Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.26.13

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

EMISSIONS 

EPA says US spewing 50% more methane into air than estimated (via AP)

Feds reveal data behind “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

On campuses, a fossil-fuel divestment movement (via Washington Post)

Activists to push DC fossil fuel investment ban (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer/AP)

MIT study finds air pollution causes 200,000 premature deaths per year in US (via Facts of the Day)

CARBON MARKETS 

China expands carbon emissions trading scheme (via Phys.org)

California carbon auction raises $297 million (via Environmental Leader)

California carbon market caps off successful first year (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil, Chile, Nicaragua top Latin America clean energy investment index (via RTCC)

Small wind turbine market to top $3 billion by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

The US has 43 nuclear power plants’ worth of solar in the pipeline (via Quartz)

Wind picks up as coal declines in the Midwest (via Greentech Media)

Ecotech finds more than 1 million clean energy job postings (via Energy Manager Today)

Capital markets, regulatory certainty needed to scale up US advanced biofuel production (via Breaking Energy)

Ohio energy policy revamp bill getting a rewrite to include compromises (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

CLIMATE 

Climate change refugee bid denied by New Zealand court (via The Guardian)

White House climate “resilience” group gets going (via The Hill)

GREEN BUILDING 

Five ways buildings have reached a “GREEN” tipping point (via RMI Outlet)

Greenbuild 2013: Three signs green building is on the rise (via GreenBiz)

Top 10 innovations from Greenbuild 2013 (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

Warsaw outcome a hint of what’s to come (via C2ES)

China can turn its challenges into clear opportunities for greener growth (via South China Morning Post)

Future of energy storage is behind the meter (via Greentech Media)

Five myths about the carbon asset bubble (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.21.13

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

COP 19 

Turmoil at COP 19 as blame game heats up (via Yahoo! News/AP)

Deep division as climate talks enter final stretch (via Phys.org)

China clashes with US & EU on roles in new climate deal (via Bloomberg)

EU denies attempt to hide greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)

Poland, while hosting COP 19 conference, sacks environment chief (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Report tallies $35 billion in public funds for overseas coal plants since 2007 (via The Hill)

Coal seen as new tobacco, sparking investor backlash (via Bloomberg)

UK joins US pledge to stop funding foreign coal power plants (via Bloomberg)

Coal’s challenge to the EPA (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

UK solar industry facing job losses as household panels taper off (via The Guardian)

EU imposes duties on biodiesel from Argentina, Indonesia (via Reuters)

Net metering battle likely to shift to other fronts after Arizona clash (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Re-Powering America: Updated project tracking matrix and map (via US EPA)

Alstom unveils world’s largest offshore wind turbine (via BusinessGreen)

Solar fee defeated in Georgia Power rate case (via Renewable Energy World)

Key questions about the future for utility-scale solar industry (via Yale e360)

ENERGY POLICY 

House passes bill to tighten onshore drilling permit deadlines (via National Journal)

Fossil fuel subsidies outstrip climate aid fivefold (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of all manmade global emissions (via The Guardian)

Australia’s lower house votes to dump carbon tax after 18 months (via The Guardian)

Mexico to follow carbon tax with region’s first carbon offset market (via Triple Pundit)

States press EPA for flexibility in power plant emission rules (via The Hill)

University of Illinois students vote six to one for fossil fuel divestment (via Grist)

FRACKING 

Fracking boom fractures the environmental movement (via National Journal)

House votes to block Interior Department from regulating fracking (via The Hill)

Fracking without freshwater at a West Texas oilfield (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chevy Volt owners drive more electric miles than Nissan Leaf drivers (via Green Car Reports)

Just 10% of EV charging stations California promised in legal deal are ready (via Washington Post)

US launches investigation into Tesla Model S fires (via Reuters)

Toyota shows off fuel cell concept vehicle (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone won’t be finished until 2016 – here’s what that means (via National Journal)

Keystone foes seek to thwart oil sands exports by rail (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Report: Climate protection goal slipping away (via The Hill)

2015 is make-or-break year for UN process, says former climate czar (via ClimateWire)

Forests buffer the effects of climate change on plants (via Phys.org)

Members of Congress recruit pro sports leagues for climate push (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

More than 130 Members of Congress push Obama on energy efficiency extension (via The Hill)

Retailers save millions by curbing energy use (via Houston Chronicle)

A positive diagnosis: How hospitals are reducing their energy consumption (via GreenBiz)

Shaheen: Energy-efficiency bill could hit Senate floor soon (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

US, Norway, UK pledge nearly $300 million to cut deforestation (via Bloomberg BNA)

