Category Archives:concentrated solar power

30
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Bangladesh leads 32 nations hit by extreme climate risk (via Bloomberg)

Two years on: Sandy inspires storm of climate research (via Climate Central)

Chuck Hagel: We should worry about climate change like we worry about ISIS (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine-Russia gas talks stalled in Brussels (via The Hill)

EIA says natural gas exports would boost economy, raise prices (via The Hill)

U.S. natural gas market players move from “cautiously optimistic” to “all in” (via Breaking Energy)

RENEWABLES 

China rushes to harness wind while the government still pays (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s clean energy certificate guidelines will support renewables development (via Breaking Energy)

Giant UK offshore wind farm hits power target earlier than expected (via BusinessGreen)

Solar presents solution to Brazil post-election economic woes (via PV Tech)

Scottish Power may cut size of English offshore wind farm (via Reuters)

Solar grid parity in all 50 U.S. states by 2016, predicts Deutsche Bank (via CleanTechnica)

Biogas, a low-tech fuel with a big payoff (via New York Times)

SunPower earnings: Solar is increasingly competitive (via San Jose Mercury News)

New York Green Bank in debut clean energy transactions (via PV Tech)

Getting off the grid in Hawaii becoming a family affair (via Bloomberg)

Ivanpah solar power plant energy production falling well short of expectations (via Breaking Energy)

COAL 

Private banks invest record €66 billion in coal sector (via RTCC)

EMISSIONS 

China’s trade dominance is bringing more pollution from an unexpected source (via Quartz)

German CO2 emissions to fall in 2014 as renewables deliver record 28% of country’s power (via BusinessGreen)

Breathing cleaner air to cost Americans on utility bills (via Bloomberg)

Hydropower may be huge source of methane emissions (via Climate Central)

OIL 

OPEC sees little output change in 2015, says don’t panic on oil drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Average U.S. gas prices set to drop below $3 (via The Hill)

Tesla direct sales banned in Michigan (via Navigant Research)

KEYSTONE XL 

Kerry wants Keystone pipeline decision “sooner rather than later” (via Reuters)

Landowners, tribes to intervene in Keystone’s South Dakota permit renewal (via The Hill)

NUCLEAR 

Environmental groups sue feds over nuclear waste rules (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEDs save energy and boosts profits, productivity in factories (via Phys.org)

POLITICS 

George P. Bush and how the next generation of Republicans talk about climate change (via Climate Progress)

How cheap wind energy threatens to upend Kansas’ governor’s race and upset the Koch Brothers (via Climate Progress)

How Big Oil could be the big winner in Colorado’s elections (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

Australia divestment war shows investment is now the main climate change battleground (via The Guardian)

What you need to know about the next big climate report (via Grist)

Why oil prices went down so far so fast (via Bloomberg)

While you were getting worked up over oil prices, this just happened to solar (via Bloomberg)

Experts: Reducing carbon emissions, increasing grid reliable are doable (via Forbes)

What New York City can learn from its relationship with the sea (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bangladesh, Biogas, Brazil, China, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, concentrated solar power, Divestment, eia, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Fossil fuel divestment, gas prices, germany, Grid Parity, Hawaii, Hydropower, IPCC, ISIS, Ivanpah, john kerry, kansas, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, LED, methane, mexico, michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York Green Bank, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, OPEC, renewables, Russia, solar, South Dakota, SunPower, Superstorm Sandy, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, wind
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17
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.17.14

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

COAL 

China coal restrictions may have little impact on imports (via Reuters)

Coal sector eyes salvation in green bond market (via RTCC)

Coal industry market value contracting again after brief rebound (via SNL Energy)

Peabody Energy to be removed from S&P 500 index (via Post-Dispatch)

U.S. Corps of Engineers halts Oregon coal terminal review pending permit outcome (via The Oregonian)

RENEWABLES 

China wind sector braces for feed-in tariff cuts (via Recharge News)

