Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.22.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COP 19
Warsaw talks ignore IPCC “carbon budget” approach (via Climate Central)
COAL
Ontario premier vows to ban coal-powered electricity (via Financial Post)
CLIMATE
US and China find convergence on climate issue (via New York Times)
Is America no longer public enemy number one on climate change? (via ClimateWire)
Wildfire risk seen as high or extreme for 4.5 million US homes (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
Latin America report: Wind sweeps Brazil’s A-3 power auctions (via Renewable Energy World)
“Stealth business lobbyist” plans 2014 offensive against solar net metering (via Greentech Media)
Standard developed to predict solar plant capacity (via Energy Manager Today)
Wind produces 25% of Iowa’s power, may generate 50% by 2018 (via Facts of the Day)
South Carolina embraces wind energy with turbine research center (via Reuters)
Prince George’s County, Maryland requires buildings to install renewable energy (via Sustainable Business)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Americans uninformed about fracking, says new survey (via Climate Central)
House votes 252-165 to speed up natural gas pipeline approvals (via The Hill)
EMISSIONS
EPA doesn’t rule out state carbon tax option for power plants (via The Hill)
Shell self-imposes carbon tax high enough to crash coal, natural gas (via Climate Progress)
Iowa wind energy cuts carbon pollution by 8.4 million metric tons (via Des Moines Register)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Working around Keystone XL, Suncor Energy steps up oil production in Canada (via New York Times)
TRANSPORTATION
Why cities hold the key to success on EVs (via GreenBiz)
Can California charge ahead to one million EVs within ten years? (via Energy Collective)
What’s behind NRG’s slow rollout of EV chargers in California? (via Greentech Media)
Tesla Model S tops Consumer Reports car owner satisfaction survey (via San Francisco Chronicle)
GRID
Transmission line would take Kansas wind power east (via Hutchinson News)
PSE&G gains public support for grid resilience proposal in New Jersey (via Renew Grid)
FERC
FERC Chairman Wellinghoff stepping down Sunday (via The Hill)
The greatest hits of FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff (via Greentech Media)
POLITICS
A war over solar power is raging within the GOP (via New Republic)
Fracking campaign contributions fuel Congress (via Roll Call)
Controversial Ohio clean energy bill gets rewritten (via Energy Manager Today)
OPINION
Why America’s major sports leagues are talking about climate change (via Think Progress)
How Ontario went coal free (via National Journal)
Experts present their views on ethanol and advanced biofuels (via Breaking Energy)