Category Archives:climate

14
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate change. Global warming, Climate refugees, Climate resilience, coal, deforestation, Demand response, DOE, drought, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energiewende, environment, EU, European Union, ev, germany, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, Matt Mead, mexico, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Sea ice melt, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, SolarCity, solyndra, South Korea, sustainability, Wildfire, wind, wyoming
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13
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global CO2 levels pass long-feared milestone (via New York Times)

UNFCC Paris meeting projected as pivotal climate point (via USA Today)

We’ve hit 400ppm – here’s what that means (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Is Canada’s oil too dirty for Europe? (via International Herald Tribune)

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline seen dragging past summer (via Reuters)

TransCanada files lawsuit to block Keystone XL protests (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

White House outlines framework for managing Arctic (via The Hill)

Half world’s plants, third of animals threatened by climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

PwC questions EU-China solar PV tariff claims (via Recharge)

Solar module manufacturing trends in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Hyundai’s 50-acre rooftop solar system will be South Korea’s largest PV system (via Autoblog Green)

Better batteries could revolutionize solar, wind power (via USA Today)

Wind industry wants PTC extended for big piece of energy pie (via Greentech Media)

A rare bipartisan clean energy bill is ready for passage (via InsideClimate News)

Is Xcel’s top spot in US wind power in jeopardy? (via Star-Tribune)

Maine governor wants wind energy goals out of state law (via Bangor Daily News)

Rooftop solar firms launch net metering advocacy alliance (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GRID 

UK regulators defer smart meter rollout (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid revenue in China will surpass $15 billion a year by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

India’s coal import boom has limited beneficiaries (via Reuters)

Coal-export plans going off the rails in Pacific Northwest (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

Project aims to track carbon footprints of big cities (via Phys.org)

It’s not all about CO2: a plan to help cut short-term climate pollutants (via Grist)

Texas project called milestone for carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Russia plowing $32 billion into nuclear over next two years (via SmartPlanet)

Exelon waiting for pricier power (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains could cut cellphone network power use 90% (via GreenBiz)

DOE energy efficiency upgrade program nets over $41 million in savings (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION 

Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 (via Autoblog Green)

New interactive map tracks plug-in vehicle adoption in California (via Green Car Congress)

Ohio a potential hub for EV jobs (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

Global oil prices pressured by US tripling crude exports to Canada (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Tennessee Valley Authority to remain publicly owned (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas export plans stir debate (via NPR/AP)

POLITICS 

Washington politics splits Silicon Valley on Keystone XL (via Greentech Media)

150 major Democratic donors urge Obama to reject Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Elon Musk bails on Zuckerberg group after Keystone, drilling ads (via The Hill)

OPINION 

We just passed the climate’s “grim milestone” (via Mother Jones)

Should Washington go small on energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Adding an EV cut payback point of solar panel investment in half (via GigaOm)

Two conversations the wind industry must own, and soon (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, DOE, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Exelon, Extinction, green jobs, grid, Hyundai, india, Maine, mark zuckerberg, MLP, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oklahoma, Paul LePage, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, Russia, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, UNFCC, united kingdom, wind, xcel
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10
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.10.13

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

GRID 

North America boasts 95% of demand response projects (via Energy Manager Today)

Microgrids for military bases to surpass $377 million in annual market value by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

PacifiCorp continues high-voltage transmission grid expansion (via Renew Grid)

Nest aims to shake up residential demand response (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Global green trade to reach $2.2 trillion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

How are China’s overseas investments affecting the environment? (via WRI Insights)

Patagonia’s new VC fund to invest in trailblazing green firms (via GreenBiz)

An effort to thwart sale of Tribune Company papers to the Kochs (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

EU to hit 100+ China solar panel makers with anti-dumping tariffs (via Greentech Media)

Wind PTC secured for now, industry focuses on long-term growth (via Greenwire)

Unique floating wind turbine base could provide glimpse into future (via Bangor Daily News)

Doubling wind power could save Mid-Atlantic consumers $6.9 billion a year (via Climate Progress)

New Hampshire governor opposes Connecticut’s plans to change renewable energy standard (via New Haven Register)

Rate design matters: utility tariffs and solar project economics (via Greentech Media)

Big gust of new wind power coming Iowa’s way (via EarthTechling)

Illinois Senate backs Lake Michigan offshore wind study (via News-Gazette)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE using broad criteria to judge LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Studies of the past show an ice-free Arctic could be in our future (via Time)

