Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Fossil-free investment portfolios soared 50% in 2013 (via RTCC)
Obama said to put personal push behind EPA emission rules (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY POLICY
LNG, power demand driving shift in U.S. gas flow (via Houston Chronicle)
Overwhelming vote advances extenders bill, but hurdles remain (via E&E Daily)
Ohio’s manufacturers on both sides of debate over efficiency and renewables (via Plain-Dealer)
RENEWABLES
Bangladesh leads the world in small solar power home installations (via Mashable)
Is 3,000MW of new Nigeria solar power a model to end energy poverty? (via CleanTechnica)
India may back solar duties after probe finds dumping (via Bloomberg)
Netherlands’ largest offshore wind farm powers forward (via BusinessGreen)
80% of British support renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)
US biodiesel producers hit hard by policy uncertainty (via Biodiesel.org)
Senate debates wind tax credit extension (via Houston Chronicle)
CLIMATE
Delays on climate change have cost us $8 trillion, says IEA (via New Scientist)
IPCC reports “diluted” under “political pressure” to protect fossil fuel interests (via The Guardian)
Warming shifting hurricane impacts away from tropics (via Climate Central)
Japan, Australia urge developing countries to do more on climate (via RTCC)
Kerry to warn of national security climate threats in speech (via The Hill)
Insurance company sues Illinois cities for climate damage (via ClimateWire)
Raging California wildfires fueled by unusually hot May weather (via Los Angeles Times)
OIL
U.S. crude output advances to 28-year high on shale boom (via Bloomberg)
Expert: White House likely to lift oil export ban (via Houston Chronicle)
Investors pressuring oil industry over $1.1 trillion exposure to high-cost projects (via Forbes)
California’s thirst shapes debate over fracking (via New York Times)
TRANSPORTATION
White House urges Congress to shore up depleted Highway Trust Fund (via Autoblog)
2015 Chevy Spark will have lighter, smaller battery (via Autoblog Green)
Elon Musk says yes to The Oatmeal’s $8 million request for Nikola Tesla museum (via Autoblog Green)
GRID
National Grid to spend more in U.S. for storm protection (via Reuters)
Three U.S. grid facilities you should know about (via Energy.gov)
COAL
Beginning of end for coal? Citi sees structural decline (via Renew Economy)
Coal missing boom as climate foes clean Asia’s backyard (via Bloomberg)
GREEN BUILDING
Enviros bash industry-backed “green” building program (via Grist)
POLITICS
Steyer targets Rubio, 2016 hopefuls on climate (via The Hill)
Scott Brown urged GOP senators to kill Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via Huffington Post)
OPINION
The first climate tipping point has arrived: Will it be the last? (via Huffington Post)
The $4 trillion mistake: Climate action delayed is climate action denied (via Climate Progress)
Is the White House worried about a Republican president overturning Obama’s climate legacy? (via Bloomberg BNA)
Time to act on U.S. natural gas exports (via CNBC)
Florida already feeling effects of climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)