Category Archives:battery

10
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.10.13

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

GRID 

North America boasts 95% of demand response projects (via Energy Manager Today)

Microgrids for military bases to surpass $377 million in annual market value by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

PacifiCorp continues high-voltage transmission grid expansion (via Renew Grid)

Nest aims to shake up residential demand response (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Global green trade to reach $2.2 trillion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

How are China’s overseas investments affecting the environment? (via WRI Insights)

Patagonia’s new VC fund to invest in trailblazing green firms (via GreenBiz)

An effort to thwart sale of Tribune Company papers to the Kochs (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

EU to hit 100+ China solar panel makers with anti-dumping tariffs (via Greentech Media)

Wind PTC secured for now, industry focuses on long-term growth (via Greenwire)

Unique floating wind turbine base could provide glimpse into future (via Bangor Daily News)

Doubling wind power could save Mid-Atlantic consumers $6.9 billion a year (via Climate Progress)

New Hampshire governor opposes Connecticut’s plans to change renewable energy standard (via New Haven Register)

Rate design matters: utility tariffs and solar project economics (via Greentech Media)

Big gust of new wind power coming Iowa’s way (via EarthTechling)

Illinois Senate backs Lake Michigan offshore wind study (via News-Gazette)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE using broad criteria to judge LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Studies of the past show an ice-free Arctic could be in our future (via Time)

Countries finding new ways to address climate change (via Sustainable Business)

Prince Charles: climate change skeptics are turning Earth into dying patient (via The Guardian)

Is it time to abandon the 2-degree warming target? (via RTCC)

Obama Administration rolls out climate and health data tool (via The Hill)

GREEN BUILDING 

Green building now mandatory in Dubai (via Sustainable Business)

“Monumental shift” in US buildings sector may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

TRANSPORTATION 

2013 Nissan Leaf named “Top Safety Pick” in IIHS crash tests (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf moves beyond early adopters to cost conscious (via Forbes)

Australian researchers more than double EV battery capacity (via Autoblog Green)

OIL 

New blowout preventer mandates coming – but companies won’t have to comply overnight (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry: BLM preventing job creation by postponing oil, gas lease auctions (via Washington Post/AP)

BIOMASS 

Europe’s new biomass satellite will map Earth’s forests to calculate carbon stores (via Inhabitat)

Does burning wood instead of fossil fuels increase GHG emissions? (via Midwest Energy News) 

POLITICS 

Republicans boycott vote on Obama’s EPA pick (via Mother Jones)

EPA nomination faces some hard math (via The Hill)

McCarthy’s nomination in doubt, angering Democrats (via Politico)

Major Obama donors compare Keystone decision to outlawing of slavery (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Conventional wisdom about clean energy is still way out of date (via Greentech Media)

Once more, with feeling: EPA is required to regulate carbon from existing power plants (via Grist)

Why you can’t talk about fixing the electric grid without talking about climate change (via Climate Progress)

Time to reconsider “baseload” power (via Midwest Energy News)

California’s new energy crisis centers on nuclear power (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, battery, biomass, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Connecticut, Demand response, DOE, Dubai, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Gina McCarthy, green building, green business, grid, Illinois, investment, Iowa, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Lake Michigan, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, New Hampshire, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear power, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil spill BLM, PacifiCorp, Patagonia, PJM Interconnection, Prince Charles, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, solar pv, Solar trade war, transmission, Transportation, wind
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.13

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

EMISSIONS

Global carbon dioxide concentration now at highest level in 5 million years (via USA Today)

Global carbon dioxide levels set to pass 400ppm milestone (via The Guardian)

EU uncertainty likely to affect global carbon markets (via RTCC)

COAL 

In the Northwest, rising coal exports to Asia stir huge fight (via Seattle Times)

Bank of America and Citigroup biggest lenders to coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal warns of liquidation without major cuts to labor (via Reuters)

GRID 

Ethiopia getting Chinese funds for $1 billion hydropower line (via Renewable Energy World)

DOE: $2.9 billion in smart grid investment yields $6.8 billion in economic output (via AOL Energy)

RENEWABLES 

Latin American clean energy investment surged 127% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

India’s clean power capacity races past 28GW in 2012-2013 (via Panchabuta)

Masdar to invest £1 billion with UK Green Investment Bank (via BusinessGreen)

Obama Administration limits mining on potential renewable energy sites (via The Hill)

