arctic | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Green groups rally on climate, urge Obama to reject Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Canada defends climate record amid Keystone XL protests in US (via Canadian Press)

Canadian ambassador slams press coverage of Keystone XL pipeline battle (via The Hill)

Oil sands tailings leaking into groundwater, Canadian Natural Resources Minister told in memo (via Canada.com)

Nebraska utility says transmission project for Keystone XL will be delayed (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Shale LPG poised to make US net exporter for first time (via Bloomberg)

Fracking is only way to achieve Obama climate goals, says senior scientist (via The Guardian)

Apache natural gas well has leak beneath floor of Gulf of Mexico (via Reuters)

Shale gas boom slows in Marcellus formation (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Illinois fracking rules could be strictest in America (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES

China on track to exceed targets, install 140GW of wind capacity by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Why German solar is so much cheaper than US solar – updated study (via CleanTechnica)

Solar PV below $2/watt in Australia (via CleanTechnica)

US bioethanol makers face 5-year EU anti-dumping tariff (via Bloomberg)

New trends in financing wind power (via Greentech Media)

Wind energy records fall in Washington, Texas, Colorado (via EarthTechling)

Bill proposed in Congress would streamline US solar and wind permits (via Recharge)

Wyden floats plan to boost geothermal energy (via The Hill)

Could wind power cool New England’s price fever? (via New York Times)

Federal approval near for sprawling California wind project (via Greenwire)

Offshore wind gets another try in Maryland (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION

EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers (via Autoblog)

What does a sub-$20k EV mean for the industry? (via EarthTechling)

More electric car owners install home charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

ARPA-E funds $20 million to develop energy storage systems for EVs (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE

Global warming affects Arctic and Antarctic regions differently (via Phys.org)

Extreme rainfall rises with global temperatures (via Climate Progress)

Tens of thousands demand action on climate change (via USA Today)

Secret funding of climate skeptics is not restricted to the US (via The Guardian)

Two thirds of Americans want Obama to act on climate (via Climate Central)

OIL

Direct threat to Canadian economy posed by US shale oil production (via Edmonton Journal)

Elegiac images from North Dakota’s boom (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS

BASIC countries oppose EU carbon tax model (via Yahoo! News/Hindustan Times)

Obama’s carbon “cavalry” may help revive EU market (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas isn’t the only reason US carbon emissions are falling (via Washington Post)

GRID

Electricity costs up in gas-dependent New England (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Military facilities benefit from using LEED (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

The low-tech solution to big cities’ climate woes: triple-pane windows (via Grist)

Defense Department “should continue” LEED certifications (via Environmental Leader)

COAL

Misunderstanding coal in Europe (via Christian Science Monitor)

Developers drop plans for Texas coal plant (via Houston Chronicle)

After White Stallion power plant canceled, coal faces dark future in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

ENVIRONMENT

NOAA head: weather forecasts at risk over budget cuts (via Climate Central)

Report points to risk of serious gap in weather satellite data (via New York Times)

The top 10 hardest-hit states for crop damage (via Climate Central)

TESLA-NEW YORK TIMES CONFLICT

Tesla, the New York Times, and the leveling of the media playing field (via PaidContent)

Tesla Model S owners crowdsource trip to counter NYT report (via Green Car Reports)

Sparks fly between Tesla and NYT, but here’s what matters to the rest of us (via OnEarth)

POLITICS

Obama faces risks in pipeline decision (via New York Times)

Keystone for climate: could Obama craft a horse trade? (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama acknowledges climate change difficulties (via Politico)

Billionaire Steyer has unique role in official Washington: climate change radical (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Environmentalists and the military should play nice (via Slate)

Oil and gas feeding off each other while they fuel an economic recovery (via Forbes)

Will shale oil stop the Keystone XL pipeline? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: | Categories: Antarctic, arctic, ARPA-E, australia, barack obama, Bioethanol, biofuel, california, canada, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Defense Department, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, Fuel Economy, geothermal, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, LEED, marcellus shale, maryland, natural gas, Nebraska, New England, News, noaa, north dakota, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, renewables, Ron Wyden, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Washington State, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.15.13 share

TESLA-NEW YORK TIMES CONFLICT

A most peculiar test drive (via Tesla)

The Tesla data: what it says and what it doesn’t (via New York Times)

Five important lessons from the dustup over the NYT’s Tesla test drive (via GigaOm)

What’s at stake in the fight between Tesla and the New York Times (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE

