Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Study raises hope of combating global warming by reducing soot (via Christian Science Monitor)

Storm-battered Philippines moves to reduce climate risks and emissions (via ClimateWire)

Supreme Court curbs Port of Los Angeles’ crackdown on truck emissions (via Greenwire)

OIL 

Why America’s shale oil boom could end sooner than you think (via Forbes)

US crude oil production could reach 10 million barrels per day by 2040 (via US EIA)

ExxonMobil faces federal lawsuit over Arkansas oil spill (via Los Angeles Times)

US, Arkansas file joint complaint against Exxon Mobil (via Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Canadian regulator says Kinder Morgan pipeline spills crude in British Columbia (via Wall Street Journal)

RENEWABLES 

MLPs: a bargain for renewables or a devil’s bargain? (via Greentech Media)

Hawaii pledges $300 million for green future (via Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Native Americans decry eagle deaths tied to wind farms (via Reuters)

Concentrating solar power for 5.57 cents/kWh (via CleanTechnica)

Dominion Virginia Power set to launch solar purchase plan (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Wind power getting cheaper for Oklahoma utility customers (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

China to survey soil pollution nationwide (via Bloomberg)

Fish nets found to kill large numbers of birds (via New York Times)

Colorado wildfire destroys more homes than any other in state history (via New York Times)

Supreme Court backs Oklahoma over Texas water demand (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

What does Israel’s offshore natural gas resources mean for the region? (via Council on Foreign Relations)

DOE Secretary Moniz vows gas export decisions this year (via the Hill)

CLIMATE 

Is a sleeping climate giant stirring in the Arctic? (via NASA)

Climate bond market doubles to $346 billion in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Cuba girds for climate change by reclaiming coasts (via Boston Globe/AP)

Geoengineering via iron fertilization could backfire (via Science Daily)

Sources: Obama climate plan rollout may come in July (via Politico)

FEMA report says climate change could increase flood risk areas by 45% (via Mother Jones)

$110 billion price tag for US extreme weather events in 2012 (via Climate Central)

Senators from Sandy-hit states press Obama on climate rules (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

French car-sharing service Autolib will make US debut in Indianapolis (via Autoblog Green)

Austin, Texas claims nation’s largest electric car share (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

US companies “fall short of sustainability goals” (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

California energy storage plan may require $3 billion investment (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA upgrades Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool for commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

Minnesota home sale listings to include efficiency scores (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

How the World Bank could slash its carbon emissions: start flying in coach (via Washington Post)

Why federal renewable mandates challenge US utilities – and what they can do (via Breaking Energy)

How EPA fights climate change even when Congress doesn’t want it to (via National Journal)

Climate change is the GOP’s worst nightmare (via Denver Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN says California and China in talks to link CO2 markets (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Where greenhouse gases come from, in one graph (via Grist)

US lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

The Chinese coal bubble (via Huffington Post)

China’s top utilities protest plan to ban low-grade coal imports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla CEO says company is tripling size of the Supercharger network (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than the grid in 102 countries (via Facts of the Day)

Australia on course to beat 2020 renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

Biomass to reach at least 82GW installed capacity worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030 (via Arab News)

India releases draft offshore wind energy policy (via Renewable Energy World)

Utilities weigh a turn to the sun (via Wall Street Journal)

As venture capital interest shrinks in clean tech, corporate investors swoop in (via San Jose Mercury News)

Feed-in tariff: policy tool encouraging deployment of renewable electricity technologies (via US EIA)

Minnesota solar could go from 13MW to 450MW with new solar bill (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind farm deal (via Minnesota Finance & Commerce)

GRID 

Utilities want a piece of the FCC’s $4.5 billion rural broadband push (via Greentech Media)

NYPA spending $31 million on transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Viridity’s software moves beyond traditional demand response (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Interior Department moves ahead on offshore drilling safety institute (via The Hill)

Shareholders slam Exxon on climate, discrimination concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Arkansas residents sue Exxon after oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Some in Europe are rethinking opposition to fracking (via New York Times)

Escalating water strains in fracking regions of US (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

US drought damage could top $200 billion (via AG Professional)

California plan to overhaul water system hub will cost $25 billion (via Los Angeles Times)

