Category Archives:arra

01
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China, emerging economies “account for 48% of carbon emissions” (via The Guardian/Reuters)

Smaller rise in global CO2 emissions may be sign of permanent slowing (via Yale e360)

Labor party to challenge Australian carbon tax repeal (via Financial Review)

Netherlands town becomes first in Europe to vow fossil fuel divestment (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Russia, Ukraine halt giant Antarctic marine sanctuary plan (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell lays out US conservation strategy (via Washington Post)

Officials search for plan as California reservoirs drop below half capacity (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Wind turbine placement study yields staggering results (via EarthTechling)

Two US senators propose national renewable electricity standard (via Renew Grid)

Ethanol, oil groups blitz White House as biofuel rule nears (via Reuters)

More than 160 House members ask EPA to relax renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar goes big: Launching the California Valley Solar Ranch (via Energy.gov)

How a speedy ship could cut the cost of offshore wind power (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico unlikely to tap its Eagle Ford Shale, expert says (via Houston Chronicle)

Marcellus Shale fracking wells use 5 million gallons of water apiece (via Grist)

Kentucky, where fracking is a curse (via National Journal)

Fracking faces judgment day Tuesday in four Colorado ballot initiatives (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE 

Climate change impacts to poor countries go far beyond money – report (via ClimateWire)

Pacific Ocean now warming 15x faster than in past 10,000 years (via Washington Post)

White House will focus on climate shifts while trying to cut emissions (via New York Times)

COAL 

Poland, wedded to coal, spurns Europe on clean energy targets (via New York Times)

Coal country’s decline has a long history (via National Journal)

NUCLEAR 

DOE Secretary Moniz offers Japan aid with Fukushima cleanup (via ABC News/AP)

OIL 

German spy agency says US shale will depress oil prices for decades (via Reuters)

North Dakota lawmakers want to make all oil spills public (via Climate Progress)

Montana, US to seek damages from 2011 Exxon Mobil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla wins victory in Virginia, gets go-ahead to open store (via CleanTechnica)

Brookings: Cash for Clunkers was a lemon (via Politico)

TAR SANDS 

Shell joins energy rush, green lights new Alberta oil sands project (via Globe and Mail)

POLITICS 

Climate activists outspending big coal in crucial Washington State election (via Climate Progress)

Australia’s Labor Party signals carbon standoff by demanding emissions trading (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

Carbon emissions tied to stock valuations? (via BusinessGreen)

Almost anything would have been better stimulus than “Cash for Clunkers” (via Washington Post)

How much did the feds really help with fracking? (via Forbes)

What’s been going on with the US smart grid investment grant program (via Renew Grid)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Antarctica, arra, australia, biofuel, Brookings Institute, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, cash for clunkers, China, Climate adaptation, Coal exports, Divestment, DOE, DOI, drought, Eagle Ford Shale, emissions, Energy Department, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, Exxon Mobil, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, interior department, Kentucky, marcellus shale, mexico, Montana, natural gas, Netherlands, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil sands, oil spill, Renewable electricity standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, Sally Jewell, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, virginia, Washington State, wind
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30
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.30.13

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

COAL 

Goldman Sachs says coal-export terminals are a bad investment (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

UK government unveils next steps to zero carbon homes (via BusinessGreen)

Study: Energy efficiency drove US emissions decline, not natural gas (via InsideClimate News)

Report: Carbon markets offer “cheap” aviation emissions cuts (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

State Department: Keystone XL jobs impact “negligible” (via The Hill)

Analysts say Obama “headed toward yes” on Keystone pipeline (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

China’s renewable energy spending may total $300 billion through 2015 (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

New solar homes: Japanese builders helping fight for energy independence (via Renewable Energy World)

Saudi Arabia “committed” to 54GW green revolution (via RTCC)

Chinese solar eyes US market after EU agreement (via Environmental Leader)

Wind developers ready US offshore bids (via Recharge)

RMI: New insights into the real value of distributed solar (via Greentech Media)

Algae-to-crude company Sapphire Energy pays of US government loan guarantee (via Green Car Congress)

UCLA scientists double efficiency of novel solar cell (via Phys.org)

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate nears first big energy bill since 2007 (via The Hill)

Deloitte: Energy deals tumble 30% from 2012 activity (via Houston Chronicle)

FERC says JPMorgan manipulated power prices in 2010-2011 (via USA Today)

GRID

Demand response could double to 155.4GW worldwide by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas plants account for 53% of new generation capacity in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

North Dakota natural gas flaring equivalent to 1 million cars per year (via Climate Progress)

Federal government begins probe of Gulf gas well blowout (via Houston Chronicle)

BLM will lease rights for natural gas development in Ohio forest (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Study: Global warming puts South American water supplies at risk (via United Press International)

2013 shaping up to be one of Australia’s hottest years ever (via Renew Economy)

Study: sea-level rise threatens 1,400 US cities (via USA Today)

Cornell opens climate change and agriculture center (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

Shale threatens Saudi economy, warns prince (via Wall Street Journal)

Saudi prince says global oil markets are “in decline” (via RTCC)

Texas will continue to lead US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry works to reduce flaring in North Dakota (via The Oklahoman)

Oil industry fights safety retrofit of older rail cars (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP’s Deepwater compensation fund running dry (via The Guardian)

As Texas drilling expands, so do fights over land rights (via StateImpact Texas)

TRANSPORTATION 

Japanese carmakers partner to double public EV fast chargers (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla sets sights on fledgling China EV market (via TriplePundit)

Ford data shows its PHEV owners operate in electric mode 60% of the time (via Green Car Congress)

DOE Inspector General: Grants to EV charging company were “overly generous” (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial LED lighting revenue will reach $25 billion annually by 2021 (via Navigant Research)

DOE invests in energy efficiency for small buildings (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

A smaller-than-predicted Dead Zone is still toxic for the Gulf of Mexico (via Time)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Research says green corporate policies tied to brand strength (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

Some Republicans, not all, clamor for a vote against a carbon tax (via ClimateWire)

EPA chief takes climate push on the road (via The Hill)

Political ad targets Cuccinelli fight with climate scientist (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

The consequences of affordable green energy options (via Washington Post)

Flood, rebuild, repeat: Are we ready for a Superstorm Sandy every other year? (via Grist)

Renewables only marginally more expensive (via Breaking Energy)

How fit are feed-in tariffs? (via Renewable Energy World)

How bracing for superstorms will reshape New York City (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, arra, australia, biofuel, blm, BP, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Cornell University, Dead Zone, deepwater horizon, Demand response, department of energy, Distributed solar, DOE, Electric vehicle charger, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, European Union, EV charger, feed-in tariff, FIT, Ford, Gina McCarthy, global warming, Goldman Sachs, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, japan, Jean Shaheen, Ken Cuccinelli, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas flaring, New York City, News, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Rob Portman, Rocky Mountain Institute, Sapphire Energy, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, Solar cell efficiency, Solar homes, Solar trade war, State Department, stimulus, Superstorm Sandy, Tesla, texas, Transportation, UCLA, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity
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23
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

98% of DOE’s $34 billion loan portfolio is being repaid (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Thawing permafrost could produce lower CO2 emissions than previously thought (via ClimateWire)

New EU climate policy unlikely before 2015 (via Phys.org)

10 cities that will be hardest hit by climate change (via Grist)

Gov. Jerry Brown keeps pressing on the perils of climate change (via San Jose Mercury News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale boom shapes international energy markets (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy-rich Colorado becomes setting for fracking fight (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House panel approves fracking measure (via Chicago Tribune)

Grassroots greens challenge EDF on fracking involvement (via Mother Jones)

RENEWABLES 

Germany investing €50 million in solar PV innovation (via Recharge)

Switch to low-carbon energy would save UK households 1,600 (via The Independent)

White House, Pentagon at odds over biofuel refinery program (via Greenwire)

Wind potential – all about the data (via Renewable Energy World)

North Carolina renewable energy policy will remain in place (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

China emissions cap proposal hailed as climate breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

China unveils details of pilot carbon-trading program (via The Guardian)

CBO: carbon tax an option to avoid “catastrophic” outcomes (via The Hill)

College fossil-fuel divestment movement builds (via Houston Chronicle)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

House passes bill to speed up Keystone XL, avoid Obama review (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL’s southern leg nears completion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Motors repays its government loan in full (via Greentech Media)

Tesla Model S set to bring EVs into mainstream (via BusinessGreen)

Coalition launches EV charging station project in upstate New York (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

Coal regains some electric generation market share from natural gas (via US EIA)

Mining lobby touts economic impact of coal exports (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK government to boost energy efficiency efforts across sectors (via Energy Manager Today)

How Cree perfected the 20-year light bulb (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

Death by a thousand cuts: coal boom could destroy Great Barrier Reef (via Spiegel)

POLITICS 

The GOP’s green energy tent is slowly getting bigger (via National Journal)

Climate activists to protest at Obama group’s climate events (via Grist)

Q&A: Steven Chu on his time as US Energy Secretary (via Stanford News)

Green billionaire Steyer plans to get involved in Massachusetts Senate race (via The Hill)

Terry McAuliffe reverses course, backs bill to allow oil drilling off Virginia coast (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Europe, Australia, and the slow death of carbon trading (via Renew Economy)

Could a Chinese carbon cap pave the way for a global climate deal? (via Grist)

The impact of budget sequestration on DOD energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Posted:   |   Categories: arra, australia, biofuel, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Cree, Defense Department, Divestment, DOE, edf, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Environmental Defense Fund, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Illinois, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LED, massachusetts, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, OFA, offshore drilling, Permafrost, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, solar pv, Stanford, steven chu, tar sands, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, virginia, wind
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22
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China agrees to impose carbon reduction targets by 2016 (via The Independent)

California carbon permits sell for record high price (via Reuters)

64 companies follow Wal-Mart’s effort to reduce supplier emissions (via ClimateWire)

Infographic: where are all our carbon emissions being stored? (via Inhabitat)

NAUTRAL GAS/FRACKING 

DOE Secretary Moniz vows review of natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Lawmakers press Interior Department to slow down fracking rules (via The Hill)

BNSF Railway launches rail loop for fracking sand (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

EU and US not coordinating on China solar dispute (via Reuters)

Global solar manufacturers poised to make come back (via Sustainable Business)

Goldman Sachs to invest $486 million in Japan renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds marine life unhindered by offshore wind farm (via Renewable Energy World)

Vertical axis wind turbines make a return (via Navigant Research)

Solar’s growing role in the US military (via Sustainable Business)

Federal government will build its largest wind farm to power nuclear assembly plant (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Businesses urge EU to adopt energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Moniz vows to advance efficiency bill, sees “real chance” (via The Hill)

30% energy efficiency gain would create $275 billion US tech market (via Energy Manager Today)

Hospitals can reduce energy consumption 62% (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

European coal’s record slump poised to end on output cuts (via Houston Chronicle)

The two faces of coal power (via EnergyBiz)

Southern Company’s coal gasification plant balloons over $4 billion to $7 per watt (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Widespread Greenland melting a sign of things to come (via Climate Central)

70% of Americans say global warming should be a priority (via Yale e360)

Tornado-proofing cities in the age of extreme weather (via Time)

GRID

Smart meter shipments for commercial and industrial markets will reach 12.7 million annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

US grid balancing could go further to increase renewables (via Reuters)

Report finds US grid vulnerable to cyber-attacks (via Politico)

The smart meter stimulus-cash-to-integration equation (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid program created 2,700 jobs in Q1 (via Renew Grid)

Some US utilities say they’re under constant cyber attack (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ban Ki-Moon: world on course to run out of water (via RTCC)

Corn-producing states face high water-shortage risk (via Environmental Leader)

Ogallala Aquifer in Texas panhandle suffers big drop (via Texas Tribune)

NOAA still planning to furlough storm forecasters (via Politico)

Wolves in US won’t lose protections, for now (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment campaign’s victory in Australia will be a moral one (via The Guardian)

Can local Chambers of Commerce be clean energy catalysts? (via GreenBiz)

Tesla repaying loan gives Obama a green win (via Bloomberg)

Oklahoma tornado: is climate change to blame? (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

On climate change, Obama faces an attack from his left flank (via Washington Post)

White House threatens veto of Keystone bill (via The Hill)

NJ Gov. Christie: no proof climate change caused Sandy (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: arra, australia, Ban-Ki Moon, barack obama, BNSF Railway, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, ComEd, Cyberattack, Divestment, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, Goldman Sachs, green jobs, greenland, grid, Grid balancing, interior department, investment, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, noaa, offshore wind, Ogallala Aquifer, oklahoma, renewables, smart grid, smart meter, solar, Solar trade war, Southern Company, stimulus, Superstorm Sandy, Tesla, texas, vertical axis wind turbine, wal-mart, Water scarcity
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21
May

