Category Archives:carbon tax

20
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Senate rejects carbon tax repeal bill (via Reuters)

EU lawmakers reject deal to exempt foreign flights from emission charges (via Reuters)

COAL 

Planned coal-fired power plant retirements continue to increase (via US EIA)

Duke Energy eyes closing more coal plants in response to Dan River spill (via Charlotte Business Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Japan added 7GW of clean energy capacity since July 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Concentrated solar to top 1GW capacity by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Scotland approves two major offshore wind farm projects (via Reuters)

Solar usage shattering records in California as new capacity comes online (via Greentech Media)

New Jersey rejects offshore wind project’s subsidy plan (via Recharge)

Net metering in the air: Solar energy progress in Massachusetts and other states (via Energy Collective)

Native American tribe could soon build a billion-dollar wind farm with Interior Department funding (via Climate Progress)

Clearing up cloudy understanding on solar output (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Climate change fuelled storms, rising seas cost China $2.6 billion in 2013 (via Reuters)

EU leaders to set October deadline to agree on 2030 climate goals (via Reuters)

A cold US winter, but 8th warmest globally (via Climate Central)

White House brings together big data and climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Shell pulled out of shale gas talks in Ukraine in January (via Reuters)

Crimea crisis won’t cut Russia gas flow to Europe, says IHS (via Houston Chronicle)

Simple fixes could plug methane leaks from energy industry, finds study (via National Geographic)

White House to unveil new methane strategy this month (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Up to 40% energy savings “achievable” from home energy management (via Energy Manager Today)

Detroit airport’s switch to LED lights will save $1.2 million yearly (via Detroit Free Press)

OIL 

BP set to expand Gulf of Mexico drilling (via National Journal)

Oil pipeline leaks thousands of gallons in Ohio nature preserve (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chairman says BMW will make 100,000 EVs a year by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Electric cars have a dirty little secret (via InsideClimate News)

California may cut gasoline demand 9% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Energy industry overestimated cost of pollution controls, says study (via Huffington Post)

California officials prepare for worst as historic drought deepens wildfire risk (via The Guardian)

ENERGY STORAGE 

Spurred by Japan, steady growth predicted for energy storage market (via Renewable Energy World)

Incentives for energy storage spread worldwide (via EnergyWire)

POLITICS 

John Podesta knocks greens on natural gas (via Politico)

Obama’s Keystone XL choice pits donors against at-risk Senate (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why a melting Arctic could sink the global economy (via Center for American Progress)

The end of spring in a warming world (via Time)

A remarkably accurate global warming prediction, made in 1972 (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, barack obama, BMW, BP, california, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal ash spill, concentrated solar power, Crimea, Detroit, drought, duke energy, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EU, ev, Gasoline, global warming, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, interior department, japan, John Podesta, Keystone XL, LED, massachusetts, methane, Methane leakage, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, politics, renewables, Russia, Scotland, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, Transportation, Ukraine, Wildfire, wind
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12
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.12.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA warns global warming could be 20% higher than previous estimates (via RTCC)

Climate change not a top US worry, finds poll (via The Hill)

Keeling Curve in danger of budget cuts (via Weather Underground)

COAL 

Italian judge blames coal plant for hundreds of deaths, forces it to close (via Huffington Post)

Duke CEO: Customers should pay to empty coal ash ponds (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

100GW solar PV market in 2018, forecasts NPD Solarbuzz (via Recharge)

IEA: High renewable energy market penetration is feasible in any country (via CleanTechnica)

Latin America is emerging as a force in solar: Here’s what early developers have learned (via Greentech Media)

4.58GW of solar PV added in Japan (via CleanTechnica)

GE to supply 213MW of turbines for European wind farms (via Bloomberg)

Wind Production Tax Credit “dead” in Congress this year (via Bloomberg)

US homeowners, especially Republicans, want to be able to choose clean energy (via Climate Progress)

Minnesota regulators set to decide on solar tariff formula (via EnergyWire)

Automatic self-optimization of wind turbines (via Phys.org)