Over 100 ski resorts join BICEP climate declaration (via Triple Pundit)

US sued over policy on killing endangered wildlife (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Erratic US “weather whiplash” accounts for billions in global losses (via The Guardian)

Understanding local weather key to coping with climate change (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff announces he’ll step down (via The Hill)

Rallies in 12 US cities protest Koch Brothers Tribune Takeover bid (via Desmog Blog)

OPINION 

Here’s why 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electricity (via Washington Post)

Why Germany’s solar power is distributed (via Greentech Media)

Kerry’s misfire about US performance on Kyoto emissions targets (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN says California and China in talks to link CO2 markets (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Where greenhouse gases come from, in one graph (via Grist)

US lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

The Chinese coal bubble (via Huffington Post)

China’s top utilities protest plan to ban low-grade coal imports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla CEO says company is tripling size of the Supercharger network (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than the grid in 102 countries (via Facts of the Day)

Australia on course to beat 2020 renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

Biomass to reach at least 82GW installed capacity worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030 (via Arab News)

India releases draft offshore wind energy policy (via Renewable Energy World)

Utilities weigh a turn to the sun (via Wall Street Journal)

As venture capital interest shrinks in clean tech, corporate investors swoop in (via San Jose Mercury News)

Feed-in tariff: policy tool encouraging deployment of renewable electricity technologies (via US EIA)

Minnesota solar could go from 13MW to 450MW with new solar bill (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind farm deal (via Minnesota Finance & Commerce)

GRID 

Utilities want a piece of the FCC’s $4.5 billion rural broadband push (via Greentech Media)

NYPA spending $31 million on transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Viridity’s software moves beyond traditional demand response (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Interior Department moves ahead on offshore drilling safety institute (via The Hill)

Shareholders slam Exxon on climate, discrimination concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Arkansas residents sue Exxon after oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Some in Europe are rethinking opposition to fracking (via New York Times)

Escalating water strains in fracking regions of US (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

US drought damage could top $200 billion (via AG Professional)

California plan to overhaul water system hub will cost $25 billion (via Los Angeles Times)

Over 100 ski resorts join BICEP climate declaration (via Triple Pundit)

US sued over policy on killing endangered wildlife (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Erratic US “weather whiplash” accounts for billions in global losses (via The Guardian)

Understanding local weather key to coping with climate change (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff announces he’ll step down (via The Hill)

Rallies in 12 US cities protest Koch Brothers Tribune Takeover bid (via Desmog Blog)

OPINION 

Here’s why 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electricity (via Washington Post)

Why Germany’s solar power is distributed (via Greentech Media)

Kerry’s misfire about US performance on Kyoto emissions targets (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN says California and China in talks to link CO2 markets (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Where greenhouse gases come from, in one graph (via Grist)

US lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

The Chinese coal bubble (via Huffington Post)

China’s top utilities protest plan to ban low-grade coal imports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla CEO says company is tripling size of the Supercharger network (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than the grid in 102 countries (via Facts of the Day)

Australia on course to beat 2020 renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

Biomass to reach at least 82GW installed capacity worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030 (via Arab News)

India releases draft offshore wind energy policy (via Renewable Energy World)

Utilities weigh a turn to the sun (via Wall Street Journal)

As venture capital interest shrinks in clean tech, corporate investors swoop in (via San Jose Mercury News)

Feed-in tariff: policy tool encouraging deployment of renewable electricity technologies (via US EIA)

Minnesota solar could go from 13MW to 450MW with new solar bill (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind farm deal (via Minnesota Finance & Commerce)

GRID 

Utilities want a piece of the FCC’s $4.5 billion rural broadband push (via Greentech Media)

NYPA spending $31 million on transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Viridity’s software moves beyond traditional demand response (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Interior Department moves ahead on offshore drilling safety institute (via The Hill)

Shareholders slam Exxon on climate, discrimination concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Arkansas residents sue Exxon after oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Some in Europe are rethinking opposition to fracking (via New York Times)

Escalating water strains in fracking regions of US (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

US drought damage could top $200 billion (via AG Professional)

California plan to overhaul water system hub will cost $25 billion (via Los Angeles Times)