Largest solar power plant in world now under construction in California (via Renew Economy)

Seven US offshore wind demonstration projects (via Renewable Energy World)

New wind industry CEO to mix business with environment (via Greentech Media)

Reshuffling the top 5 micro wind turbines (via CleanTechnica)

Website aims to become Yelp of solar power (via Midwest Energy News)

Very small wind hopes to power you up (via EarthTechling)

Colorado wins stronger solar mandate (via Greentech Media)

Slowing clean energy investing rush could hurt Sacramento industry (via Sacramento Bee)

OIL 

China is using up oil faster than we can produce it (via Washington Post)

Saudi-US relations to withstand North American oil boom (via Reuters)

Latest government data shows Canadian oil exports to US rising (via Wall Street Journal)

As shale booms, US crude exports jump to 13-year high (via Reuters)

BP hit by wave of new spill lawsuits ahead of April deadline (via Reuters)

California lawmakers advance bill to halt oil fracking in state (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Texas shale boom has major impact on state budget (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Fleet owners driven toward natural gas vehicles as oil prices soar (via Bloomberg)

Diesel, hybrid sales rocket past overall US market growth rate (via Autoblog Green)

Remember: DOE rejected most of the EV startups that wanted loans (via GigaOm)

Tesla Motors offers unlimited battery warranty (via Plugin Cars)

Nissan Leaf time lapse shows the EV being built (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Rich countries blamed for setting climate talks “back a decade” (via RTCC)

Climate change compounds rising threats to koala (via The Guardian)

Report links rise in US disaster relief spending to climate change (via Climate Progress)

Along New Jersey bay, rising sea draws ever closer (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan utilities post $16 billion loss, outlook clouded on reactor restarts (via Reuters)

California nuclear shutdown offset low 2012 natgas prices (via Reuters)

Marcellus Shale cities, entwined with gas, among latest to join fossil fuel divestment push (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

EU votes to ban bee-killing pesticides (via BusinessGreen)

US Defense Department becomes a wildlife protector (via Los Angeles Times)

5 butterfly species just went extinct while no one was looking (via Mother Jones)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nearly 50 groups lobbying for Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Nest Labs updates smart thermostat for summer (via Greentech Media)

Ohio industry backs state energy efficiency standards (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The politics of climate change (via Phys.org)

House GOP demands details on DOE loan guarantees (via The Hill)

How “green” is new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell? (via Christian Science Monitor)

New Interior Department chief savors a steep learning curve (via New York Times)

Landrieu primed to lead Senate Energy panel – if she wins re-election (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer finds herself at odds with environmentalists (via Los Angeles Times)

Zukerberg group draws fire over pro-fossil fuel ads (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why do conservatives like to waste energy? (via Mother Jones)

How the political crusade against Fisker Automotive stifles innovation (via OnEarth)

Carbon market crossroads: new ideas for harnessing global markets to confront climate change (via Climate Progress)

Climate myths: how climate deniers are getting away with bad science (via Mongabay)

How to spot greenwashing (via The Good Human)

The limits of climate adaptation are social, not physical or economic (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, adaptation, awea, Bank of America, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, Climate denier, coal, Coal export, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, Defense Department, diesel, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, Extinction, Fisker, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenwashing, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, Hydropower, india, interior department, investment, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, mark zuckerberg, Mary Landrieu, masdar, mountaintop removal, Nest, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Patriot Coal, Pesticides, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sacramento, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, small wind, smart grid, solar, Tesla Motors, texas, Tom Kiernan, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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29
Apr

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Alberta, ALEC, Amonix, Angela Merkel, Arkansas, australia, battery, Bike sharing, california, Carbon bubble, carbon tax, Charlotte, chicago, China, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Divestment, DOE, DOT, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev charging, Extinction, Extreme weather, Exxon, fracking, Fracking wastewater, FutureGen, geothermal, germany, global warming, green business, green jobs, Gulf of Mexico, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, Louisiana, massachusetts, Methane emissions, Montana, natural gas, Nevada, New Mexico, News, NFL, North Carolina, NREL, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Patriot Coal, Pipeline, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, san francisco, seattle, Severe weather, Shale gas, SMR, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stanford, tar sands, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, UN, US Navy, Volkswagen, Watts Bar, wind
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19
Apr

