Category Archives:california

03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon allowances, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate displacement, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO, World Meteorological Organization
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03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO
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01
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.1.13

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

EMISSIONS

All eyes on Keeling Curve: scientists anxious as CO2 levels cross 400 PPM (via InsideClimate News)

States scramble as EPA shifts research monitors into regulatory mode (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU sets terms for global aviation climate talks (via RTCC)

European new car emissions fall nine percent in three years (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China struggles to tap its shale gas (via Washington Post)

Fracking rules coming “in weeks” says Jewell (via The Hill)

California regulators may track fracking chemicals (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

PTC clarity to ease renewable energy additions, questions remain (via AOL Energy)

Midwest looks to New England for biomass roadmap (via Midwest Energy News)

Solar to account for almost all new generation in California system in 2H 2013 (via Greentech Media)

PSE&G plans $446 million in new solar generation capacity (via Recharge News)

Bill to end North Carolina’s renewable energy standard resurfaces in legislature (via News & Observer)

Verizon to invest $100 million in solar, fuel cells (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Saudi oil minister predicts more active US in energy markets (via The Hill)

Saudi Arabia’s oil minister says country has shale but must learn to tap it (via Reuters)

US doubles oil reserve estimates at Bakken, Three Forks shale (via Reuters)

BP to fund $340 million in early restoration projects in Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

Citizens group finds 30 toxic chemicals in air following Arkansas oil spill (via Mongabay)

Federal regulators launch test of Helix offshore spill containment system (via Houston Chronicle)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Most firms get greenhouse gas reports wrong, says report (via Reuters)

Staples brings responsible e-waste recycling across the US (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal’s power market share lead over gas is doubling in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

What is the future of coal? (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Sequester hits nation’s climate change research capability (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Innovations reshaping the energy efficiency market (via Greentech Media)

Study finds conservative US shoppers turned off by efficient lightbulbs (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

New Mexico county ordinance bans oil, gas development (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

ComEd installs 470 smart switches across Chicago grid (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

It’s easy to keep US carbon emissions flat – sadly that’s not enough (via Washington Post)

Did a billionaire’s spending sway the Massachusetts Senate primary? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, ALEC, Arkansas, Bakken Shale, biomass, BP, california, CFL, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, e-waste, Efficient lighting, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, fracking, Fracking chemical disclosure, Fuel Cells, green business, Greenhouse gas reporting, grid, Gulf of Mexico, interior department, Keeling Curve, LED, massachusetts, natural gas, New Mexico, News, North Carolina, oil, oil spill, production tax credit, PSE&G, ptc, Recycling, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Sequester, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, Staples, Three Forks Shale, Tom Steyer, Transportation, verizon
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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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22
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.22.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

IMF rejects fossil fuel subsidies, calls for reform (via Climate Central)

EPA proposes water pollution rules for power plants (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

In Europe, paid permits for pollution are fizzling (via New York Times)

Europe’s carbon market collapse won’t kill cap and trade (via CleanTechnica)

Cap and trade programs in California and Quebec to merge (via Los Angeles Times)

California to link its cap and trade program with Quebec’s January 1, 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Public comment period ending on controversial Keystone report (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

India plans subsidies to boost solar power sector (via Wall Street Journal)

China set to approve 27.9GW of wind power projects (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewables investment seen tripling amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

ABB bets on solar power with $1 billion inverter takeover (via Reuters)

New solar cell process achieves record efficiency, says MIT (via Yale e360)

Renewable power’s green vs. green battles continue (via Politico)

Google calls on utilities to sell it clean energy for data centers, starting in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Power grab: San Antonio’s CPS looks to eliminate net metering (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Study: fracked gas far more climate-friendly than coal (via The Hill)

Natural gas industry experiencing “paradigm shift” (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

BP still uncertain over spill cost at third anniversary (via Bloomberg)

Three years after the BP spill, tar balls and oil sheen blight Gulf Coast (via The Atlantic)

Arkansas oil spill probe falls to understaffed agency with close industry ties (via InsideClimate News)

Florida becomes 4th state to sue BP over oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill is back (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Dirty war over coal exports in the Northwest US (via The Economist)

Coal dust impacts at issue as Army Corps considers Northwest export plans (via Greenwire)

Coal industry sees lifeline in big deposits out West (via Politico)

OPINION 

Europe’s cap and trade program is in trouble – can it be fixed? (via Washington Post)

What’s holding back energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Warren Buffet’s coal problem (via Marc Gunther)

East Coast rebuilding but vulnerable to future Sandys (via LiveScience)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, Arkansas, BP, california, cap and trade, China, coal, Coal export, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Florida, fossil fuels, fracking, google, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, IMF, india, investment, Jean Shaheen, Keystone XL, methane, MIT, natural gas, Net metering, News, North Carolina, oil, oil spill, Quebec, renewables, Rob Portman, San Antonio, Severe weather, solar, Solar inverter, Subsidy, texas, Warren Buffet, water pollution, 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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18
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA projects US per capita energy use will fall to 1963 levels (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

Germany on the verge of an energy storage subsidy (via Greentech Media)

Report: US electrical grid could be reliable with much higher level of renewables (via Reuters)

US smart grid cybersecurity spending to reach $7.25B by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal ranks as “most environmentally costly” business (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

China trounces US in green energy investments (via CNN Money)

Solar trade war opens new front as India questions US subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

World to get fewer new wind turbines in 2013 (via Reuters)

Global wind power capacity increased 19% in 2012 (via Renewable Energy World)

PV solar dominates new renewable installations in Japan (via Recharge)