Cincinnati City Council debates buying green energy (via Cincinnati Business Courier)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL southern leg having major effect on US oil hub (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts: Keystone XL may create fewer jobs than most expect (via US News & World Report)

Unions: Keystone review “reeks of politics” (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Nine Chinese cities suffered more severe smog days than Beijing (via The Guardian)

Poor nations need financing to cut carbon emissions, says China (via Bloomberg)

For EPA’s global warming rules, will “next year” mean “never”? (via National Journal)

OIL 

US oil boom fuels rail industry resurgence (via Christian Science Monitor)

US refiners form lobby against easing crude export limits (via Reuters)

Moody’s: Many US oil companies on investors’ hit list (via Houston Chronicle)

North Dakota oil boom puts pressure on Great Plains farmers (via Huffington Post/Stateline)

GRID 

California drought dries up hydro but power stays on (via National Geographic)

NY regulator, ConEd embrace plan to climate-proof power grid (via InsideClimate News)

After failing in EVs, Coda Energy pursues no-money-down energy storage (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

16 countries’ regulatory bodies have changed policy in response to Fukushima (via US GAO)

Three years after Fukushima, Japan makes U-turn on nuclear (via Christian Science Monitor)

US nuclear agency hid concerns, hailed safety record as Fukushima melted (via NBC News)

FRACKING 

Ohio looks at whether fracking led to two quakes (via New York Times)

POLITICS

How talking about climate change might actually help Democrats win elections (via Washington Post)

Clinton Keystone dodge prompts donors to rethink support (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Four reasons why the fight against climate change is likely to fail (via Washington Post)

Japan’s energy dilemma, in one chart (via Washington Post)

All you need to know about BC’s carbon tax shift in five charts (via Sightline)

China builds bridges to US EV market (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: Beijing, british columbia, california, carbon tax, China, Cincinnati, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coda Energy, ConEd, drought, duke energy, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, europe, fracking, fukushima, GE, global warming, grid, hillary clinton, Hydro, IEA, italy, japan, Keeling Curve, Keystone XL, minnesota, NASA, NERC, new york, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, solar, tar sands, wind
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07
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Carbon-taxed companies cut emissions by 7% in the past year (via The Guardian)

EPA chief won’t commit to refinery carbon emissions rule (via National Journal)

EPA chief: Power plant rules won’t “put the brakes on business” (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Drilling for certainty: The latest in fracking health studies (via ProPublica)

Report to US government concludes FracFocus shields too much information from public (via Houston Chronicle)

Decisions on LNG exports up to Energy Department, says White House (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Japan may set higher offshore wind subsidy, reduce solar tariff (via Bloomberg)

Ghana to add 600MW of solar plants, 300MW solar panel factory (via TreeHugger)

Wind power continues to grow as source of American electricity (via United Press International)

Largest US grid operator could switch to 30% renewables with no ill effects, says study (via EnergyWire)

How the military is (indirectly) fueling the solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar venture capital is down but still on the make (via Solar Industry Magazine)

US states boosting wind energy output, pipeline filling up (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

New poll: Keystone Xl project overwhelmingly favored by Americans (via Washington Post)

Pro-Keystone XL ad airs in White House video feed (via Politico)

CLIMATE 

China calls on rich nations to give $490 billion in climate funding to poorer nations (via Bloomberg)

China’s “war on pollution” may end up accelerating global warming (via Quartz)

US infrastructure threatened by climate change poses “a national crisis” (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

BP refinery seen skirting US oil export ban (via Bloomberg)

E85 fueling station availability increasing, now 2% of all US locations (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT 

NOAA issues El Nino watch for summer and fall 2014 (via Weather Underground)

Rains ease California drought, make wildfire outlook grimmer (via Climate Central)

Judge rules Duke must immediately stop polluting North Carolina groundwater (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Your utility bill is going up – and there’s nothing you can do about it (via National Journal)

Batteries may vie with US oil boom as energy changer (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why Putin is bad news for fracking (via Salon)

Experts: Solar will live, even when subsidies die (via Houston Chronicle)