Funding released to accelerate 740MW of new renewables in Chile (via PV Tech)

UK solar farm issues Europe’s first certified climate bonds (via BusinessGreen)

PV industry loses $500 million a year through supply chain (via PV Tech)

Chile to get net metering for PV plants under 100kW (via PV Tech)

USDA Secretary expects 2014 biofuel use targets to rise (via Reuters)

When the power’s out, solar panels may not keep the lights on (via NPR)

Some see garbage, others see opportunity: Installing solar on landfills (via RMI Outlet)

Preliminary OK for large California concentrated solar project sparks debate over impact to birds (via Greenwire)

Burlington, Vermont’s electricity now 100% renewable (via The Week)

CLIMATE 

Natural disasters displaced more people than war in 2013, finds study (via The Guardian)

Rising sea levels a “sleeping giant” that could cost $226 billion, says report (via The Guardian)

Antarctic Peninsula glacier recession “unprecedented” (via BBC)

Climate change may add billions to wildfire costs, study says (via Los Angeles Times)

Mapping the future of sea-level rise on the Potomac, the Chesapeake, and the Atlantic (via Washington Post)

Drought-hit California faces future trouble as warming reduces water (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS 

Study links increased drilling with earthquakes (via Wall Street Journal)

Study: Bad fracking techniques let methane flow into drinking water (via Washington Post)

Leaky wells spur call for stricter rules on gas drilling (via Bloomberg)

Fracking ban enrages Coloradans sitting on energy riches (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Natural gas company seeks federal approval for Massachusetts pipeline (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

EMISSIONS 

Businesses double down on carbon pricing while Capitol Hill idles (via GreenBiz)

EPA delays key power plant rule of signature climate change plan (via The Guardian)

White House partners with industry to tackle refrigerant greenhouse gas (via Reuters)

EPA extends climate rule comment period (via The Hill)

Broad carbon tax outlines get positive legislative response (via The Oregonian)

OIL 

Oil prices rise on prospect of OPEC output cut (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Deeper Saudi oil cuts seen after biggest drop since 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Can the U.S. cut off Islamic State’s oil sales? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Feds reveal details on Shell’s Arctic ambitions (via Houston Chronicle)

TransCanada sees itself in oil train business regardless of Keystone XL (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs are cleaner, but still not a magic bullet (via New York Times)

GM learning from current Chevy Volt owners as it works on next-gen model (via Autoblog Green)

Report suggests Tesla Model 3 to cost $50,000 or more (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla “ecosystem” changing the face of Silicon Valley (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

PG&E tops in U.S. smart meter deployments (via Energy Manager Today)

50 million U.S. smart meters and counting (via Greentech Media)

Demand response capacity expected to increase more than six-fold by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Unilever aims to end deforestation (via Sustainable Business)

Drought-stricken California gets landmark groundwater legislation (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

Obama welcomes report saying fighting climate change can be low cost (via The Guardian)

Bobby Jindal: White House are “science deniers” (via Politico)

Markey to seek halt on federal coal leases (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Fighting climate change makes economic sense; cities should take the lead (via Huffington Post)

Measuring up: How to assess the upcoming UN climate summit (via Climate Progress)

By the numbers: The new climate economy (via WRI Insights)

Mexico has reformed its energy sector, now what? (via Forbes)

