Carbon bubble | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.28.14 share

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

CLIMATE

US and China lift climate change hopes with new phase of talks (via Financial Times)

Mount Everest is shrinking due to climate change (via Climate Progress)

El Nino risk increases as Pacific Ocean gets warmer (via Bloomberg)

Western US faces bigger, more frequent wildfires (via Climate Central)

US mayors leading the way on emission cuts & climate resilience (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Gazprom says it won’t halt gas flows to Europe over Ukraine price row (via Wall Street Journal)

Local governments fail to account for $17 million in natural gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

How long can the fracking revolution last? (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES

Experimental efforts to harvest the ocean’s power face cost setbacks (via New York Times)

Chart: Wind dominates the 37GW of US power under construction (via Greentech Media)

Google’s green energy plan: Build, learn, and expand (via Christian Science Monitor)

Fear and loathing at the CPUC: California debates the future of solar (via Greentech Media)

6MW floating vertical-axis wind turbine unveiled (via Recharge)

ENERGY POLICY

French energy minister promises 100,000 green jobs (via Reuters)

US electricity prices may be going up for good (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL

China wants more Latin American oil, president to visit in July (via Reuters)

US regulators to propose enhanced oil tank car standards (via Reuters)

Oil industry starts fracking in Nevada (via Elko Daily Free Press)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils plans for solar-powered EV charging network in China (via Renew Economy)

EPA says automakers ahead of schedule for 54.5 MPG by 2025 (via Autoblog Green)

EV buyers are younger, more affluent than hybrid shoppers (via Autoblog Green)

California Air Resources Board adds another $25 million to expand clean vehicle rebate program (via Green Car Congress)

COAL

Asian coal miners pursuing self-defeating output gains (via Reuters)

Kitzhaber says “no” to coal export plans in Oregon (via The Daily News)

Montana coal mine falls years behind original permitting schedule (via Missoulian)

EMISSIONS

Rich nations’ greenhouse gas emissions fall in 2012, led by US (via Reuters)

Scotland enlists universities in low-carbon push (via BusinessGreen)

Fossil fuels face $30 trillion in losses from climate, renewables (via Renew Economy)

Soils release far more CO2 tan previously thought as emissions rise (via Yale e360)

Changes to agriculture practices could slash emissions up to 90% (via Environmental Leader)

Projected CO2 emissions vary with coal and nuclear power plant retirements (via US EIA)

California cuts part of its greenhouse gas emissions by exporting them (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone XL moving forward…in Canada’s eyes (via Christian Science Monitor)

Canada still betting the US will approve Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Cowboys, Indians, and Neil Young voice opposition to Keystone XL (via United Press International)

Steyer challenges Kochs to Keystone XL debate (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

More LED installations than fluorescents expected this year for first time (via Energy Manager Today)

In user test, Next thermostat and its smart competitors disappoint (via EnergyWIre)

ENVIRONMENT

Worsening US drought pushes wheat price higher (via Wall Street Journal)

California drought: Jobs, money dry up in farm towns (via San Francisco Chronicle)

California drought declaration is so bad the state is rolling back some environmental protections (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Extreme tornado swings: What holds the key? (via Climate Central)

POLITICS

GOP Rep. Grimm’s woes cast cloud on climate turnabout (via Politico)

OPINION

How US-China cooperation can expand clean energy development (via WRI Insights)

Climate-proofing the poorest cities is currently impossible (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing (via Washington Post)

The rise and fall of America’s climate deniers: How politics hijacked the fight against global warming (via Salon)

Keystone weirdonomics mean gas prices won’t be getting any cheaper (via Bloomberg)

It’s easy being green. Being fossil fuel free is harder (via Forbes)

Dear Texas: Enjoy the oil boom, just don’t blow it this time (via Forbes)

2C in our rear-view mirror, geoengineering dead ahead (via Energy Collective)

Posted: | Categories: california air resources board, California Public Utilities Commission, canada, CARB, Carbon bubble, Carbon sequestration, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, CPUC, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, France, Gazprom, Geoengineering, global warming, google, green jobs, Hybrids, John Kitzhaber, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Latin America, LED, Michael Grimm, Montana, Mount Everest, natural gas, Nest, Nevada, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, oregon, renewables, Scotland, solar, Tesla, texas, tidal power, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Ukraine, wildfires, wind

Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Right wing threatens EU climate change goals (via RTCC)

Study ties epic California drought, “frigid east” to manmade climate change (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL

The green case against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Jimmy Carter comes out against Keystone XL pipeline (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Clean energy investment rises 9%, led by solar power (via Bloomberg)

European Investment Bank promises €2 billion clean energy funding boost (via BusinessGreen)

India signs power contracts for 700MW of new solar capacity (via Bloomberg)

IFC backs 50MW Pakistan wind project (via Recharge)

Solar trends for Q1 of 2014 and beyond: View from Mercom Capital (via Forbes)

Department of Defense undertakes largest solar project to date (via Climate Progress)

Oil group says EPA may flip-flop on ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Dual turning point for biofuels (via New York Times)

Tiny portable wind turbine fits in your bag, charges your gadgets (via TreeHugger)

EMISSIONS

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 0.8% in 2013 (via Reuters)

Plants are key to removing 63 million tons of CO2 a year (via The Guardian)

US greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.4% in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Federal appeals court says EPA can force power plans to cut mercury emissions (via Washington Post)

US EPA studies whether to regulate methane from oil and gas (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Pitzer College selling fossil fuel stocks in environmental move (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL

Identifying the global coal industry’s water risks (via World Resources Institute)

The Pacific Rim coal bubble (via Sightline Daily)

Washington University students continue Peabody protest (via St. Louis Business Journal)

ENERGY POLICY

American penitentiaries emphasize the need for sustainability (via TreeHugger)

BOEM announces plan to auction 21 million Gulf acres (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors urge Duke Energy to vote out directors (via News Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

China poised to beef up national Environmental Protection Law (via BusinessGreen)

Congo deforestation could cause region to warm 3C by 2050 (via RTCC)

Pollution is substantially worse in minority neighborhoods across the US (via Washington Post)

GAO audit finds lack of data on environmental reviews (via The Hill)

A brutal allergy season is ahead – blame the polar vortex (via Mother Jones)

OIL

Radioactive waste booms with shale oil as new rules mulled by US (via Bloomberg)

BP, Coast Guard end spill cleanup on Gulf shoreline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

US to stay global first in vehicle miles drive, says futurist (via Green Car Reports)

BMW lifts i3 electric car production 43% on higher demand (via Bloomberg)

Where do US electric cars save money the quickest? (via Green Car Reports)

DOE announces $10 million to upgrade technology for renewable drop-in fuels production (via Green Car Congress)

GRID

How a small California county went grid positive (via RMI Outlet)

Home energy management grows in some mind-bending ways (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

EIA: Natural gas will slash diesel’s dominance as rail fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania DEP “monitoring” Ohio earthquake situation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Is Pennsylvania wasting its fracking wealth? (via National Journal)

New York City hotel commissions combined heat and power plant (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

A backup plan for climate change (via Washington Post)

Felipe Calderon: Economic arguments needed to fight climate change (via Forbes)

The eight factors driving global industrial efficiency (via Greentech Media)

It’s okay to support nuclear power and still enjoy a movie now and then (via Bloomberg)

Why it’s a big deal that half of the Great Lakes are still covered in ice (via The Atlantic)

Energy companies need to remake their boards before activists force them to (via Forbes)

Why the great Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal matters (via Huffington Post)

Posted: | Categories: Air pollution, Allergies, australia, biofuels, BMW, BOEM, BP, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Congo, Defense Department, deforestation, diesel, Divestment, DOE, drought, duke energy, earthquakes, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Investment Bank, European Union, ev, Felipe Calderon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, Great Lakes, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, IFC, india, Jimmy Carter, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear power, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Peabody, pennsylvania, Pitzer College, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Shale oil, small wind, solar, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington University, wind

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.11.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Germany’s carbon targets in doubt as emissions rise in 2013 (via RTCC)

Bank of England warned over carbon bubble – should you be worried? (via TreeHugger)

China pledges harsher punishment in fight against smog (via Bloomberg)

OIL

Does a 1,000-mile international pipeline need a permit? (via Houston Chronicle)

Major gaps in plan to slow down oil trains (via National Journal)

State official says Canadian oil won’t hurt North Dakota’s output (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Americans took a record 10.7 billion public transit trips in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES

From mines to megawatts: The promise of “conflict-free Big Solar” (via GreenBiz)