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, alaska, amazon, anwr, arctic, arizona, Arkansas, arra, battery, biofuel, biomass, bloom energy, Boeing 787, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, deforestation, department of energy, Detroit, Divestment, Dreamliner, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy efficeincy, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EOR, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Exxon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, green building, green jobs, grid, Illinois, india, investment, Keystone XL, LEED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, minnesota, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Negative pricing, News, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore drilling, oil, Oil coke, oil spill, Oman, pennsylvania, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, Superstorm Sandy, Swarthmore, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united airlines, united kingdom, usgs, Water scarcity, wind
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27
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.27.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EU to start debate on energy, climate rules amid crisis (via Bloomberg)

China’s utility giants vulnerable to water scarcity, report says (via Yale e360)

Report: Energy Department mismanaged stimulus-backed climate program (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA: most of nation’s waters in “poor condition for aquatic life” (via Stateline)

Open-source project explores “choke point” of water, food, & energy crises (via EarthTechling)

Teen invents device to clean giant ocean garbage patches (via Treehugger)

New Mexico farmers seek “priority call” as drought persists (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

China warns EU over solar panel spat (via Recharge)

China’s bailouts darken horizon for solar panel sector (via Reuters)

Report: Vestas blown off wind market top spot by GE (via BusinessGreen)

Bosch turns off light on money-losing solar power business (via Autoblog Green)

Rooftop solar could power all Australian households, slash electricity prices (via Renew Economy)

Angola “planning 100MW wind farm” (via Recharge)

Denmark hits 1,000MW of offshore wind, shows no sign of slowing down (via Forbes)

Study shows need to account for carbon sinks when siting clean energy projects (via Greentech Media)

US DOE launches new clean energy manufacturing initiative (via Energy Collective)

Federally funded R&D centers spent $17.8 billion on R&D in FY 2011 (via Green Car Congress)

Massive energy skyscraper proposed for US-Mexico border (via Forbes)

Another PACE setback: California court dismisses suit challenging curtailment (via Solar Industry)

Georgia set to increase solar energy with new legislation (via CleanTechnica)

Dominion to pay for solar power in Virginia, but is it enough? (via EarthTechling)

EMISSIONS 

Discovery may allow scientists to make fuel from CO2 in the atmosphere (via Phys.org)

EU set to announce 30% by 2030 emissions reduction target (via RTCC)

US emissions decline, coal exports rise (via RTCC)

The price of carbon (via Huffington Post)

Washington State passes legislation to tackle greenhouse gas emissions (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Interior Department to release another draft of fracking rules (via Casper Star-Tribune)

US natural gas pipeline construction plummets in 2012 (via Houston Chronicle)

Wyoming judge rules fracking ingredients are trade secrets (via Casper Star-Tribune)

Waterless fracking makes headway in Texas, slowly (via Texas Tribune)

2011 Oklahoma earthquake tied to oil-drilling fracking wastewater (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Rising UK energy bills will be reduced with climate policies, says energy secretary  (via The Guardian)

How to save the US $1 trillion: energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

Army testing energy efficient tents (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Oil spill response group forming emergency strike team for Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

Rising North Dakota oil production and demand spurs two new refineries (via US EIA)

Cleanup of 2010 Michigan dilbit spill aims to stop spread of submerged oil (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle drive motor sales will reach 3.7 million units by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

China mandates strict fuel-economy increase to 47 mpg by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Enviros decry Virginia tax on hybrid cars (via The Hill)

COAL 

Oregon, Washington governors ask Obama to weigh climate impact of coal ports (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Arctic ice hits annual maximum extent, 6th lowest on record (via Climate Central)

UK’s lead G8 negotiator blocks climate change from agenda (via The Guardian)

Federal plan aims to help wildlife adapt to climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

Seven surprising ways US cities are adapting to monster storms (via OnEarth)

Poll questions shift public views on global warming (via USA Today)

New York State tells investors that climate change may hurt its finances (via New York Times)

POLITICS 

Five easy pieces of energy legislation for Congress (via National Journal)

Ernest Moniz should have an easy time with Senate confirmation (via Politico)

Carbon tax? No thanks, says US Senate (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Will China’s new leaders clean up the environment? (via Energy Collective)

Do clean energy innovation clusters work? (via Greentech Media)

What climate hawks can (and can’t) learn from public-health campaigns (via Grist)

Why emerging economies are not cleantech cash machines (via Navigant Research)

The state of cleantech venture capital: what lies ahead (via GigaOm)

More effort needed to meet EU’s 2020 clean energy goals (via Reuters)

Can offshore wind make or break wave energy? (via Renewable Energy World)

Do high natural gas prices mean the shale boom is ending? (via Christian Science Monitor)