Great Lakes recover substantial water levels (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Why the UN climate talks keep breaking down in five simple charts (via Washington Post)

Explained in 90 seconds: Breaking the carbon budget (via Mother Jones)

Has demand response peaked in the Northeast US? (via Navigant Research)

Carbon capture and storage is coal’s pipe dream (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.8.13

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

EMISSIONS 

EU ministers approve carbon market backloading fix (via BusinessGreen)

Brazil greenhouse gas emissions drop to lowest level in 20 years (via Washington Post)

Nine states file brief against EPA emissions regulations (via The Hill)

Enviros, coal advocates push messaging at EPA listening session in DC (via National Journal)

Energy Department approves $84 million for 18 carbon capture projects (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Fossil fuels receive $500 billion a year in government subsidies worldwide (via Climate Progress)

US power companies struggle to profit in energy markets (via Reuters)

White House tallies shutdown’s energy and environmental impact (via The Hill)

Energy Department failed to report concerns as green tech firm headed for bankruptcy (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Japan’s solar market surge blows away earlier forecasts (via Greentech Media)

South Africa: Where clean energy is growing the fastest (via Sustainable Business)

China’s ailing solar panel makers see the light, on a farm (via Reuters)

Singapore launches 1st tidal turbine test bed (via Xinhua)

The promise and challenge of developing offshore wind resources (via Forbes)

Biofuels producers brace for major EPA changes as big lobby groups clash (via ClimateWire)

California seen beating renewable energy generation goal (via Bloomberg)

Two new green investing options could help avoid the carbon bubble (via CleanTechnica)

Massachusetts sets itself apart as global clean energy hub (via Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Climate impact of Canada’s tar sands is growing (via Climate Progress)

Keystone “not in Canada’s best interests” says federal party (via Globe and Mail)

A small victory for a Texas landowner in Keystone pipeline case (via Dallas Observer)

CLIMATE 

Warsaw climate talks expected to deliver loss and damage mechanism (via Thompson Reuters)

Super typhoon Haiyan, one of strongest storms ever, plows across Philippines (via CNN)

NOAA’s new tool puts climate on view for all (via Climate Central)

Amazon deforestation could mean droughts for western US (via Phys.org)

OIL 

OPEC acknowledges threat of US oil (via National Journal)

Saudi Arabia throttles back from record high oil output (via Reuters)

Strong dollar drives crude oil prices lower (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Three Texas universities win bid to launch offshore drilling safety center (via Houston Chronicle)

Bakken boom linked to haze at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion battery prices still headed down to $180/kWh by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Third Model S fire drives down Tesla stock (via San Francisco Chronicle)

DOE launches alternative fueling station locator app (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Big trucking companies shifting to natural gas across the US (via Autoblog Green)

Colorado cities’ fracking rejection poses political test for natural gas industry (via New York Times)

Colorado’s fracking bans could fall before courts (via Reuters)

OPINION 

Five issues to watch at COP 19, the “Construction COP” (via WRI Insights)

The solar industry is red hot – will it get hotter? (via Breaking Energy)

10 reasons you should care about the COP 19 UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Could California’s shale oil boom be just a mirage? (via DeSmog Blog)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.13

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

CLIMATE 

Climate talks will open in Poland amid flurry of new scientific warnings (via InsideClimate News)

UK and South Korea agree to collaborate on tackling climate change (via RTCC)

Resilient cities from Ahmedabad to Atlantic City prepare for climate change (via Energy Collective)

WRI lifts the veil on new climate analysis tool (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

Fossil fuel subsidies costing rich countries $112 per person (via BusinessGreen)

Western voters say no to fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

North America remains the leading region for microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES 

Poland seeks 40% cut in renewable energy costs by 2014 (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind capacity grows 80% over past year (via BusinessGreen)

Report highlights values of geothermal in today’s renewable power market (via BusinessWire)

Solar, wind, and biofuels team up to push for funding in farm bill (via Midwest Energy News/E&E Daily)

Reaching beyond the roof: Three strategies for corporate investments in solar (via Renewable Energy World)

US DOE awards $12 million to cut solar soft costs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Nuclear giant Exelon taps wind tax credit that it’s trying to kill (via Greenwire)

COAL 

Two Australian coal mines would create 3x Keystone emissions, 6x UK’s annual emissions (via The Guardian)

Bad news for Big Coal in Whatcom County (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

EMISSIONS 

“Unburnable” carbon fuels investment concerns (via The Guardian)

China cracks down on emissions to combat choking smog (via The Guardian)

