Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.6.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Canadian minister takes fight for oil sands crude to Europe (via Retuers)
Oil sands growth will depend on Keystone: Canadian Natural Resources (via The Globe and Mail)
House to vote on Keystone XL bill in May (via The Hill)
Undercover at the tar sands (via Rolling Stone/Denver Post)
CLIMATE
Nations seek flexible climate approach, but no breakthrough in Bonn (via Reuters)
Report: US pushing plan for individual climate goals at UN talks (via The Hill)
Poland and France cooperating on 2015 climate deal (via RTCC)
Study says climate change may bring drought to temperate areas (via Los Angeles Times)
The last time CO2 was this high, humans didn’t exist (via Climate Central)
RENEWABLES
Germany’s offshore wind farm fed 278GWH into grid in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)
Japan to set “separate offshore FIT” for wind (via Recharge)
Plans to harness Chinese river’s power threaten a region (via New York Times)
Are Master Limited Partnerships a Trojan Horse for killing the PTC? (via Greentech Media)
MIT researchers working on energy storage for offshore wind (via Sustainable Business)
New eagle kill regulations for wind farms may have mixed consequences (via Greentech Media)
Renewable energy portfolio back on chopping block in North Carolina (via Sustainable Business)
TRANSPORTATION
China not embracing electric cars (via USA Today)
New Jersey considering electric vehicle tax (via Autoblog Green)
ENVIRONMENT
Arctic Ocean “acidifying rapidly” (via BBC News)
Scientists use salt marshes to analyze global sea-level rise (via Phys.org)
OIL
Administration sets $600 million in Gulf oil spill restoration projects (via The Hill)
Offshore rig operators seek clarity on regulations (via Houston Chronicle)
The case of the disappearing oil: how much was released in 2010 Michigan spill? (via InsideClimate News)
EMISSIONS
European carbon market in trouble (via Washington Post)
Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead (via The Hill)
Environmental groups sue EPA over refinery emissions (via Houston Chronicle)
Cap-and-trade puttering along quite nicely in Northeast US (via Grist)
NATURAL GAS
Obama says US natural gas exports could help Central America (via Reuters)
Think methane hydrates are the next big thing? Think again (via Grist)
Does shale gas production alter climate change equation? (via Forbes)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Bipartisan support for bill to encourage energy efficiency (via Energy Trends Insider)
How US schools united to save 2.5 million pounds of CO2 (via GreenBiz)
Next big thing for LEED planning? Sustainable neighborhoods (via Midwest Energy News)
Rhode Island gets the Opower treatment (via Greentech Media)
ENERGY POLICY
OMB study finds economic benefits of EPA regulations far outweigh costs (via Climate Progress)
Drilling is new focus for clean energy investors (via Associated Press)
Is there a “dark side” to US energy independence? (via EnergyWire)
TVA prepares for Obama administration review (via Knoxville News Sentinel)
California’s Public Utilities Commission faces legislative heat (via Sacramento Bee)
GRID
Report: global warming threatens Southwest’s power grid (via Arizona Daily Star)
Florida electric utility completes smart grid installations (via Phys.org)
COAL
Patriot Coal, employees face grim future without agreement (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
OPINION
What do technology innovations mean for Washington? (via National Journal)
Awesome energy innovations, courtesy of Uncle Sam (via Market Watch)
Why haven’t the big green groups divested from fossil fuels? (via Grist)
OTHER NEWS
An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress