Category Archives:China

01
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China, emerging economies “account for 48% of carbon emissions” (via The Guardian/Reuters)

Smaller rise in global CO2 emissions may be sign of permanent slowing (via Yale e360)

Labor party to challenge Australian carbon tax repeal (via Financial Review)

Netherlands town becomes first in Europe to vow fossil fuel divestment (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Russia, Ukraine halt giant Antarctic marine sanctuary plan (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell lays out US conservation strategy (via Washington Post)

Officials search for plan as California reservoirs drop below half capacity (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Wind turbine placement study yields staggering results (via EarthTechling)

Two US senators propose national renewable electricity standard (via Renew Grid)

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

More than 160 House members ask EPA to relax renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar goes big: Launching the California Valley Solar Ranch (via Energy.gov)

How a speedy ship could cut the cost of offshore wind power (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico unlikely to tap its Eagle Ford Shale, expert says (via Houston Chronicle)

Marcellus Shale fracking wells use 5 million gallons of water apiece (via Grist)

Kentucky, where fracking is a curse (via National Journal)

Fracking faces judgment day Tuesday in four Colorado ballot initiatives (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE 

Climate change impacts to poor countries go far beyond money – report (via ClimateWire)

Pacific Ocean now warming 15x faster than in past 10,000 years (via Washington Post)

White House will focus on climate shifts while trying to cut emissions (via New York Times)

COAL 

Poland, wedded to coal, spurns Europe on clean energy targets (via New York Times)

Coal country’s decline has a long history (via National Journal)

NUCLEAR 

DOE Secretary Moniz offers Japan aid with Fukushima cleanup (via ABC News/AP)

OIL 

German spy agency says US shale will depress oil prices for decades (via Reuters)

North Dakota lawmakers want to make all oil spills public (via Climate Progress)

Montana, US to seek damages from 2011 Exxon Mobil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla wins victory in Virginia, gets go-ahead to open store (via CleanTechnica)

Brookings: Cash for Clunkers was a lemon (via Politico)

TAR SANDS 

Shell joins energy rush, green lights new Alberta oil sands project (via Globe and Mail)

POLITICS 

Climate activists outspending big coal in crucial Washington State election (via Climate Progress)

Australia’s Labor Party signals carbon standoff by demanding emissions trading (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

Carbon emissions tied to stock valuations? (via BusinessGreen)

Almost anything would have been better stimulus than “Cash for Clunkers” (via Washington Post)

How much did the feds really help with fracking? (via Forbes)

What’s been going on with the US smart grid investment grant program (via Renew Grid)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Antarctica, arra, australia, biofuel, Brookings Institute, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, cash for clunkers, China, Climate adaptation, Coal exports, Divestment, DOE, DOI, drought, Eagle Ford Shale, emissions, Energy Department, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, Exxon Mobil, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, interior department, Kentucky, marcellus shale, mexico, Montana, natural gas, Netherlands, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil sands, oil spill, Renewable electricity standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, Sally Jewell, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, virginia, Washington State, wind
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29
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.29.13

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

CLIMATE 

EU environment ministers call for “ambitious” 2030 climate goals (via The Guardian)

North American West Coast governments sign climate change pact (via CleanTechnica)

Bipartisan Congressional duo launch attack on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

A year after Sandy, living dangerously by the sea (via Time)

COAL 

China’s largest city Shanghai to ban coal by 2017 (via Mongabay)

The county council election that could make or break big coal (via Mother Jones)

Top 5 coal producing states – TX, OH, PA, IN, IL – will decide coal’s future (via Facts of the Day)

Consol to sell 5 West Virginia mines as coal regulations increase (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

20GW distributed solar by 2015 is new target for China (via CleanTechnica)

Germany hits 59% renewable peak, grid does not explode (via Greentech Media)

Startups compete to defeat the “soft costs” of solar power (via Business Green)

US homeowners want solar, find two new reports (via Renewable Energy World)

AAA applauds potential renewable fuel scale back (via National Journal)

Wind in Texas produces more electricity than natural gas does in 40 states (via Facts of the Day)

Energy innovation in the states: From energy storage to offshore wind (via Energy Collective)