Climate change links to conflict draw UN’s attention (via Bloomberg)

Thinning ice turning Arctic into an algae hotspot (via Climate Central)

Drought joins US farmers in the field for spring planting (via Reuters)

GAO report adds climate change to “high risks” facing US government (via The Hill)

NOAA: February 2012 to January 2013 warmest on record (via Climate Central)

Secret funding helped build vast network of climate denial think tanks (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES

Outlook for renewable energy projects and finance in Canada (via Renewable Energy World)

US geothermal energy grew 5% in 2012; California the leader (via Green Car Congress)

Clean energy faces hurdles in Texas legislature (via New York Times/Texas Tribune)

Texas electric grid sets new wind generation record (via Reuters)

Arizona: a state divided by solar (via Greentech Media)

COAL

US coal producer says royalty practice being probed was permitted (via Reuters)

Coal-terminal foe casts doubts on builder’s finances (via Seattle Times)

EMISSIONS

US senators propose long-shot carbon tax bill for big polluters (via Reuters)

EU urged to revive flagging emissions trading scheme (via The Guardian)

Firms pull heads from sand on climate but still unready for carbon laws (via GreenBiz)

California Air Resources Board cuts own power as part of deal with oil industry (via Greenwire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Canada close to unveiling rules on oil sands emissions (via Reuters)

Senate Dems sequester-replacement plan ends tar sands exemption (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION

Nissan Leaf passes 50,000 units in global cumulative sales (via Green Car Congress)

Governments look for new ways to pay for roads and bridges (via New York Times)

NYC Mayor Bloomberg plans massive increase in EV parking lots (via Autoblog Green)

Test drive: DC to Boston in a Tesla Model S (via CNN Money)

OIL

Transocean convicted in Gulf of Mexico oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

GREEN BUILDING

Green building: stadium tech and pro sports (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Lessons from past natural gas imports suggest a cautious approach to natural gas exports (via The Oil Drum)

Fracking in New York State? Not for another year, if ever (via Reuters)

POLITICS

US ambassador warns Canada to heed Obama on energy (via Globe and Mail)

Obama acting too slowly on climate change risks, government audit finds (via The Guardian)

OPINION

Newly proposed carbon tax will fight global warming, protect poor Americans, reduce the deficit (via Climate Progress)

New climate bill’s Congressional forecast: gloomy (via Politico)

Venture capitalists don’t know how to invest in the smart grid (via Greentech Media)

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

CLIMATE

Satellite data reveals major loss in volume of Arctic sea-ice since 2003 (via Green Car Congress)

60% of Americans agree with Obama on climate change action (via Greentech Media)

Major climate change bill coming to US Senate (via The Nation)

The most influential climate science paper today remains unknown to most people (via InsideClimate News)

The $188 billion price tag from US extreme weather from 2011 to 2012 (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Pressure builds on Keystone pipeline decision after Obama speech (via Reuters)

Keystone pipeline protesters arrested at White House (via The Hill)

GRID

India faces major energy shortfalls (The National)

CAISO and PacificCorp join forces to boost western grid reliability, integrate renewables (via Renew Grid)

California sets 50MW target for grid energy storage (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES

PwC: shale oil surge poses threat to renewables (via BusinessGreen)

White House outlines request for Congress to create $2 billion green energy fund (via Reuters)

Obama’s energy trust proposal doesn’t include expanded drilling (via Greenwire)

Yet another storm brewing over wind production tax credit (via CleanTechnica)

Net metering debate rages despite calls for calm (via Renewable Energy World)

ERCOT finds 10-13GW of solar PV competitive in Texas power market (via Solar Server)

Conflict of interest: California solar projects compete with prime farmland (via Sustainable Business)

Cape Wind hopes federal loan not blown (via Boston Herald)

In Indiana, seeking to ramp up wind without state mandates (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL

Exxon Mobil grows Arctic reach in Russia (via Houston Chronicle)

Crude oil and gasoline prices will drop through 2014, EIA projects (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil production forecast to increase 40% from 2011 to 2014 (via Facts of the Day)

Using federal oil revenues to cut America’s oil use (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric vehicle charging equipment market to surpass $3.8 billion by 2020 (via Pike Research)

Smart highways to be installed in Netherlands this year (via Triple Pundit)

DOE IG: grant money for battery company not “managed effectively” (via Washington Post)

Fisker Karma drivers averaging 150 mpg (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS

European corporations demand EU carbon market action (via BusinessGreen)

