Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
After record warm September, 2014 is on track for warmest year (via Washington Post)
Sweden pledges $500 million to Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)
How climate change is fueling the Miami real estate boom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)
NUCLEAR
Japan’s new trade minister says will restart reactors deemed safe (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
China wind-service market seen surging with $3 billion spending (via Bloomberg)
Chile will lead Latin America in renewable energy, says president (via PV Tech)
Geothermal power industry lost steam but may be poised for comeback (via Los Angeles Times)
Solar energy prices see double-digit decline in 2013; trend expected to continue (via NREL)
Solar lease securitization encounters tax challenges (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)
Solar consolidation expected in U.S. as tax credit drives deals (via Bloomberg)
Solar companies look to batteries, financing, soft costs as the future (via GigaOm)
$200 million more flows to residential solar loans through Sungage and Mosiac (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Indonesia developing mega coal mine five times larger than Singapore (via Mongabay)
India pushes ahead with coal reforms (via Reuters)
Peabody posts quarterly loss as coal prices fall (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
Renewables, efficiency made up 70% of U.S. emissions drop since 2007 (via Climate Progress)
NATURAL GAS
Ukraine, Russia gas deal may be just enough to get through winter (via Reuters)
Tougher greenhouse goals could cut EU’s natural gas imports in half (via WRI Insights)
British Columbia to outline carbon, tax polices for LNG (via Bloomberg)
Energy Department: U.S. must act now on methane emissions (via Houston Chronicle)
Regulations could douse North Dakota gas flaring (via Climate Central)
GRID
Transmission superhighway takes shape in central U.S. (via Navigant Research)
Innovative energy storage technologies gain ground (via Navigant Research)
OIL
Oil falls on speculation OPEC won’t cut production (via The Hill)
Report: ISIS oil production worth $800 million per year (via The Hill)
Government lags in measuring gush of U.S. crude (via Houston Chronicle)
Shale oil producers face low price consequences of their success (via Houston Chronicle)
Oil at $80 a barrel muffles forecasts for U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)
Crude oil spills into Louisiana bayou, kills wildlife (via Shreveport Times)
TRANSPORTATION
As China gets tougher on fuel economy, some carmakers may be left behind (via Reuters)
UK hails best-ever quarter for EV sales as demand revs up (via BusinessGreen)
Denmark’s plan to offset transportation emissions sparks EV row (via The Guardian)
Ford Focus Electric gets $6,000 price drop, now starts at $29,995 (via Autoblog Green)
Nissan does demand response via Leaf EVs (via Energy Manager Today)
ENVIRONMENT
Amid California’s drought, a bruising battle for cheap water (via Los Angeles Times)
Land records show many Ohio state parks could see mining, drilling (via Columbus Dispatch)
POLITICS
Sao Paulo water cuts used by Rousseff against challenger (via Bloomberg)
In key midterm races, Democrats sound like Republicans on climate (via InsideClimate News)
Five lose-lose Senate races for climate advocates (via InsideClimate News)
OPINION
What's the value of divestment? (via National Journal)
Will the solar industry get behind CPS Energy’s alternative to net metering in San Antonio? (via Greentech Media)