NFL’s 49ers, Rams go solar (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Trains gain steam in race to transport crude oil in the US (via NPR)

Millions of Americans live within one mile of oil or gas wells (via InsideClimate News/Wall Street Journal)

State Department to determine how much oil would ship by rail in absence of Keystone XL (via National Journal)

California fracking study may take 18 months, Brown says (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China adapts its electric vehicle plans to challenging realities (via Plugin Cars)

Tesla Superchargers now allow San Diego-to-Vancouver EV trips (via Green Car Reports)

How EVs could drive changes in power grid management (via Forbes)

Coca-Cola reveals plans for electric and hybrid distribution fleet (via RTCC)

TAR SANDS 

People who live downwind of Alberta’s tar sands operations are getting blood cancer (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

China to monitor air pollution effects in cities (via Bloomberg)

Decarbonization target narrowly defeated in UK House of Lords vote (via Business Green)

Japan to set 3.8% emissions reduction by 2020 goal (via RTCC)

Voters in 2014 swing states favor EPA carbon rules (via The Hill)

New battle in “War on Coal” with bill to block power plant rules (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Fossil fuels divestment campaign is gathering momentum (via The Guardian)

Uncertainty and investment: The real danger to the coal industry (via Energy Collective)

States will need coordination, creativity to meet EV goals (via C2ES)

Weatherization helps millions of families save energy and money (via Energy.gov)

Deadbeat states on electric car policy (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, Alberta, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Consol, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Hurricane Sandy, hybrid, Illinois, indiana, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, pennsylvania, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Shanghai, solar, Solar soft costs, State Department, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, War on Coal, Weatherization, West Virginia, wind
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25
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Ann Arbor, barack obama, biofuels, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon bubble, Carol Browner, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, department of energy, Divestment, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, ev, Fossil fuel divestment, global warming, grid, Hurricane Sandy, IEA, japan, Keystone XL, LED, Nebraska, New York City, News, offshore wind, oregon, Pecan Street, Poland, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, solar, State Department, Transportation, usda, Washington, wildfires, wind
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24
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.24.13

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

GRID 

India’s $10B roadmap for smart grid transformation (via Greentech Media)

MISO grid adding four new electric utility territories in December (via US EIA)

New Jersey’s grid defense debate continues a year after Sandy’s knockout blow (via EnergyWire)

OIL 

Interior close to floating new offshore drilling rule (via The Hill)

Watchdog report finds pipeline regulators spend more time at industry conferences than at oil spills (via Huffington Post)

As pipeline concerns mount, focus returns to Great Lakes (via Midwest Energy News)

North Dakota pipeline spill raises questions amid state’s oil boom (via Los Angeles Times)

Environmentalists slam Coke, Pepsi for tar sands use in trucks (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank says solar PV market could reach 50GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Ethiopia signs $4 billion geothermal deal (via Phys.org)

Record year blows UK small wind installations past 102MW (via CleanTechnica)

US has 11 offshore wind farms in the works  - sort of (via EarthTechling)

Algae biofuel gets Congressional caucus (via Sustainable Business)

Vivint Solar raises $540 million new funding for home solar leasing (via CleanTechnica)

Meet the Kickstarter of solar energy (via National Journal)

Long Island Power Authority seeks 280MW of renewable capacity (via Recharge)

CLIMATE 

Australia, UN spar over wildfires and climate change (via Reuters)

Pacific nations “very disappointed” by Australian PM’s climate skepticism (via The Guardian)

IPCC’s carbon budget will not drive Warsaw talks, says UN climate chief (via The Guardian)

Climate change cost you the McDonald’s dollar menu (via Quartz)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking fight focuses on a New York town’s ban (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ozone hole over South Pole shrinks by 6%, scientists credit warm upper air (via Washington Post/AP)

House shows it can unite by passing mammoth water bill (via National Journal)

GREEN BUILDING 

UK to invest £40 billion in green infrastructure projects (via RTCC)

Five US cities that are taking climate preparation seriously (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

VW calls Germany’s 1 million EV by 2020 goal achievable (via Bloomberg)

