Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Interview: UN Chief wants action on climate change (via Time/AP)
World Economic Forum: efforts to curb climate change could cost $700 billion a year (via Huffington Post/Reuters)
Survey: 70 percent of firms fear climate threat to revenues (via BusinessGreen)
Seeking clues about sea level rise from fossil beaches (via New York Times)
EMISSIONS
EU carbon price dips below €5 mark for first time (via BusinessGreen)
China and Australia top list of “carbon bomb” projects (via The Guardian)
EU carbon market in need of an auction monitor (via Reuters)
GRID
EU energy chief appeals to Germany to drop energy isolation (via Reuters)
Smart city technology market to hit $20.2 billion annually in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)
Germany plans support for energy storage on small PV installations (via Recharge)
In energy storage, the numbers don’t add up – yet (via Pike Research)
RENEWABLES
France considers third offshore wind power tender for 6GW (via Reuters)
South Korea to change renewable subsidies to boost program efficiency (via Bloomberg)
Unlikely companies bring clout and cash to clean energy lobbying effort (via InsideClimate News)
New thin-film solar cell efficiency record set at 20.4% (via CleanTechnica)
Vermont study demonstrates net metering benefit for ratepayers (via Renewable Energy World)
Willow trees grown for biofuel produce more if grown diagonally (via R&D)
COAL
Record China imports unlikely to excite Asian coal markets (via Reuters)
Carbon capture & sequestration emissions savings may be lower than predicted (via BusinessGreen)
Visit the tiny town where Big Coal will meet its fate (via Mother Jones)
TRANSPORTATION
Report: airlines could make €1.3 billion from EU carbon regulations (via BusinessGreen)
What does the Boeing Dreamliner battery fire mean for EVs? (via Plugin Cars)
Toyota leads green tech patent growth for third consecutive quarter (via CleanTechnica)
Major price drops coming for electric vehicles (via CleanTechnica)
Bumpy road ahead for EV charging market? (via Renew Grid)
Avis’ Zipcar buy likely to be approved by antitrust legislators (via Autoblog Green)
Virginia governor’s road-funding plan: penalize hybrids, EVs (via Green Car Reports)
OBAMA INAUGURATION
Obama’s speech gives climate goals center stage (via New York Times)
Climate change moves to forefront in Obama’s inaugural address (via The Guardian)
Can Obama make defeating climate change his legacy? (via The Guardian)
After Obama’s speech, a hunt for details (via The Hill)
Obama’s climate change pledge tested by Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post/AP)
Can Obama tackle climate change in his second term? (via Washington Post)
OIL
Arctic drilling can be done safely, federal adviser says (via Houston Chronicle)
Friendly business environment fuels US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)
800 scientists gather for Gulf of Mexico oil spill conference (via Times-Picayune)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LEDs emerge as popular efficient lighting (via New York Times)
In Chicago, seeking the next bright idea in energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)
NUCLEAR
End to Yucca Mountain “within reach,” Nevada commissions says (via Las Vegas Sun)
Endgame close in legal tussles over Vermont Yankee (via Greenwire)
ENVIRONMENT
Crop production boosted 145% in drought conditions with water-saving membranes (via TreeHugger)