ALEC launches new effort to influence local government policy (via Climate Progress)

Lux: Biofuels face sharp slowdown to 3.2% annual growth as next-generation fuels emerge (via Green Car Congress)

California electric grid sets solar generation record (via Reuters)

Cheapest solar ever? Austin Energy buys PV from SunEdison at 5 cents per kilowatt-hour (via Greentech Media)

Small biomass power plants could help rural economies, stabilize national power grid, says study (via Phys.org)

COAL

Coal to the rescue, but maybe not next winter (via New York Times)

CLIMATE

India’s view on climate change shifts toward adaptation, clean energy (via ClimateWire)

GAO: Climate change threatens infrastructure (via Climate Central)

CEOs face record shareholder interest in managing corporate climate risks (via ClimateWire)

Conserving water, cutting greenhouse gases may conflict in drought-parched Southwest (via ClimateWire)

Democrats: Round-the-clock climate speeches not just hot air (via Politico)

Democrats clock all-nighter with climate talk (via ABC News/AP)

NATURAL GAS

Central Europeans want US gas to cut dependence on Russia (via Reuters)

EU leaders to urge greater effort to cut gas imports (via Reuters)

GRID

California’s solar demands reshape grid’s energy load (via EarthTechling)

Hotbed for microgrids grows in “energy cul-de-sac” (via EnergyWire)

Predicting PV plant power fluctuations and optimizing energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Maryland government reduces energy 11% since 2008 (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

Why the Keystone XL pipeline matters for climate (via Huffington Post)

Here’s one way to rally support for oil and coal exports: Tax them (via Washington Post)

Solar poll: What do US homeowners think about clean energy? (via CleanTechnica)

How climate change drove the rise of Ghengis Khan (via Time)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, Austin Energy, biofuels, biomass, california, canada, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, europe, GAO, germany, grid, india, Keystone XL, maryland, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, north dakota, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Pipeline, Public transit, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, solar, SunEdison, tar sands, Transportation

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.6.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

UK and China launch 3-year, £20 million low carbon innovation program (via Green Car Congress)

Europe’s banks in $1 trillion risk from carbon bubble, say reports (via RTCC)

Texas could lead on methane emissions reduction, report says (via Texas Tribune)

Harvard president says fossil fuel divestment unnecessary, “hypocritical” (via DeSmogBlog)

COAL

Coal firm to pay record penalty, spend millions on water cleanup in five states (via New York Times)

North Carolina regulators want Duke coal ash pond documents (via Charlotte Observer)

RENEWABLES

Obama seeks “permanent” Production Tax Credit (via Recharge)

Cape Wind foes sue FAA over access to air traffic data (via Cape Cod Times)

Utility-backed anti solar bill on the move in Kansas statehouse (via Renewable Energy World)

$28.6 million awarded for solar projects under NY-Sun program (via Solar Industry)

Iowa gets 27% of its electricity from wind, report says (via Des Moines Register)

Mosaic crowdsources solar installation for homeowners (via San Francisco Chronicle)

What can solar companies do to woo homeowners in a booming market? (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS

Congressional pressure builds for gas exports to counter Putin (via Politico)

US gas exports will grow but won’t change markets, say industry executives (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK takes the lead on smart city standards (via Navigant Research)

Dubai focuses on technology in smart city bid (via Phys.org)

House passes energy efficiency bill targeting homes, federal agencies (via The Hill)

If DC can’t lead in policy, at least it’s leading in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Beyond data: How to succeed in building efficiency analytics (via Greentech Media)

Tenants and landlords can both save with energy efficiency upgrades (via C2ES)

OIL

Canada’s oil-by-rail deliveries in 2013 lagged US estimate (via Reuters)

Too much propane could be a factor in exploding oil trains (via InsideClimate News)

Moniz: Oil industry hasn’t made case for crude-oil export (via National Journal)

Keystone XL-inspired clash begins over Enbridge’s $7 billion expansion plan (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT

Chinese premier says government will declare war on pollution as smog spreads (via Bloomberg)

Great Barrier Reef damage “irreversible” without radical action (The Guardian)

US trade deals from the 90s set up China as a pollution haven (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE

Indian cities face “huge” risks without climate planning (via Thompson Reuters)

Pentagon: Climate change impacts “threat multipliers,” could enable terrorism (via DeSmogBlog)

