Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.26.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
Japan continues to fund coal despite increasing US pressure (via RTCC)
Researchers say 35 million gallons of coal ash spilled in North Carolina (via Boston Herald/AP)
EMISSIONS
South Africa delays carbon tax implementation to 2016 (via Bloomberg)
RGGI revenues to encourage $2 billion in energy bill savings (via Environmental Leader)
ALEC drums up opposition to upcoming EPA power plant limits (via GreenBiz)
KEYSTONE XL
Grivalja: GAO set to investigate Keystone XL conflict (via National Journal)
RENEWABLES
Growth in solar reshaping world’s renewables market (via RTCC)
Europe to lose renewables grip to Asia and Africa (via Renewable Energy World)
Nearly 100GW in worldwide solar pipeline (via Sustainable Business)
Mexico building Latin America’s largest solar farm to replace oil-power plant (via Climate Progress)
India to install 1GW new solar in 2014 (via Panchabuta)
GE targets Japanese onshore wind market (via Recharge)
Brazil’s small PV installations think big (via Recharge)
Offshore wind power’s eye-popping capacity factors (via EarthTechling)
Growth of solar market depends on PV module reliability and performance (via Greentech Media)
Renewables account for 99% of new US generation in January (via Renew Grid)
22 ARPA-E projects have attracted more than $625 million in private investment (via Green Car Congress)
New power lines will make Texas world’s 5th largest wind power producer (via ClimateWire)
NC Sustainable Energy Association acts to protect rooftop solar market (via Solar Industry)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Value of natural gas net imports has declined dramatically in recent years (via US EIA)
Colorado fracking rules could become national blueprint (via Forbes)
Maps show where droughts and fracking collide (via Fast Company)
Chesapeake plans to cut drilling costs by $900 million (via Reuters)
Ohio wants to plug more abandoned gas wells (via Plain-Dealer)
CLIMATE
World begins 2014 with unusual number of extreme weather events (via The Guardian)
Extreme heat days multiply despite global warming “hiatus” (via CBC News)
Geoengineering side effects could be potentially disastrous, research shows (via The Guardian)
UK PM Cameron warns climate change one of biggest threats facing world (via BusinessGreen)
New York State expects all utilities to prep for climate change (via Climate Central)
NUCLEAR
Fukushima radiation could reach Pacific coast by April (via San Francisco Chronicle)
Tepco says Fukushima radiation “significantly” undercounted (via Bloomberg)
ENVIRONMENT
China on track to meet 2020 forest targets, but concerns linger (via Reuters)
John Kerry calls for expansion of world’s marine reserves (via The Guardian)
OIL
Surge in fuel exports boosting US trade balance (via Houston Chronicle)
Emergency DOT order mandates rail crude oil tests (via The Hill)
US lawmakers to question oil-by-rail safety (via Reuters)
North Dakota county wants state to take stand on illegal oilfield waste (via Inforum)
TRANSPORTATION
Psychology can wipe out 20-25% of your EV’s range (via Autoblog Green)
Tesla Motors shares zoom to record high on favorable reports (via Los Angeles Times)
Tesla Model S wins “best overall” car by Consumer Reports (via CNET)
Why a gigafactory? Because Tesla used 1/3 all EV batteries last year (via Green Car Reports)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
US electricity use declines, says ACEEE (via Energy Manager Today)
OPINION
Who owns weather, the feds or the states? (via National Journal)
Will Tesla disrupt the electric utility industry? (via Smart Planet)
Energy economist says shale fever soon will decline (via Houston Chronicle)
Tesla’s stock is up 644% - why it may not last (via Washington Post)