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Arkansas, battery, boeing, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Chevron, China, climate, Climate Change, Demand response, DOE, Dreamliner, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, ExxonMobil, FAA, feed-in tariff, Fisker, fossil fuel, grid, india, interior department, investment, japan, Jean Shaheen, Keystone XL, LNG, Louisiana, masdar, Microbattery, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, Net metering, News, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Quebec, renewables, Rob Portman, solar, Solar cooling, solar pv, South Africa, texas, transmission, Transportation, wind, World Bank
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16
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.13

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

EMISSIONS 

European Parliament rejects carbon market reforms (via RTCC)

Carbon price falls most ever after EU rejects surplus fix (via Bloomberg)

EPA reports decline in US greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)

COAL 

A tale of two nations: China adds 50GW of coal, US retires 9GW (via Facts of the Day)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

An LED revolution underway in Indian cities (via Energy Next)

US Senators to revive energy efficiency bill (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Saudi Arabia plans solar power export to Europe (via Arab News)

IRS sets wind tax credit regulations for 2013 projects (via Bloomberg)

Soros-backed group: “messy” US green energy efforts yielding results (via The Hill)

Good news from the IRS on the PTC for wind and geothermal (via Greentech Media)

The future of wind finance in the US (via Greentech Media)

Walmart increases its renewable energy target six-fold (via Sustainable Business)

Colorado may raise renewable energy standard to 25% for rural electric co-ops (via Climate Progress)

Community solar expands in Colorado Springs (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany subsidizes cheap electricity for its neighbors (via Reuters)

State tax writers warm to giving renewables parity with fossil fuels (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia starts production at mammoth offshore oil field (via Houston Chronicle)

Alaska grants tax break to oil companies to reinvigorate production (via New York Times)

Crews remove part of pipeline after Arkansas spill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

The brutal logic of climate change, international shipping edition (via Grist)

White House extends aviation biofuels program (via BusinessGreen)

United Airlines pledges 85 million gallon in fuel savings (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS 

Growth in natural gas vehicles will have “minimal impact” on prices (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

NOAA employees may be furloughed during 2013 hurricane season (via Weather Underground)

OPINION 

Can evolution beat climate change? (via Scientific American)

Why does the EU carbon market vote matter? (via RTCC)

US energy independence will depend on economy’s overall health (via Houston Chronicle)

Batteries: cheapest form of grid power? (via MIT Technology Review)

How solar-friendly permitting processes can work in the US (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arkansas, battery, biofuels, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Climate Change, coal, colorado, community solar, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy independence, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, George Soros, geothermal, germany, grid, india, IRS, LED, natural gas, News, noaa, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rural electric co-op, saudi arabia, solar, Subsidy, Transportation, united airlines, Walmart, wind
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15
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.15.13

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: Arctic summers to be nearly ice-free earlier than predicted (via The Hill)

Antarctic summer ice melt accelerating – report (via RTCC)

US, China vow to boost climate efforts amid “increasing” dangers (via The Hill)

Kerry pushes US climate ambition in Japan (via RTCC)

As flood threats rise, federal reform to diversify insurance risk sinks (via ClimateWire)

EMISSIONS 

Cutting specific pollutants would slow sea level rise, research says (via Phys.org)

Europe braces for verdict on climate chief’s carbon plan (via Bloomberg)

EPA will delay rule limiting carbon emissions at new power plants (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL pipeline to take center stage in US House this week (via Bloomberg BNA)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment falls 22% in Q1 as subsidy cuts stall projects (via Bloomberg)

EU on track to meet 2020 wind, renewables targets, but current policies alone insufficient (via Greentech Media)

Brazil plans three renewable energy tenders in 2013 (via Recharge)

(more…)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctica, arctic, arizona, Arkansas, barack obama, battery, Blackout, Brazil, california, China, Chris Nelder, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connie Hedegaard, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EPA, Ethiopia, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, fast charging, Flood, fracking, FutureGen, grid, japan, Keystone XL, Lithium-ion battery, Microgrid, News, noaa, nuclear, oil, oil spill, peak oil, Pipeline, Portugal, renewables, San Antonio, Sea ice melt, Severe weather, Smart cities, smart grid, Smart homes, solar, texas, Transportation, Water, wind
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10
Apr

