Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.14.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NUCLEAR
Government must continue review of Yucca Mountain, court says (via New York Times)
EMISSIONS
Brokered EU carbon trade plunges as banks scale back (via Bloomberg)
Green investors push firms on emissions, supply chains (via GreenBiz)
Google’s footprint falls as users emit eight grams of CO2 per day (via BusinessGreen)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
China approves first floating terminal for LNG imports (via Reuters)
Energy independence in the age of natural gas exports (via Christian Science Monitor)
Pennsylvania residents ask EPA to reopen fracking probe (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
2/3 of global solar PV has been installed in the last 2.5 years (via Greentech Media)
EU countries to cut renewable support further (via Reuters)
Is Japan’s solar bubble about to burst? (via Renew Economy)
It keeps getting cheaper to install solar panels in the US (via Climate Progress)
President Obama signs legislation to promote small hydropower projects (via Renew Grid)
Small wind makes big gains in US (via EarthTechling)
Nevada tribe to build 1.5GW of new renewables (via Bloomberg)
New wind farms coming in five Iowa counties (via Des Moines Register)
Solar charger with tracking comes in a briefcase (via EarthTechling)
Solar PV installer among best jobs in energy industry (via Solar Industry Magazine)
COAL
Huge China coal plant shelved over pollution concerns (via Renew Economy)
Coal mine fight embodies an economic struggle in rural Australia (via New York Times)
GRID
Smart grid market to surpass $400 billion worldwide by 2020 (via Greentech Media)
A next-generation transmission line technology grows in China (via Greentech Media)
Nearly 100,000 Texans have selected a TXU time-of-use pricing plan (via TXU Energy)
OIL
Mexico’s oil reforms may upend global markets (via New York Times)
Oil lobbying groups ask EPA for relief from biofuel mandate (via The Hill)
BP oil spill cleanup: US says coast is nearly clear, but is it? (via Christian Science Monitor)
North Dakota oil boom adding costs for rail safety (via Bloomberg)
A Texas tragedy: Ample oil, no water (via The Guardian)
TRANSPORTATION
EU to ban CHAdeMO EV chargers by 2018 (via CleanTechnica)
EPA: 10% of all US fuel now renewable, but that might be our limit (via Autoblog Green)
Strong sales, market traction, lower battery costs highlight new EV report (via CleanTechnica)
Electric cars clean today, even cleaner tomorrow (via Midwest Energy News)
Half of all American EV sales are in five cities (via Green Car Reports)
Maine utility offers $15,000 for EV purchases (via EarthTechling)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Alberta rail oil terminal capacity to rise 700,000 bpd, rivaling Keystone XL (via Financial Post)
Crunch time for Keystone XL (via The Hill)
TransCanada rejects Steyer’s debate challenge (via The Hill)
CLIMATE
This is what global warming looks like (via Climate Central)
Harry Reid: “Don’t be afraid to talk about climate change” (via The Hill)
Climate change in NJ: State report details what’s happened, what’s coming (via Philadelphia Inquirer)
Severe weather changing climate change perceptions in Iowa (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Global air conditioning needs could grow 50x greater than US demand (via Greentech Media)
The surprisingly large energy footprint of our digital economy (via Time)
California schools reap energy efficiency dollars from Prop 39 (via Energy Manager Today)
OPINION
Why blackouts are becoming more common, in two charts (via Washington Post)
Reform flood and wind insurance programs to reduce risk and taxpayer costs (via Union of Concerned Scientists)
Unfair share: How oil and gas drillers avoid paying royalties (via ProPublica)
New EnergyStar rules raise the question of how to make energy efficiency accessible to all (via Climate Progress)
The elevator pitch for why electric cars are greener (via Plugin Cars)