Vestas and GE neck and neck at top of wind industry (via BusinessGreen)

UK’s National Trust launches 50% renewable energy target by 2020 (via RTCC)

India to double renewable energy capacity to 55GW by 2017 (via EnergyNext)

SEPA names top 10 US electric utilities for solar power usage (via Solar Industry)

Environmentalists sue officials over Duke Energy wind project (via Charlotte Business Journal)

EMISSIONS 

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely change in last 20 years (via Green Car Congress)

EU climate chief vows to fight on to save emissions trading scheme (via The Guardian)

Europe’s rollercoaster carbon prices set to hit Australia (via Phys.org)

China climate chief says EU CO2 crisis will not hurt domestic plans (via Reuters)

EPA faces lawsuit threats over blown climate rule deadline (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

US hybrids save a half billion gallons of gas a year (via Sustainable Business)

A look under the hood: why EV startup Fisker crashed and burned (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Asian nations eagerly eye cheap US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas industry to develop fast in China, says expert (via Xinhua)

Natural gas prices rise from historic lows (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

How Cheniere Energy got first in line to export America’s natural gas (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists raise questions on drought and climate (via Climate Central)

Amid Keystone fight, Canadian official defends climate comments (via The Hill)

Gov. Brown says changes to California’s environmental law unlikely this year (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

A polarized Energy & Commerce Committee reflects a gridlocked Congress (via National Journal)

Sens. Shaheen, Portman have high hopes for energy efficiency bill (via Politico)

What the House GOP doesn’t want you to know about wind vs. oil tax credits (via Climate Progress)

GOP Representative: ExxonMobil deserves pat on the back for Arkansas spill response (via Grist)

OPINION 

Lighting a spark on the High Plains (via New York Times)

None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use (via Grist)

Why more US oil may not mean cheaper US gasoline (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Activism is half the battle: the need for clean energy policymakers (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon intensity, carbon trading, Cheniere Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connie Hedegaard, Cybersecurity, drought, duke energy, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ExxonMobil, Fisker, Gasoline, GE, germany, grid, hybrid, IEA, india, International Energy Agency, japan, Jean Shaeen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, oil spill, PV solar, renewables, Rob Portman, SEPA, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Subsidy, Tax credit, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, vestas, wind, World Trade Organization, WTO
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17
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.17.13

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone emissions seen as equal to 46 coal power plants (via Bloomberg)

Route change forces Keystone foes to shift aim to climate change (via Bloomberg)

Keystone pipeline fans, foes make their cases (via Politico)

House Energy Committee panel passes bill to expedite Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

Sen. Whitehouse: Obama could use Keystone approval to tackle climate change (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Australia and China agree to carbon trading partnership (via BusinessGreen)

Reactions vary to EU carbon market vote (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

220GW of new distributed solar generation will be added by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

International Energy Agency: progress toward low-carbon energy “stalled” (via The Hill)

GWEC: global wind market to dip after record 2012 (via Recharge)

India deploys 27GW grid-connected renewables (via EnergyNext)

Links to solar may forge new ties across Mediterranean (via Climate Central)

China Wind Power to add 700MW of solar and wind by 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

Cleantech VC and the state of the IPO market (via GigaOm)

Better computer models needed for mega wind farms (via MIT Technology Review)

Wind energy production levels hit all-time high in California (via CleanTechnica)

North Carolina could repeal renewable energy policy (via Sustainable Business)

Philadelphia Eagles field generating energy with solar, wind (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENERGY POLICY 

Clean energy progress too slow to limit global warming: report (via Reuters)

Europe faces a crisis in energy costs (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Toyota cumulative global hybrid sales pass 5 million, nearly 2 million in US (via Green Car Congress)

Slow sales in Europe mean EVs often going to fleets (via Autoblog Green)

How China’s city-focused electric car programs fell short (via GigaOm)

Elon Musk: Tesla could go federal with franchise dealer fight (via Autoblog Green)

The new Chevy Spark will offer AC or DC charging (via New York Times)

OIL 

First phase of Gulf oil spill trial nearing conclusion (via Houston Chronicle)

Big spills from aging oil pipelines (via Wall Street Journal)

Ohio’s $500 billion oil dream fades as Utica turns gassy (via Bloomberg)

Exxon installs new section in damaged Arkansas pipeline (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy management market “to almost double” by 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

Data center efficiency may be getting worse (via Greentech Media)

Study dismissing energy benchmarking laws funded by real estate industry (via Greentech Media)

More US households using CFLs and LEDs (via E Source)

10 energy efficiency tips for spring cleaning (via EarthTechling)

COAL 

Faltering China demand hangs over Asian coal (via Retuers)

Environmental groups seek moratorium on Montana, Wyoming coal leasing (via Missoulian)

Ratepayer advocate warns high cost comes with LA’s coal-free plan (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Desertification crisis affecting 168 countries worldwide (via RTCC)

Africa aims to combat the effects of climate change by greening the desert (via Climate Progress)

What happens when Asia’s “water tower” dries up? (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

If carbon markets can’t work in Europe, can they work anywhere? (via Time)

European carbon market far from dead (via Reuters)

Thanks to China, our carbon price is here to stay (via Renew Economy)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Arkansas, australia, barack obama, california, Carbon market, Chevy Spark, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Desertification, Distributed solar, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, Energy management, environment, europe, European Union, ev, Exxon, green business, Gulf of Mexico, GWEC, hybrid, IEA, investment, Keystone XL, los angeles, Montana, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipelines, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Shale oil, Sheldon Whitehouse, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Toyota, Transportation, Utica Shale, Water scarcity, wind, wyoming
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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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