EV charging networks start to unify (via Plugin Cars)

DC looks to reduce traffic, improve air quality with 2040 plan (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Britain, India go nuclear as Japan struggles to contain radiation (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Revival planned for Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)

NREL develops energy audit tool (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

China to send air pollution inspection teams to provinces (via Reuters)

EPA hits the road to seek input on power plant emission rules (via Reuters)

Texas remains top US carbon polluter despite declines (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Australia’s bushfires and the role of climate change (via Climate Central)

Hot topic: The science of global warming and the public disconnect (via U-T San Diego)

The dark forces lined up against renewables in Australia (via Renew Economy)

How carmakers like Ford will spark changes on the grid’s edge (via Greentech Media)

The dangerous bargain Harvard’s president has made with fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, australia, biofuels, Carbon budget, China, climate, Climate Change, Coke, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy audit, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ethiopia, ev, ev charging, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, geothermal, germany, global warming, Great Lakes, green building, grid, Harvard, india, interior department, IPCC, japan, Jeanne Shaheen, Long Island Power Authority, MISO, natural gas, new jersey, new york state, News, north dakota, NREL, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Ozone hole, Pepsi, Pipeline, renewables, Resiliency, Rob Portman, small wind, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vivint Solar, Volkswagen, Washington DC, wildfires, wind
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24
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.24.13

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

GRID 

India’s $10B roadmap for smart grid transformation (via Greentech Media)

MISO grid adding four new electric utility territories in December (via US EIA)

New Jersey’s grid defense debate continues a year after Sandy’s knockout blow (via EnergyWire)

OIL 

Interior close to floating new offshore drilling rule (via The Hill)

Watchdog report finds pipeline regulators spend more time at industry conferences than at oil spills (via Huffington Post)

As pipeline concerns mount, focus returns to Great Lakes (via Midwest Energy News)

North Dakota pipeline spill raises questions amid state’s oil boom (via Los Angeles Times)

Environmentalists slam Coke, Pepsi for tar sands use in trucks (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank says solar PV market could reach 50GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Ethiopia signs $4 billion geothermal deal (via Phys.org)

Record year blows UK small wind installations past 102MW (via CleanTechnica)

US has 11 offshore wind farms in the works  - sort of (via EarthTechling)

Algae biofuel gets Congressional caucus (via Sustainable Business)

Vivint Solar raises $540 million new funding for home solar leasing (via CleanTechnica)

Meet the Kickstarter of solar energy (via National Journal)

Long Island Power Authority seeks 280MW of renewable capacity (via Recharge)

CLIMATE 

Australia, UN spar over wildfires and climate change (via Reuters)

Pacific nations “very disappointed” by Australian PM’s climate skepticism (via The Guardian)

IPCC’s carbon budget will not drive Warsaw talks, says UN climate chief (via The Guardian)

Climate change cost you the McDonald’s dollar menu (via Quartz)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking fight focuses on a New York town’s ban (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ozone hole over South Pole shrinks by 6%, scientists credit warm upper air (via Washington Post/AP)

House shows it can unite by passing mammoth water bill (via National Journal)

GREEN BUILDING 

UK to invest £40 billion in green infrastructure projects (via RTCC)

Five US cities that are taking climate preparation seriously (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

VW calls Germany’s 1 million EV by 2020 goal achievable (via Bloomberg)

EV charging networks start to unify (via Plugin Cars)

DC looks to reduce traffic, improve air quality with 2040 plan (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Britain, India go nuclear as Japan struggles to contain radiation (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Revival planned for Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)

NREL develops energy audit tool (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

China to send air pollution inspection teams to provinces (via Reuters)

EPA hits the road to seek input on power plant emission rules (via Reuters)

Texas remains top US carbon polluter despite declines (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Australia’s bushfires and the role of climate change (via Climate Central)

Hot topic: The science of global warming and the public disconnect (via U-T San Diego)

The dark forces lined up against renewables in Australia (via Renew Economy)

How carmakers like Ford will spark changes on the grid’s edge (via Greentech Media)