Countries finding new ways to address climate change (via Sustainable Business)

Prince Charles: climate change skeptics are turning Earth into dying patient (via The Guardian)

Is it time to abandon the 2-degree warming target? (via RTCC)

Obama Administration rolls out climate and health data tool (via The Hill)

GREEN BUILDING 

Green building now mandatory in Dubai (via Sustainable Business)

“Monumental shift” in US buildings sector may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

TRANSPORTATION 

2013 Nissan Leaf named “Top Safety Pick” in IIHS crash tests (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf moves beyond early adopters to cost conscious (via Forbes)

Australian researchers more than double EV battery capacity (via Autoblog Green)

OIL 

New blowout preventer mandates coming – but companies won’t have to comply overnight (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry: BLM preventing job creation by postponing oil, gas lease auctions (via Washington Post/AP)

BIOMASS 

Europe’s new biomass satellite will map Earth’s forests to calculate carbon stores (via Inhabitat)

Does burning wood instead of fossil fuels increase GHG emissions? (via Midwest Energy News) 

POLITICS 

Republicans boycott vote on Obama’s EPA pick (via Mother Jones)

EPA nomination faces some hard math (via The Hill)

McCarthy’s nomination in doubt, angering Democrats (via Politico)

Major Obama donors compare Keystone decision to outlawing of slavery (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Conventional wisdom about clean energy is still way out of date (via Greentech Media)

Once more, with feeling: EPA is required to regulate carbon from existing power plants (via Grist)

Why you can’t talk about fixing the electric grid without talking about climate change (via Climate Progress)

Time to reconsider “baseload” power (via Midwest Energy News)

California’s new energy crisis centers on nuclear power (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, battery, biomass, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Connecticut, Demand response, DOE, Dubai, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Gina McCarthy, green building, green business, grid, Illinois, investment, Iowa, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Lake Michigan, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, New Hampshire, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear power, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil spill BLM, PacifiCorp, Patagonia, PJM Interconnection, Prince Charles, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, solar pv, Solar trade war, transmission, Transportation, wind
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09
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank President urges carbon price (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon price crisis spreads to Australia (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading system remains in peril, but rescue attempts is launched (via ClimateWire)

Carbon market champions unfazed by Kyoto dead end (via Bloomberg)

Cap and trade auction investment plan a win for California (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

Another Northwest coal export project falls by the wayside (via The Oregonian)

ENERGY POLICY 

The 2013 US utility outlook on renewables, smart grid (via Greentech Media)

Foes suggest a climate trade-off if Keystone XL is approved (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind industry will become €130 billion annual market by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

World’s first green bank loans $1 billion in first five months of operation (via Reuters)

World Bank turns to hydropower to square development with climate change (via Washington Post)

German scientists use offshore wind farms to replenish lobsters (via Bloomberg)

Study finds tiny rate increases from state renewable portfolio standards (via Greentech Media)

US job market bursting with green tech opportunities (via EarthTechling)

Weak 2013 US wind turbine market predicted (via Recharge)

Minnesota House approves 4% by 2025 solar PV mandate (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico still far from tapping shale potential, says energy minister (via Reuters)

US natural gas exports: friend or foe? (via WRI Insights)

US will use less natural gas in 2014 than in 2012, according to EIA (via Facts of the Day)

Interior Department’s fracking rules in cross hairs ahead of upcoming release (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

European plug-in EV sales will reach 670,000 unites annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla posts first profit as Model S becomes best-selling US plug-in (via Autoblog Green)

California legislature aims to make public charging networks available to all (via Plugin Cars)

Consumer Reports gives near-perfect score to Tesla Model S (via Reuters)

OIL 

How oil travels around the world, in one map (via Washington Post)

Shell announces plans to build world’s deepest production facility (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior Secretary to oil industry: don’t throw regulators under the bus (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf of Mexico emergency oil spill equipment put to the test (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

North American smart meter shipments will continue decline through 2014 (via Navigant Research)

Demand response cuts need for new generation in PJM grid (via Energy Collective)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it may take EU to WTO over oil sands dispute (via Reuters)

Can carbon capture clean up Canada’s oil sands? (via MIT Technology Review)

Academics warn Canada against further tar sands production (via The Guardian)

Pipeline wars seen spreading after Keystone XL fight (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill clears Senate panel (via The Hill)

Big data means big savings for big buildings (via GreenBiz)

Boston mandates energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

Declining snow cover imperils plant and animal species, study says (via Yale e360)

After swimming through Sandy’s havoc, New Jersey beach towns want to stay put (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS

Congressional scholar says holds on top administration posts “not business as usual” (via SNL Energy)

Environmentalists seize on Biden’s Keystone XL remarks to launch new attack (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

How the anti-coal campaign is protecting Australia’s economy (via Renew Economy)

Carbon tax is best option Congress has (via Washington Post)

It’s official: $1 invested in EPA yields $10 in benefits (via Climate Progress)

Why aren’t environmental groups divesting from fossil fuels? (via The Nation)

Carbon tax has very broad, bipartisan support – outside of Congress (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Big data, Black & Veatch, Boston, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon price, carbon tax, carbon trading, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Consumer Reports, Demand response, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ETS, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, global warming, Green bank, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, interior department, investment, Joe Biden, Keystone XL, Kyoto Protocol, minnesota, new jersey, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oregon, Pipelines, PJM Interconnection, politics, PV solar, Renewable portfolio standards, renewables, Sally Jewell, Shell, smart meter, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind, World Bank, World Trade Organization, WTO
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08
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

China and India’s energy resource rivalry extends to the Arctic (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government postpones oil, gas lease auctions in California (via Houston Chronicle)

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge breaks safety rules at 117 of 125 pipeline pump stations across Canada (via CBC)

EMISSIONS 

New emissions plan could energize global climate talks, says US envoy (via The Guardian)

Ministers urge long term fix for EU emissions system (via RTCC)

“Inconsistency” between British Columbia’s carbon tax and fossil fuel exports (via The Tyee)

US appeals court judges skeptical of states challenging EPA regulatory authority (via Greenwire)

RENEWABLES 

EU-China solar trade war entering endgame? (via Renewable Energy World)

Latin America sees $4.6 billion in 2012 clean energy investment (via EarthTechling)

UK proposes $170 billion in low-carbon energy investment (via Bloomberg)

UK renewable energy generation increases 20% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s dominance in PV solar market over, says industry lobby (via Recharge)

Army to spur geothermal with $7 billion contract (via Federal Times)

Experts back continued dominance of US wind supply chain (via Recharge)

NCAR powers up renewable energy forecasts (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

G8 set to discuss climate change at summit (via RTCC)

US defends plan for countries to set their own climate goals (via RTCC)

Study says media ignore climate context of Midwest floods (via Climate Progress)

NJ town, flood-soaked and weary, tries to back away from the water (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Ohio may open national forest to coal mining (via Columbus Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama on natural gas exports – “I’ve got to make a decision” (via EnergyWire)

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

US DOE to award up to $20 million for methane hydrate research (via Green Car Congress)

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

California urges record $2.5 billion fine for 2010 natural gas blast (via Christian Science Monitor)

Local governments in Pennsylvania fail to disclose millions in shale gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

As North Carolina weighs fracking, questions loom on wastewater (via Stateline)

New 250-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for Ohio (via Akron Beacon Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency lags in the US South (via Navigant Research)

How Nest and Opower quietly morphed into competitors (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Shell pushes innovation to stay in deepwater drilling game (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

US urban trees store 708 million tons of carbon, provide $50 billion economic value (via Phys.org)

Texas groundwater levels suffer sharp drop, study finds (via Texas Tribune)

GRID 

Energy harvesting the next big thing for the smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Berkeley lab tests utility-customer smart grid communication (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Australian fast charger slashes EV charging time (via Renew Economy)

US lowers forecast for summer 2013 gasoline prices (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

California faces another summer without San Onofre nuclear plant (via Los Angeles Times)

As price of nuclear energy drops, a Wisconsin plant is shut (via New York Times)

OPINION 

This isn’t the weather we grew up with (via The Guardian)

A carbon trading system worth saving (via New York Times)

Solyndra was this much of an outlier in DOE’s loan portfolio (via Atlantic)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, Energy harvesting, environment, EPA, ETS, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fast charging, Floods, fracking, Fracking wastewater, G8, geothermal, grid, india, investment, Latin America, Methane hydrates, natural gas, Natural gas exports, NCAR, Nest, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Opower, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PV solar, renewables, San Onofre, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, solyndra, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, Water scarcity, wind, Wisconsin
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07
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.7.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Japan, China, South Korea to cooperate on air pollution (via Phys.org)

EU to vote on carbon market reforms in July (via RTCC)