Carbon Disclosure Project investors up 10% in 2013 (via Environmental Leader)

Nations seen going separate ways on carbon as EU efforts falter (via Reuters)

London mayor unveils ultra-low emission zone plan for city (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas glut leads to tough times for power generators (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

Desalination seen booming at 15% a year as world’s water dries up (via Bloomberg)

South Americans face upheaval in deadly water battles (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

Obama faces clean energy constraints (via Recharge)

Obama’s threat to act unilaterally on climate change looking empty (via Grist)

Obama wants to double US energy efficiency by 2030 – is that possible? (via Washington Post)

Will Chuck Hagel keep DoD’s commitment to renewable energy? (via Sustainable Business)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, arra, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, bernie sanders, Boris Johnson, california, California ISO, cap and trade, cape wind, carbon disclosure project, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Department of Defense, desalination, drought, electric vehicles, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, EV charging infrastructure, EV charging stations, Exxon Mobil, Fisker Karma, Gasoline, green business, grid, india, indiana, Keystone XL, London, natural gas, Net metering, Netherlands, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, PacificCorp, production tax credit, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shale oil, solar, stimulus, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Water access, Water scarcity, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.12.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

COAL

Coal’s darkest hour: Fitch warns of increased bankruptcy possibilities in US coal sector (via International Business Times)

EMISSIONS

Investors worth $87 trillion call on companies to reveal carbon data (via RTCC)

Carbon markets threatened if EU backload plan fails (via Bloomberg)

Critics blast “target-less” Irish climate bill (via BusinessGreen)

Energy-related carbon emissions lowest since 1994 (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Shell will repair rigs in Asia, possibly delaying Arctic drilling in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

The boom in US oil drilling hasn’t lowered gas prices (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES

Global wind capacity increased almost 20% in 2012 to 82 gigawatts (via Climate Progress)

Corn shortage idles 20 Midwest ethanol plants (via Boston Globe/AP)

Solar outside the Sunbelt: Michigan (via Greentech Media)

ARPA-E summit hosts next generation renewable technologies (via Sustainable Business)

GREEN JOBS

EU budget delivers “mixed news” for green economy (via BusinessGreen)

State of Green Business Report 2013 (via GreenBiz)

Are green jobs meant to help the economy or the jobless? (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS

German minister dashes hopes for shale gas fracking (via Reuters)

“There’s no way to tell” how much gas the US can produce (via EnergyWire)

Cuomo warned on fracking in Iowa ads (via Politico)

CLIMATE

New Harvard report probes security risks of extreme weather and climate change (via Phys.org)

Wanted: business leaders to aid Obama on climate (via Politico)

Climate change impact on Nor’easters: an increased storm surge threat (via Weather Underground)

Hurricane Sandy survivors demand climate change action from Obama (via Huffington Post)

Hollywood actors press Obama to fight climate change (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT

IEA says energy industry in trouble with future water usage (via CleanTechnica)

Group seeks to jump-start ocean protections (via New York Times)

Rich moisture feed helped blizzard bury Northeast (via Climate Central)

GREEN BUILDING

Government considers replacing LEED as preferred federal certification (via Triple Pundit)

Cool steps help fight global warming (via San Francisco Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Plugging in, Dutch put electric cars to the test (via New York Times)

America’s high speed rail dream: what it could look like (via EarthTechling)

GRID

CA-ISO release app that shows status of power grid (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS

Obama expected to announce executive action on climate during State of the Union speech (via The Hill)

MIT physicist Moniz seen as front-runner to replace Chu (via Greenwire)

OPINION

Never mind the State of the Union; here’s what Obama can actually do on climate (via Grist)

The state of our energy union is strongest in 40 years (via Facts of the Day)

Why Big Ag could become major fracking ally (via Sustainable Business)

Obama’s Keystone XL decision could doom the tar sands…or the planet (via Grist)

Why the fight over natural gas exports may be overblown (via Washington Post)

Will Ernest Moniz be the next Energy secretary? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted: | Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, ARPA-E, barack obama, Cal-ISO, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cool roofs, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, Gasoline, germany, green building, green jobs, grid, Harvard, high speed rail, Hurricane Sandy, Iowa, Ireland, Keystone XL, LEED, michigan, MIT, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Netherlands, new york state, News, offshore drilling, oil, renewables, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, solar, state of the union, tar sands, Transportation, Water scarcity, White roofs, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

CLIMATE

Interview: UN Chief wants action on climate change (via Time/AP)

