Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENVIRONMENT
Natural disasters killed more, cost less worldwide in 2013 (via Huffington Post/AP)
COAL
Coal surge sullies Germany’s clean energy image (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
India’s coal imports rise 20 percent to help fuel new power plants (via Reuters)
The future of coal: Appalachia’s downturn sends miners west (via Wall Street Journal)
More coal plant retirements in New England? Perhaps not so fast (via Forbes)
RENEWABLES
EU urged to set 2030 renewable energy target by ministers (via The Guardian)
China’s CNOOC oil company selling wind, biofuels projects (via Thompson Reuters)
Mexico as bellwether for an unsubsidized solar future (via Greentech Media)
Wind emerges as Spain’s dominant power source in 2013 as emissions plummet (via BusinessGreen)
US consumer support for clean energy at highest level since 2010 (via CleanTechnica)
White House urged EPA restraint on 2014 RFS targets (via Greenwire)
NREL adds 5MW wind turbine test facility (via Energy Manager Today)
OIL
Fracking moratorium urged by California lawmakers (via Sacramento Bee)
Sen. Schumer presses for safer crude-by-rail shipments (via National Journal)
TRANSPORTATION
Nissan Leaf has record sales in 2013 as it challenges Volt for top EV spot (via Facts of the Day)
Plug-in vehicles: For utilities, more opportunity than challenge (via Navigant Research)
Jerry Brown seeks $250 million to boost California’s bullet train (via Los Angeles Times)
CLIMATE
Polar vortex may be example of global warming (via Climate Central)
Everything you wanted to know about the polar vortex (via Climate Progress)
NATURAL GAS
House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports (via The Hill)
GRID
First commercially operating Li-ion energy storage installation goes online in China (via Green Car Congress)
ISO-NE approves Northern Pass transmission line, other approvals needed (via Renewable Energy World)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Top ten markets for energy efficient-lighting (via Greentech Media)
Four reasons cities neglect energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)
OPINION
Clean energy should do without special tax breaks (via Washington Post)
The clean energy economy in three charts (via Energy.gov)
Canadian prime minister says Keystone XL pipeline will be approved (via Reuters)