EPA to defend greenhouse gas emission rule today in federal appeals court (via Greenwire)

Seattle plan would make city carbon neutral by 2050 (via Seattle Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Public charging stations for electric cars: who leads the way? (via Green Car Reports)

Ford to set annual hybrid sales record in just five months (via Bloomberg)

Tesla to earn $250 million from sales of California emission credits (via Autoblog)

GM aims to cut Chevy Volt cost by $10,000 (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Canada loses WTO appeal over “protectionist” renewable energy subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

“46% average” EU levy on Chinese solar PV panels (via Recharge)

Australia passes milestone: 1 million homes have rooftop solar (via Sustainable Business)

First Solar posts Q1 profit, backs 2013 profit outlook (via Reuters)

US wind industry set to rebound as lobby pursues tax credit (via Bloomberg)

AWEA devising long-term plan to present to Congressional tax committees (via The Hill)

Minnesota legislature considers solar energy standard (via Minnesota Public Radio)

New marine terminal in Massachusetts will deploy offshore wind turbines (via Boston Herald)

CLIMATE 

US public anxious on climate change – to a point (via Politico)

California governor blames climate change for state’s early fire season (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

King Coal losing crown as US gains energy independence (via Bloomberg)

US coal industry’s growing east-west divide (via Reuters)

GRID 

A123’s grid-scale storage business lives on (via Greentech Media)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge shuts North Dakota line after finding oil leak (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Don’t pitch the environmental value of your light bulb to conservatives (via Greentech Media)

Energy efficiency target could save Ohio ratepayers $5.6 billion by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA’s top investigator: “there are significant geographic regions we can no longer cover” (via Greenwire)

Water war between Klamath River farmers, tribes poised to erupt (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

2013 a pivotal year in transition to a more diverse energy mix (via Navigant Research)

Is Obama the “environmental president”? (via Grist)

The surprising reason why Obama favors natural gas exports (via Washington Post)

Can 400ppm spark us into climate action? (via RTCC)

5 reasons why it’s (still) important to reduce fugitive methane emissions (via WRI Insights)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, australia, awea, barack obama, california, canada, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, Carbon neutral, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, Electric Vehicle, Electric vehicle charging, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Ford, GM, grid, japan, massachusetts, Methane emissions, minnesota, News, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, rooftop solar, seattle, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind
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06
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.6.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canadian minister takes fight for oil sands crude to Europe (via Retuers)

Oil sands growth will depend on Keystone: Canadian Natural Resources (via The Globe and Mail)

House to vote on Keystone XL bill in May (via The Hill)

Undercover at the tar sands (via Rolling Stone/Denver Post)

CLIMATE 

Nations seek flexible climate approach, but no breakthrough in Bonn (via Reuters)

Report: US pushing plan for individual climate goals at UN talks (via The Hill)

Poland and France cooperating on 2015 climate deal (via RTCC)

Study says climate change may bring drought to temperate areas (via Los Angeles Times)

The last time CO2 was this high, humans didn’t exist (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Germany’s offshore wind farm fed 278GWH into grid in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Japan to set “separate offshore FIT” for wind (via Recharge)

Plans to harness Chinese river’s power threaten a region (via New York Times)

Are Master Limited Partnerships a Trojan Horse for killing the PTC? (via Greentech Media)

MIT researchers working on energy storage for offshore wind (via Sustainable Business)

New eagle kill regulations for wind farms may have mixed consequences (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy portfolio back on chopping block in North Carolina (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION 

China not embracing electric cars (via USA Today)

New Jersey considering electric vehicle tax (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Ocean “acidifying rapidly” (via BBC News)

Scientists use salt marshes to analyze global sea-level rise (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Administration sets $600 million in Gulf oil spill restoration projects (via The Hill)

Offshore rig operators seek clarity on regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

The case of the disappearing oil: how much was released in 2010 Michigan spill? (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS

European carbon market in trouble (via Washington Post)

Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead (via The Hill)

Environmental groups sue EPA over refinery emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

Cap-and-trade puttering along quite nicely in Northeast US (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS 

Obama says US natural gas exports could help Central America (via Reuters)

Think methane hydrates are the next big thing? Think again (via Grist)

Does shale gas production alter climate change equation? (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Bipartisan support for bill to encourage energy efficiency (via Energy Trends Insider)

How US schools united to save 2.5 million pounds of CO2 (via GreenBiz)

Next big thing for LEED planning? Sustainable neighborhoods (via Midwest Energy News)