World Economic Forum: efforts to curb climate change could cost $700 billion a year (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Survey: 70 percent of firms fear climate threat to revenues (via BusinessGreen)

Seeking clues about sea level rise from fossil beaches (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS

EU carbon price dips below €5 mark for first time (via BusinessGreen)

China and Australia top list of “carbon bomb” projects (via The Guardian)

EU carbon market in need of an auction monitor (via Reuters)

GRID

EU energy chief appeals to Germany to drop energy isolation (via Reuters)

Smart city technology market to hit $20.2 billion annually in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Germany plans support for energy storage on small PV installations (via Recharge)

In energy storage, the numbers don’t add up – yet (via Pike Research)

RENEWABLES

France considers third offshore wind power tender for 6GW (via Reuters)

South Korea to change renewable subsidies to boost program efficiency (via Bloomberg)

Unlikely companies bring clout and cash to clean energy lobbying effort (via InsideClimate News)

New thin-film solar cell efficiency record set at 20.4% (via CleanTechnica)

Vermont study demonstrates net metering benefit for ratepayers (via Renewable Energy World)

Willow trees grown for biofuel produce more if grown diagonally (via R&D)

COAL

Record China imports unlikely to excite Asian coal markets (via Reuters)

Carbon capture & sequestration emissions savings may be lower than predicted (via BusinessGreen)

Visit the tiny town where Big Coal will meet its fate (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION

Report: airlines could make €1.3 billion from EU carbon regulations (via BusinessGreen)

What does the Boeing Dreamliner battery fire mean for EVs? (via Plugin Cars)

Toyota leads green tech patent growth for third consecutive quarter (via CleanTechnica)

Major price drops coming for electric vehicles (via CleanTechnica)

Bumpy road ahead for EV charging market? (via Renew Grid)

Avis’ Zipcar buy likely to be approved by antitrust legislators (via Autoblog Green)

Virginia governor’s road-funding plan: penalize hybrids, EVs (via Green Car Reports)

OBAMA INAUGURATION

Obama’s speech gives climate goals center stage (via New York Times)

Climate change moves to forefront in Obama’s inaugural address (via The Guardian)

Can Obama make defeating climate change his legacy? (via The Guardian)

After Obama’s speech, a hunt for details (via The Hill)

Obama’s climate change pledge tested by Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post/AP)

Can Obama tackle climate change in his second term? (via Washington Post)

OIL

Arctic drilling can be done safely, federal adviser says (via Houston Chronicle)

Friendly business environment fuels US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

800 scientists gather for Gulf of Mexico oil spill conference (via Times-Picayune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LEDs emerge as popular efficient lighting (via New York Times)

In Chicago, seeking the next bright idea in energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR

End to Yucca Mountain “within reach,” Nevada commissions says (via Las Vegas Sun)

Endgame close in legal tussles over Vermont Yankee (via Greenwire)

ENVIRONMENT

Crop production boosted 145% in drought conditions with water-saving membranes (via TreeHugger)

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.18.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Keystone’s tar sands waste said to warm climate more than coal (via Bloomberg)

As State Department nears completion of Keystone XL review, both sides dig in (via Washington Post)

Two report on oil sands paint a dire picture (via New York Times)

Federal study reignites pollution concern in expanding tar sand region (via DeSmog Blog)

GOP governors, Canadian leader press Obama to approve Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

TransCanada on the climate impacts of its Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Temperature hits all-time high in Sydney (via Phys.org)

Survey finds businesses trusted more than government on climate change (via Environmental Leader)

US frost-free season grows to 21 days (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES

High-tech energy attracts $1.12 trillion in global revenue (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany may widen FIT reforms (via Recharge)

Report: solar could meet global electricity needs in 2050 using under 1% of world’s land (via Climate Progress)

Rising solar energy output drives German and French power prices to record lows (via CleanTechnica)

Developers will invest $1.9 trillion in clean energy over next five years (via Renewable Energy World)

2013 could be make or break year for algae fuel (via GigaOm)

US wind power accounted for 6% of generation capacity in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

FERC proposes rule to speed up solar energy grid interconnections (via Renewable Energy World)

US Army’s New Mexico solar array world’s largest of its kind (via EarthTechling)

Study: US must increase clean energy efforts (via United Press International)

Utilities, environmentalists behind study of Montana’s renewable power mandate (via Billings Gazette)

MIT builds material that generates electricity from water vapor (via Treehugger)

