Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.29.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Obama to offer rule that sharply curb power plant emissions (via New York Times)

U.S. Chamber says new EPA rule could cost economy $51 billion a year (via Los Angeles Times)

America’s top 100 power producers already reducing emissions (via The Hill)

COAL 

Alberta renewables seen cheaper than coal in coming decades (via Bloomberg)

As EPA carbon rules loom, North Dakota clings to coal (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

13.5GW of solar PV estimated for China this year (via CleanTechnica)

UK wind and hydropower surges 55% in first quarter 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Solar PV may hit $83/MWh in Brazil auction (via Recharge)

French court annuls wind power decree, ending legal saga (via Reuters)

Wind power most popular source of energy in UK (via The Guardian)

U.S. set to install 6.6GW of solar in 2014 as residential market booms (via BusinessGreen)

A PV market first: Residential solar in U.S. beats commercial installations (via Greentech Media)

Hannon Armstrong buys $107 million renewable energy portfolio (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity tries first-ever online solar offer with Groupon (via Greentech Media)

Show me solar: Missouri’s opportunity for solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Solar roadways smashes crowdfunding target, still raising more (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU eyes plan to diversify energy supply but sees no easy fixes (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ohio Governor Kasich will sign two-year freeze on renewables, energy efficiency standards (via Plain-Dealer)

Ohio freezes standards for renewable energy in landmark vote (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico’s energy ministry projects rapid near-term growth of natural gas imports from U.S. (via US EIA)

Natural gas boom presents a conundrum for British Columbia (via New York Times)

Bill that would have sped up fracking in Illinois dies in legislature (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Fewer polar bear cubs being born on Arctic islands, finds survey (via The Guardian)

New environment ministry in India puts climate change atop agenda (via Economic Times)

Big waves bust up sea ice, may be playing role in melt (via Climate Central)

Melting Arctic ice may release 1 trillion tiny pieces of plastic into oceans, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

U.S. industry gears up to fight Obama’s climate rules (via Reuters)

OIL 

Oil-by-rail protests planned to mark Canadian disaster (via Houston Chronicle)

Report: Exporting U.S. oil would be economic boom (via Houston Chronicle)

How extreme heat could lead to more oil rail car derailments (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Car2go car sharing service withdrawing from UK (via Green Car Congress)

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada’s safety promises draw scrutiny even as they multiply (via Greenwire)

POLITICS 

Obama raises the stakes against GOP climate deniers (via National Journal)

Pregame scuffle breaks out on EPA climate rule (via Politico)

The ongoing political explosion over climate change (via Washington Post)

Obama seeks climate legacy as coal-state Democrats cringe (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Barclays just threw gasoline on the fire in the battle between utilities and solar industry (via Energy Trends Insider)

Did Obama’s West Point speech make his climate case? (via New York Times)

The battle against Obama’s climate proposals has already begun (via Washington Post)

How the U.S. energy mix made a U-turn from California to Texas (via EnergyWire)

Cutting carbon: States can use what they’ve already got to lower power plant emissions (via WRI Insights)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.14.14

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

OIL 

Crude oil shipments by rail increased 83 percent in 2013 (via New York Times)

BP regains ability to bid on leases for US land and water (via Washington Post)

Report: Fracking could raise earthquake risks in California (via Houston Chronicle)

Average pump price passes $3.50 for first time in 6 months (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Research: China’s “war on smog” won’t cut CO2 by much (via RTCC)

Social cost of carbon greatly underestimated, says report (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Norway’s oil fund may inject $40 billion in renewables (via Renew Economy)

Mexico boosts appeal as emerging solar market (via Solar Industry Magazine)

The burden of permitting, inspection, and interconnection on residential solar PV deployment (via Energy Collective)

California’s grid sets two new solar energy records in two days (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel Energy awards $42 million for development of renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

US seeks comments on Virginia offshore wind (via Recharge)

It’s official: Efficiency, clean energy can help fill California’s nuclear generation gap (via Renewable Energy World)

Panasonic looks to California for solar-storage integration lessons (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL

Beyond the hype, Keystone would yield few permanent jobs (via Reuters)

Keystone debate rages in Senate over health, climate effects (via Houston Chronicle)

Kerry says he hasn’t prejudged Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Markey wants Keystone XL oil to stay in US (via The Hill)

Dems grapple with dilemma on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

SEC’s role in climate change (via The Hill)

Technology needed to combat climate change, says Murkowski (via Bloomberg)

Here’s what the Chamber of Commerce thinks about global warming (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS 

16% of natural gas consumed in Europe flows through Ukraine (via US EIA)

Experts see cheaper way to turn natural gas into fuels (via Reuters)

