Category Archives:coal

31
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.31.13

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says 8 million acres of farmland now too polluted for food (via Climate Progress)

Losses from Yosemite wildfire could reach $2 billion (via ABC News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas is trying, but it just can’t kill coal (via Motley Fool)

Study says majority of Americans don’t understand fracking (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Earth’s carbon dioxide levels now 61% higher than 1990 (via RTCC)

DOE stands by “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions drop 19% since 2005 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

All new Australian power plants will be renewable through 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

How wind is helping deliver record-cheap solar (via EarthTechling)

EIA: US biodiesel production hits high in October (via Green Car Congress)

Shipping container with rollable PV panels inside could become instant 100kW solar plant (via TreeHugger)

CLIMATE 

96% of nightly news segments on extreme weather don’t mention climate change (via EcoAffect)

GRID 

Massachusetts makes smart grid mandatory (via Greentech Media)

California’s risky path to grid reform (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

North Dakota community evacuated after oil train collision and fire (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Number of US public charging stations climbed 30% this year (via Autoblog Green)

California ISO rolls out roadmap on vehicle-grid integration (via Renew Grid)

TAR SANDS 

Scientists find 7,300-mile mercury contamination “bullseye” around Canadian tar sands (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, australia, biodiesel, Cal-ISO, california, California ISO, canada, carbon dioxide, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, department of energy, DOE, eia, emissions, environment, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, grid, Masschusetts, natural gas, New York City, News, north dakota, oil, Oil train, renewables, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, tar sands, Transportation, Wildfire, wind, Yosemite
0
30
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.30.13

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

CLIMATE 

US-Japanese climate-tracking satellite to launch in February (via The Hill)

Climate change debate ready to heat up (via The Hill)

The dark money in climate change (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK won’t challenge EU environmental regulations on coal power plants (via Reuters)

Seeking cleaner alternatives, lenders pass on coal (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES 

Solar may reach 49 gigawatts in 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

Could Congress kill ethanol mandate altogether in 2014? (via Green Car Reports)

Solar power poised for a huge year in 2014 (via EarthTechling)

In the age of solar securitization, is it time for third-party assurance? (via Greentech Media)

West Texas wind will soon light up East Texas region (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

China’s air pollution could reach US (via The Hill)

Lawmakers act to raise European carbon price (via Triple Pundit)

China launches fifth carbon trading zone (via RTCC)

Obamacare overshadows cap and trade (via Politico)

OIL 

In midst of record oil boom, Obama administration seeks more production (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla leads way as EV sales double in 2013 (via Seattle Times/New York Times)

Electric vehicles may hold solution for power storage (via Los Angeles Times)

Winter cold shows value of plug-in vehicles as emergency generators (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Natural defenses best protect coastlines, says study (via Climate Central)

California could experience “historic” drought in 2014 (via Al-Jazeera America)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmentalists face day of reckoning on Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

Keystone XL foes want focus on spill clean up (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Executive perspectives: The most important trends in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS 

Vaclav Smil’s graph of the year: The natural gas boom (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Puerto Rico mandates energy storage in green power mix (via Energy Collective)

California ISO publishes roadmap for integrating EVs into grid (via Green Car Congress)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea may need five more nuclear plants for 2025-2035 (via Reuters)

Posted:   |   Categories: Cal-ISO, california, California ISO, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, CREZ, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, fracking, grid, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, nuclear, oil, Puerto Rico, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, South Korea, Tesla, texas, Third party solar, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
0
26
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.26.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Tianjin launches China’s latest carbon market (via Reuters)

OIL 

US crude oil production on track to surpass imports for first time since 1995 (via US EIA)

Judge deals a blow to BP’s effort to dodge Deepwater Horizon payments (via Climate Progress)

First US oil shale mine is coming to Utah (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

China struggling to meet 2011-2015 environment goals (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary rejects “Road to Nowhere” though Alaska wilderness area (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

NPD Solarbuzz predicts 49GW global solar PV demand for 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Solar energy payback time (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power developers race clock to secure PTC subsidy (via New York Times)

Wind farm eagle deaths overestimated, says company (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

New York Green Bank gets $210 million in start-up funding (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles moving ahead with plans for 2GW Owens Valley solar plant (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Coal in their stockings – US coal plants closing at record pace (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

State energy efficiency scorecard released – how did yours fare in 2013? (via Triple Pundit)

Energy efficiency, facilities management jobs growing (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla shares zoom on renewed NHTSA safety rating (via San Jose Mercury News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Report: EPA followed rules in North Texas fracking case (via Texas Tribune)

EPA report on fracking in Texas raises new concerns (via Los Angeles Times)