Why Russia needs to sell natural gas more than EU needs to buy it (via Christian Science Monitor)

Harry Reid: “Climate change is worst problem facing the world today” (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Batteries, BP, california, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal ash, Coal ash spill, DOE, drought, duke energy, El Nino, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, feed-in tariff, FracFocus, fracking, Ghana, global warming, grid, harry reid, japan, Keystone XL, LNG exports, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, solar, tar sands, Vladimir Putin, Wildfire
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28
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Social cost of carbon emissions rising but still underestimated, warn experts (via Thompson Reuters)

Group offers plan to meet new EPA power plant emission rules (via Reuters)

Global carbon market could reach $87 billion in 2014 (via RTCC) 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate duo debuts “new and improved” energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power on verge of taking off in Japan (via Japan Times)

Wind energy cut electricity prices by 40% in Australian heatwaves (via Renew Economy)

NREL maps solar policy for 48 states (via Energy Manager Today)

After a hiatus, DOE’s clean energy loan program will be back in action (via Greentech Media)

Solar industry employs a surprisingly high percentage of US veterans (via Climate Progress)

Massachusetts has 409MW of wind power coming its way (via Renew Grid)

Utility scale solar energy: North Carolina’s emergent success (via Energy Collective)

Wisconsin state legislators propose 30% by 2030 renewable energy target (via Journal-Sentinel)

CLIMATE 

Global warming slowdown likely to be brief, say US & UK science bodies (via Reuters)

UN report sees $1.45 trillion in global warming costs (via Economic Times/AFP)

US falling behind as other countries pass climate laws, survey shows (via Climate Progress)

Decline of Bronze Age “megacities” linked to climate change (via Science Daily)

NASA’s new climate satellite hopes to save lives – and maybe the planet (via National Journal)

Mexico, China led on climate action in 2013 (via The Hill)

California companies call climate change “economic opportunity” (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

US rules would allow “seismic air guns” in search for offshore oil, gas (via Washington Post)

Dusty federal rules complicate water management in parched West (via Greenwire)

New Mexico facing “extremely destructive” wildfire season (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Global smart meter market to top $22 billion by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Smart grids, energy storage key to $1.5 trillion smart city market (via Renew Grid)

ComEd’s Chicago 4 million smart meter installations to be completed by 2017 (via Chicago Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

India’s diesel subsidy spurs pollution worse than Beijing (via Bloomberg)

California report explains who buys plug-in cars and why (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline substitute made from plant waste developed by UC-Davis (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

Bright prospects? China’s rooftop solar goal looks too ambitious (via Reuters)

Denying climate science in multiple dimensions (via Science Blogs)

Is the solution to climate change in Vancouver? (via Climate Progress)

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

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Beijing, biofuel, california, carbon markets, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, ComEd, diesel, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, global warming, grid, india, japan, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, New Mexico, News, North Carolina, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, smart grid, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, Transportation, wind, Wisconsin
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26
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.26.14

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

COAL

Japan continues to fund coal despite increasing US pressure (via RTCC)

Researchers say 35 million gallons of coal ash spilled in North Carolina (via Boston Herald/AP) 

EMISSIONS 

South Africa delays carbon tax implementation to 2016 (via Bloomberg)

RGGI revenues to encourage $2 billion in energy bill savings (via Environmental Leader)

ALEC drums up opposition to upcoming EPA power plant limits (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Grivalja: GAO set to investigate Keystone XL conflict (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Growth in solar reshaping world’s renewables market (via RTCC)

Europe to lose renewables grip to Asia and Africa (via Renewable Energy World)

Nearly 100GW in worldwide solar pipeline (via Sustainable Business)

Mexico building Latin America’s largest solar farm to replace oil-power plant (via Climate Progress)

India to install 1GW new solar in 2014 (via Panchabuta)

GE targets Japanese onshore wind market (via Recharge)

Brazil’s small PV installations think big (via Recharge)

Offshore wind power’s eye-popping capacity factors (via EarthTechling)

