Category Archives:california

15
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.15.14

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

EMISSIONS

Lawyers gird for fight against EPA’s Clean Power Plan based on states’ rights (via ClimateWire)

Half of Republicans support carbon limits, survey finds (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel companies grow nervous as divestment movement grows stronger (via Grist)

Capturing carbon as a byproduct of running a fuel cell (via New York Times)

Gov. Inslee says if polluters were charged, state would benefit (via Seattle Times)

NATURAL GAS

Can China’s shale gas help it reach peak coal by 2020? (via Motley Fool)

Ukraine says Chevron plans to pull out of $10 billion shale gas deal (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

EnergyTrend calls 2014 solar demand at 44GW with 2015 to top 50GW (via PV Tech)

The global biofuels industry: A future in doubt (via Navigant Research)

Analysis: Can Japan exceed 10GW of solar capacity installation in 2014? (via Renewable Energy World)

SunEdison to supply 570GWh of solar energy to Chile grid (via PV Tech)

Vestas gets biggest wind order as Africa market accelerates (via Bloomberg)

Solar industry trends: Capital costs continue to drop while solar companies reinvent themselves as energy companies (via Forbes)

South Carolina avoids a battle, reaches settlement on net energy metering (via Greentech Media)

New York State doubles solar net metering cap (via PV Tech)

430,000 advanced energy jobs in California…today (via CleanTechnica)

Solar and wind give California second camel hump (via Renewables International)

Study: Nebraska grid has capacity to export more wind energy (via Lincoln Journal Star)

Minnesota city freezes ground-mounted solar due to zoning concerns (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

International negotiators strike last-minute deal to reduce carbon emissions (via ClimateProgress)

UN agrees way forward on climate change but path is unclear (via The Guardian)

Paris climate summit faces tougher job after modest Lima deal (via Reuters)

Catholic bishops from every continent call for “end to the fossil fuel era” (via ClimateProgress)

Most Americans aren’t aware of the health impacts of climate change (via ClimateProgress)

People don’t work as hard on hot days – on a warming planet (via Washington Post)

COAL

Coal demand growth to slow in next five years on China, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Coal demand set to break 9 billion tonne barrier this decade (via The Guardian)

As Japan burns more coal, climate policies under pressure (via Reuters)

First U.S. coal ash regulations in the offing (via The Hill)

GRID

Fitch: U.S. utilities “well positioned” to deal with upcoming obstacles (via Renew Grid)

MISO board approves $2.5 billion in new transmission (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Mexico shale boom outlook dims as U.S. drillers struggle (via Bloomberg)

Despite lower crude oil prices, U.S. crude oil production expected to grow in 2015 (via U.S. EIA)

Early slowdown signs emerge for U.S. oil states after crude slide (via Reuters)

U.S. taxpayers help fund oil train boom amid safety concerns (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric cars: A review of 2014 (via Forbes)

Gasoline prices tend to have little effect on demand for car travel (via U.S. EIA)

Street lights add EV charging (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s stationary storage strategy: “Everywhere we look, there’s an opportunity” (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

$140 million DOE innovation hub focuses on energy efficiency in manufacturing (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Earth faces sixth “Great Extinction” with 41% of amphibians set to go to the way of the dodo (via Huffington Post)

23 pollinating species in Britain have gone extinct in last 150 years (via Inhabitat)

Congress protects new national parks and wilderness areas for first time in five years (via ClimateProgress)

OPINION

COP20 lays groundwork for Paris climate pact: 7 key developments (via WRI Insights)

Five takeaways from the Lima climate talks (via National Journal)

How the ”war on coal” went global (via Politico)

How the U.S. can beat OPEC in an oil prices war (via Christian Science Monitor)

The basic reason oil keeps getting cheaper and cheaper (via Washington Post)

Insights from the solar industry in rural Peru (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

10 energy numbers to remember from 2014 (via Outlier)

Will cheap oil kill Keystone XL? (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: biofuels, california, carbon capture, Chevron, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, COP20, Divestment, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev charging, EVs, Extinction, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, gas prices, green jobs, grid, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, mexico, minnesota, MISO, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, new york, News, Oil trains, OPEC, Peru, renewables, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, south carolina, SunEdison, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, vestas, War on Coal, wind
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10
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.10.14

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

CLIMATE

India planning $100 billion on climate-related projects (via Bloomberg)

Green Climate Fund will get $200 million from Australia after Tony Abbott’s about turn (via The Guardian)

Belgian pledge pushes Green Climate Fund to $10 billion goal (via Reuters)

Kerry going to Peru for climate talks (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY

Canada will not impose oil and gas regulations unilaterally, given prices (via Reuters)

UK business energy costs predicted to rise by around a third by 2030 (via Business Green)

RENEWABLES

“Explosive growth” in solar distributed generation market to take China to 14GW (via PV Tech)

Renewable energy grows, large and small, in Africa (via Navigant Research)

Pakistan repeals import tax on solar equipment (via PV Tech)

Russian, Indian funds to invest $1 billion in hydropower (via Reuters)

Belgian wind energy island may get go-ahead in early 2015 (via Reuters)

10 slides show the complex future and “tipping point” of U.S. solar (via Greentech Media)

Solar and wind increasingly shaping CAISO load curves (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Small wind leases open up new markets (via Navigant Research)

Testimonies coming out of the US solar anti-dumping hearings (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

OPEC sees weakest demand for its crude in 12 years across 2015 (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils Australian Supercharger network plan, delivers first EVs to country (via Renew Economy)

Gas could hit $2.50 by Christmas (via The Hill)

California leads the nation in adoption of EVs (via US EIA)

EMISSIONS

Senate Dems to EPA: Make climate rule stronger (via The Hill)

Researchers say carbon tax could reduce Oregon’s emissions without hurting economy (via The Oregonian)

GRID

Lower-cost batteries likely to create $190 million storage market in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT

Japan’s weather bureau declares first El Nino (via The Guardian)

OPINION

What can Hawaii expect from NextEra’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric? (via Greentech Media)

How EVs can aid the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Belgium, california, canada, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, distributed generation, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, EVs, gas prices, Green Climate Fund, grid, Hawaii, HECO, Hydropower, india, japan, john kerry, News, NextEra, oil, OPEC, oregon, pakistan, renewables, Russia, small wind, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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08
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.8.14

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

CLIMATE

Adapting to a warmer climate could cost almost three times as much as thought, says UN report (via The Guardian)

Peru climate change talks slowed by clashes of rich and poor nations (via Los Angeles Times)

Rift widens among greens over burying carbon as climate fix (via Reuters)

Five burning issues for Lima climate talks this week (via RTCC)

Morocco and Mexico biggest beneficiaries of climate funds (via The Guardian)

US Coast Guard proposes Bering Strait shipping route (via ABC News/AP)

How winters are changing throughout the U.S. (via Climate Central)

A fossil fuel scandal at Lima climate talks (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS

Ukraine expects Russian gas supplies to resume Monday (via Reuters)

West Virginia approves fracking under Ohio River; critics leery (via Columbus Dispatch)

Plans for shale gas “energy hub” draw investors and protestors to Philadelphia (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

RENEWABLES

India plans five-fold increase in clean energy (via ABC News/AP)

Peru lifts renewable energy target for 60% by 2025, aims for 100% long term (via Renew Economy)

Canada probes Chinese solar imports for possible dumping violations (via Forbes)

Wind farms powered 107% of Scotland’s homes in November (via BusinessGreen)

Global wind turbine manufacturing capacity far surpasses demand (via Navigant Research)

Enel Green Power starts $190 million wind farm in Chile (via Bloomberg)

Suzlon conducting study for offshore wind farm in India (via Financial Express)

Ethanol joins US fuels dominating global export market (via Houston Chronicle)

World record solar module efficiency of 40.4% from CPV startup RayGen (via Greentech Media)

Solar PV generation doubles – monthly US electricity generation report (via CleanTechnica)

Heco seeks Hawaii green light for 207MW solar PPAs (via Recharge)

Now’s the time to buy into community solar prices, at all-time low (via CleanTechnica)

New York launches “Community Solar NY” To support Solarize campaigns (via Solar Industry Magazine)

A “business” model for expanding renewable energy: The New Mexico Production Tax Credit (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

Global Divestment Day: Climate action vs carbon bubble risk (via CleanTechnica)

China blocks carbon review sought by US at UN talks (via Bloomberg)

IETA: Carbon markets need to matter more in Lima (via RTCC)

Oil companies at climate talks dismiss carbon bubble fears (via RTCC)

Renewable energy price declines can help states meet carbon targets under EPA’s Clean Power Plan (via NRDC Switchboard)

RGGI carbon auction raises more than $94 million (via Environmental Leader)

A California community shoots for the moon: Palo Alto considers carbon neutrality (via RMI Outlet)

OIL

Global shale ambitions wane as OPEC price war deepens oil plunge (via Bloomberg)

Don’t count on oil drop greasing global growth (via Bloomberg)

Oil price drops boost argument for crude exports (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil rig count rises as shale drillers face OPEC challenge (via Bloomberg)