Carbon tax advocate seeks to shake up EPA power plant debate (via The Hill)

Burning biomass pellets could lower China’s mercury emissions (via Phys.org)

Boston cuts emissions from city government operations 16% (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

US oil industry may invoke trade law to challenge export ban (via Bloomberg)

Shell launches formal bid to resume Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon faces $2.7 million fine for Arkansas pipeline spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Canada more than doubled number of EVs to pass 4,000 cars last year (via Green Car Congress)

US electric car sales have increased 361% so far in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

West Coast’s I-5 corridor EV fast charge stations getting lots of use (via Autoblog Green)

For Tesla Motors, success is all about the batteries (via MIT Technology Review)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China’s first coal-to-gas plant soon to pump gas to Beijing (via Reuters)

Local bans set up a showdown over fracking in Colorado (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Building toward “nearly zero energy” cities (via Phys.org)

Massachusetts ranked most energy-efficient state (via National Journal)

Opower planning IPO amidst billion-dollar behavioral efficiency opportunity (via Greentech Media)

NREL’s Energy Systems Integration Facility earns LEED Platinum (via Energy Manager Today)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL developer: Other pipeline companies will face similar hurdles (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Texas passes $2 billion drought fund, putting faith in government to secure water future (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

How do we secure a strong, international climate agreement by 2015? (via WRI Insights)

Big business wants renewable energy, but it ain’t easy (via RMI Outlet)

Will Warsaw talks fuel a pact? (via Politico)

Crowdfunding for renewables: A game changer? (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.31.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Looking for a way around Keystone XL, Canadian oil hits the rails (via New York Times)

Canadian emissions report undermines pipeline pitch to Washington (via InsideClimate News)

TransCanada CEO: Keystone process has been “circus” (via Politico)

CLIMATE 

Pacific Ocean may be “hiding” global warming (via RTCC)

In Sandy’s wake, flood zones and insurance rates re-examined (via NPR)

Climate change risks hiding in investment portfolios, says Gore (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

In Brazil, wind blowing in a new era of renewable energy (via Washington Post)

Renewables support here to stay, says UK government (via BusinessGreen)

2013 to be a record year for offshore wind (via Grist/Earth Policy Institute)

Renewable energy for mining industry will reach $4 billion in annual market value by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Ethanol, oil groups blitz White House as biofuel rule nears (via Reuters)

Solar rebound beating Dot.Com recovery as demand surges (via Bloomberg)

New wind energy research focuses on turbine arrangement, wind seasonality (via Phys.org)

Study: 30% renewables in PJM would cut costs, emissions (via Midwest Energy News/EnergyWire)

Solar advocates and Xcel spar over future of rooftop solar (via Denver Post)

COAL 

The war on the “War on Coal” (via Marketplace)

Peak coal: Will the US run out of coal in 20 years or 200 years? (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

States receive grades on net metering and interconnection policies (via Renew Grid)

8 charts that illustrate progress on DOE’s smart grid investment grants (via Greentech Media)

Want to opt out of a smart meter in Texas? It will cost you (via StateImpact Texas)

OIL 

Poll: Oil to fall to $80 in real terms by 2020 (via Reuters)

Shell announces return to Arctic in 2014 despite mishaps (via Houston Chronicle)

North Dakota oil spill spotlights Obama delay on pipeline rules (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

US Department of Defense will acquire 92,000 EVs by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

How “smart parking” could save a million barrels of oil every day (via Christian Science Monitor)

Panasonic to supply more battery cells to Tesla (via San Jose Mercury News)

EMISSIONS 

GE says Australia headed for cap-and-trade (via Environmental Leader)

Germany’s Merkel faces internal opposition to EU carbon backloading fix (via Reuters)

74% of voters back EPA power plant emissions regulation (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russian government passes law to open up LNG exports (via Reuters)

UK government review says shale gas fracking a low risk to public health (via Reuters)

New natural gas pipeline should help reduce flaring in North Dakota (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

PACE projects on a roll: $43 million and counting (via Greentech Media)

Dallas rolls out US green building code (via Sustainable Business)

OPINION 

How climate change threatens the ability of global populations to rise out of poverty (via Climate Progress)

Should we use geoengineering to cool the planet? (via Washington Post)

Why the new biofuel feedstocks deserve investment, incentives (via National Geographic)

Top 9 things you didn’t know about concentrating solar power (via Energy.gov)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.25.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

8 US states target 3.3 million electric vehicles on the road by 2025 (via CleanTechnica)

Pecan Street study shows EVs might not stress grids (via Austin-American Statesman)