Growth of solar market depends on PV module reliability and performance (via Greentech Media)

Renewables account for 99% of new US generation in January (via Renew Grid)

22 ARPA-E projects have attracted more than $625 million in private investment (via Green Car Congress)

New power lines will make Texas world’s 5th largest wind power producer (via ClimateWire)

NC Sustainable Energy Association acts to protect rooftop solar market (via Solar Industry)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Value of natural gas net imports has declined dramatically in recent years (via US EIA)

Colorado fracking rules could become national blueprint (via Forbes)

Maps show where droughts and fracking collide (via Fast Company)

Chesapeake plans to cut drilling costs by $900 million (via Reuters)

Ohio wants to plug more abandoned gas wells (via Plain-Dealer)

CLIMATE 

World begins 2014 with unusual number of extreme weather events (via The Guardian)

Extreme heat days multiply despite global warming “hiatus” (via CBC News)

Geoengineering side effects could be potentially disastrous, research shows (via The Guardian)

UK PM Cameron warns climate change one of biggest threats facing world (via BusinessGreen)

New York State expects all utilities to prep for climate change (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima radiation could reach Pacific coast by April (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Tepco says Fukushima radiation “significantly” undercounted (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

China on track to meet 2020 forest targets, but concerns linger (via Reuters)

John Kerry calls for expansion of world’s marine reserves (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Surge in fuel exports boosting US trade balance (via Houston Chronicle)

Emergency DOT order mandates rail crude oil tests (via The Hill)

US lawmakers to question oil-by-rail safety (via Reuters)

North Dakota county wants state to take stand on illegal oilfield waste (via Inforum)

TRANSPORTATION 

Psychology can wipe out 20-25% of your EV’s range (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla Motors shares zoom to record high on favorable reports (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla Model S wins “best overall” car by Consumer Reports (via CNET)

Why a gigafactory? Because Tesla used 1/3 all EV batteries last year (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US electricity use declines, says ACEEE (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Who owns weather, the feds or the states? (via National Journal)

Will Tesla disrupt the electric utility industry? (via Smart Planet)

Energy economist says shale fever soon will decline (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla’s stock is up 644% - why it may not last (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACEEE, ALEC, ARPA-E, battery, Brazil, carbon tax, Chesapeake, China, climate, coal, coal ash, colorado, David Cameron, DOT, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, fukushima, GAO, GE, Geoengineering, global warming, india, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas imports, new york, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, radiation, Raul Grivalja, renewables, rggi, solar, South Africa, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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13
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.14

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

COAL 

Washington State coal export project to get sweeping enviro review, including climate change impacts (via InsideClimate News/AP)

Columbia River coal export terminal gets key state permits, but a new hurdle is added (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina regulators seek delay on Duke Energy deal after coal ash spill (via Los Angeles Time)

North Carolina to create coal ash task force (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal (via Reuters)

Coral off Western Australia suffers shocking damage from marine heat waves (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

China confirms 14GW of solar incentives for 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar storage from used EV batteries set for testing in Japan (via Renew Economy)

Interior Department releases first national interactive map of onshore wind turbines (via Anchorage Daily News)

Five incubators shaping the future of green business (via EcoBusiness)

Report: Ethanol’s role could diminish as biofuels grow (via Houston Chronicle)

Giant wind farm plan raises alarm about eagle deaths (via National Journal)

U.S. solar sector jobs rest on a foundation of low-cost solar panels (via Solar Industry)

The non-impact of wind turbines on property values (via EarthTechling)

Solar industry a winning bet for $1.3 billion Skagen Fund (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s interconnection nightmare and why it matters to the U.S. residential PV industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar Coin – a crypto currency designed to stimulate solar energy production (via Resilience)

NASCAR on a green roll with new ACORE partnership (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone comments rushing into State Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline records sought in Sierra Club suit (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Church of England vows to fight “great demon” of climate change (via The Guardian)

Olympians speak out on climate change as Sochi warms up (via USA Today)

Are big banks fueling global warming? (via National Journal)