US Supreme Court rejects BP challenge to Gulf spill settlement (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

US fuel economy average down for the first time in four years (via Autoblog)

Fuel to the fire? Fuel exports soar under Obama (via AP)

Quebec is first Canadian province to use carrot-and-stick tactics with car buyers (via Montreal Gazette)

US gasoline prices fall to four-year low (via Reuters)

US airlines will need to sharply increase fleet renewal to meet 2020 carbon neutral growth goal (via Green Car Congress)

Audi confirms it will release Tesla-rivaling electric sedan in 2017 (via Inhabitat)

Uber adds a billion dollars more to its coffers (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Latin American coalition to restore 20 million hectares of forest (via RTCC)

California’s drought is now the worst in 1,2000 years (via Time)

Trackable, biodegradable fishing nets could put an end to “ghost nets” (via Treehugger)

COAL

Big banks propping up dirty coal industry to tune of $89 billion (via Huffington Post)

Grassroots anti-coal movements to watch (via Treehugger)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK government to re-launch Green Deal energy efficiency scheme with £30 million fund (via BusinessGreen)

Are hotel energy and water savings programs really about the environment? (via Treehugger)

Freedom Tower was supposed to be the greenest building in America – so what went wrong? (via Mother Jones)

Green real estate trends (via Huffington Post)

NUCLEAR

Almost all US nuclear plants require life extension past 60 years to operate beyond 2050 (via US EIA)

GOP gain put nuclear power back on the table (via The Hill)

New math to help Exelon’s nuclear plants (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

GRID

Regional Japan grids can take less than half of renewables approved by government (via Bloomberg)

Smart meter power savings prove slow to materialize (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Energy firms secretly helped state attorneys general fight Obama (via The Hill)

Fossil-fuel lobbyists, bolstered by GOP wins, work to curb environmental rules (via Washington Post)

House Republican plans to introduce climate-science bill (via National Journal)

Black Friday shopper numbers twice as high as midterm election voter turnout (via Inhabitat)

OPINION

The end and beginning of the Arctic (via Climate Central)

India’s energy moment: Ready for a low-carbon future? (via National Geographic)

Will German wind market double? (via Renewables International)

Five reasons why Tesla’s stock is down (via GigaOm)

Why a Florida utility suddenly wants to serve Hawaii (via Christian Science Monitor)

Can solar companies really be called “high tech?” (via Renewable Energy World)

What’s really at stake in the Florida solar battle? (via Renewable Energy World)

Do gasoline prices affect home values? (via Houston Chronicle)

Why the world missed the oil price crash (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, audi, BP, california, canada, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon neutrality, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, deforestation, Divestment, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, enel green power, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exelon, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Freedom Tower, germany, global warming, green building, green deal, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, japan, Latin America, mexico, Morocco, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, NextEra, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Peru, Quebec, renewables, rggi, Russia, Scotland, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, suzlon, Tesla, Transportation, Uber, Ukraine, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, West Virginia, wind
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05
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.5.14

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

CLIMATE

Australia says it won’t pay into UN Green Climate Fund (via Huffington Post)

Antarctic ice sheets threatened by warm water rising from below (via Bloomberg)

Africa rainfall may rise with greenhouse gas emissions (via Bloomberg)

White House announces initiative to improve climate education in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill rises from the dead (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Annual installed capacity of distributed generation is expected to double by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Indonesia’s new government announces a jump start for solar (via PV Tech)

Brazil starts-up more new wind as grid bottlenecks ease (via Recharge)

UK, Belgium research teams aim for offshore wind grid-boost (via Recharge)

Investors take pragmatic view as wind, solar deliver returns (via Recharge)

Solar stock selloff creates buying opportunity as sector caught in oil’s volatility (via MarketWatch)

$6 billion opportunity: Rural electric cooperatives could lead on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

As coal crashes, U.S. governors push wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

Survey: California boasts almost 73,000 workers in solar industry (via PV Tech)

CaliforniaFIRST offers new rates and terms for PACE financing (via Solar Industry)

Missouri’s largest investor-owned utility scale solar energy center goes live (via Energy Manager Today)

Michigan legislature passes bill to include burning tires as renewable energy (via Michigan Live)

COAL

BLM has not performed an environmental review of coal leasing program since 1979 (via Desmog Blog)

EMISSIONS

China broadens pollution pledge in call for climate funding (via Bloomberg)

India says its carbon emissions will keep rising (via The Hill)

Obama’s clean power plan getting dirtied but it has key business support (via Forbes)

