Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Chinese finance minister confirms carbon tax is on its way (via BusinessGreen)
Zero-carbon Britain is possible by 2030, claims new report (via Treehugger)
COAL
EU finance arm to decide on curbing loans to coal-fired power (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
UN climate change deal “may not be feasible” by 2015 (via RTCC)
Climate change slowdown due to warming of deep oceans, say scientists (via The Guardian)
DOE examines climate change impact on energy sector (via Breaking Energy)
New EPA chief exhorts agency staff to “act now on climate change” (via The Hill)
Alaska looks for answers in glacier’s summer flood surges (via New York Times)
Schwarzenegger filming documentary on climate change and wildfires (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)
RENEWABLES
Thailand boosts solar target 50% to 3,000MW (via Bloomberg)
Wind turbine battleground shifts for European and Chinese rivals (via Reuters)
Central American solar markets spurred on by high electricity prices (via Greentech Media)
Solar provides Germany 50% of power at peak hour (via Facts of the Day)
Grid-connected solar capacity in India crosses 1.7GW (via Panchabuta)
Over 1GW and 11,000 jobs for Australian solar industry in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)
With push from tax break, wind industry slowly moves out of the doldrums (via ClimateWire)
Hydropower: the unsung hero of renewable energy (via Christian Science Monitor)
Foster’s solar-skinned buildings signal market tripling (via Bloomberg)
Advocates, foes of biofuels mandate get ready to rumble (via The Hill)
Interior Department announces Virginia offshore wind lease sale (via The Hill)
Oklahoma wind farms to provide power to Arkansas, Nebraska (via The Oklahoman)
Palo Alto switches to 100% renewables – at a cost of $3 per year (via Renew Economy)
Vestas joins DOE, Texas Tech to launch unique wind research facility (via Renewable Energy World)
NATURAL GAS
US natural gas spot prices increased during first-half 2013 (via US EIA)
US rules on fracking on public lands seen costing drillers $345 million (via Reuters)
Kansas regulators considering new fracking rules (via Kansas City Star)
Minnesota agencies crafting frack sand mining rules (via Daily News/AP)
Welcome to Portage County, the fracking waste disposal capital of Ohio (via Grist)
ENVIRONMENT
China to implement stricter air quality controls (via China Daily)
Arctic’s boreal forests burning at “unprecedented” rate (via Climate Central)
Pakistan now “one of the most water-stressed countries in the world” as demand exceeds supply (via Climate Progress)
NUCLEAR
Japanese utility admits Fukushima leaking radioactive water into the sea (via AP)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Retail lease modifications can improve efficiency (via Environmental Leader)
CBRE initiative highlights most energy efficient real estate tenants (via GreenBiz)
Program shaves electricity bills 34% for low-income South Carolina homes (via Forbes)
OIL
Oil production in Eagle Ford Shale jumped 58% in May (via Houston Chronicle)
48,000 barrels of oil spilled in Quebec train derailment (via Montreal Gazette)
TRANSPORTATION
Electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing in America (via Grist)
Electric cars selling faster than hybrids did at same point (via Green Car Reports)
GRID
Wholesale electricity prices rise across the United States (via US EIA)
California and Texas smart grid success shows way forward for US (via CleanTechnica)
POLITICS
Republicans propose limiting Obama climate plan in budget (via Bloomberg)
Feds fall short of green job goals (via Greenwire)
Lobbyists to hit Hill for slugfest over Renewable Fuel Standard (via E&E Daily)
OPINION
Australian carbon tax abandoned – what lessons can be learned? (via Triple Pundit)
Echoes of Solyndra in Oregon wind farm probe (via Politico)