GRID

Report predicts 3.5 million lost jobs, $3.1 million lost economic output without US transmission upgrades (via Renew Grid)

What US smart grid investments have done so far (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes streamlining small generator interconnections (via Renew Grid)

PJM, NYISO begin market-to-market coordination (via Renew Grid)

First four months of municipal aggregation save Champaign, IL $700,000 (via News-Gazette)

OIL

Global refining boom could challenge US exports (via Houston Chronicle)

OPEC forecasts record US oil supply growth in 2013 (via Christian Science Monitor)

As Shell’s Arctic drilling hopes hit snags, its rivals watch (via New York Times)

BP says North American shale oil boom will pressure OPEC (via Wall Street Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Mexico relaxes auto fuel-efficiency rule to quell legal threat (via Reuters)

How important is charging infrastructure to EV adoption? (via GreenBiz)

US grounds fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner (via Environmental Leader)

DOE partnership aims to realize EV-to-grid dream (via Triple Pundit)

As electric future unfolds, gasoline remains king (via Midwest Energy News)

GM says next generation Chevy Volt will be “thousands of dollars” cheaper (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker Karma production stoppage reaches 6 months, company claims “sufficient supply” (via Autoblog Green)

COAL

Coal’s “lifeline to Asia” emerges as new front in global warming fight (via ClimateWire)

Scrutiny rises for royalties paid on US coal exports to Asia (via The Oregonian)

Coal mine safety rule prompted by explosion faces industry blowback (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS

RWE starts carbon capture at UK coal plant (via Reuters)

Fraud-free cap and trade: what California learned from Europe (via GreenBiz)

New York Governor Cuomo proposes tougher RGGI carbon cap (via AOL Energy)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Top economies face fuel price spike as LNG supply drops (via Reuters)

Report recommends changes to tax exemption for fracking (via Texas Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT

Canada’s environmental health last in developed world (via Huffington Post)

As US drought persists, many scramble to save every drop of water (via Reuters)

About a dozen environment reporters left at top five US papers (via InsideClimate News)

POLITICS

Obama’s climate challenge (via Rolling Stone)

DOE Secretary Chu said to plan departure from cabinet (via Bloomberg)

US environmentalists challenged to get climate change laws through Congress (via The Guardian)

If you want to pass climate legislation, fix US politics (via Grist)

DOE names new BPA administrator (via Renew Grid)

New Washington governor sets his sights on climate change solutions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION

Why the climate bill failed: it’s not that simple (via Grist)

How are we doing on energy efficiency? (via Grist)

Obama to confront oil pipeline, climate change in second term (via US News/AP)

What corporations can learn from green revolving funds (via GreenBiz)

Posted: | Categories: algae, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, barack obama, biofuel, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, BPA, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, clean tech, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal mine, Coal royalties, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Environmental health, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, feed-in tariff, FERC, Fisker Karma, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, grid, Illinois, Interconnection, investment, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, MIT, Montana, Municipal aggregation, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, NYISO, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, oil sands, OPEC, Petcoke, PJM, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, State Department, steven chu, Sydney, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, V2G, Washington State, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

GRID

Installed base of smart meters in China to reach nearly 380 million by 2020 (via Pike Research)

China consumed 5.5% more electricity in 2012 (via Platts)

First leg of Atlantic offshore wind power line moves ahead (via New York Times)

Homeland Security says 40 percent of 2012 cyberattacks targeted energy sector (via The Hill)

National oversight agency questions reliability of Texas’ electric grid (via Houston Chronicle)

ERCOT expects $8.9 billion worth of transmission projects to be completed in Texas by 2017 (via Renew Grid)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Market shifting for Canadian oil sands crude (via Houston Chronicle)

Scientists say backing Keystone XL would undermine Obama’s climate legacy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

IRENA sets goal to double global renewable energy capacity by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

Green energy investments fell across globe, US in 2012 (via The Hill)

11GW of solar PV modules shipped globally in Q4 2012 (via Recharge)

IRENA launches world’s first global renewable energy atlas (via Inhabitat)

Europeans overwhelmingly favor renewables over shale gas (via BusinessGreen)

Tidal energy can meet 20% of UK electricity needs (via Yale e360)

Interactive map illustrates US solar grid parity (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

Beyond baby steps: analyzing the cap-and-trade flop (via Grist)

Ontario will be first North American jurisdiction to eliminate coal power (via CleanTechnica)

Some Illinois coal plants looking to clean up (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE

Survey says climate laws advancing in many countries (via Phys.org)

Solar forcing effect on climate change “extremely small” (via Phys.org)

Rising seas may put $300 billion of property at risk in Australia (via ABC News)

Report says climate change inaction the fault of environmental groups (via The Guardian)

Businesses in danger of missing climate cuts “window” (via BusinessGreen)

Environmental groups to Obama: act now on climate (via Politico)

Seattle calculates how climate change will redraw its shores (via Seattle Times)

ENVIRONMENT

US cities less susceptible to water scarcity than previously thought (via Phys.org)

Louisiana barges idled by drought upstream on Mississippi River (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

New US homes are 20% more fuel efficient than in 1970’s (via Facts of the Day)

US scuttles rule requiring high-efficiency furnaces (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

OIL

UK opposes Arctic drilling ban, to update policy this year (via Reuters)

Oil companies read the tea leaves (and lots of data) (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

India sets national target of 7 million electric vehicles sold by 2020 (via Sustainable Business)

Clean fuel options lacking as airlines seek alternatives to petroleum (via Greenwire)

Federal green car purchases “down a third” in 2012 (via Environmental Leader)

Nissan cuts entry-level MSRP for 2013 Leaf by 18% to $28,800 (via Green Car Congress)

Maine considers banning E15 gasoline sales (via Autoblog Green)

OPINION

Why New York State’s Sandy Commission recommendations matter (via Mother Jones)

Changing behaviors: you’re doing it wrong (via Grist)

Why companies and investors see the risks in climate (via GreenBiz)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, Atlantic wind connection, australia, barack obama, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cybersecurity, drought, E15, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, ethanol, europe, ev, green business, Green fuel, grid, Grid Parity, Hurricane Sandy, Illinois, india, investment, IRENA, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi River, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, renewables, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Solar forcing, tar sands, texas, tidal energy, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

EMISSIONS

China, Mexico leading fight on climate change with new CO2 laws (via Bloomberg)

Emissions limits could cut climate change damage by two-thirds (via Reuters)

Beijing’s hazardous air pollution sparks Chinese media anger (via BBC News)

CLIMATE

Monthly heat records have increased fivefold globally (via Phys.org)

Australia’s top climate commissioner: climate inferno “encroaching on entirely new territory” (via Mother Jones)

Inaugural GLOBE international climate summit convenes in London (via BusinessGreen)

US report warns climate change already happening, could raise temperatures by 10 degrees (via The Hill)

Climate change set to make America hotter, drier, more disaster-prone (via The Guardian)

Delaware turns to climate scientist to develop climate change projections (via News-Journal)

RENEWABLES

UK clean tech innovators being left high and dry on venture capital (via BusinessGreen)

China to join International Renewable Energy Agency (via Green Car Congress)

Why crowd funding could disrupt how solar power is created (via GigaOm)

Renewable standards add less than 5% to US electricity bills (via Greentech Media)

Technology helps wind industry overcome “start-stop” hurdles (via ClimateWire)

Tax credit moves wind industry to ramp up construction plans (via Houston Chronicle)

Los Angeles utility set to launch 100MW solar feed-in-tariff program (via CleanTechnica)

Solar energy turns brownfields into brightfields (via Energy Collective)

OIL

US oil glut is depressing, confusing prices (via EnergyWire)

Fracking sparks second look at US oil shale boom (via The Hill)

Shell gets massive involuntary aid package from Alaska, US Coast Guard, and you (via Grist)

EPA says Shell violated air permits for Arctic ships (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric vehicle battery market to hit $22 billion by 2020, China to be global production leader by 2015 (via Green Car Congress)

Commercial flight first to use fuel produced from natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

US military bets $20 million on 500 electric vehicles for EV-to-Grid initiative (via CleanTechnica)

Tesla delivering Model S, but cash crunch judgment waits for financials (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS

US delays finalizing report linking fracking to water pollution (via Reuters)

Would exporting the US natural gas surplus help or hurt the economy? (via New York Times)

Poll shows more Americans want tough fracking regulations (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT

Global food crisis will worsen as heat waves damage crops, research finds (via The Guardian)

USDA declares winter wheat belt drought disaster area (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS

Report fails to settle concerns over oil spill risk to Ogallala Aquifer (via InsideClimate News)

GRID

National Grid gathers partners for smart grid pilot (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas electricity use dropped 2.7% in 2012, says ERCOT (via Forth-Worth Star Telegram)

Maryland legislative panel ponders smart-meter alternative (via Baltimore Sun)

NUCLEAR

Japan seeks to reverse nuclear power phase-out commitment (via The Guardian)

DOE says new nuclear waste repository possible for Washington State in 2048 (via Tri-City Herald)

COAL

Coal prices and production in most basins down in 2012 (via US EIA)

Opponents seek to derail Montana coal line (via Seattle Times/AP)

OPINION

A sweltering planet’s agenda (via Washington Post)

Should America exploit energy exports? (via National Journal)

A new grand strategy for the US, build around sustainability (via Grist)

Green jobs 2.0: re-framing clean energy politics around a climate-informed economy (via Climate Progress)

Fiddling while Rome burns – the $5 trillion cost of climate delay (via The Independent)

OTHER NEWS

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted: | Categories: alaska, arctic, australia, battery, Beijing, Brownfield, China, climate, Climate Change, co2, coal, Crowd funding, Delaware, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, ERCOT, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, global warming, green jobs, grid, Investors, IRENA, japan, Keystone XL, London, los angeles, maryland, mexico, Montana, national grid, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ogallala Aquifer, oil, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standards, renewables, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, smart meter, Smog, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, US military, usda, V2G, Washington State, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.11.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

CLIMATE

Heat, flood, or icy cold, extreme weather rages worldwide (via New York Times)

Australia braces for more blistering heat after record busting spell (via Washington Post)

COAL

Ontario to be coal-free by 2013 (via Ontario Ministry of Energy)

GREEN BUSINESS

Fossil fuel divestment campaign spreads to America’s churches (via InsideClimate News)

Investment community calls for predictable climate policy (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES

Deutsche Bank predicts global solar market will rise 22 percent in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Global clean energy investment falls for first time (via BusinessGreen)

Chile approves 3.1GW of solar PV projects (via Renewable Energy World)

US wind industry awaits tax guidance on PTC rule (via Politico)

New York Governor announces $1 billion green bank and $1.5 billion solar program (via Climate Progress)

California solar program hits 1GW-installed milestone (via EarthTechling)

NREL and Stanford team up on peel-and-stick solar cells (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

IRENA: shale gas boom can complement renewables to cut coal (via Bloomberg)

EPA cites Shell Arctic drilling rigs for air emissions violations (via Los Angeles Times)

Do you live near one of the nation’s dirtiest power plants? (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Global auto exec survey expects internal-combustion engine dominance but with downsizing and PHEV investment (via Green Car Congress)

In lawsuit against Energy Department, firms claim cronyism in “green car” loan program (via Washington Post)

Nearly 1 million natural gas trucks and buses will be sold worldwide from 2012-2019 (via Pike Research)

New EV charging station connects to smart meters (via Renew Grid)

Fuel cell vehicles could be a $1.8 billion market in 2030 (via Environmental Leader)

How to read a plug-in hybrid’s mileage sticker (via Mapawatt)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US manufacturers lobby against “unfettered” natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

California announces preliminary hydraulic fracturing regulations (via AOL Energy)

USGS finds no contamination from fracking in two Arkansas counties (via Reuters)

RARE EARTHS

DOE plunks $120 million into rare earths research hub (via AOL Energy)

Molycorp lowers 2013 outlook, shares plunge (via Reuters)

OIL

Support grows for more offshore drilling oversight by US (via Houston Chronicle)

BP oil spill settlement payments exceed $1 billion mark (via Houston Chronicle)

Rep. Markey: Shell may have moved Kulluk Arctic drilling rig to avoid taxes (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT

Drought-damaged US states face poor outlook as dry weather persists (via The Guardian)

Native Canadians could block natural resource development (via Reuters)

Beetlemania: insects are gobbling up 1,000-year-old trees (via Mother Jones)

GRID

ERCOT says Texas electric transmission capacity will fall short of demand (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION

If you aren’t alarmed about climate, you aren’t paying attention (via Grist)

Why is General Electric backing down from its plug-in pledge? (via Plugin Cars)

New York State’s clean tech challenge to California (via Forbes)

OTHER NEWS

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted: | Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, Arkansas, australia, BP, california, canada, Chile, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, department of energy, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, drought, Ed Markey, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, ERCOT, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Flood, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, fuel cell, GE, General Electric, green business, grid, Internal combustion engine, investment, IRENA, Molycorp, natural gas, Natural gas export, new york state, News, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, ontario, PHEV, Pine bark beetles, Plug in, production tax credit, ptc, Rare earths, renewables, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, smart meter, solar, Stanford, Subsidy, texas, transmission, Transportation, usgs, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.13 share

