Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.25.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Australian Senate leader to support carbon-price repeal (via Bloomberg)
EPA’s first carbon regs nearly unscathed after years of litigation (via Greenwire)
Congressional observers doubt GOP can blog funding for EPA carbon rules (via SNL Energy)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
First Nations being courted to back tar sands refineries on their land (via InsideClimate News)
Republicans renew push for Keystone vote in Senate (via The Hill)
RENEWABLES
Over 7GW new solar PV capacity installed in Japan last fiscal year (via CleanTechnica)
U.K. solar industry set to hit 9GW in rush to meet subsidy deadline (via BusinessGreen)
Sustainable district heating from seawater? It’s happening in Holland (via CleanTechnica)
Concentrated solar power could compete with natural gas, says study (via Yale e360)
U.S. financial sector lags in clean energy investment (via Energy Manager Today)
Challenges to financing renewable energy projects on U.S. military sites (via Renewable Energy World)
NRG CEO says residential solar competitive with utility power in 25 states next year (via Green Car Reports)
Southern California Edison seems 290MW in small-scale renewables (via Solar Industry Magazine)
SunPower and SolarCity emerge as fierce solar roof rivals (via GigaOm)
Report: Michigan could expand solar without raising rates (via Midwest Energy News)
Two universities in D.C. make deal to buy solar power (via Washington Post/AP)
CLIMATE
G20 summit: Obama expected to discuss “critical issue” of climate change (via The Guardian)
May was hottest on Earth since records began (via The Guardian)
Eastern U.S.: Coldest spot on Earth so far in 2014 (via Washington Post)
Former Treasury chiefs agree: Get the SEC into the climate mix (via National Journal)
On N.C.’s Outer Banks, climate change predictions prompt change of forecast (via Washington Post)
OIL
OPEC secretary general says no oil shortage exists (via Reuters)
U.S. ruling loosens four-decade ban on oil exports (via Wall Street Journal)
Canada’s safety board chief urges U.S. to phase out old rail cars (via Reuters)
1,250-pound tar mat discovered off Florida beach (via Climate Progress)
TRANSPORTATION
Japan bets big on making fuel cell cars a near-future reality (via Reuters)
California lawmakers urge change to vehicle carbon emissions plan (via Los Angeles Times)
COAL
In Wyoming, going deep to draw energy from coal (via NPR)
GRID
Fewer wind curtailments, negative power prices in Texas after CREZ grid expansion (via U.S. EIA)
Five key disruptors on the grid edge (via Greentech Media)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
U.K. Green Investment Bank backs £2 small business energy efficiency fund (via BusinessGreen)
GREEN BUSINESS
Best Global Green Brands revealed, Ford leads list (via Environmental Leader)
Minneapolis announced as U.S. leader in green commercial space (via Environmental Leader)
ENERGY POLICY
Merkel to push back against EU if Germany’s green energy subsidies questioned (via Reuters)
Report: Independent producers leading growth in U.S. oil and gas reserves (via Houston Chronicle)
Colorado suspends oil and gas wastewater disposal well after quake (via Reuters)
OPINION
How to untangle yourself from clean energy finance jargon (via GreenBiz)
How the Gateway pipeline stokes simmering fury among British Columbia natives (via Globe and Mail)
Could Opower soon enter the community solar business? (via Greentech Media)
EPA’s clever legal trick could save its clean power plan (via Energy Collective)
POLITICS
White House says it has “no misgivings” about Steyer meeting (via The Hill)
Joe Manchin, Sheldon Whitehouse seek middle ground on climate change (via Politico)