Climate risk bonds: How to finance climate disaster response and adaptation (via Huffington Post)

How does conservative money work against climate change legislation? (via ClimateWire)

OPINION

Historic shift to cheap clean energy being held back by over-regulation (via Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

Just another solar deal, or the future of mid-size project financing? (via Breaking Energy)

The energy transition tipping point is here (via SmartPlanet)

Will state legislatures join Congress to cut green energy incentives? (via Forbes)

A bright year for solar in the US – but clouds are on the horizon (via Time)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, australia, Benchmarking, canada, cape wind, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ernest Moniz, Fossil fuel divestment, Great Barrier Reef, Harvard, india, Iowa, kansas, Keystone XL, methane, Mosaic, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Pipeline, production tax credit, Propane, renewables, Russia, solar, texas, uk, united kingdom, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.14 share

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

STATE OF THE UNION

Obama touts “responsible” energy development, climate goals (via Reuters)

Obama calls for new incentives for cleaner fuel (via ABC News)

In State of the Union, Obama pledges strong action on climate (via Washington Post)

Here are seven policies Obama just said he’d pursue without Congress (via Washington Post)

Natural gas big winner in Obama’s SOTU address (via The Hill)

Obama, in speech, defends “all of the above” energy plan (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Controlled EV charging cuts power costs 50% - even more with wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

ACEEE picks “greenest” and “meanest” cars of 2014 (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES

Which country leads in wind generation? (via GreenBiz)

Wind power growth to sharpen in emerging markets (via CleanTechnica)

Solar mergers likely to accelerate, says Trina founder (via Bloomberg)

Why is Hawaii scaling back on solar? (via GreenBiz)

Can California’s clean energy ambitions survive the shale oil and gas surge? (via Greentech Media)

DIVESTMENT

Norway’s sovereign fund halves coal exposure (via Reuters)

Is the public blind to “carbon bubble” risk? (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT

The Great Lakes go dry: How one-fifth of the world’s fresh water is dwindling away (via Think Progress)

California drought: 17 communities could run out of water within 60-120 days (via San Jose Mercury News)

California farms going thirsty as drought burns $5 billion hole (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone opponents use rail constraints to urge pipeline’s rejection (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

Entrepreneurs looking for “windfall” cash in on climate change (via NPR)

El Nino may return as models signal warming of Pacific Ocean (via Bloomberg)

Obama urged to act alone on climate if Congress unwilling to pass legislation (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Natural gas goes over $5, up 180%, reminds why wind and solar are so valuable (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio fracking: So where’s the promised economic boom? (via Columbus Dispatch)

GRID

New research warns of more regular and severe blackouts (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

South Korea approves $7 billion reactor plans in boost for nuclear power (via Reuters)

Company struggles to keep U.S. in the uranium enrichment game (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LEED marketing potential “breeds greener buildings” (via Environmental Leader)

Ikea reveals demand for LEDs has reached a tipping point (via BusinessGreen)

SEAA finds a 387% ROI from energy efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

State of the Union: What Obama didn’t say about energy, environment (via Los Angeles Times)

Jekyll and Hyde: The two sides of Obama’s energy strategy (via Climate Progress)

President Obama on energy: Having it both ways (via Politico)

The four men who caused a majority of global warming (via Energy Collective)

You might be cold right now, but your planet isn’t (via Mother Jones)

Posted: | Categories: ACEEE, barack obama, Blackout, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, environment, ev, ev charging, Flood, Flood insurance, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Great Lakes, green building, grid, Hawaii, Ikea, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, natural gas, News, norway, nuclear, Ohio, Oil train, Pacific Ocean, renewables, solar, South Korea, state of the union, Transportation, Trina Solar, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.20.14 share

Marcacci Communications publishes a daily roundup of energy and climate news and opinion. Inclusion of articles does not mean endorsement.