Over 100 ski resorts join BICEP climate declaration (via Triple Pundit)

US sued over policy on killing endangered wildlife (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Erratic US “weather whiplash” accounts for billions in global losses (via The Guardian)

Understanding local weather key to coping with climate change (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff announces he’ll step down (via The Hill)

Rallies in 12 US cities protest Koch Brothers Tribune Takeover bid (via Desmog Blog)

OPINION 

Here’s why 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electricity (via Washington Post)

Why Germany’s solar power is distributed (via Greentech Media)

Kerry’s misfire about US performance on Kyoto emissions targets (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea may launch world’s most ambitious cap and trade market (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon capture faces scale dilemma (via Reuters)

UK unwraps energy-intensive industry carbon price compensation package (via BusinessGreen)

CLIMATE 

World’s largest cities say time to adapt to climate change (via RTCC)

Glacier melt causes a third of all sea-level rise (via ABC Science)

Climate change pushes farmers in India to tipping point (via The Guardian)

Scientists agree on climate change, so why doesn’t everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Weatherproofing cities to face future Sandys (via Council on Foreign Relation)

RENEWABLES 

Solar has barely scratched the surface of a $2 trillion market (via Renew Economy)

2012 a record-breaking year for global wind power (via DW)

Solar industry groups urge US, EU, China to avert trade war (via Washington Post)

US and EU set to negotiate settlements in Chinese solar panel cases (via New York Times)

EU tariffs on Chinese solar imports “a grave mistake” says German minister (via BusinessGreen)

US military on track to reach 3GW of solar by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

95% of US energy executives predict more renewables investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Ethanol production stagnates as biofuel mandates grow (via Houston Chronicle)

The advantages of developing solar on brownfields (via Greentech Media)

US ethanol production capacity little changed in past year (via US EIA)

Can state harvesting guidelines keep biomass sustainable? (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota is a governor’s signature away from 450MW of solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina creates legal framework to develop wind farms (via Recharge)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency could cut wireless data power demand 90% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

LEED remains top choice for government buildings (via Sustainable Business)

Senate energy efficiency bill could be “poison pill” for LEED standards (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU to investigate environmental impact of shale gas fracking (via Reuters)

What exporting US natural gas means for the climate (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas climbs to three-week high on LNG approval, hot weather (via Bloomberg)

The fight for North Dakota’s fracking water market (via Reuters)

California’s proposed fracking moratoriums might not apply to other drilling in Monterey Shale (via EnergyWire)

161 water wells impacted by Pennsylvania gas drilling from 2008-2012 (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

More US consumers now support smart grid (via Renew Grid)

ARRA update: almost two-thirds of US smart grid funds spent (via Renew Grid)

Underwater batteries make an energy storage splash (via GigaOm)

The military microgrid as smart grid asset (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage, meet energy markets (via Greentech Media)

Texas power grid poised to be put to test again (via Texas Tribune)

Revenue at Bloom Energy falls in Q1 (via Greentech Media)

New grid switches cut 80,000 outages for ComEd (via Greentech Media)

As Texas towns say no, signs of rising resistance to smart meters (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

Oman to use solar power to get oil from old wells (via New York Times)

With US awash in oil, national interest argument for Keystone weakens (via InsideClimate News)

A black mound of Canadian oil waste is rising over Detroit (via New York Times)

Alaska’s governor launches bid to measure oil in Arctic refuge (via Los Angeles Times)

Exxon: no plans yet to reopen ruptured Arkansas pipeline, and no answers why (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plugged in: US electric car sales hit 100,000 (via EarthTechling)

Tesla to pay off US DOE loan Wednesday (via Bloomberg)

United Airlines restarts 787 Dreamliner flights (via USA Today)

Tesla’s fight with American car dealers (via CNN Money)

COAL 

In the US West, Big Coal makes its stand (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean warming means new paradigm for world’s fisheries (via Climate Progress)

A plague of deforestation sweeps across Southeast Asia (via Yale e360)

Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat (via Phys.org)

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon pacing 88% higher than 2012 (via Mongabay)

USGS: drop in US aquifer levels has accelerated (via Reuters)