Despite costs, most Americans want action on climate change, says report (via Yale e360)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA steps into fray over fracking with diesel (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Danish parties back 40% carbon reduction target (via RTCC)

New poll: Most Republicans want to regulate carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Chevrolet starts buying carbon credits from colleges if they lower emissions (via Climate Progress)

It’s lonely in the carbon tax trenches, but a warrior digs in (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

North Dakota oil spill cleanup to last at least two more years (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New York State rolls out energy efficiency innovation collaborative (via Breaking Energy)

Opower has quietly filed for its long-awaited IPO (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

New head of Senate Energy Committee has environmentalists seeing red (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

The right risk partner makes the difference in renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Is Keystone worth the fight? (via New York Times)

Mapping the United States’ wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACORE, australia, biofuels, Brazil, Carbon credits, carbon tax, China, Church of England, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal export, denmark, diesel, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, fracking, global warming, Hawaii, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, Nascar, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, Olympics, Opower, renewables, sierra club, Skagen Fund, solar, Solar Coin, State Department, tar sands, Washington State, wind
0
13
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.14

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

COAL 

Washington State coal export project to get sweeping enviro review, including climate change impacts (via InsideClimate News/AP)

Columbia River coal export terminal gets key state permits, but a new hurdle is added (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina regulators seek delay on Duke Energy deal after coal ash spill (via Los Angeles Time)

North Carolina to create coal ash task force (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal (via Reuters)

Coral off Western Australia suffers shocking damage from marine heat waves (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

China confirms 14GW of solar incentives for 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar storage from used EV batteries set for testing in Japan (via Renew Economy)

Interior Department releases first national interactive map of onshore wind turbines (via Anchorage Daily News)

Five incubators shaping the future of green business (via EcoBusiness)

Report: Ethanol’s role could diminish as biofuels grow (via Houston Chronicle)

Giant wind farm plan raises alarm about eagle deaths (via National Journal)

U.S. solar sector jobs rest on a foundation of low-cost solar panels (via Solar Industry)

The non-impact of wind turbines on property values (via EarthTechling)

Solar industry a winning bet for $1.3 billion Skagen Fund (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s interconnection nightmare and why it matters to the U.S. residential PV industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar Coin – a crypto currency designed to stimulate solar energy production (via Resilience)

NASCAR on a green roll with new ACORE partnership (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone comments rushing into State Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline records sought in Sierra Club suit (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Church of England vows to fight “great demon” of climate change (via The Guardian)

Olympians speak out on climate change as Sochi warms up (via USA Today)

Are big banks fueling global warming? (via National Journal)

Despite costs, most Americans want action on climate change, says report (via Yale e360)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA steps into fray over fracking with diesel (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Danish parties back 40% carbon reduction target (via RTCC)

New poll: Most Republicans want to regulate carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Chevrolet starts buying carbon credits from colleges if they lower emissions (via Climate Progress)

It’s lonely in the carbon tax trenches, but a warrior digs in (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

North Dakota oil spill cleanup to last at least two more years (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New York State rolls out energy efficiency innovation collaborative (via Breaking Energy)

Opower has quietly filed for its long-awaited IPO (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

New head of Senate Energy Committee has environmentalists seeing red (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

The right risk partner makes the difference in renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Is Keystone worth the fight? (via New York Times)

Mapping the United States’ wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACORE, australia, biofuels, Brazil, Carbon credits, carbon tax, chevrolet, China, Church of England, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal export, denmark, diesel, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, fracking, global warming, Hawaii, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, Nascar, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, Olympics, Opower, renewables, sierra club, Skagen Fund, solar, State Department, tar sands, Washington State, wind
0
23
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.13

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
0
20
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.20.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Fossil fuels get $500 billion Christmas present from taxpayers (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

The second-largest carbon market in the world just opened in China (via Climate Progress)

France adopts 2014 budget with carbon tax on fossil fuels (via Platts)

Tianjin to launch China’s fifth carbon market on December 26 (via Reuters)

EPA unveils carbon capture regulations (via The Hill)