EMISSIONS

CO2 emissions being “outsourced” by rich countries to rising economies (via The Guardian)

Church of England says unlikely to quit fossil fuel investment (via Reuters)

COAL

Value of coal assets “could be halved” if world goes low-carbon (via RTCC)

FutureGen gets key US Energy Department approval (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

RENEWABLES

19 countries join forces to develop Africa Clean Energy Corridor (via GreenBiz)

India and UAE agree to partner on renewable energy development (via India.com)

German economy minister plans prompt cut to renewable energy tariffs (via Reuters)

Kenya to generate over half its electricity through solar power by 2016 (via The Guardian)

China sets final duties on US solar materials (via Reuters)

Island channel tidal energy could power about half of Scotland (via Phys.org)

How the Army became a leader in third-party clean energy financing (via Greentech Media)

Bill would reward Wisconsin power companies exceeding renewable energy targets (via Wisconsin Rapids Tribune)

California Energy Commission to award up to $24 million for new biofuel projects (via Green Car Congress)

ERCOT boosts wind energy use to record 9.9% in 2013 (via Recharge)

New York sets California-like path for solar energy (via Sustainable Business)

In coal-reliant Missouri, “market rush” leaves solar push in limbo (via EnergyWire)

KEYSTONE XL

Canadian Prime Minster still expects US approval of Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Kerry will deliberate on Keystone XL after environmental impact analysis is done (via Washington Post)

Canadian environment groups challenge oil pipeline approvals (via Reuters)

Kerry not pressured by Canada’s Keystone XL push (via The Hill)

CLIMATE

Davos: Climate impacts pose severe global economic risk (via BusinessGreen)

Climate impacts could push up food prices by 25% (via BusinessGreen)

Peru’s farmers fight climate change using modern and Inca techniques (via The Guardian)

Climate change alters land map of India (via Hindustan Times)

Extreme El Nino events could double over 100 years, experts warn (via The Independent)

Climate-proofing of farms seen too slow as industry faces havoc (via Bloomberg)

Study finds growing doubt on climate change (via The Hill)

Alleging “malpractice” with climate skeptic papers, publisher kills journal (via Science Insider)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Emails reveal UK helped shale gas industry manage fracking opposition (via The Guardian)

ENVIRONMENT

More than 90 wildfires rage in Australia’s New South Wales (via Huffington Post/AP)

Drought disaster declared in Utah, 10 other states (via Salt Lake Tribune)

Freedom Industries files for bankruptcy protection (via Wall Street Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Fisker bankruptcy auction scheduled for February 12^th (via Autoblog Green)

Effort to halt bullet train for “Hyperloop”-like options aims for California ballot (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Innovative financing spurs energy efficiency in rural communities (via GreenBiz)

Speaking the CFO’s language: The case for energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID

Load curtailment from demand response programs will triple by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Dueling charts of the day: Peaker plants vs. green power (via Greentech Media)

OPINION

Can we sever the link between energy and economic growth? (via Washington Post)

EPA climate rules: Too much, too little, or just right? (via National Journal)

Posted: | Categories: africa, australia, biofuel, California Energy Commission, canada, Carbon bubble, China, Church of England, climate, Climate Change, coal, Davos, Demand response, Divestment, drought, El Nino, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ERCOT, feed-in tariff, Fisker, fracking, FutureGen, germany, grid, high speed rail, Hyperloop, india, john kerry, Kenya, Keystone XL, Missouri, natural gas, new york state, News, Peru, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Scotland, Shale gas, solar, Solar trade war, Stephen Harper, tar sands, texas, tidal power, Transportation, united arab emirates, united kingdom, utah, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, World economic forum

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Fossil fuel investments face major risks due to climate (via Climate Central)

Conservative groups spend up to $1 billion a year to fight climate change action (via The Guardian)

Temperature records broken across Mid-Atlantic during December heat wave (via Huffington Post/AP)

Tom Steyer may be the liberal answer to the Koch Brothers (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL

How this Chinese coal company’s $5 billion bankruptcy could trigger financial panic (via Quartz)

Germany’s biggest electricity producer to drop two coal-fired power contracts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

Asia-Pacific region to account for half 2014 global solar PV demand (via CleanTechnica)

Are utilities wilting from heat of solar competition? (via National Journal)

Study finds Texas will increase renewable energy 150% by 2032 but add no coal capacity (via Facts of the Day)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program aren’t owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California takes aim at “ducks” to smooth move to renewables (via Reuters)

Ballot fight over Oregon renewable energy law could be sparked by small rural utility (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina has morphed into a solar power leader this year (via GigaOm)

Hawaii’s solar boom is so successful, it’s been halted (via ClimateWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Enbridge Gateway win shows stopping Keystone won’t halt oil (via Bloomberg)

Hundreds of conditions attached to Northern Gateway route’s approval (via EnergyWire)