OTHER NEWS 

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Angola, arctic, arra, australia, biofuel, Bosch, california, carbon dioxide, Carbon market, Carbon sink, carbon tax, China, climate, co2, coal, Coal export, denmark, DOE, Dominion, drought, earthquake, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, Fracking fluid, Fracking wastewater, Fuel Economy, GE, Georgia, global warming, hybrid, interior department, mexico, michigan, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil spill Gulf of Mexico, oklahoma, oregon, PACE, Pacific Garbage Patch, Pipelines, politics, renewables, rooftop solar, Sea ice melt, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, vestas, virginia, Washington State, Water quality, Water scarcity, Waterless fracking, wind, wyoming
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14
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13

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
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29
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Settlement with TransCanada curtails protesters’ acts of civil disobedience (via Greenwire)

GRID 

China tests a small smart electric grid (via MIT Technology Review)

Inspector General: DOE mismanaged ARRA smart grid funds (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon price drop deemed “wake-up call” (via United Press International)

“Off the scale” smog envelops Beijing again (via Phys.org)

Scotland sets 2030 power sector decarbonization goal (via Recharge)

RENEWABLES 

PwC: renewables M&A activity falls in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Solar growth moves to China, Middle East, and India as Europe cuts subsidies (via ClimateWire)

UK solar boom predicted to double installations in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Taiwan starts offshore wind push (via Recharge)

Suzlon chief predicts “flat” wind turbine market in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Can fossil-fuel tax benefits boost the renewable energy industry? (via Midwest Energy News)

Solar net metering equals net benefits in California and Vermont (via CleanTechnica)

ERCOT report shows Texas wind and solar power hold their own against natural gas (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Over $8 billion invested in watersheds globally in 2011 (via Mongabay) 

Projected US water use likely to increase as climate warms (via Phys.org)

Message from Mexico: US is polluting water it may someday need to drink (via ProPublica)

Species on the move present a conservation challenge (via Climate Change)

Drought worsening in Midwest and Plains states, despite Winter weather (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

OIL 

OPEC sees oil markets well supplied, no price collapse in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

US review delays closing of big Chinese oil deal (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Has “peak car” already happened, making automakers mobility companies? (via Autoblog Green)

Three automakers combine forces on fuel-cell cars (via New York Times)

Electric cars and the power grid: how are they coming together? (via Forbes)

Lower EV prices will not blow up the market (via Pike Research)

EV drivers now have quick-charge coverage from Washington to California (via CleanTechnica)

Colorado county mandates plug-in vehicle wiring for new homes (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE 

USGS-NOAA: climate change impacts to US coasts threaten public health, safety, economy (via Phys.org)

Cities lead over feds on climate change adaptation (via Sustainable Business)

Scientist publishes first climate change textbook for college students (via Phys.org)

Is it Spring or is it Winter? Wild rollercoaster of US temperatures (via Weather Underground)

An unusual weather turn even for the Midwest: 8 degrees quickly becomes 74 (via New York Times)

NASA retirees appeal to own lack of climate authority (via Skeptical Science)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shell, Kinder Morgan to jointly export LNG from the US (via Reuters)

Gas royalty checks total $1.2 billion in Pennsylvania (via Facts of the Day)

RARE EARTHS 

Rare earths mining boom poses toxic risks (via Treehugger)

COAL 

Canadian carbon project aims to prove clean coal works (via Reuters)

US coal industry sees progress ahead in Congress, Courts (via Politico)

GREEN BUILDING 

America’s most conservative green community (via The Atlantic)

Washington DC requires privately owned buildings measure energy, water use (via Sustainable Business)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Unlocking sustainability’s hidden value (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS 

What it looks like when Obama’s passion spurs him to defy political odds (via Grist)

Climate change action now helps win elections: poll (via Discovery News)

Moderate Dem Senator Heitkamp bucks party orthodoxy, aims to exemplify “all of the above” (via E&E Daily)

A chat with Sierra Club’s Michael Brune about civil disobedience (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, arra, barack obama, Beijing, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, Carbon price, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, CNOOC, coal, colorado, conservation, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, ev charging, fracking, fuel cell, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Heidi Heitkamp, india, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LNG, M&A, mexico, michael brune, NASA, natural gas, Natural gas export, Net metering, News, noaa, Offshore solar, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, Rare earths, renewables, Scotland, Shell, sierra club, smart grid, Smog, solar, Solar net metering, Subsidies, suzlon, Taiwan, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGA, utah, vermont, Washington DC, Washington State, Water, Watershed, wind
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10
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.13

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
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