OIL

More than $150 billion of oil projects face the axe in 2015 (via Reuters)

Plunging oil prices spell trouble for Alaska – America’s own petro state (via Washington Post)

U.S. oil reserves continue rising, surpass 36 billion barrels for first time since 1975 (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

DOE’s EV Everywhere workplace charging program is working (via Autoblog Green)

Questions bubble up about Tesla Model S sales numbers (via Autoblog Green)

Ford’s aluminum body F-150 makes its debut (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY

Rising power demand means $65 billion a year task for China’s grid (via Bloomberg)

Obama’s climate critique of Australia draws utility rebuttal (via Bloomberg)

Forecast of Brazil rain will halt expensive power plants (via Bloomberg)

U.S. energy policy taking dramatic shift to the right (via Breaking Energy)

Bird’s fate shaping energy development in U.S. West (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS

U.S. natural gas reserves hit all-time high (via The Hill)

Study: Fracking chemicals pose potential health threat to children and mothers (via Business Green)

POLITICS

White House official: Obama will use executive powers to meet climate goals (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

Will low oil prices derail renewable energy growth? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Why Tesla’s batteries scale the hell out of electric companies (via Bloomberg)

Can solar thermal desalination make sustainable agriculture possible? (via CleanTechnica)

The funny thing about Google’s decision to stop renewable energy research (via Climate Progress)

Why is a three-week Production Tax Credit extension worthless? (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Antarctic, australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bureau of Land Management, california, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal leasing, distributed generation, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, ev, ev charging, Ford, fracking, google, Green Climate Fund, green jobs, grid, india, Indonesia, michigan, Missouri, natural gas, News, PACE, production tax credit, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, solar, Solar Thermal, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, wind
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04
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.4.14

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

ENERGY POLICY

U.S. House backs one-year renewal of “extender” tax breaks (via Reuters)

New study claims energy industry is “up for grabs” (via Renew Grid)

NextEra buys Hawaii’s biggest electric utility (via Forbes)

CLIMATE

Drought in U.S., Brazil linked to hottest year ever (via Bloomberg)

White House names 16 communities as climate “champions” (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Top ten PV module suppliers for 2014: Same group, different order (via Renewable Energy World)

One in five Australian households now using solar (via Renew Economy)

UK solar “competitive without subsidies” by 2020 (via RTCC)

Green Climate Fund to start funding projects in 2015 (via RTCC)

Renewable energy lowers consumer utility bills in Alberta (via Renewable Energy World)

U.S. House renews main wind tax incentive for one year (via Recharge)

Solar crosses 1% total U.S. supply threshold in 2014 (via Sustainable Business)

No health impacts from wind turbine noise, says MIT study (via Recharge)

SolarCity creating a social network through a new app (via Forbes)

Meet Generate Capital, a new way to fund energy projects (via GigaOm)

TAR SANDS

EU vote puts Canadian tar sands label back on the agenda (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

UN carbon market fights for its future at Lima talks (via RTCC)

CO2 takes just ten years to reach planet’s peak heat (via Climate Central)

Missing its own goals, Germany renews effort to cut carbon emissions (via New York Times)

India considers emissions peak 2035-2050 (via RTCC)

Norway to assess fossil fuel assets case-by-case (via CleanTechnica)

California-Quebec carbon auction raises $407 million (via Environmental Leader)

Behind their opposition, central states study EPA rule cooperation (via EnergyWire)

OIL

Saudi Arabia can’t stop the U.S. fracking boom (via National Journal)

Congress set to renew drilling permit program (via Houston Chronicle)

Production up but methane emissions down in Permian Basin (via Houston Chronicle)

Fed says U.S. economy expanding, shale production steady (via Reuters)

Sub-$50 oil surfaces in North Dakota amid regional discounts (via Bloomberg)

Britain promises oil industry tax cuts to rein in costs (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

China overtook the U.S. in monthly electric car sales two months ago (via Green Car Reports)

Germany ready to offer more incentives to reach one million EV goal (via Autoblog Green)

AAA: “Remarkable” drop in gas prices isn’t over (via The Hill)

As gas prices fall, auto buyers abandon greener cars (via National Journal)

Boeing completes test flight with “green diesel” (via Phys.org)

Ford “working very hard” on F-150 hybrid (via Autoblog Green)

Californians now buy a plug-in EV for every two hybrids (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

SCE, PGE issue first-ever energy storage requests to meet AB 2514 (via Greentech Media)

In Texas, a conflict over grid batteries (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

California deluge not yet El Nino, but it is a welcome respite (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

Giving climate pact legal teeth could make it toothless (via Climate Central)