TransCanada CEO: Obama will approve Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Enbridge’s Michigan dilbit spill still not cleaned up as 2013 closes (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US electricity sales continue downward trend (via Energy Manager Today)

California utility energy efficiency efforts save customer $850 million over two years (via Energy Manager Today)

The new Philadelphia Story is about green infrastructure (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

EMISSIONS

$290 billion investment needed for China to treat air pollution (via Shanghai Daily)

Why a carbon tax is necessary (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

US oil industry takes aim at export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

US transmission investment gets largest boost since 2000 (via Greentech Media)

EVs integrating with the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Posted: | Categories: Asia, california, Carbon bubble, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dilbit, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, ev, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, michigan, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, philadelphia, renewables, Russ Girling, RWE, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.16.13 share

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

COAL

IEA predicts global coal use to keep growing through 2018 (via New York Times)

IEA calls for “radical” action to curb coal emissions (via National Journal)

Coal’s grim forecast: Projects may be “stranded” by falling Chinese demand (via The Guardian)

US Ex-Im Bank joins Treasure in cutting coal plant funding (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION

45 million US households could switch to an electric vehicle (via CleanTechnica)

Seven ways to attract and use climate finance for transport (via WRI Insights)

Cars in the US are more fuel-efficient than ever – here’s how it happened (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES

Brazil energy auction sells 2.3 gigawatts of wind power projects (via Bloomberg)

UK “may fall short” of 10GW offshore wind goal (via Recharge)

France reviews green energy subsidies as it moves away from nuclear (via Bloomberg)

Solar panels seen as boost to homes’ resale value (via San Francisco Chronicle)

RFS in limelight, but cellulosics hope to steal the show (via Environmental Leader)

California adding 8,000 megawatts of wind and solar (via Facts of the Day)

Computer program for reducing the cost of offshore wind energy (via Phys.org)

EMISSIONS

New Zealand carbon emissions set to rise 38% by 2030 (via International Business Times)

Microsoft releases carbon fee playbook for companies (via Environmental Leader)

Fifteen states press Obama for tough, flexible EPA rules (via Bloomberg)

New Jersey State Senate takes on Chris Christie over carbon emissions program (via Climate Progress)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Trains from North Dakota will now carry more crude oil than Keystone XL would (via Climate Central)

Keystone XL loses support from US customer to train transport (via Reuters)

Oil train traffic forces Amtrak cancellations in Midwest (via Inforum)

CLIMATE

Poorer countries play catch-up on climate adjustments (via Wall Street Journal)

Could cutting down some trees help cool the planet? (via Washington Post)

OIL

Is it time for the US to start exporting more crude oil? (via National Journal)

ENVIRONMENT

Earth, wind, and fire: The extreme weather of 2013 (via Time)

Is the West’s dry spell really a mega-drought? (via Climate Central)

FRACKING

Minnesota to issue draft frack sand mining guidelines (via Winona Daily News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Minneapolis requires large commercial buildings to report energy use starting 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID

DOE outlines the patch forward for energy storage (via Greentech Media)

OPINION

Clean tech in 2014: Reasons to be optimistic for wind, solar (via Christian Science Monitor)

My story of carbon footprint calculation (via CleanTechnica)

Podesta: Climate game changer (via The Hill)

Should Congress extend renewable energy tax credits? (via National Journal)

Predictions of a coming carbon asset bubble overstated (via Houston Chronicle)

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.4.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

Study rebuts IPCC, calls for more severe emissions cuts (via Climate Central)

Should EPA mirror the carbon pollution standards set by RGGI? (via Forbes)

California cap and trade expanding in 2014 after successful 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Quebec set to launch carbon market with first permit auction (via Reuters)

How Bloomberg’s new financial tool helps investors game out carbon bubble risks (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY

Future world energy demand driven by trends in developing countries (via US EIA)

Ohio energy efficiency and renewable energy laws headed for a vote (via Cleveland Plain Dealer)

RENEWABLES

China doubles pace of renewable additions amid pollution cut (via Bloomberg)

Solar PV reaches 3GW installed across Australia (via Renew Economy)

United Kingdom boosts subsidies for offshore wind (via Reuters)

“Wind for Prosperity” brings turbines to the developing world (via GreenBiz)

Renewable energy leads growth on Texas’ electric grid (via Houston Chronicle)