Wells dry, fertile US plains turn to dust (via New York Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Moniz era begins at Energy Department (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign escalates at Swarthmore (via Huffington Post)

Illinois renewable energy law fix faces opposition from utilities (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

What’s at stake with natural-gas exports? (via National Journal)

Wind and the myth of negative pricing (via Greentech Media)

“If people aren’t pissed off, it ain’t working”: a chat with Tom Steyer (via Grist)

Climate warnings, growing louder (via New York Times)

Fixing the economy may be the best way to pass a climate bill (via Washington Post)

Arizona clean energy = more jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Utilities for dummies: how they work and why that needs to change (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.1.13

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

EMISSIONS

All eyes on Keeling Curve: scientists anxious as CO2 levels cross 400 PPM (via InsideClimate News)

States scramble as EPA shifts research monitors into regulatory mode (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU sets terms for global aviation climate talks (via RTCC)

European new car emissions fall nine percent in three years (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China struggles to tap its shale gas (via Washington Post)

Fracking rules coming “in weeks” says Jewell (via The Hill)

California regulators may track fracking chemicals (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

PTC clarity to ease renewable energy additions, questions remain (via AOL Energy)

Midwest looks to New England for biomass roadmap (via Midwest Energy News)

Solar to account for almost all new generation in California system in 2H 2013 (via Greentech Media)

PSE&G plans $446 million in new solar generation capacity (via Recharge News)

Bill to end North Carolina’s renewable energy standard resurfaces in legislature (via News & Observer)

Verizon to invest $100 million in solar, fuel cells (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Saudi oil minister predicts more active US in energy markets (via The Hill)

Saudi Arabia’s oil minister says country has shale but must learn to tap it (via Reuters)

US doubles oil reserve estimates at Bakken, Three Forks shale (via Reuters)

BP to fund $340 million in early restoration projects in Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

Citizens group finds 30 toxic chemicals in air following Arkansas oil spill (via Mongabay)

Federal regulators launch test of Helix offshore spill containment system (via Houston Chronicle)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Most firms get greenhouse gas reports wrong, says report (via Reuters)

Staples brings responsible e-waste recycling across the US (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal’s power market share lead over gas is doubling in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

What is the future of coal? (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Sequester hits nation’s climate change research capability (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Innovations reshaping the energy efficiency market (via Greentech Media)

Study finds conservative US shoppers turned off by efficient lightbulbs (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

New Mexico county ordinance bans oil, gas development (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

ComEd installs 470 smart switches across Chicago grid (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

It’s easy to keep US carbon emissions flat – sadly that’s not enough (via Washington Post)

Did a billionaire’s spending sway the Massachusetts Senate primary? (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.29.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China makes strides to curb carbon emissions (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

San Francisco and Seattle lead US cities pulling funds from fossil fuel firms (via The Guardian)

Volkswagen sustainability report shows emissions, production progress (via Autoblog Green)

Can fossil fuel divestment prevent the carbon bubble from bursting? (via CleanTechnica)

How the NFL became a champion of sustainability (via The Guardian)

How sustainability metrics help build trust in the financial sector (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Land-locked Alberta mulls tar sands pipeline to Arctic port (via Reuters)

TransCanada sees Keystone XL delayed until second half 2015 (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

100% renewables for Australia not so costly after all (via Renew Economy)

Solar PV module revenues to turn upward, but not until 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

European Commission launches Chinese solar glass subsidy inquiry (via Reuters)

Amonix claims 36.2% solar energy efficiency record (via Recharge)

DOE, Stanford unveil solar, wind battery (via Energy Manager Today)

Floating wind turbines with undersea energy storage (via EarthTechnling)

Geothermal saves $117 million per year for California and Nevada (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina notches a win against ALEC anti-renewables effort (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles launches largest municipal solar program in US (via Triple Pundit)

Community colleges help prepare students for a green job market (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

Massachusetts ski resort runs completely on solar and wind (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

In Montana, ranchers line up against coal (via Los Angeles Times)

Bankrupt Patriot Coal asks court to slash union pensions (via Reuters)

FutureGen 2.0 gets clean environmental impact statement (via Jacksonville Journal Courier)

CLIMATE 

UN climate talks kick off in Bonn (via The Guardian)