Oil prices plunge – is a shale bubble bursting? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Yet again, partisan wrangling leaves Wind Tax Credit in legislative limbo (via Climate Progress)

Solar uniquely positioned to help states meet new regulations (via Renewable Energy World)

Divest now: Time for Universities to stand up to fossil fuel interests (via NRDC Switchboard)

The gas tax has been fixed at 18 cents for two decades – now would be a great time to raise it (via Washington Post)

What will happen when the ITC is reduced? (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, Alberta, australia, biofuel, boeing, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, drought, emissions, energy storage, EPA, European Union, ev, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, gas prices, Gas tax, germany, global warming, Green Climate Fund, grid, Hawaii, india, methane, MIT, News, NextEra, north dakota, norway, oil, PGE, production tax credit, Quebec, renewables, saudi arabia, SCE, solar, SolarCity, tar sands, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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03
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.14

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

UN CLIMATE TALKS

What to expect in Lima: An overview of the 2014 UN climate negotiations (via Center for American Progress)

Lima climate talks: One in three countries not sending ministers (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY

EU, US present Russian with united sanctions, energy front (via Reuters)

Brazilian companies cut output, sell power instead in weak economy (via Reuters)

U.S. nuclear plants squeezed by cheap gas, uranium costs (via Bloomberg)

First utility receives B Corp certification (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES

Canada’s green energy sector employs more people than tar sands (via Climate Progress)

9% of solar homes are doing something utilities love – will others follow? (via Outlier)

DOE to fund $9 million in solar module technology R&D (via Recharge)

AWEA warns job cuts begin in January without PTC deal (via Recharge News)

Utility-scale PV O&M: A crowded vendor landscape (via Greentech Media)

Abengoa’s 280MW California solar plant begins operation (via Bloomberg)

Could Kansas be the next state to kill its renewable energy target? (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

2014 set to be world’s hottest-ever year (via The Guardian)

Antarctica losing Mt. Everest worth of ice as melt triples (via Bloomberg)

The next big climate question: Will India follow China? (via New York Times)

Volcanoes may be responsible for much of the global surface warming slowdown (via The Guardian)

Keystone antagonist steps down as head of climate group 350.org (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS

Number of natural gas customers participating in customer choice programs is increasing (via US EIA)

GRID

Ontario pumps millions into smart grid projects (via Renew Grid)

Utilities are building the infrastructure for California’s shift to EVs (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Cheap oil is hitting these countries the hardest (via Houston Chronicle)

Green groups sue DOT over oil-by-rail regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil from Deepwater Horizon spill is still trapped in Alabama beaches, finds study (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Workplace charging doubles in two years, 90% of charging stations full (via Green Car Reports)

Nissan battery breakthrough to double Leaf EV range within a few years (via Autoblog)

Audi plans electric crossover to take on Tesla in U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Model S leads Consumer Reports satisfaction survey (via San Jose Mercury News)

COAL

Germany targeting coal plants to reach 2020 climate goals (via Reuters)

Find out which state wants to bail out big coal (via EcoWatch)

EMISSIONS

Emissions reduction fund passed by Australian parliament (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. sees voluntary emissions cuts as key to climate change accord (via Los Angeles Times)

Nike, IKEA join 221 companies in backing EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

OPINION

How much coal will be squeezed out of Germany’s grid by 2019? (via Renewables International)

Here’s a cool way to visualize carbon emissions (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: abengoa, Alabama, Antarctica, audi, australia, awea, B Corp, Bill McKibben, BP, Brazil, california, canada, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Concentrating solar power, COP20, deepwater horizon, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, European Union, EV chargers, germany, global warming, grid, Ikea, india, kansas, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, nike, nissan LEAF, nuclear, Ohio, Oil DOT, oil spill, Oil train, ontario, production tax credit, renewables, Russia, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, wind
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01
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.1.14

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

CLIMATE

What’s at stake in Lima climate talks (via Climate Central)

U.S.-China pact raises stakes for India in climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Spain lifts Green Climate Fund pledges to $9.7 billion (via Bloomberg)

Australia had hottest Spring and second-hottest November on record (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES

China solar project delays mean Japan could be largest market (via Bloomberg)

India plans 22GW of PV plants in 12 states (via Recharge)

France launches 400MW tender for PV projects over 250kW (via PV Tech)

Brazil contracts 926MW wind in auction (via Recharge News)

India’s solar power potential estimated at 750GW (via CleanTechnica)

Norway wealth fund targets $3 billion in green technology stakes (via Bloomberg)