Rhode Island gets the Opower treatment (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

OMB study finds economic benefits of EPA regulations far outweigh costs (via Climate Progress)

Drilling is new focus for clean energy investors (via Associated Press)

Is there a “dark side” to US energy independence? (via EnergyWire)

TVA prepares for Obama administration review (via Knoxville News Sentinel)

California’s Public Utilities Commission faces legislative heat (via Sacramento Bee)

GRID 

Report: global warming threatens Southwest’s power grid (via Arizona Daily Star)

Florida electric utility completes smart grid installations (via Phys.org)

COAL 

Patriot Coal, employees face grim future without agreement (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

OPINION 

What do technology innovations mean for Washington? (via National Journal)

Awesome energy innovations, courtesy of Uncle Sam (via Market Watch)

Why haven’t the big green groups divested from fossil fuels? (via Grist)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, ALEC, Arctic Ocean, ARPA-E, barack obama, BP, california, California Public Utilities Commission, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, CPUC, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, EU carbon market, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, France, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, investment, Investors, japan, Keystone XL, LEED, Master limited partnership, Methane hydrates, michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OMB, Opower, Patriot Coal, Poland, production tax credit, ptc, regional greenhouse gas initiative, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, rhode island, Sea level rise, Severe weather, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meter, tar sands, Tennessee Valley Authority, Transportation, TVA, UN climate talks, wind
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03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO
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03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon allowances, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate displacement, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO, World Meteorological Organization
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02
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.13

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

EMISSIONS

UN envoys consider 2050 carbon target in climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Was efficiency responsible for 75% of CO2 reductions in 2012? (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green building materials will reach $254 billion in annual market value by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

General Motors urges Obama and Congress to unite on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US predicted to be a top liquefied natural gas exporter by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Moody’s: modest amount of US natural gas exports will get approval (via The Hill)

Shell makes big bet on boom in natural gas (via New York Times)

Fracking spread could strain water resources in West, study finds (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

EU solar groups lobby against duties on Chinese solar products (via Recharge)

China wants to use curtailed wind power to replace coal-fired heating (via CleanTechnica)

Indonesia plans rural solar electrification push (via Recharge)

Is there hope for hydropower as the climate changes? (via EarthTechling)

US-designed no-emission ocean thermal energy power plant will debut off China’s coast (via ClimateWire)

Renewable energy groups spar over biofuel imports (via Politico)

Legislators fail to reform Hawaii solar tax credit (via Honolulu Star Advertiser)

Massachusetts crushes solar goals, aims much higher (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles urged to expand solar power to 20% of all energy by 2020 (via Los Angeles Daily News)

OIL 

Who’s in charge here? At US oil spills, it’s whoever made the mess (via OnEarth)

Fracking boom in North Dakota is here to stay (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION 

Survey shows strong US support for fuel efficiency standards (via New York Times)

Nissan Leaf has second-best sales month, Chevy Volt declines slightly (via Autoblog Green)

EV maker Coda files for bankruptcy, focuses on energy storage (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE 

Poll: majority see climate change affecting US weather (via The Hill)

Climate change: when rain, rain won’t go away (via USA Today)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Enbridge pipeline expansion could turn into Keystone-like fight (via Bloomberg)

Alaska watches as Canada considers shipping tar sands across Arctic (via Alaska Dispatch)

Elected officials in rural Nebraska pass anti-Keystone pipeline resolution (via Omaha World-Herald)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US banks reluctant to finance energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Internet of Things extends under your sink with new water and electricity sensors (via Treehugger)

GRID 

Who are the top utilities in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

NYSERDA awards $1.4 million to advanced energy storage projects (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Cash for doomed crops means US farmers avoid disaster cost (via Bloomberg)

42% of Americans live with dangerous pollution; check your zip code (via The Good Human)

ENERGY POLICY 

Report: EU facing €1 trillion energy investment black hole (via RTCC)

For Obama and Pena Nieto, a delicate “first dance” around energy (via Reuters)

Texas power supplies for summer peak season seen as tight but improving (via Fort-Worth Star Telegram)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, Arctic Ocean, barack obama, biofuel, canada, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, COda, Crop insurance, Curtailment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, environment, ERCOT, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, Fuel efficiency standards, General Motors, green building, green business, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, los angeles, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, NYSERDA, Ocean thermal energy, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Severe weather, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tax credit, texas, Transportation, UN, united nations, Water scarcity, wind
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