Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.18.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
China’s carbon plans: Secrecy and oversupply darken outlook (via Reuters)
South Carolina coal plant, efficient but doomed, offers lessons for states grappling with EPA rule (via Greenwire)
NUCLEAR
The costs of caring for Europe’s nuclear plants (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Courts worldwide reject anti-wind experts and their evidence (via Renew Economy)
China seeks to close loophole on solar polysilicon import duties (via Bloomberg)
Low-carbon technologies deliver over half Spain’s power as renewables output soars (via BusinessGreen)
Federal court upholds renewables integration planning rule for electric grid (via The Hill)
UC Irvine tops U.S. sustainability efforts in “Cool Schools” ranking (via CleanTechnica)
Emerging solar plants scorch birds in mid-air (via ABC News/AP)
Explosive U.S. solar power growth and jobs (via CleanTechnica)
TAR SANDS
Data shows chemical air pollution around tar sands is getting worse (via Climate Progress)
CLIMATE
Colombia set to draft new climate law by November (via RTCC)
As climate changes, “underwater mortgage” make take on new meaning (via Bloomberg)
Will it be extinction or “translocation” as climate change impacts increase? (via ClimateWire)
Climate change reflected in altered Missouri River flow, says report (via Los Angeles Times)
Climate change study show Northwest U.S. prairie plants struggle with warming (via The Oregonian)
U.S. cities combating climate change on the local level (via Al-Jazeera)
New Jersey announces climate change mapping website (via NBC 10)
NATURAL GAS
U.S. takes a crack at China’s tough shale (via Houston Chronicle)
A new fracking frontier: Drilling near the Arctic Circle (via Yale e360)
Natural gas execs fear they’re next for Obama regulations (via The Hill)
Fracking protests escalate on “national day of action” (via BusinessGreen)
Environmentalists split over green group’s fracking industry ties (via Al-Jazeera)
Natural gas will dominate Texas electric growth through 2040 (via Houston Chronicle)
Fact check: Florida fracking fracas (via USA Today)
OIL
Billions in oil investments at risk from low crude prices (via Reuters)
BOEM to boost offshore drilling bond requirements (via Houston Chronicle)
Interior Department studies minimum standards for Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)
Voters set to decide fate of Alaska oil production tax (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Report: Policymakers must confront transport “taboos” to meet climate goals (via ClimateWire)
Save money this month ($10,064) with mass transit (via CleanTechnica)
GRID
Eleven years after the U.S. Canada blackout, what has (and hasn’t) changed? (via National Geographic)
Survey reveals what U.S. consumers expect from their utilities (via Renew Grid)
Proof that interconnection reform is in the data (via Renewable Energy World)
ENVIRONMENT
Indonesian government reiterates plan to clear 14 million hectares of forest by 2020 (via Mongabay)
Marine economy takes a dive as ocean acidity rises (via Climate Central)
West’s historic drought stokes fears of water crisis (via Washington Post)
California moves toward historic statewide ban on single-use plastic bags (via EcoWatch)
Report shows persistent drought lingers in western Oklahoma (via The Oklahoman)
POLITICS
Tony Abbott’s push to ditch renewables could hand coal and gas industry $10 billion (via The Guardian)
Buying Main Street: Billionaires swamp local races (via Politico)
Many Republicans privately support action on climate (via Bloomberg)
Why is a major green group backing a Republican who supports Keystone and offshore drilling? (via National Journal)
Green group looks to “rebuild trust” with GOP (via The Hill)