Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.28.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Social cost of carbon emissions rising but still underestimated, warn experts (via Thompson Reuters)
Group offers plan to meet new EPA power plant emission rules (via Reuters)
Global carbon market could reach $87 billion in 2014 (via RTCC)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Senate duo debuts “new and improved” energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)
RENEWABLES
Wind power on verge of taking off in Japan (via Japan Times)
Wind energy cut electricity prices by 40% in Australian heatwaves (via Renew Economy)
NREL maps solar policy for 48 states (via Energy Manager Today)
After a hiatus, DOE’s clean energy loan program will be back in action (via Greentech Media)
Solar industry employs a surprisingly high percentage of US veterans (via Climate Progress)
Massachusetts has 409MW of wind power coming its way (via Renew Grid)
Utility scale solar energy: North Carolina’s emergent success (via Energy Collective)
Wisconsin state legislators propose 30% by 2030 renewable energy target (via Journal-Sentinel)
CLIMATE
Global warming slowdown likely to be brief, say US & UK science bodies (via Reuters)
UN report sees $1.45 trillion in global warming costs (via Economic Times/AFP)
US falling behind as other countries pass climate laws, survey shows (via Climate Progress)
Decline of Bronze Age “megacities” linked to climate change (via Science Daily)
NASA’s new climate satellite hopes to save lives – and maybe the planet (via National Journal)
Mexico, China led on climate action in 2013 (via The Hill)
California companies call climate change “economic opportunity” (via Environmental Leader)
ENVIRONMENT
US rules would allow “seismic air guns” in search for offshore oil, gas (via Washington Post)
Dusty federal rules complicate water management in parched West (via Greenwire)
New Mexico facing “extremely destructive” wildfire season (via Climate Central)
GRID
Global smart meter market to top $22 billion by 2020 (via Renew Grid)
Smart grids, energy storage key to $1.5 trillion smart city market (via Renew Grid)
ComEd’s Chicago 4 million smart meter installations to be completed by 2017 (via Chicago Tribune)
TRANSPORTATION
India’s diesel subsidy spurs pollution worse than Beijing (via Bloomberg)
California report explains who buys plug-in cars and why (via Green Car Reports)
Gasoline substitute made from plant waste developed by UC-Davis (via Green Car Reports)
OPINION
Bright prospects? China’s rooftop solar goal looks too ambitious (via Reuters)
Denying climate science in multiple dimensions (via Science Blogs)
Is the solution to climate change in Vancouver? (via Climate Progress)
Just another solar deal, or the future of mid-size project financing? (via CleanTechnica)
