Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.18.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
EU decides to ratify Kyoto Protocol extension (via RTCC)
EPA punts decision on methane regulations (via The Hill)
Gov. Inslee want to cap and tax emissions from Washington State’s major polluters (via Climate Progress)
Department of Energy announces 22 new emissions reductions, energy efficiency projects (via Breaking Energy)
COAL
McConnell wants to stop coal rules (via AP)
ERCOT report re-ignites war of words over coal plant shutdowns (via Austin American-Statesman)
RENEWABLES
Green bonds sell big in 2014 as finance bids to help climate (via Reuters)
UK low-carbon electricity generation up 24% in 3Q 2014 (via Bloomberg)
Faced with a surge in PV, Japan will allow utilities to restrict solar output on grid (via Greentech Media)
This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)
Seabirds “steer clear” of offshore wind farms (via BusinessGreen)
Big energy retailers intensify attack on Australia rooftop solar subsidies (via Renew Economy)
U.S. wind power capacity additions expected to increase in last quarter of 2014 (via U.S. EIA)
Wind power getting the PTC extension it didn’t want (via Breaking Energy)
Supporters decry short break extension for wind industry (via The Hill)
Nearly $1 billion available for PACE projects in 2014 (via Greentech Media)
CNEE releases energy legislation year in review (via Energy Manager Today)
Report sees bright future for renewable energy in Minnesota (via Midwest Energy News)
National Grid planning 16 megawatts of Massachusetts solar (via Bloomberg)
SunPower prepares for “disruptive shift in energy market” with Sunverge solar-plus-storage deal (via PV Tech)
NATURAL GAS
Poland and Ukraine to look at expanding gas transport links (via Reuters)
Cuomo to ban fracking; health officials call it unsafe (via Bloomberg)
New York unlikely to face lawsuits over fracking ban, say experts (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
Persistent warming driving big Arctic changes (via Climate Central)
UN’s Clean Development Market mechanism future in doubt, largely sidelined in Lima (via Bloomberg BNA)
Four signs the Arctic is getting baked by climate change (via Mother Jones)
Front yards turn to wetlands as climate change takes toll in Virginia (via Bloomberg)
OIL
World market shockwaves ripple far and wide from oil prices epicenter (via Reuters)
Oil plunge sets stage for energy defaults: Credit markets (via Bloomberg)
EU lawmakers fail to approve tar sands oil veto (via Reuters)
Enbridge shuts oil pipeline to U.S. after spill in Canada (via Houston Chronicle)
Chevron cancels Canadian Arctic drilling as oil prices slide (via Reuters)
Cheap oil jamming rails means higher U.S. power bills (via Bloomberg)
DOT Secretary to talk oil train safety in Canada (via The Hill)
Petrobas CEO says Rousseff refused offer to resign on scandal (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Smarter charging, load leveling can save $10,000 a month in EV electricity costs (via Autoblog Green)
Tesla to miss 2020 delivery target by 40%, forecasts analyst (via Greentech Media)
Siemens, Duke Energy, Ford team up to demonstrate lower-cost home charging (via Inside EVs)
How electric car advertising has changed over time (via Inside EVs)
GRID
The intersection of solar energy and energy storage (via Environmental Leader)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Revenue from zero-energy buildings is expected to hit $4.6 trillion through 2035 (via Navigant Research)
OPINION
How cheaper oil is shaping the world (via New York Times)
Seven radical ideas for a 2015 climate change deal (via RTCC)
Trade tariffs old and new mean U.S. will face PV module supply crunch, says Jigar Shah (via PV Tech)
Fed’s Yellen: Oil price decline is good for U.S. economy (via Nasdaq)
Top cleantech buzzwords and phrases from 2014 (via Greentech Media)
Are solar microgrids a step on the ladder toward grid access? (via Energy Collective)
What the Senate’s tax extender bill means for wind energy (via Renewable Energy World)