Cities call for carbon pricing in Washington State (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Wind developers start work, then cross their fingers as PTC expiration looms (via Greenwire)

Deepwater Wind says New England offshore wind farm will meet PTC deadline (via Bloomberg)

Solar power hitting new records in California (via Greentech Media)

The way Congress funds clean energy is a mess – Max Baucus thinks there’s a better idea (via Washington Post)

OIL 

US budget deal opens door to drilling in new Gulf waters (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Data shows cities can save big money by switching to EVs (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes down part of pro-fracking law (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

CLIMATE 

Poll: Americans see impact of global warming (via USA Today)

John Podesta’s plan to bypass Congress on climate change (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS 

Canada approves tar sands oil pipeline to Pacific Coast (via ABC News/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Madison, Wisconsin considers mandatory energy reporting law (via Energy Manager Today)

Seattle adopts 20% energy use reduction plan (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Will the Senate energy panel veer right? (via National Journal)

Is carbon pricing a diversion from the real story? (via Huffington Post)

Max Baucus’ renewable energy tax break reform: The good, the bad, and the ugly (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: california, canada, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, deepwater wind, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, fracking, France, global warming, Gulf of Mexico, John Podesta, Max Baucus, natural gas, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, seattle, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tianjin, Transportation, Washington, wind, Wisconsin
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19
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate Democrats to make eleventh-hour push for tax extenders (via The Hill)

Baucus proposal replaces dozens of energy breaks with credits for “clean” fuel, electricity (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

China seeks to curb worst air pollution in 50 years (via The Guardian)

Guandong carbon market, expected to be China’s biggest, begins briskly (via Reuters)

Most companies still releasing unsustainable amounts of CO2, says study (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Asia key to 2014 solar PV forecasts (via Recharge)

Europe’s highest court fuels doubt over French wind tariffs (via Reuters)

Hydro-Quebec calls for 450MW wind power tender (via Recharge)

Clean energy shines as climate index outperforms equities (via Renew Economy)

EIA continues to lowball its renewable energy forecast (via Greentech Media)

BOEM announces third US offshore wind competitive lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Michigan conservatives launch renewable energy group (via Michigan Live)

OIL 

Dolphins suffering from lung disease due to Gulf oil spill, says study (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

$43 million in USDA loans flow to rural smart grids (via Greentech Media)

Four ways to grow grid-scale energy storage in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Fitch Ratings: US net metering set to grow (via Solar Industry)

California ISO board adopts joint plan with CPUC to ensure future electric reliability (via BusinessWire)

California ISO unveils roadmap to advance demand response, energy efficiency (via Renew Grid)

Texas electricity prices falling since power market deregulation (via Texas Tribune)

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada weighs rail bridge amid Keystone pipeline delay (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

The UN will try for a new disaster risk reduction agreement (via Climate Progress)

Climate change divides political parties in Iowa, nation (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COAL 

Coal use hits record high in Japan (via Smart Planet)

GREEN BUILDING 

Future looks green for building industry (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles becomes first major city to require “cool roofs” (via Climate Progress)

Cool roofs rising (via Sustainable Industries)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

USGS releases New York baseline drinking water study in Marcellus Shale region (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

US gasoline pump prices to hit 2013 low (via The Hill)

Tesla will more than double Model S production with help of state tax breaks (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

White House to get aggressive on climate change? (via Washington Post)

British Columbia’s carbon tax leadership now more important than ever (via Vancouver Sun)

Why environmentalists should hope nuclear power sticks around (via Washington Post)

Here’s how the shale gas boom is saving Americans money (via Washington Post)

Christie Administration ignores climate change in New Jersey’s post-Sandy rebuild (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: BOEM, british columbia, california, California ISO, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cool roofs, CPUC, eia, emissions, energy storage, europe, fracking, France, gas prices, Gasoline, green building, grid, Guandong, Gulf of Mexico, Hydro-Quebec, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, marcellus shale, maryland, Max Baucus, michigan, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, new york, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart grid, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, united nations, usda, usgs, wind
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