Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
US recoverable natural gas estimate jumps 26 percent (via Houston Chronicle)
EIA projects flatlining of natural gas consumption through 2014 (via Facts of the Day)
Little support for natural gas exports, UT poll finds (via Houston Chronicle)
CLIMATE
Australia prepares for new weather extremes as political opposition mounts (via ClimateWire)
Nearly 80 percent of Americans hit by extreme weather disaster since 2007 (via Climate Progress)
Climate change included in US science teaching guidelines for first time (via The Guardian)
NUCLEAR
Ex-regulator says all US nuclear reactors have safety design flaw (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Global solar PV market surges toward 100GW milestone (via BusinessGreen)
Asian Development Bank pleads for alternative energy use (via Bangkok Post)
Chinese wind energy output soars 41 percent (via BusinessGreen)
South African solar projects get $2.2 billion boost (via Sustainable Business)
Brazil planning for another 300MW of solar PV (via CleanTechnica)
When it comes to solar power, small scale is beautiful (via EarthTechling)
Renewables provide 82% of new US electrical generating capacity in1Q 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)
NRG introducing solar with battery storage for homeowners (via Renewable Energy World)
Building a solar economy: 4 lessons from Hawaii (via Yes! Magazine)
First Solar soars 45 percent on outlook, acquisition (via Reuters)
Mosiac receives approval to offer $100 million in solar investments to California residents (via San Jose Mercury News)
Illinois renewable energy fund set to jump 10x, but glitches could make it impossible to spend money (via Crain’s Chicago Business)
OIL
OPEC joins US in lowering 2013 oil demand growth view (via Reuters)
Gazprom, Shell agree to develop Arctic oil fields despite environmental concerns (via Washington Post)
BP says safety was top priority in Gulf before massive oil spill (via Washington Post)
Today is deadline for Exxon to produce Arkansas oil spill documents (via Ozarks First)
Exxon oil spill cleanup in path of severe weather, maybe a tornado (via InsideClimate News)
Jury finds Exxon liable for $236 million in New Hampshire pollution suit (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
UN emissions credits surge as developers delay carbon claims (via Bloomberg)
Shanghai to become second Chinese city to launch carbon trading this June (via BusinessGreen)
Air pollution killed 7 million people in 2010 (via Mongabay)
DOE nominee mum on carbon tax during hearing (via The Hill)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Keystone XL pipeline developer fears decision is “many months” away (via The Hill)
Did Keystone XL contractor hide its conflict of interest? (via Mother Jones)
TRANSPORTATION
More than 48,000 EV public charging stations have been deployed worldwide (via Navigant Research)
Car repair costs rising – apart from hybrids, which get cheaper (via Green Car Reports)
US public charging stations increase 9% in first quarter 2013 (via Autoblog Green)
Elon Musk says next, cheaper Tesla coming in 2016 or 2017 (via Autoblog Green)
GRID
New grid architecture enables renewable integration (via Navigant Research)
In Iowa, researchers seeing a stronger, lighter power line (via Midwest Energy News)
ENERGY POLICY
Energy tax reform a heavy lift for lawmakers (via Politico)
Four charts that show the US spends too little on energy research (via Washington Post)
Kansas could outlaw sustainable development (via Treehugger)
COAL
Plans for one coal export terminal in Oregon dropped, four others still under consideration (via Climate Progress)
ENVIRONMENT
Entire planet will soon have rapid deforestation detection system (via Mongabay)
GREEN BUSINESS
Hundreds of US colleges creating a clean energy future, today (via EcoAffect)
Best Buy e-waste recycling actually a notable accomplishment (via EarthTechling)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Ohio state legislature reviewing energy efficiency rules (via Columbus Dispatch)
POLITICS
Coming and going at the Energy Department (via New York Times)
Ernest Moniz faces grilling in confirmation hearing (via Houston Chronicle)
McCarthy to face barrage of agency criticism (via E&E Daily)
OPINION
How carbon reduction and smart grid work together (via Greentech Media)
Why First Solar is buying a silicon solar cell startup no one’s heard of (via GigaOm)
Exxon revolutionizes energy by delivering it straight to your face (via Grist)