Wyoming may act to plug abandoned wells as natural gas boom ends (via New York Times)

OPINION 

India: A solar market you cannot afford to ignore (via Renewable Energy World)

Michael Bloomberg: Big brother or pioneer? (via Room for Debate)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, BP, Carbon market, China, coal, deepwater horizon, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, fracking, Green bank, india, los angeles, Michael Bloomberg, natural gas, new york state, News, NHTSA, oil, oil shale, oil spill, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Sally Jewell, solar, solar pv, Tesla, texas, Tianjin, Transportation, utah, wind, wyoming
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23
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.13

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

CLIMATE 

Fossil fuel investments face major risks due to climate (via Climate Central)

Conservative groups spend up to $1 billion a year to fight climate change action (via The Guardian)

Temperature records broken across Mid-Atlantic during December heat wave (via Huffington Post/AP)

Tom Steyer may be the liberal answer to the Koch Brothers (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

How this Chinese coal company’s $5 billion bankruptcy could trigger financial panic (via Quartz)

Germany’s biggest electricity producer to drop two coal-fired power contracts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Asia-Pacific region to account for half 2014 global solar PV demand (via CleanTechnica)

Are utilities wilting from heat of solar competition? (via National Journal)

Study finds Texas will increase renewable energy 150% by 2032 but add no coal capacity (via Facts of the Day)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program aren’t owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California takes aim at “ducks” to smooth move to renewables (via Reuters)

Ballot fight over Oregon renewable energy law could be sparked by small rural utility (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina has morphed into a solar power leader this year (via GigaOm)

Hawaii’s solar boom is so successful, it’s been halted (via ClimateWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Enbridge Gateway win shows stopping Keystone won’t halt oil (via Bloomberg)

Hundreds of conditions attached to Northern Gateway route’s approval (via EnergyWire)

TransCanada CEO: Obama will approve Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Enbridge’s Michigan dilbit spill still not cleaned up as 2013 closes (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US electricity sales continue downward trend (via Energy Manager Today)

California utility energy efficiency efforts save customer $850 million over two years (via Energy Manager Today)

The new Philadelphia Story is about green infrastructure (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

EMISSIONS 

$290 billion investment needed for China to treat air pollution (via Shanghai Daily)

Why a carbon tax is necessary (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

US oil industry takes aim at export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

US transmission investment gets largest boost since 2000 (via Greentech Media)

EVs integrating with the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: Asia, california, Carbon bubble, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dilbit, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, ev, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, michigan, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, philadelphia, renewables, Russ Girling, RWE, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission
0
19
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate Democrats to make eleventh-hour push for tax extenders (via The Hill)

Baucus proposal replaces dozens of energy breaks with credits for “clean” fuel, electricity (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

China seeks to curb worst air pollution in 50 years (via The Guardian)

Guandong carbon market, expected to be China’s biggest, begins briskly (via Reuters)

Most companies still releasing unsustainable amounts of CO2, says study (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Asia key to 2014 solar PV forecasts (via Recharge)

Europe’s highest court fuels doubt over French wind tariffs (via Reuters)

Hydro-Quebec calls for 450MW wind power tender (via Recharge)

Clean energy shines as climate index outperforms equities (via Renew Economy)

EIA continues to lowball its renewable energy forecast (via Greentech Media)

BOEM announces third US offshore wind competitive lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Michigan conservatives launch renewable energy group (via Michigan Live)

OIL 

Dolphins suffering from lung disease due to Gulf oil spill, says study (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

$43 million in USDA loans flow to rural smart grids (via Greentech Media)

Four ways to grow grid-scale energy storage in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Fitch Ratings: US net metering set to grow (via Solar Industry)

California ISO board adopts joint plan with CPUC to ensure future electric reliability (via BusinessWire)

California ISO unveils roadmap to advance demand response, energy efficiency (via Renew Grid)

Texas electricity prices falling since power market deregulation (via Texas Tribune)

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada weighs rail bridge amid Keystone pipeline delay (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

The UN will try for a new disaster risk reduction agreement (via Climate Progress)

Climate change divides political parties in Iowa, nation (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COAL 

Coal use hits record high in Japan (via Smart Planet)

GREEN BUILDING 

Future looks green for building industry (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles becomes first major city to require “cool roofs” (via Climate Progress)

Cool roofs rising (via Sustainable Industries)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

USGS releases New York baseline drinking water study in Marcellus Shale region (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

US gasoline pump prices to hit 2013 low (via The Hill)

Tesla will more than double Model S production with help of state tax breaks (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

White House to get aggressive on climate change? (via Washington Post)

British Columbia’s carbon tax leadership now more important than ever (via Vancouver Sun)