World’s largest solar farm up and running in California (via Phys.org)

U.S planning largest wind-energy auction off Massachusetts (via Bloomberg)

ISO study finds Minnesota can accommodate up to 40% renewables penetration (via Renew Grid)

Wind farms a welcome boon for struggling rural U.S. communities (via Midwest Energy News)

Community solar prices at all-time low (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY

China nears peak coal as carbon and clean growth policies bite (via Reuters)

E.ON unveils “bold” plan to focus on renewables, ditch fossil fuels (via Business Green)

Mitigating natural gas use in the electricity sector (via Center for American Progress)

Energy and the new Congress: Beyond Keystone (via Energy Collective)

Pipeline crunch could keep Northeast’s heating bills high (via Climate Central)

OIL

Inside OPEC room, Naimi declares price war on U.S. shale oil (via Reuters)

Crude oil drops over $4 a barrel on OPEC not cutting output (via Reuters)

Oil companies produce more for less as crude prices fall (via Houston Chronicle)

OPEC inaction spurs survival of fittest as oil below $65 (via Bloomberg)

Exxon, Rosneft scrap Arctic deals as Russia sanctions bite (via Bloomberg)

Study: Offshore drilling has prompted surge in maritime conflicts around the world (via Washington Post)

A simple guide to the sudden collapse in oil prices (via Washington Post)

Almost all BP spill claims are correct, audit finds (via The Hill)

How oil companies fight California clean energy: Playbook leaked accidentally (via Green Car Reports)

TRANSPORTATION

Honda working on “power exporter” to go with fuel-cell vehicle (via Autoblog Green)

Aerodynamic upgrades to large trucks would cut fuel use by billions of gallons (via Yale e360)

Tesla is on the right track to double (via Forbes)

Return of $2 gas seen for some in U.S. as OPEC stands pat (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

China plans national carbon market by 2016 amid emission pledge (via Bloomberg)

New carbon market most important in climate deal, UK says (via Bloomberg)

EPA pushes to cut smog in new rule (via The Hill)

EPA hits homestretch on climate rule (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel-free fund “outperforms” Standard S&P 500 (via CleanTechnica)

GRID

Smart meter revenue expected to reach $6.6 billion annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid interest continues to spread among U.S. rural utilities (via Renew Grid)

Managing a constrained grid: A look at SCE’s procurement of “preferred resources” (via Greentech Media)

Illinois regulators approve 3.5GW wind energy transmission line (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LEDs to get bigger share of market even as revenue drops (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy efficiency may be key to saving trillions (via New York Times)

Florida goes backwards on energy efficiency targets (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Our planet may be on the verge of its sixth mass extinction (via Washington Post)

Animal extinctions from climate rival end of dinosaurs (via Bloomberg)

China takes “zero tolerance” approach to regional polluters (via Reuters)

Staples: Tech recycling stats are still in the dumps (via Triple Pundit)

OPINION

Will Lima climate talks pave way for a binding treaty in Paris 2015? (via The Guardian)

Can China get 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2040? (via Greentech Media)

Five threats to the EPA’s climate rule (via The Hill)

How to support clean energy, without going solar (via Treehugger)

Spending, immigration, and tax fights will dominate final days of Congress (via National Journal)

Levelized cost of electricity: Renewable’s ticking time bomb? (via Forbes)

There’s an opportunity for tech in EPA’s proposed smog rule (via GigaOm)

Three factors that could kill renewable energy tax extenders in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Why aren’t rural electric cooperatives champions of local clean power? (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, China, Clean Line, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, COP20, Divestment, E.ON, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Extinction, Exxon, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, France, fuel cell, fuel-efficiency, gas prices, global warming, Green Climate Fund, grid, honda, Illinois, india, japan, Keystone XL, LED, massachusetts, minnesota, MISO, natural gas, News, norway, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, OPEC, Recycling, renewables, Rosneft, SCE, Shale oil, smart meter, solar, Spain, Tesla, Transportation, UN, united kingdom, wind
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12
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.12.14

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

CLIMATE 

U.S. and China reach climate accord after months of talks (via New York Times)

U.S., China agree to emissions limits, but experts see little new (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

G20 nations spend $88 billion a year on fossil-fuel exploration (via Bloomberg)

Germany plans tax relief to raise energy efficiency and cut emissions (via Reuters)

IEA pushes nuclear as carbon emissions set to reach limit (via Bloomberg)

The real story of U.S. coal: Inside the world’s biggest coalmine (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Fossil fuels with $550 billion subsidies hurt renewables (via Bloomberg)

China set for 20% clean energy target as part of U.S. climate pact (via PV Tech)