China leading in climate change fight, argues Australian government report (via BusinessGreen)

Ocean surface temperatures off Northeast US coast highest in 150 years (via Bangor Daily News)

Major pan-European study conducted on ocean acidification (via Phys.org)

Wild weather swings may be a sign of climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA lowers estimates of methane leaks during natural gas production (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ready (or not?) for a great coming Texas shale boom (via New York Times)

Ohio tries to avoid repeat of 2011 injection well quakes (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Rapid transition of climate zones could speed extinction (via RTCC)

US to remove gray wolves from endangered list (via The Hill)

Empty nets in Louisiana three years after the BP oil spill (via CNN)

EPA deals blow to Alaska mine project (via The Hill)

New Mexico grapples with tough choices as drought persists (via Yahoo! News/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Bike-sharing programs now in 49 countries, 500 cities (via Sustainable Business)

Tesla to offer loaners to customers with cars in the shop (via GigaOm)

Chicago car charging station feud goes to court (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

One month after Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill, still no answers to basic questions (via InsideClimate News)

Oil rig worker ranks among worst jobs of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Study: buyers of energy-efficient homes less likely to default (via Today Show)

NREL teams with US Navy to cut energy use (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY 

Europe bids to marry natural gas and renewable energy (via Recharge)

Colorado senate votes to strengthen state’s clean energy standard (via ClimateProgress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese nuclear reactors may come back online soon (via United Press International)

Thinking small, nuclear power enters distributed era (via Navigant Research)

FBI investigating weekend shootout at Watts Bar nuclear power plant (via Knoxville News)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens lurch left in bid to beat Merkel (via Reuters)

Charlotte Mayor Foxx to be named US Transportation Secretary (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How can Congress boost renewable-energy requirements? (via National Journal)

Everybody chill out a little, carbon trading will be fine (via Grist)

Would a carbon tax boost clean energy? (via Christian Science Monitor)

People who believe in free markets more likely to reject climate science (via Sustainable Business)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.22.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

IMF rejects fossil fuel subsidies, calls for reform (via Climate Central)

EPA proposes water pollution rules for power plants (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

In Europe, paid permits for pollution are fizzling (via New York Times)

Europe’s carbon market collapse won’t kill cap and trade (via CleanTechnica)

Cap and trade programs in California and Quebec to merge (via Los Angeles Times)

California to link its cap and trade program with Quebec’s January 1, 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Public comment period ending on controversial Keystone report (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

India plans subsidies to boost solar power sector (via Wall Street Journal)

China set to approve 27.9GW of wind power projects (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewables investment seen tripling amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

ABB bets on solar power with $1 billion inverter takeover (via Reuters)

New solar cell process achieves record efficiency, says MIT (via Yale e360)

Renewable power’s green vs. green battles continue (via Politico)

Google calls on utilities to sell it clean energy for data centers, starting in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Power grab: San Antonio’s CPS looks to eliminate net metering (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Study: fracked gas far more climate-friendly than coal (via The Hill)

Natural gas industry experiencing “paradigm shift” (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

BP still uncertain over spill cost at third anniversary (via Bloomberg)

Three years after the BP spill, tar balls and oil sheen blight Gulf Coast (via The Atlantic)

Arkansas oil spill probe falls to understaffed agency with close industry ties (via InsideClimate News)

Florida becomes 4th state to sue BP over oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill is back (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Dirty war over coal exports in the Northwest US (via The Economist)

Coal dust impacts at issue as Army Corps considers Northwest export plans (via Greenwire)

Coal industry sees lifeline in big deposits out West (via Politico)

OPINION 

Europe’s cap and trade program is in trouble – can it be fixed? (via Washington Post)

What’s holding back energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Warren Buffet’s coal problem (via Marc Gunther)

East Coast rebuilding but vulnerable to future Sandys (via LiveScience)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Report: fossil fuel carbon bubble will plunge world into another financial crisis (via The Guardian)

EIA projects fossil fuels will still provide 78% of US energy in 2040 (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

China and India talk up plans for national climate action (via BusinessGreen)

China plans to complete climate change draft law in two years (via Bloomberg)

World Bank president: climate change is urgent “today” problem (via PBS News)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar unveils Africa’s largest solar PV plant (via BusinessGreen)