EMISSIONS 

Wall Street demands answers from fossil fuel producers on “unburnable” carbon (via Inside Climate News)

71 institutional investors urge top oil, power companies to tap clean energy (via Pensions & Investments)

Canada falling far short on emission reduction goals (via Globe and Mail)

Response to a city’s smog points to change in Chinese attitude (via New York Times)

Legislative glitch could doom CO2 rules for existing power plants (via Greenwire)

Ann Arbor asks pension board to consider fossil fuel divestment (via Ann Arbor News)

Report: Smoke from wildfires poses health risks (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

IEA increases wind power target for global electricity by 2050 (via Phys.org)

GTM research exposes hidden solar growth markets (via Greentech Media)

Japan builds floating windmills to expand offshore power (via New York Times)

Leaked RFS proposal irks both oil and ethanol groups (via Houston Chronicle)

How the Department of Energy is reducing the cost of solar by 75% (via Climate Progress)

Colorado’s first solar rights auction on public lands draws no bids (via Denver Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

State Department to hand over Keystone XL documents to environmental group (via The Hill)

Obama’s former climate czar predicts president will reject Keystone XL (via The Hill)

GRID 

A guide to 123GW of grid-scale energy storage (via Greentech Media)

USDA awards $960 million for rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

One year later, Hurricane Sandy fuels grid innovation (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Poland could halve demand for coal by 2030, study says (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Arctic temperatures reach highest levels in 44,000 years (via Huffington Post)

West Coast states, British Columbia form climate pact (via National Journal)

Nebraska climate change study opposed by state scientists (via Omaha World-Herald)

Ernest Moniz sees Capitol Hill thaw on climate change (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

NYC is replacing its 250,000 streetlights with LEDs (via Gizmodo)

OPINION

Investors: Can oil companies thrive in a warming world? (via Climate Central)

5 things you didn’t know about green business in Brazil (via GreenBiz)

Why businesses need to avoid climate’s “inevitable surprise” (via GreenBiz)

Don’t extend the wind production tax credit, fix it (via MIT Technology Review)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Efforts to set global carbon market standards may begin next month (via The Age)

Capital markets ignoring risk of unburnable carbon: report (via Renew Economy)

All flights in EU airspace to face emissions levy by 2014 (via RTCC)

Abbott publishes draft legislation to abolish carbon pricing (via Bloomberg)

Supreme Court will review EPA’s authority to regulate power plant emissions (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Much ado about shale gas, but coal is still king (via Christian Science Monitor)

Shale gas and tight oil boom: US states’ economic gains and vulnerabilities (via Council on Foreign Relations)

RENEWABLES 

Report: US leads world in advanced biofuels ranking (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar means business: Top 25 US corporate solar energy users (via CleanTechnica)

NREL debunks 15% ethanol blend car damage claims (via Environmental Leader)

Big box solar and the clean energy revolution (via Washington Post)

Statoil pulls offshore wind project in Maine (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

OIL 

Behind Russia vs. Greenpeace, unreported oil pollution in the Arctic (via InsideClimate News)

Energy efficiency measures saved $420 billion of oil from 2005-2010 (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Saudi Aramco plans “massive” spending to extend field life (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rising output, energy efficiency to halve US oil imports by 2020 (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil output could hit 1 million barrels-per-day by 2014 (via Reuters)

Booming US oil towns prepare for inevitable bust (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota pipeline spill prompts calls for better oversight (via EnergyWire)

Halliburton manager pleads guilty to destroying Gulf spill evidence (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW mulls boosting electric car capacity on early demand (via Bloomberg)

Ford jumps EV battery gap with new $8 million research lab (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Climate change will affect almost every corner of ocean, study says (via Los Angeles Times)

Lloyd’s insurers mock climate skeptics over “global cooling” (via RTCC)

ENVIRONMENT 

Changes to federal flood insurance program mean higher costs (via Boston Globe)

All taxpayers are footing the rising cost of fighting wildfires (via Minneapolis Post)

California bans lead bullets for hunting (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

Smart grid’s real-world economic and environmental benefits (via Renew Grid)

OPINION 

Three ways to get rich off global warming (via Market Watch)

By repealing the carbon tax, Tony Abbott is failing to protect his people (via The Guardian)

Should newspapers ban letters from climate science deniers? (via The Guardian)

California’s big fracking mess (via National Journal)

US Supreme Court: EPA can tackle global warming, but we’ll review a few details (via Washington Post)

These maps show where the US is most vulnerable to oil shocks (via Washington Post)

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)

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)

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)