Stakes high in mystery over Ohio fracking, quakes (via Columbus Dispatch)

COAL 

Emails link Duke Energy and North Carolina regulators (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects Duke’s coal ash plan, amid leniency accusations (via News & Observer)

Utility quietly buying up homes near Wisconsin coal plant on groundwater pollution fears (via Journal-Sentinel)

18 Ohio coal power plans operating with expired pollution permits (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Climate change showdown in Florida governor’s race (via InsideClimate News)

Hanger withdraws from Pennsylvania governor’s race (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

OPINION 

Russia picks an odd time to put on climate halo (via Bloomberg)

Are US infrastructure needs truly urgent? (via New York Times)

How risky is investing in oil stocks? (via CleanTechnica)

Five things we learned from the Keystone XL Senate hearing (via Climate Progress)

Fourth time’s the charm on climate change for Chamber of Commerce (via National Journal)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.17.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Earth’s record 41 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2013 (via Weather Underground) 

California drought expands, fueling heat and fire (via Climate Central)

West Virginia spill heightens concerns about Ohio waterways (via Public News Service)

What Californians can expect from the drought (via Significant Figures)

COAL 

Japan utilities December coal use rises 15% year-over-year (via Reuters)

First lawsuit against Obama’s new coal limits just got filed (via Mother Jones)

Despite decline, states still spending billions to import coal (via Midwest Energy News)

Feds pledge $1 billion to build FutureGen 2.0 (via Springfield State Journal-Register)

RENEWABLES 

India could reach 100% renewables by mid-century (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank projects 56GW of solar to be installed in 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

John Hancock backs US solar PV build (via Recharge)

Solar on a grand scale: Big power plants coming online in the West (via Washington Post)

Military deployment of clean technology accelerates (via San Jose Mercury-News)

US Marine ExFOB 2014 seeks next-gen energy harvesting systems (via CleanTechnica)

California gives go-ahead to Blythe solar plan (via Renewable Energy World)

New Mexico joins the geothermal power ranks (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Europe to America: We want your natural gas (via National Journal)

UK thwarts EU plan to create binding fracking rules (via EnergyWire)

Report predicts 20 years of stable natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals (via US EIA)

Oklahoma regulators consider new rules for wastewater disposal wells (via The Oklahoman)

Study finds 5,893 natural gas leaks in Washington DC (via USA Today)

CLIMATE 

Climate protection may cut world GDP 4% by 2030, says UN (via Bloomberg)

Sluggish economy prompts Europe to reconsider its climate change intentions (via New York Times)

Environmental groups say Obama needs to address climate change more aggressively (via Washington Post)

Extreme weather wreaking havoc on food as farmers suffer (via Bloomberg)

US Chamber’s new energy plan disregards previous climate change concerns (via SNL Energy)

Climate change will cut California’s ability to make electricity just as more is needed (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada loses patience on Keystone XL, tells US to decide (via Chicago Tribune)

Canadian support of Keystone XL pipeline is falling, says new poll (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

EPA chief: No politics behind delay in climate rule (via National Journal)

Mitch McConnell aims to torpedo EPA carbon rules with obscure legislative tool (via Huffington Post)

Emails between EPA, Sierra Club become talking point in emissions rule battle (via Greenwire)

OIL 

How the oil boom could change US foreign policy (via Washington Post)

Investigation shows feds knew of risks ahead of crude-by-rail accidents (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Toyota pledges to top US effort to double fuel economy by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

IHS says grid-connected energy storage set to “explode” (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GREEN BUILDING 

Net-zero energy buildings double in 2013 (via Sustainable Business)

Bringing a touch of green to American capitals (via EarthTechling)

OPINION 

How the SEC can fight climate change (via Huffington Post)

The most impressive clean tech comeback story you haven’t heard (via CleanTechnica)

National “Shout Out for Solar” day enjoys broad support (via Renewable Energy World)

Better to export natural gas fracking or advanced coal technologies? (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.4.13

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)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate chief says Australian Direct Action plan “more expensive” than pricing carbon (via BusinessGreen)

Natural gas, energy efficiency fuel US carbon emissions decline (via Climate Central)

Carbon intensity of US economy dropped a record 6.5% in 2012 (via Facts of the Day)

US energy-related emissions drop to 1994 levels (via BusinessGreen)

US Chamber, Kochs join “social cost of carbon” lobbying battle (via The Hill)

NUCLEAR 

After storm, toxic water overflows at Fukushima (via New York Times)

EDF agrees to build UK’s first nuclear plant since 1995 (via Bloomberg)

Toxic water stymies Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant cleanup (via Washington Post)