South Africa sees a 20,000% increase in clean energy investment (via Greentech Media)

Japan plans major solar storage project (via Recharge)

How does the California solar initiative compare to Japan’s FIT? (via Solar Magazine)

99% of 2012 US solar PV installations were net metered (via CleanTechnica)

California has more solar jobs than actors (via Greentech Media)

Midwest wind energy plan tests power of farmers (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar wins in Louisiana net metering fight (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar cooling panel could provide AC without electricity by sending heat to outer space (via Treehugger)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 22 million electric vehicles will be sold from 2012 to 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Microbattery technology could shrink battery sizes by a factor of ten (via United Press International)

FAA set to approve Boeing’s fixes for Dreamliner problem batteries (via Washington Post/AP)

Fisker spent $660,000 on each $103,000 plug-in car (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Almost official: California’s cap and trade program finally linking with Quebec (via Triple Pundit)

Chevron defies California on carbon emissions (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Report: higher level of renewables poses no problem for the grid (via Renew Grid)

Demand response needed to beat the heat in Texas (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL

The first – and last – hearing on Keystone XL environmental impact (via Mother Jones)

Rowdy Keystone pipeline hearing pits workers vs greens (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senators reveal slimmer energy-efficiency bill with eye toward GOP (via The Hill)

Energy efficiency stocks rally on Shaheen-Portman bill (via Forbes)

OIL 

Interior Department: emergency containment equipment a must for Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

More US oil probably won’t destroy the climate (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Arkansas homeowners file class action lawsuit against ExxonMobil (via KARK News)

NATURAL GAS 

Energy Department: LNG export decisions coming soon (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA projects US per capita energy use will fall to 1963 levels (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

Germany on the verge of an energy storage subsidy (via Greentech Media)

Report: US electrical grid could be reliable with much higher level of renewables (via Reuters)

US smart grid cybersecurity spending to reach $7.25B by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal ranks as “most environmentally costly” business (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

China trounces US in green energy investments (via CNN Money)

Solar trade war opens new front as India questions US subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

World to get fewer new wind turbines in 2013 (via Reuters)

Global wind power capacity increased 19% in 2012 (via Renewable Energy World)

PV solar dominates new renewable installations in Japan (via Recharge)

Vestas and GE neck and neck at top of wind industry (via BusinessGreen)

UK’s National Trust launches 50% renewable energy target by 2020 (via RTCC)

India to double renewable energy capacity to 55GW by 2017 (via EnergyNext)

SEPA names top 10 US electric utilities for solar power usage (via Solar Industry)

Environmentalists sue officials over Duke Energy wind project (via Charlotte Business Journal)

EMISSIONS 

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely change in last 20 years (via Green Car Congress)

EU climate chief vows to fight on to save emissions trading scheme (via The Guardian)

Europe’s rollercoaster carbon prices set to hit Australia (via Phys.org)

China climate chief says EU CO2 crisis will not hurt domestic plans (via Reuters)

EPA faces lawsuit threats over blown climate rule deadline (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

US hybrids save a half billion gallons of gas a year (via Sustainable Business)

A look under the hood: why EV startup Fisker crashed and burned (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Asian nations eagerly eye cheap US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas industry to develop fast in China, says expert (via Xinhua)

Natural gas prices rise from historic lows (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

How Cheniere Energy got first in line to export America’s natural gas (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists raise questions on drought and climate (via Climate Central)

Amid Keystone fight, Canadian official defends climate comments (via The Hill)

Gov. Brown says changes to California’s environmental law unlikely this year (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

A polarized Energy & Commerce Committee reflects a gridlocked Congress (via National Journal)

Sens. Shaheen, Portman have high hopes for energy efficiency bill (via Politico)

What the House GOP doesn’t want you to know about wind vs. oil tax credits (via Climate Progress)

GOP Representative: ExxonMobil deserves pat on the back for Arkansas spill response (via Grist)

OPINION 

Lighting a spark on the High Plains (via New York Times)

None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use (via Grist)

Why more US oil may not mean cheaper US gasoline (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Activism is half the battle: the need for clean energy policymakers (via Energy Collective)