTechnica)
NREL announces 2012 utility green power program leaders (via Renew Grid)
Nebraska governor signs wind incentive bill into law (via Recharge)
Connecticut governor signs bill amending RPS to include hydropower (via Renew Grid)
Solar Foundation releases solar guide for homeowner associations (via Solar Industry Magazine)
OIL
Interior Secretary says no new oil drilling in Atlantic as GOP forges ahead (via The Hill)
Gulf oil wells have been leaking since 2004 hurricane (via Grist)
Oil boom masks technological limits that could stifle long-term Bakken potential (via EnergyWire)
Few objections to fracking rule from oil industry, says Interior Secretary (via The Hill)
Oil industry drove economic booms in North Dakota, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)
CLIMATE
Arctic summers could be nearly ice-free in seven years (via Grist)
UN beats $30 billion goal to fund climate aid in poorer nations (via Bloomberg)
Slicing open stalagmites to reveal climate secrets (via Mother Jones)
More pieces of global warming puzzle assembled by recent research (via The Guardian)
NUCLEAR
NRC orders owners of 31 US nuclear reactors to toughen vents (via Bloomberg)
EMISSIONS
European demand for voluntary offsets surges in private sector (via GreenBiz)
Germany in new push against EU car emissions plan (via Reuters)
Measuring carbon in soil takes a leap forward (via Phys.org)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Detroit’s huge petcoke pile makes its way back to Canada (via New York Times)
Harry Reid says Keystone XL vote coming in US Senate (via The Hill)
Obama dogged by Keystone XL protesters during Bay Area visit (via San Francisco Chronicle)
ENVIRONMENT
US irrigation subsidies leading to more water use (via New York Times)
Time for US to rely less on shovels, hoses, retardant in fighting wildfires? (via Christian Science Monitor)
Dell pledges waste-free packaging by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Federal government give industry, environmentalists more time to study drilling rule (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla CEO Elon Musk will drive Model S from LA to New York (via Green Car Reports)
Want to boost fuel economy? Stop thinking about miles per gallon. (via Washington Post)
POLITICS
Obama officials face tough questions on oil drilling, land access (via Houston Chronicle)
A bipartisan energy committee stuck in a partisan Senate (via National Journal)
OPINION
How “tower power” is breaking open the rural clean energy market (via Greentech Media)
Distributed solar has arrived (via Navigant Research)