Why environmentalists should hope nuclear power sticks around (via Washington Post)

Here’s how the shale gas boom is saving Americans money (via Washington Post)

Christie Administration ignores climate change in New Jersey’s post-Sandy rebuild (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: BOEM, british columbia, california, California ISO, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cool roofs, CPUC, eia, emissions, energy storage, europe, fracking, France, gas prices, Gasoline, green building, grid, Guandong, Gulf of Mexico, Hydro-Quebec, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, marcellus shale, maryland, Max Baucus, michigan, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, new york, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart grid, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, united nations, usda, usgs, wind
0
19
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate Democrats to make eleventh-hour push for tax extenders (via The Hill)

Baucus proposal replaces dozens of energy breaks with credits for “clean” fuel, electricity (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

China seeks to curb worst air pollution in 50 years (via The Guardian)

Guandong carbon market, expected to be China’s biggest, begins briskly (via Reuters)

Most companies still releasing unsustainable amounts of CO2, says study (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Asia key to 2014 solar PV forecasts (via Recharge)

Europe’s highest court fuels doubt over French wind tariffs (via Reuters)

Hydro-Quebec calls for 450MW wind power tender (via Recharge)

Clean energy shines as climate index outperforms equities (via Renew Economy)

EIA continues to lowball its renewable energy forecast (via Greentech Media)

BOEM announces third US offshore wind competitive lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Michigan conservatives launch renewable energy group (via Michigan Live)

OIL 

Dolphins suffering from lung disease due to Gulf oil spill, says study (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

$43 million in USDA loans flow to rural smart grids (via Greentech Media)

Four ways to grow grid-scale energy storage in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Fitch Ratings: US net metering set to grow (via Solar Industry)

California ISO board adopts joint plan with CPUC to ensure future electric reliability (via BusinessWire)

California ISO unveils roadmap to advance demand response, energy efficiency (via Renew Grid)

Texas electricity prices falling since power market deregulation (via Texas Tribune)

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada weighs rail bridge amid Keystone pipeline delay (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

The UN will try for a new disaster risk reduction agreement (via Climate Progress)

Climate change divides political parties in Iowa, nation (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COAL 

Coal use hits record high in Japan (via Smart Planet)

GREEN BUILDING 

Future looks green for building industry (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles becomes first major city to require “cool roofs” (via Climate Progress)

Cool roofs rising (via Sustainable Industries)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

USGS releases New York baseline drinking water study in Marcellus Shale region (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

US gasoline pump prices to hit 2013 low (via The Hill)

Tesla will more than double Model S production with help of state tax breaks (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

White House to get aggressive on climate change? (via Washington Post)

British Columbia’s carbon tax leadership now more important than ever (via Vancouver Sun)

Why environmentalists should hope nuclear power sticks around (via Washington Post)

Here’s how the shale gas boom is saving Americans money (via Washington Post)

Christie Administration ignores climate change in New Jersey’s post-Sandy rebuild (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: BOEM, british columbia, california, California ISO, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cool roofs, CPUC, eia, emissions, energy storage, europe, fracking, France, gas prices, Gasoline, green building, grid, Guandong, Gulf of Mexico, Hydro-Quebec, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, marcellus shale, maryland, Max Baucus, michigan, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, new york, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart grid, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, united nations, usda, usgs, wind
0
17
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13

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

OIL 

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES 

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL 

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS 

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID 

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS 

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alps, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, Backloading, british columbia, california, california air resources board, cap and trade, CARB, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, fracking, global warming, google, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, india, interior department, Kinder Morgan, LED, mexico, michigan, Missouri, natural gas, new york, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oregon, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart meters, solar, tar sands, Tar sands imports, Tesla, Tesla Model E, transmission, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wisconsin
0
17
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13

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

OIL 

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES 

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL 

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS 

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID 

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS 

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alps, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, Backloading, british columbia, california, california air resources board, cap and trade, CARB, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, fracking, global warming, google, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, india, interior department, Kinder Morgan, LED, mexico, michigan, Missouri, natural gas, new york, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oregon, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart meters, solar, tar sands, Tar sands imports, Tesla, Tesla Model E, transmission, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wisconsin
0
16
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.16.13

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

COAL 

IEA predicts global coal use to keep growing through 2018 (via New York Times)

IEA calls for “radical” action to curb coal emissions (via National Journal)

Coal’s grim forecast: Projects may be “stranded” by falling Chinese demand (via The Guardian)

US Ex-Im Bank joins Treasure in cutting coal plant funding (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

45 million US households could switch to an electric vehicle (via CleanTechnica)

Seven ways to attract and use climate finance for transport (via WRI Insights)