Sandy a warning that rising seas threaten nuclear plants (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Energy storage for solar and wind will pass $10 billion in annual market value by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Wind could see 18% of world’s 2050 energy share, says IEA (via Recharge)

Hunting fertile fields, advanced biofuels providers look abroad (via Navigant Research)

The rise of rooftop solar among the middle class (via Center for American Progress)

USDA announces $181 million to support advanced biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

Solar gardens let communities share renewable power (via National Geographic)

OIL 

China, Russia agree to oil supply deal (via ABC News/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

How to site EV charging stations? It’s the parking, stupid (via Green Car Reports)

EV charging networks start to unify (via Navigant Research)

What financing could mean for public EV charging (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE 

Australian wildfires threaten new prime minister’s anti-climate agenda (via Climate Progress)

Global warming linked to wildfires, says UN climate chief (via Phys.org)

Debunking the UN climate-change conspiracy (via National Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Weatherizing homes to uniform standard can net $33 billion in annual energy savings (via Phys.org)

How much are we really spending on energy efficiency? (via Greentech Media)

10 things you didn’t know about combined heat and power (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Congress turns a blind eye to global warming (via Washington Post)

In Germany, net metering brings unintended consequences (via Navigant Research)

US shale gas boom won’t do much for climate change, but it will make us richer (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia to scrap carbon tax for trading scheme (via Agence France-Presse)

California cap and trade could mean data center cost bumps (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE 

Ice sheets melting at rate of 300 billion tons a year, shows climate satellites (via The Independent)

Study shows climate change happening too quickly for species to adapt (via The Guardian)

After Sandy, New York aims to fortify itself against next big storm & climate change (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV to hit grid parity, $134 billion annual revenue by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Annual offshore wind investment to hit €18 billion by 2016 (via Renewable Energy World)

China vows to quadruple solar generating capacity by 2015 (via Reuters)

EU plans probe on German renewable energy law (via Reuters)

Europe installs 1GW offshore wind capacity in first half 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

The history of biofuels goes back 300 years (via Autoblog Green)

US court says biofuel producers must face carbon emissions rules (via Reuters)

Georgia PSC orders 525MW more solar power capacity by 2016 (via Atlanta Business Chronicle)

New York inches toward offshore wind energy (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS 

France’s president rules out shale gas exploration (via Reuters)

Sen. Wyden: natural gas proposal coming soon (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: world’s coral reefs face serious problems by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Sweeping parts of southern seas could become a nature preserve (via NPR)

Study says removing coastal habitat doubles flood impact (via Phys.org)

Canada’s second-largest fire on record spreads smoke to Europe (via Weather Underground)

Wind power and this bird get along fine (via EarthTechling)

OIL

Full extent of heavy metal contamination in Arkansas Exxon oil spill still unknown (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK aims for low-carbon vehicles with £1 billion R&D center (via BusinessGreen)

GM to double models with 40-mpg highway or better by 2017 (via Green Car Congress)

Battery-electric cars are outselling plug-in hybrids (via Green Car Reports)

Better Place bought out of bankruptcy for $12 million (via GigaOm)

Study projects Tesla Roadster packs will retain 80-85% capacity after 100k miles (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla trims Model S reservation price in half (via CleanTechnica)

One year with my Chevy Volt (via CleanTechnica)

Connecticut to fund $200,000 in public charging station incentives (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Federal building efficiency standard could cut energy use 18% (via Environmental Leader)

DOE set to order energy efficiency standards for US computers and servers (via The Hill)

GREEN BUSINESS

Recycling saved General Motors $1 billion in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Skanska quits US Chamber of Commerce over anti-LEED lobbying (via BusinessGreen)

NUCLEAR 

IAEA says aging nuclear reactors pose safety challenge (via Reuters)

GREEN BUILDING 

Re-imagined London tower would harvest pollution as fuel (via EarthTechling)

Munich building snags highest-ever LEED rating (via EarthTechling)

ENERGY POLICY 

Water scarcity from climate change could jack up Europe’s power prices (via Climate Progress)

World Bank abandons coal, green-lights clean micro-grids (via Renew Economy)

When space weather attacks the grid (via Washington Post)

Ideas to bolster US power grid run up against system’s many owners (via New York Times)

Flush with oil and gas cash, North Dakota’s economic growth tops in nation (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Rudd seeks to ditch carbon tax with eye on election campaign (via Bloomberg)

Tough job ahead as Obama puts climate talk into action, sells plan to public (via Washington Post)

Battle over EPA nominee draws to a close (via The Hill)

GOP “climate disconnect” would sacrifice climate research for weather forecasting (via Climate Progress)