The dangerous bargain Harvard’s president has made with fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, australia, biofuels, Carbon budget, China, Christiana Figures, climate, Climate Change, Coke, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy audit, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ethiopia, ev, ev charging, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, geothermal, germany, global warming, Great Lakes, green building, grid, Harvard, india, interior department, IPCC, japan, Jeanne Shaheen, Long Island Power Authority, MISO, natural gas, new jersey, new york state, News, north dakota, NREL, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Ozone hole, Pepsi, Pipeline, renewables, Resiliency, Rob Portman, small wind, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vivint Solar, Volkswagen, Washington DC, wildfires, wind
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23
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.23.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North America leads the world in shale gas production (via US EIA)

US shale output overload pushing Asia exports to new highs (via Bloomberg)

South Africa to issue shale gas permits in first quarter 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Marcellus Shale gas production growing faster than expected (via Wall Street Journal/AP)

EMISSIONS 

India, US dig in against EU aviation carbon charge (via Reuters)

Is China the last hope for carbon capture technology? (via Washington Post) 

EU, US carbon emissions on downward trend (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

UK prime minister commits to rolling back “some” green tariffs (via Business Green)

Utility says Australia’s 20% renewables target “already nearly met” (via Renew Economy)

Oil majors among most active clean tech investors (via Breaking Energy)

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

Top four trends in residential solar (via Greentech Media)

Arizona utility funds anti-solar campaign, saying it is “obligated to fight” (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

Japan mulls plan for one operator to run all of nation’s 50 nuclear reactors (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change investment totals $359 billion worldwide (via Environmental Leader)

Southern Amazon rainforest in danger as dry season expands (via Yale e360)

US cities building resilience to climate change (via Center for American Progress)

State Department official: Time to face “hard reality” on climate aid (via The Hill)

Coastal area residents stunned by flood insurance rate hikes (via Forbes)

Iowa scientists say climate change threatens state agriculture (via Popular Science)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone pipeline opponents plan widespread civil disobedience (via New York Times)

Bill Clinton on Keystone XL pipeline: “Embrace” it (via Politico)

Canadian ambassador says path to US energy independence is through Keystone XL (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Study: Weatherization could save US $33 billion (via National Journal)

How much is efficiency helping America slash its carbon emissions? (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Next wave of emerging economies could increase global coal demand (via Reuters)

India plans to increase domestic coal production (via Live Mint)

New study examines mountaintop removal’s potential mental health impact in Appalachian communities (via Charleston Gazette)

Peabody would lose money on coal exports (via Sightline Daily)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hybrid car payback depends on the model, says new study (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

Brazil auctions off rights to massive offshore oil field (via National Journal)

Lac-Megantic oil spill even worse than first feared, investigation shows (via Montreal Gazette)

OPINION 

Climate change, public policy, and the university (via Harvard Kennedy School)

US carbon emissions fell sharply in 2012, but don’t expect that to last (via Washington Post)

If landowners get annual payments for wind turbines, why not transmission lines? (via Midwest Energy News)

The problem with California’s energy storage mandate (via Energy Collective)

Ohio senate should give flawed energy rewrite a proper burial (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, Appalachia, arizona, australia, bill clinton, Brazil, california, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate resilience, coal, Coal exports, David Cameron, deforestation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EU, European Union, Flooding, fracking, Harvard, hybrid, india, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, Mountaintop coal removal, mountaintop removal, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Peabody, Quebec, Rainforest, renewables, Shale gas, solar, South Africa, State Department, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Weatherization, wind
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22
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuels, Carbon intensity, Carbon pricing, chamber of commerce, China, CHP, Christiana Figueres, climate, Climate Change, Combined heat and power, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, Hurricane Sandy, japan, Koch Brothers, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, oil, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar garden, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, usda, wildfires, wind
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18
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.18.13

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

GRID 

Worldwide smart meter shipments for first half 2013 surpass 51 million (via Navigant Research)

Will smart meters change consumer habits? Early indicators say yes (via Midwest Energy News)

California adopts first-in-nation energy storage plan (via Contra Costa Times)

Construction begins on landmark Panhandle wind transmission project (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas cranks up $7 billion CREZ wind power transmission project (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

