Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.5.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Glacier study reveals north-south divide in climate change (via The Australian)
Wildfire smoke proves worse for global warming (via Scientific American)
Preparing for climate disasters to get $100 million fund (via Bloomberg)
Toledo’s algae bloom in line with climate projections (via Climate Central)
COAL
Beijing to ban coal use to curb pollution (via Sydney Morning Herald/Xinhua)
King Coal deposed in West, but reigns in East (via Energy Collective)
RENEWABLES
India plans solar parks to host up to 20GW (via Bloomberg)
UK solar firms call for review of early end to subsidies (via The Guardian)
Japan may pull more solar project approvals behind schedule (via Bloomberg)
China said to consider policies to increase solar installations (via Bloomberg)
China said to add 10,000 tons to rare earths stockpiles (via Bloomberg)
Brazil’s hybrid revolution (via Recharge)
Nigeria energy minister back solar for rural communities (via RTCC)
France approves green energy law (via RTCC)
France announces $13.4 billion green energy plan (via CleanTechnica)
Morgan Stanley: Fixed charges on solar may cause grid defection “tipping point” (via Greentech Media)
Arizona Public Service’s new solar lease: More than meets the eye (via GreenBiz)
Renewable heating and cooling now mandated in Massachusetts (via Renewable Energy World)
Fees for distributed solar fire up advocates and utilities in Utah and Massachusetts (via Solar Industry)
NATURAL GAS
Amid Ukraine crisis, will Europe frack? (via Christian Science Monitor)
Marcellus Region production continues growth (via U.S. EIA)
Pennsylvania drillers did not report half of spills that led to fines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Colorado deal would keep fracking off ballot (via Wall Street Journal)
Why Twitter should matter to fracking firms (via Environmental Leader)
EMISSIONS
Fossil free indexes U.S. supports fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)
OIL
Bakken Shale fuels North Dakota’s oil production growth (via U.S. EIA)
TRANSPORTATION
EPRI, utilities, automakers partner on EV-smart grid integration (via Renew Grid)
Tesla trying to keep Model X demand low for now (via Autoblog Green)
Future power demand from electric cars sparks study (via Houston Chronicle)
When will electric cars compete in the mainstream market? (via Green Car Reports)
Elon Musk predicts price parity with gas-powered cars within 10 years (via ClimateWire)
GRID
Why some utilities are warming up to microgrids (via Midwest Energy News)
California plans “road map” to make more energy storage a reality (via Greenwire)
$600 million transmission project splits Texas power industry (via EnergyWire)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Europeans prioritize energy efficiency measure as price fears rise (via BusinessGreen)
Colorado craft beer brewers model energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)
ENVIRONMENT
Federal officials, lawmakers plan conservation fund promotion tour (via The Hill)
How invisible water sources could green the nation (via GreenBiz)
Five cities where the bacteria that contaminated Ohio’s water supply might strike next (via Climate Progress)
POLITICS
President Obama is beginning to make climate hawk noises (via Grist)
House Energy Committee fight runs into money war (via Politico)
Colorado Democrats reach a deal on fracking (via Climate Progress)
OPINION
How ALEC fronts for fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)
Is the sharing economy really green? (via Marc Gunther)
California, here we come (via Sightline Daily)
Greening or greenwashing? Illinois cities’ use of RECs shows challenges with local energy choice (via CleanTechnica)