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: 1958, Air pollution, arctic, Arkansas, Asian Development Bank, australia, battery, Best Buy, BP, Brazil, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, deforestation, department of energy, DOE, e-waste, eia, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Energy tax reform, environment, Ernest Moniz, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Exxon, First Solar, fracking, Gazprom, Gina McCarthy, green business, Gregory Jaczko, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hybrids, Illinois, Iowa, kansas, Keystone XL, Mosiac, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New Hampshire, News, NRC, NRG, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, oregon, Recycling, renewables, Shanghai, Shell, smart grid, solar, solar pv, South Africa, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, UN, united nations, wind
0
08
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.8.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

India seeks access to US natural gas (via The Hill)

Shale-rich Spanish region expected to vote to ban fracking (via Reuters)

Foreign investors play large role in US shale industry (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cheaper electric vehicle batteries: slow and steady wins the race (via Green Car Reports)

Fisker mass layoffs trigger federal lawsuit (via Autoblog)

GREEN BUSINESS 

A glimpse into the future of retailer sustainability (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production will reach nearly 62 billion gallons by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

630MW offshore wind London Array at full power (via Recharge)

Austria installed 230MW of solar in 2012 to double total capacity (via CleanTechnica)

IRS gives wind power a raise (via EarthTechling)

Sewer bonds new funding model for solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Wind energy and wildlife: science marks industry efforts (via AOL Energy)

North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard under attack (via RTCC)

EMISSIONS 

China’s emissions trading scheme in line for 2020 national launch (via RTCC)

Study: fossil fuel emissions stunt coral growth (via RTCC)

Air pollution killed 1.2 million Chinese in 2010 (via Greentech Media)

US carbon emissions drop as natural gas displaces coal (via The Hill)

Total carbon emissions from natural gas may exceed coal by 2016 (via Facts of the Day)

Study: EPA rules will fuel shift away from coal (via The Hill)

OIL 

Ruling against BP clears way for spill payout appeals (via Reuters)

Exxon oil spill could be 40% larger than company estimates, say EPA figures (via InsideClimate News)

Upstart pipeline company staking its future on stopping heavy oil corrosion (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Tipping point near for LED lighting (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

“Battery University” aims to train a work force for next-generation energy storage (via New York Times)

Texas to double wind capacity with $6.8 billion transmission investment (via AOL Energy)

ComEd facing lawsuit connected to smart meter initiative (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS 

DOE, EPA nominees face Congressional hearings this week (via The Hill)

Meet the US billionaire who wants to kill the Keystone XL pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

The man who could put climate change on Obama’s agenda (via National Journal)

Salazar looks back on a “joyful run” as Interior Secretary (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Is the Keystone XL pipeline too risky? (via National Journal)

Yea or nay, White House will face backlash on Keystone (via Politico)

Why solar power company stocks are still earthbound (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, Austria, battery, biofuels, BP, cap and trade, China, coal, ComEd, Coral reef, CREZ, Denis McDonough, Dilbit, DOE, Electric battery, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ev, Exxon, Fisker, fracking, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, interior department, IRS, ken salazar, Keystone XL, LED, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Spain, Tax incentive, texas, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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03
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.13

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berkeley Lab researchers release guide to financing energy upgrades for K-12 school districts (via Phys.org)

California to set energy efficiency standards for video game consoles (via Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles includes cool roofs in building code (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Arkansas attorney general plans investigation into oil spill (via AP)

At oil spill cleanup in Arkansas, Exxon running the show, not feds (via InsideClimate News)

Dolphin deaths still high after Gulf oil spill, says NWF (via Houston Chronicle)

Mishaps shouldn’t impede energy expansion, oil industry economist says (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV industry now operating as net energy producer (via EarthTechling)

The drought is drying up all our ethanol (via Mother Jones)

Utilities challenge net metering as solar power expands in California (via ClimateWire)

BP puts wind farm business up for sale (via Reuters)

Citigroup blows by Santander as greenest bank on wind power push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

World Bank plans to take lead in climate challenge (via RTCC)

Climate change making extreme events worse in Australia (via The Guardian)

Geoengineering schemes need global sign-off, researchers say (via The Guardian)

Public trusts scientists on climate change, says poll (via RTCC)

NASA’s most famous climate scientist is retiring – here’s a look back at his work (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Sequester looms over DOE’s energy labs (via Politico)

Poll: two-thirds back Keystone pipeline, global warming belief trends upward (via The Hill)

House Natural Resources Committee democrats launch “EVIZ” iPad app (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Emissions rules put alternative-fuel vehicles in a bind (via New York Times)