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

CLIMATE

UN climate official wants “strong” US response to record heat (via The Hill)

Arab Spring spawns Middle East youth climate change movement (via Sustainable Business)

Five charts help illustrate 2012 as warmest year on record (via Climate Central)

By the numbers: the hottest year on record (via WRI Insights)

Local governments answer America’s climate change wake-up call (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change and the shrinking Mississippi River (via Huffington Post)

Since 2009, Sunday TV shows haven’t quoted a single scientist on climate change (via Treehugger)

RENEWABLES

Solar shakeout expected to slash solar equipment makers by 70% (via GigaOm)

MENA solar markets to exceed 3GW annually by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

China’s plan to double solar capacity in 2013 boosts industry (via Reuters)

China and renewables: the outlook for growth (via CleanTechnica)

Nearly 12% of UK electricity now produced by renewables (via Energy Collective)

In India, solar ambitions are suddenly outsized (via New York Times)

Wind power to provide 5% of America’s electricity by 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

Answers about tax credit specifics are still blowin’ in the wind (via Houston Chronicle)

New York Gov. Cuomo announces $1 billion green bank, new energy czar (via Greentech Media)

BP cuts ribbon on 600MW worth of US wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

Google invests $200 million in Texas wind farm, has now backed 2GW of clean power (via GigaOm)

Chinese firm buys US solar start-up MiaSole (via New York Times)

OIL

Arctic standards urged for oil drilling in forbidding region (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil imports are falling to their lowest level since 1987 (via Washington Post)

Shale oil output anchors a record growth in US production (via EnergyWire)

Interior Department, Coast Guard launch separate probes of Shell Arctic operations (via EnergyWire)

BP’s oil and dispersant toxic to baby corals (via Mother Jones)

Phillips makes $1 billion commitment to ship Bakken shale oil (via Reuters)

Big Oil lobby claims the industry “gets no subsidies, zero, nothing” (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart meter opponents turn to Maryland state legislature (via Capital Gazette)

California awards $1.8 million to UCSD microgrid project (via Green Car Congress)

TRANSPORTATION

Volkswagen wants to be “the leader in electrification” (via Autoblog Green)

China to offer electric car incentives soon, says official (via Bloomberg)

2013 Nissan Leaf now more efficient, charges in half the time (via Inhabitat)

Virginia Gov. McDonnell proposes eliminating state’s gas tax (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS

California ratepayers to receive 85% of cap-and-trade revenue as climate dividend (via AOL Energy)

COAL

EIA projects slight bump up for coal this year, but long-term projections show decline (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Utilities can save big with next-generation energy efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Back from the brink: home energy efficiency tax credits (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US Chamber’s fracking jobs boom: behind the numbers (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS

Obama’s first term: assessing progress on top energy and climate priorities (via Climate Progress)

Former White House aide defends “green” stimulus, says created 720,000 jobs (via The Hill)

Sen. Sanders floats new climate bill after US hits heat record (via The Hill)

MIT to Obama: get serious about climate change (via Triple Pundit)

Treasury Secretary nominee Jack Lew has ties to energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Tom Steyer might be the next big name in US energy politics (via Greenwire)

OPINION

China’s solar PV goal masks a fallacy (via Recharge)

Solyndra stunk. The green stimulus didn’t. (via Washington Post)

Climate-proofing cities: not something conservatives will be good at (via Grist)

Heat: Hell on poor countries, no biggie for the rich (via Grist)

Clarifying public investments in clean energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Innovation should be central to next Energy Secretary’s agenda (via Innovation Files)

The science of why comment trolls suck (via Mother Jones)

OTHER NEWS

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted: | Categories: Andrew Cuomo, Arab Spring, arctic, arra, Bakken Shale, barack obama, bernie sanders, Bob McDonnell, BP, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate dividend, coal, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, ev, fracking, Gas tax, google, grid, india, interior department, Jack Kew, maryland, MENA, MiaSole, Microgrid, middle east, Mississippi River, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Phillips, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Shale oil, smart meter, solar, solyndra, stimulus, Subsidies, Tax credit, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, virginia, Volkswagen, wind

Category Archives:arctic

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.15.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.12.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.18.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.11.13 share

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.13 share

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE LAB

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.15

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.15

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.27.15

RESOURCE

CONTACT INFO