China tests carbon markets before tax, says government official (via Bloomberg)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign spreads to Europe (via Huffington Post)

Microsoft drives home sustainability with internal carbon pricing (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Wind at wholesale price parity in world’s major markets (via Renew Economy)

Germany expects 28.7% renewables in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

EU biofuel regulations set to be delayed until 2015 (via BusinessGreen)

Brazil’s wind tender price cap set at $58 per MWh (via Recharge)

India’s biofuel moves help offset swelling oil-import bill (via Panchabuta)

Southwest Power Pool keeps breaking wind records (via Renew Grid)

Institutional investors look toward the Sun, away from fossil fuels (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL 

Report: Pipelines pose less risk than trains or trucks in carrying oil (via The Hill)

Texas oil production could double by 2020, says industry regulator (via Houston Chronicle)

In North Dakota, new concerns over mixing oil and wheat (via New York Times)

US Coast Guard discovers 4,000-pound tar mat in Gulf of Mexico (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Vehicle-to-grid market to reach $190 million by 2022 (via Energy Manager Today)

Most drivers expect all vehicles to be at least partly electrified in 20 years (via CleanTechnica)

Volvo turns vehicle body panels into batteries (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harold Hamm: Hope dwindling for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Climate change to cost East Asia 5.3% of GDP by 2100 (via Bloomberg)

Report: Western wildfires growing more intense, insurers deeply concerned (via Washington Post)

Britain warming faster than global average (via The Telegraph)

Raging Australian wildfires leave Sydney shrouded in smoke (via The Telegraph)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North Dakota landowners sue fossil fuel companies over wasted natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Oklahoma is next destination for shale revolution (via Reuters)

Police arrest 40 as Canada shale gas protest turns violent (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US and world are actually making big strides in energy efficiency (via Climate Progress)

Building energy management systems market to surpass $23 billion by 2017 (via Renew Grid)

The bright future of energy-efficient Walmart stores (via Green Room)

COAL 

AEP takes coal “out of the picture” as it plans for future (via Columbus Business Journal)

NUCLEAR 

China set to invest in UK nuclear industry (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

The big no: Republicans on science panel reject budget deal (via Science)

GOP to California governor: Don’t spoil fracking potential (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Are the days of fossil fuel subsidies numbered? (via EarthTechling)

Europe’s advanced biofuels innovation: Following overambitious US example? (via Energy Collective)

Debate about future of utilities moves deeper into world of regulation (via Greentech Media)

Let’s prevent this crisis: A letter to Harvard’s President Faust (via Huffington Post)

Legacy of 1970’s oil embargo energy crisis still lingers today (via Houston Chronicle)

Poll: Majority wanted EPA open during federal shutdown (via The Hill)

5 reasons to care about California’s new energy storage mandate (via GigaOm)

Cost of West Texas power lines could shock ratepayers (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: AEL, australia, battery, biofuel, Brazil, Britain, Building energy management, california, canada, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Flaring, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Harold Hamm, Harvard University, hybrid, india, Keystone XL, Microsoft, natural gas, News, north dakota, nuclear, oil, Oil embargo, oil spill, oklahoma, Pipeline, renewables, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Southwest Power Pool, Subsidies, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, V2G, Volvo, Walmart, Wildfire, wind
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17
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.17.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

Shutdown’s science fallout could last for years (via Politico)

Obama plans to renew immigration, climate change efforts (via Washington Post)

States won’t get paid back for reopening national parks (via Politico)

EMISSIONS 

Angela Merkel signals hope for EU carbon market fix (via BusinessGreen)

Repealing Australia’s carbon tax: Hidden costs, unanswered questions (via Recharge)

Harvard: University endowments shouldn’t be ruled by climate change (via Triple Pundit)

Refiners join “social cost of carbon” lobbying fray (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Report: Grid parity for renewables “a reality in coming years” (via BusinessGreen)

Onshore wind closes in on fossil fuel costs (via Recharge)

Ocean energy technologies speeding toward commercialization (via Renewable Energy World)

Small wind sees big UK growth (via Recharge)

Phasing out the PTC as wind nears grid parity (via Breaking Energy)

US biodiesel production to surpass RFS target for second straight year (via Green Car Congress)