Renewable energy investment in Australia dropped 70% in the past year (via The Guardian)

India commercial solar rooftops “to reach grid parity next year” (via PV Tech)

Large solar selling cheaper than fossil fuels in Texas, Georgia, India, Brazil, and Chile (via TreeHugger)

Renewable energy “creates more jobs than fossil fuels” (via EcoWatch)

Watch solar grow across the top 30 U.S. markets (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Ex-Im Bank approves $200 million in renewable energy exports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. named global wind production leader as industry fights for tax credit extension (via Renewable Energy World)

The rise of retail clean energy investing (via Renewable Energy World)

Rural co-ops taking lead on community solar in Midwest (via Midwest Energy News)

Study: California solar boom makes state a national leader, prepares new generation of workers (via Phys.org)

Illinois: Can the Land of Lincoln become the land of solar? (via Greentech Media)

Ford to debut wind and solar powered dealers (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

IEA: Shale boom masks multiple threats to world oil supply (via Bloomberg)

OPEC sees lower 2015 oil demand, Saudi output still high (via Reuters)

OPEC delegates start whispering about potential oil cut (via Reuters)

China seen overtaking U.S. as world’s biggest oil user (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Some utilities are making it cheaper to drive electric cars (via Huffington Post)

Inside Tesla – A rare glimpse of electric carmaker’s culture (via Forbes)

GRID 

Move over World Bank: Bilateral institutions lead investment beyond the grid (via Energy Collective)

Cross-state power flows complicate the Clean Power Plan (via Energy Collective)

Texas utility Oncor wants to invest $5.2 billion in storage: Can it get approval? (via Greentech Media)

Can buildings help regulate the power grid and integrate renewables? (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT

Drought is taking California back to the wild, Wild West (via National Journal)

Pennsylvania now has more than 500 frack water ponds (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

POLITICS 

Senate GOP steeling for battle against EPA (via The Hill)

Senate Democrats said to consider Keystone XL vote soon to aid Landrieu (via Bloomberg)

Awkward: Watch a video of Republicans using China as an excuse to do nothing on climate change (via Mother Jones)

The Democrats’ favorite denier: Why enviros are cheering Chairman Inhofe (via Politico)

OPINION 

Seven key lessons from the U.S.-China climate pact (via BusinessGreen)

Experts are skeptical over the U.S.-China emissions deal (via Time)

The U.S. and China just shook up global climate talks with major pollution pledges (via National Journal)

Why oil prices are a serious problem for Russia (via CNBC)

What a Republican Senate means for the environment (via The Hill)

Which do you like better: Clean energy and your money, or PJM’s proposed capacity market reforms? (via NRDC Switchboard)

New study says green jobs debate should be looking forward (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Brazil, california, Capacity market, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Export-Import bank, Ford, fracking, Georgia, germany, green jobs, grid, IEA, Illinois, india, Jim Inhofe, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, News, nuclear, oil, Oncor, OPEC, pennsylvania, PJM, production tax credit, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, Subsidies, Tesla, texas, Transportation, wind, World Bank
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07
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate talks grapple with regional carbon market integration: IEA (via Bloomberg)

China plans to cap carbon emissions from steel, cement producers by 2020 (via ClimateWire)

Election shifts Oregon closer to carbon tax, not so much for Washington (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

COAL 

Coal’s defender-in-chief tries to shift debate about fuel (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables now cheaper than fossil fuels in developing countries (via Energy Collective)

UK utility-scale solar boom on tap for 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar doesn’t pay right now in Germany (via Renewables International)

UK solar companies lose legal battle over subsidy cuts (via BusinessGreen)

Republicans urged to reject wind tax credit in lame duck (via Houston Chronicle)

First Wind closes $254 million financing for Texas wind farm (via Bloomberg)

40% renewable energy integration no trouble for Midwest (via CleanTechnica)

UC-Irvine adding 3.2MW of solar canopies (via Energy Manager Today)

Vestas upgrades sales, margins forecast as profit surges (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows (via The Guardian)

Brazil wants richer countries to step up on climate (via The Hill)

New global warming remedy: Turn rangelands into carbon vacuums (via California Magazine)

Shrimp depletion in Gulf of Maine part of a global pattern (via Portland Press-Herald)

Republican gains in Washington state legislature spoil plans for West Coast bloc of climate action states (via ClimateWire)

Tech company SAP severs ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS 

DOJ subpoenas Chesapeake Energy over royalty complaints (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois lawmakers approve fracking rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

EU’s bank to loan Britain’s power grid $2.4 billion (via Reuters)

