Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
Coal generation to rise above 40% market share for first time since 2011 (via Facts of the Day)
Coal burns bright as utilities switch from gas (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Bloomberg)
Switch to gas from coal may threaten water supply (via Climate Central)
Regulators, Duke assure North Carolina lawmakers coal ash spill poses no immediate health threat (via News-Observer)
EMISSIONS
EU leaders said to delay decision on 2030 carbon target (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
As fracking booms, growing concerns about wastewater (via Yale e360)
Pro-fracking landowners sue New York State over drilling decision delay (via New York Daily News)
Ohio officials made plan to promote fracking while regulating it (via Columbus Dispatch)
RENEWABLES
How the UK can unlock community benefits of renewable energy (via Triple Pundit)
OIL
US crude oil ban confusion intensifies, except in Alaska (via Houston Chronicle)
Texas heading for major water shortage with limited oil field recycling (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Obama set to order new fuel standards for U.S. trucks (via Reuters)
Apple’s merger chief met in secret with Tesla CEO Elon Musk (via Autoblog Green)
China’s EV subsidies have been extended, but is that enough? (via CleanTechnica)
GRID
How safe and reliable is America’s electric grid? (via National Journal)
ENVIRONMENT
China announces $330 billion water cleanup effort in latest environmental crackdown (via BusinessGreen)
New Mexico in its worst drought since 1880s (via Albuquerque Journal)
Texas drought returns, little relief in sight (via Houston Chronicle)
KEYSTONE XL
Environmentalists debate substance of Keystone XL fight (via Houston Chronicle)
POLITICS
Climate activist plans $100 million election year push (via National Journal)
Could Tom Steyer’s anti-Keystone campaign help Mary Landrieu? She thinks so. (via National Journal)