US ethanol in throes of tumult (via EarthTechling)

Solving energy poverty with solar light bulbs: Nokero product review (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL 

TransCanada expects US decision on Keystone XL by end of March (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU auto emissions rule: First the announcement, then the uproar (via New York Times)

Commercial fleets leading US move away from oil-based vehicle fuels (via Houston Chronicle)

Fuel economy of new vehicles continues to improve (via EarthTechling)

Tesla leads in transfer of California ZEV credits for year ending September 30, 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

Repeal of Virginia hybrid vehicle tax in the works (via Richmond Times-Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Asian investors, LNG buyers look to North America as Australia taps out (via Reuters)

Marcellus gas about to enter New York City, but New England is a tougher sell (via EnergyWire)

Groups claim Ohio becoming “radioactive waste dump” for fracking companies (via Columbus Business Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Low natural gas price to hamper US energy efficiency, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

World’s largest net zero building opens in Los Altos, California (via EarthTechling)

GRID 

Why colleges are big believers in microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Corporations embrace microgrids in threat to utilities (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

California’s top oil regulator on fracking, climate change, fossil fuels (via National Journal)

OPINION 

What oil-hungry China means for the rest of the world (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is the hub of corporate sustainability moving toward Asia? (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, biodiesel, biofuel, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, Climate Change, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy poverty, ethanol, EU ETS, European Union, Fossil fuel divestment, Fuel Economy, germany, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Harvard University, IEA, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, marcellus shale, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net zero building, New York City, News, Nokero, offshore wind, Ohio, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, small wind, Social cost of carbon, solar, Tesla, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, virginia, wind
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15
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.15.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Germany blocks EU car emissions law (via The Guardian)

Tony Abbott insists Australia’s carbon tax will end on July 1 even if Senate blocks repeal (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking comes to Saudi Arabia despite limited water resources (via Raw Story/AFP)

China will raise on-grid prices for gas-fired power generation (via Reuters)

Shell CEO says shale gas will take longer to develop than expected (via Reuters)

Combining distributed gas and solar in the US heartland (via Greentech Media)

Drilling water wells to foil fracking (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

IEA projects renewable energy to surpass natural gas in 2015 (via Sustainable Business)

Global hydropower investment to top $75 billion through 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

World Bank support for China solar and wind power may have cost US jobs (via Washington Post)

Chile doubles renewable energy goal to 20% to spark new projects (via Bloomberg)

German green power surcharge to rise 18% in 2014 (via Reuters)

Solar and wind produced up to 60% of Germany’s electricity on October 3rd (via CleanTechnica)

1.8GW of new solar for Japan in Q2 (via CleanTechnica)

Solar vs. wind in Brazil’s power tender (via Recharge)

Putting robots to work in solar energy (via New York Times)

TAR SANDS 

Mercury levels rising near Alberta oil sands, study finds (via Globe and Mail)

CLIMATE 

Climate change making North American forests more vulnerable (via Washington Post)

Foliage season under fire from climate change (via Climate Central)

LA Times refuses to publish climate denial, will other newspapers? (via CleanTechnica)

Another dry year could be bad news for California (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

For EV makers, selling cars is just the start (via Navigant Research)

From RINs to supply to demand to seasonality, why gasoline is heading lower (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Report: US oil growth having limited effect on energy security (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart city market to hit $6.1 billion by 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

10 reasons microgrids matter to corporate sustainability (via GreenBiz)

OPINION 

Clean energy not to blame for rising California energy costs (via EarthTechling)

Four key reasons why coal’s 2013 rebound will end and its decline resume (via Facts of the Day)

Renewable Fuel Standard: Are we nearing a compromise on ethanol? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Why residents of disaster-prone areas don’t move (via The Atlantic)

Renewable fuel standard needs to be modified, not repealed (via Phys.org)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, australia, Brazil, california, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, deforestation, distributed generation, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, ethanol, ev, fracking, Gasoline, germany, grid, Hydropower, IEA, japan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, oil, pennsylvania, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RIN, saudi arabia, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tony Abbott, Transportation, Water scarcity, wind, World Bank
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