Cars in the US are more fuel-efficient than ever – here’s how it happened (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil energy auction sells 2.3 gigawatts of wind power projects (via Bloomberg)

UK “may fall short” of 10GW offshore wind goal (via Recharge)

France reviews green energy subsidies as it moves away from nuclear (via Bloomberg)

Solar panels seen as boost to homes’ resale value (via San Francisco Chronicle)

RFS in limelight, but cellulosics hope to steal the show (via Environmental Leader)

California adding 8,000 megawatts of wind and solar (via Facts of the Day)

Computer program for reducing the cost of offshore wind energy (via Phys.org)

EMISSIONS 

New Zealand carbon emissions set to rise 38% by 2030 (via International Business Times)

Microsoft releases carbon fee playbook for companies (via Environmental Leader)

Fifteen states press Obama for tough, flexible EPA rules (via Bloomberg)

New Jersey State Senate takes on Chris Christie over carbon emissions program (via Climate Progress)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Trains from North Dakota will now carry more crude oil than Keystone XL would (via Climate Central)

Keystone XL loses support from US customer to train transport (via Reuters)

Oil train traffic forces Amtrak cancellations in Midwest (via Inforum)

CLIMATE 

Poorer countries play catch-up on climate adjustments (via Wall Street Journal)

Could cutting down some trees help cool the planet? (via Washington Post)

OIL 

Is it time for the US to start exporting more crude oil? (via National Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Earth, wind, and fire: The extreme weather of 2013 (via Time)

Is the West’s dry spell really a mega-drought? (via Climate Central)

FRACKING 

Minnesota to issue draft frack sand mining guidelines (via Winona Daily News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Minneapolis requires large commercial buildings to report energy use starting 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

DOE outlines the patch forward for energy storage (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Clean tech in 2014: Reasons to be optimistic for wind, solar (via Christian Science Monitor)

My story of carbon footprint calculation (via CleanTechnica)

Podesta: Climate game changer (via The Hill)

Should Congress extend renewable energy tax credits? (via National Journal)

Predictions of a coming carbon asset bubble overstated (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: biofuels, Brazil, california, Carbon bubble, carbon footprint, Cellulosic biofuel, China, Chris Christie, climate, coal, deforestation, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, grid, International Energy Agency, John Podesta, Keystone XL, Microsoft, Minneapolis, minnesota, new jersey, new zealand, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Subsidies, tar sands, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Export-Import Bank, wind
0
11
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.11.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global warming is unpaused and stuck on fast forward, says new research (via The Guardian)

Survey lists best and worst financial funds for climate change risk (via DeSmog Blog)

COAL 

Another global financial institution moves beyond coal (via Huffington Post)

Four proposed coal export terminals have now failed this year due to “diminished” market (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

European Investment Bank invests €50 million into clean energy fund (via CleanTechnica)

A rare win for Australian renewables – national green bank saved in Senate (via Renew Economy)

Offshore wind farms could protect cities from hurricanes (via Climate Central)

When solar & wind capacities rise, electricity generation from solar & wind rise (via CleanTechnica)

US solar energy industry shines in record-setting 3Q 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power’s growth blown away by tax uncertainty (via National Journal)

Study links taller wind turbines to more bird deaths (via EarthTechling)

Saying goodbye to the wind production tax credit (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

New greenhouse gas 7,000 times more harmful than CO2 (via Time)

Australian Senate creates roadblock to carbon tax repeal (via Business Spectator)

Australian offset scheme reaches milestone but future uncertain (via Reuters)

2014 World Cup to nearly double carbon emissions over 2010 (via Climate Progress)

Supreme Court hears case on cross-state air pollution rules (via New York Times)

Justices may back EPA on air pollution rule (via USA Today)

The carbon time bomb in your retirement account (via Mother Jones)

GRID 

True smart grids may have to play the waiting game (via Renew Grid)

Dynamic pricing moves from theory to practice (via Navigant Research)

ETT energizes last of seven West Texas CREZ transmission lines (via Renew Grid)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee proposes microgrid (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Chinese LED market set to double by 2017 (via Energy Manager Today)

Goodbye Megatons to Megawatts, hello energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)

Map shows which cities are buying the most LEDs and CFLs (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric cars: Which states are doing it right and which states lag? (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

The green industrial revolution and the United States (via Center for American Progress)

Why your pension fund could be heading for a “carbon crash” (via BusinessGreen)

After net metering battle, is Arizona getting ready to explore the grid edge? (via Greentech Media)

The new war between the states centers on air pollution (via Forbes)

How long will the fracking boom last? (via Forbes)

Podesta and the pipeline (via The New Yorker)

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