Battery storage will replace many peaker spinning reserve plants (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Testing U.S. oil export ban carries some risks (via Reuters)

Federal Appeals Court reaffirms BP is liable in Gulf oil spill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

White House would “consider” Keystone bill (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Which EV makers are serious? U.S. sales show top three (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla projecting years of 50% growth sparks share rise (via Bloomberg)

EPA says more fuel-efficient cars available in 2015 (via The Hill)

Tesla Model X delayed thanks to Model S production lessons (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. weather forecaster slightly reduces El Nino outlook (via Reuters)

No recovery, but a sliver of drought gain for California (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial and industrial demand response poised for major growth (via Renew Grid)

Arizona energy efficiency programs in jeopardy (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Republican wave unlikely to wash away Obama’s major rules (via Greenwire)

House to vote on EPA “secret science” bills (via The Hill)

Republican sweep highlights climate change politics in Alaska (via NPR)

National Democrats yanking Louisiana ad buy as Landrieu faces runoff (via Bloomberg)

Meager returns for the Democrats’ biggest donor (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Six renewable energy trends to watch for in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Do Americans really want a hard right turn on climate and renewables? (via The Hill)

Can SolarCity crack the code of boosting business beyond solar homes? (via Forbes)

Election special: What the Republican takeover means for clean energy (via Greentech Media)

President Obama has stalled on Keystone for years. Now he has to make a decision. (via Slate)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, battery, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chesapeake Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, First Wind, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mary Landrieu, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, production tax credit, renewables, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, UC Irvine, united kingdom, vestas, Washington State, wind
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06
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.6.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Split decision by voters on local fracking bans (via New York Times)

Spending on wastewater treatment for fracking may triple by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

First lawsuits filed over Denton, Texas fracking ban (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LED lighting efficiency jumps roughly 50% since 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Army net zero initiative soldiers on (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Germany plans trio of 200MW solar PV tenders for 2015 (via Recharge)

October delivers another record-breaking month for UK wind power (via BusinessGreen)

Largest solar PV plant in Europe planned for France (via PV Tech)

Germany consortium evaluating major solar PV manufacturing hub in Brazil (via PV Tech)

World’s largest merchant solar project goes online in Chile (via Renew Economy)

Post-election report: Clean energy jobs grow in Republican (and Democratic) districts (via Huffington Post)

Utility unveils plan to clear Hawaii solar PV backlog within five months (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar PV operations and maintenance versus asset management: What’s the difference? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase stock punished despite record-setting quarter (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity reports “fiery” Q3 growth (via Recharge)

NRG’s David Crane begins to “pull back the curtain” on retail solar strategy (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC’s weak links feeling pain that shale producers seek (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla reports loss, but beats Wall Street expectations (via New York Times)

Tesla shares surge after record Model S sales (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republicans plan quick move on Keystone XL in 2015 (via Reuters)

How a Republican Senate could force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Delay urged in Obama carbon rules to shield electric grid (via Bloomberg)

Meet the climate sleuths keeping carbon reporting honest (via RTCC)

Climate quietly wins midterm victory in Pennsylvania and RGGI (via National Journal)

How to manage carbon prices: Lessons from the Northeast U.S. (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Counting the varied costs of China’s dependence on coal (via New York Times)

U.S. water use drops to lowest level in 40 years (via Science Blogs)

Study: Environmental groups are relatively oblivious to economics (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Battery market to double in 10 years, says Navigant (via Energy Manager Today)

Real-time energy markets bring millions in cost savings to Western U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

SCE announces winners of energy storage contracts worth 250MW (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Geoengineering: The ethical problems with cleaning the air (via The Guardian)

Five environmental challenges for Dilma Rousseff’s second term (via RTCC)

10 lessons for the green economy from the U.S. midterms (via BusinessGreen)

The greenest companies consistently outperform markets (via Environmental Leader)

Tom Steyer spent $74 million on the election. He didn’t get much to show for it. (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Energy seen getting biggest boost from Republican Senate (via Reuters)

Meet the U.S. Senate’s new climate denial caucus (via Mother Jones)

GOP to fight on Keystone, climate rules, says McConnell (via The Hill)

GOP Congress may steamroll Obama on Keystone, energy exports (via Forbes)

The possibility of post-election bipartisan deals (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, Brazil, california, Carbon market, Carbon prices, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, coal, David Crane, Dilma Rousseff, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy imbalance market, energy storage, Enphase, fracking, Fracking ban, France, Geoengineering, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, LED, Mitch McMconnell, natural gas, Net zero, News, NRG, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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