11,000 citizens push for 1 million Colorado solar roofs by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

OPEC attempts to stabilize oil prices (via The Hill)

British government backs BP in fight with EPA (via Washington Post)

Oil industry blasts administration’s Arctic drilling plan (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government to auction eastern Gulf of Mexico drilling leases (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC and analysts ask how much the shale oil windfall is really worth (via EnergyWire)

How scientists are using drones to fight the next big oil spill (via Grist)

TRANSPORTATION

New electric vehicle battery can help power buildings too (via Climate Progress)

Only one month left for tax credits on home EV chargers in US (via Autoblog Green)

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf continue neck-and-neck sales race in November (via Autoblog Green)

Ohio auto dealers seek to stop Tesla’s way of direct selling (via Columbus Dispatch)

CLIMATE

Europe already feeling climate change impacts (via RTCC)

Federal study warns of sudden climate change impacts (via ABC News/AP)

Experts say the IPCC underestimated future sea level rise (via The Guardian)

Maine’s shrimp season called off due to warming (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Chamber of Commerce says EPA fracking study could hurt US energy boom (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Efficient homes may be more valuable than others (via EarthTechling)

White House to extend energy efficiency initiative for federal buildings (via National Journal)

Lawmakers say EPA’s EnergyStar program lacks transparency (via National Journal)

ENERGY STORAGE

Coming to your home: A battery the size of a fridge (via Forbes)

POLITICS

White House Environmental Council Chair Sutley stepping down (via National Journal)

Fossil fuel companies funnel money into McAuliffe’s inaugural fund (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

The Good Human hangs a left, please join me (via The Good Human)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, australia, battery, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, chamber of commerce, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, EPA, ERCOT, ev, fracking, Gulf of Mexio, IPCC, Maine, Nancy Sutley, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Quebec, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, SEC, Shale oil, solar, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

UN carbon offset market seen “in a coma” for years after Warsaw (via Planet Ark)

Beijing starts China’s third carbon exchange with first trades (via Bloomberg)

US EPA chief to share air pollution lessons with China (via Reuters)

EPA to be “flexible” on carbon standards (via The Hill)

RGGI tells EPA: Keep cap-and-trade alive (via National Journal)

California’s carbon market caps off successful first year of auctions (via Environmental Leader)

Bloomberg LP launches first tool that measures risk of “unburnable carbon” assets (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY POLICY

Report: China’s green economy faces significant challenges (via Environmental Leader)

Canada at crossroads in bid to become energy superpower (via Bloomberg)

Slashing fossil fuel consumption comes with a price (via NPR)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV “competitive” with natural gas in 2025 (via Recharge)

Wind could generate 18% of global electricity by 2050 (via RTCC)

For Minnesota utility, wind backed by hydro is “holy grail” (via Midwest Energy News)

Poll of businesses finds support for Ohio clean energy standards (via Cincinnati Enquirer)

KEYSTONE XL

Billionaire “absolutely” wants to sway Keystone XL decision (via The Hill)

US pipeline safety official admits he’d avoid buying a home near pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

CLIMATE

Scientists warn global warming “will be hard to reverse” (via Climate Central)

More droughts, heavier rains predicted for warmer Europe (via Agence France-Presse)

EPA leader urges cooperation on climate ahead of trip to China (via National Journal)

OIL

OPEC scrambling to keep oil prices stable (and high) as it meets (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Delayed auto emissions targets will cost EU £21 billion (via BusinessGreen

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

London switches on to LED lighting revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Five of the most important changes to the LEED green building rating system (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Who’s really cashing in on the fracking boom? (via National Journal)

10% of US earthquakes are in Oklahoma – is shale drilling to blame? (via EnergyWire)

GRID

Power struggle: Green energy versus a grid that’s not ready (via Los Angeles Times)

Stem looks beyond utilities to lead charge on batteries for the grid (via GreenBiz)

OPINION

Is EPA on the right track with the biofuels mandate? (via National Journal)

How do meteorologists fit into the 97% global warming consensus? (via The Guardian)

Why the utility death spiral myth needs to die (via Forbes)

Posted: | Categories: battery, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, China, climate, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, europe, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, grid, Hydropower, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, London, minnesota, natural gas, News, Ohio, oil, oklahoma, OPEC, Renewable energy standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, solar pv, Tom Steyer, Transportation, wind

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