US Parks Service launches clean transportation initiative (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla announces lease option for Model S starting at $1,500/month (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf has best sales month ever with 2,236 sold, Chevy Volt steady at 1,478 (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla, Fisker, and what could have been: a tale of two electric car startups (via GigaOm)

GRID 

Demand response payments increase significantly in PJM (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid efforts created 2,400 jobs in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Northeast Utilities still can’t reveal “new route” for Northern Pass (via CLF Scoop)

COAL 

Oregon environmental coalition gives notice on coal dust lawsuit (via New York Times)

OPINION 

For energy tech, the boring stuff (business model innovation) will be key (via GigaOm)

Is the Internet too hot for data centers to handle? (via Scientific American)

8 myths about wind energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Expensive batteries are holding back electric cars – can that change? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alternative-fuel vehicle, Arkansas, australia, battery, BP, california, chevy volt, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Cool roofs, data center, Demand response, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy efficiency standards, ethanol, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, Fisker, Geoengineering, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, James Hansen, Keystone XL, los angeles, NASA, National Wildlife Federation, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, Northeast Utilities, Northern pass, oil, oil spill, oregon, Pipeline, PJM, renewables, Sequester, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Tesla, Tesla Model S, transmission, Transportation, US Parks Service, wind, World Bank
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02
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.2.13

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

CLIMATE 

By 2050 much of the Arctic could be green (via Mongabay)

South East Asia food basket facing “shocking” future (via RTCC)

US dominated global disaster losses in 2012: Swiss Re (via Climate Central)

Climate hawks go on offense, but impact uncertain (via InsideClimate News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

European industry flocks to US to take advantage of cheaper natgas (via Washington Post)

Rumors of a cheap-energy jobs boom from natgas remain just that (via New York Times)

Federal government wants to track PA oil and gas production more closely (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Fracking wastewater disposal wells mapped in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois proposes fracking tax lower than most states (via Chicago Tribune)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV demand in emerging Asian countries expected to boom through 2017 (via Solar Industry)

Offshore wind power: huge potential goes largely untapped (via EarthTechling)

Shared renewables could supercharge California’s clean energy economy (via CleanTechnica)

What’s wrong with Pennsylvania solar? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Three years after Gulf spill, BP faces big week in court (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon developing evacuation plan for Pegasus oil pipeline spill (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hybrid sales up 32% this year, could hit 8% of market by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

A longer life for lithium-sulfur batteries (via Phys.org)

Tesla’s stock soars over 20% on profit, sales news (via GigaOm)

Tesla cancels lowest-range version of Model S (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Air pollution linked to 1.2 million premature deaths in China (via New York Times)

Poll: nearly half say US government too lax on environment (via The Hill)

Texas deploys “rainy day fund” to start long-term fight against drought (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japanese cabinet proposes energy sector overhauls (via New York Times)

Citigroup: renewables will triumph and natural gas will help (via Grist)

America gets a D+ in energy infrastructure (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

How Ontario is putting an end to coal-burning power plants (via Yale e360)

Coal opponents say Washington State terminal has derailed (via Seattle Weekly)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Could energy benchmarking rules be useless? (via Greentech Media)

Energy Trust of Oregon saves 71% of 2012 electricity target in Q4 (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

US book industry using 24% recycled paper on average (via Mongbay)

EMISSIONS 

“Global” carbon market goes truly global (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon emissions declined 1.4% in Europe in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Greenhouse gas emissions from farmland underestimated (via Phys.org)

Soils in newly forested areas store substantial carbon (via Phys.org)

Supreme Court rejects challenge to EPA air pollution rule from oil lobby (via Reuters)

GRID 

More than 400 microgrid projects under development worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Texas grid expansion to double wind capacity, deliver to major cities (via Sustainable Business)

POLITICS 

Bucking administration turnover trend, Sutley may stay at CEQ (via Greenwire)

NASA climate scientist James Hansen to leave government for advocacy work (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Germany’s solar-power success: too much of a good thing? (via Grist)

Seven things you learn driving the length of the Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, american petroleum institute, arctic, Arkansas, battery, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, CEQ, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, CREZ, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon Mobil, fracking, Fracking wastewater, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, James Hansen, japan, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, Microgrid, Nancy Sutley, NASA, natural gas, News, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, ontario, oregon, pennsylvania, Recycling, renewables, Shale gas, Shared renewables, solar, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, Washington State, wind
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