Bobby Jindal’s soft climate-change skepticism (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, arctic, biofuel, Bobby Jindal, Burlington, california, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, chevy volt, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate bonds, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, concentrated solar power, deforestation, Demand response, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, EPA, EVs, Extreme weather, fracking, GM, Green bonds, Greenhouse gases, grid, Keystone XL, massachusetts, methane, mexico, natural gas, Net metering, News, offshore drilling, oil, Oil train, OPEC, oregon, Peabody Energy, PGE, Pipeline, renewables, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shell, smart meter, solar, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, Tom Vilsack, TransCanada, Transportation, Unilever, united kingdom, vermont, wildfires, wind
0
25
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, community solar, concentrated solar power, CREZ, Curtailment, David Crane, District heating, Energy Efficiency, EPA, First Nations, Florida, Ford, g20, Gateway pipeline, germany, global warming, Green bank, green building, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Holland, japan, Joe Manchin, Keystone XL, michigan, Minneapolis, natural gas, News, North Carolina, NRG, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, OPEC, Opower, renewables, Sea level rise, SEC, Sheldon Whitehouse, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Subsidy, SunPower, tar sands, texas, The Netherlands, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation Fuel cell, united kingdom, Washington D.C., Wastewater disposal well, wyoming
0
20
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Senate rejects carbon tax repeal bill (via Reuters)

EU lawmakers reject deal to exempt foreign flights from emission charges (via Reuters)

COAL 

Planned coal-fired power plant retirements continue to increase (via US EIA)

Duke Energy eyes closing more coal plants in response to Dan River spill (via Charlotte Business Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Japan added 7GW of clean energy capacity since July 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Concentrated solar to top 1GW capacity by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Scotland approves two major offshore wind farm projects (via Reuters)

Solar usage shattering records in California as new capacity comes online (via Greentech Media)

New Jersey rejects offshore wind project’s subsidy plan (via Recharge)

Net metering in the air: Solar energy progress in Massachusetts and other states (via Energy Collective)

Native American tribe could soon build a billion-dollar wind farm with Interior Department funding (via Climate Progress)

Clearing up cloudy understanding on solar output (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Climate change fuelled storms, rising seas cost China $2.6 billion in 2013 (via Reuters)

EU leaders to set October deadline to agree on 2030 climate goals (via Reuters)

A cold US winter, but 8th warmest globally (via Climate Central)

White House brings together big data and climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Shell pulled out of shale gas talks in Ukraine in January (via Reuters)

Crimea crisis won’t cut Russia gas flow to Europe, says IHS (via Houston Chronicle)

Simple fixes could plug methane leaks from energy industry, finds study (via National Geographic)

White House to unveil new methane strategy this month (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Up to 40% energy savings “achievable” from home energy management (via Energy Manager Today)

Detroit airport’s switch to LED lights will save $1.2 million yearly (via Detroit Free Press)

OIL 

BP set to expand Gulf of Mexico drilling (via National Journal)

Oil pipeline leaks thousands of gallons in Ohio nature preserve (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chairman says BMW will make 100,000 EVs a year by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Electric cars have a dirty little secret (via InsideClimate News)

California may cut gasoline demand 9% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Energy industry overestimated cost of pollution controls, says study (via Huffington Post)

California officials prepare for worst as historic drought deepens wildfire risk (via The Guardian)

ENERGY STORAGE 

Spurred by Japan, steady growth predicted for energy storage market (via Renewable Energy World)

Incentives for energy storage spread worldwide (via EnergyWire)

POLITICS 

John Podesta knocks greens on natural gas (via Politico)

Obama’s Keystone XL choice pits donors against at-risk Senate (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why a melting Arctic could sink the global economy (via Center for American Progress)

The end of spring in a warming world (via Time)

A remarkably accurate global warming prediction, made in 1972 (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, barack obama, BMW, BP, california, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal ash spill, concentrated solar power, Crimea, Detroit, drought, duke energy, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EU, ev, Gasoline, global warming, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, interior department, japan, John Podesta, Keystone XL, LED, massachusetts, methane, Methane leakage, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, politics, renewables, Russia, Scotland, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, Transportation, Ukraine, Wildfire, wind
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10
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.10.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Four new ozone-destroying chemicals found in atmosphere (via The Guardian)

Swiss seek precision as nations shape carbon markets (via Bloomberg)

RGGI carbon prices jump in first event with fewer permits (via Bloomberg)

New study shows how fossil fuel pollution damages the heart (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

America’s largest grid system could reach 30% renewable energy by 2026 (via CleanTechnica)

Distributed defectors: When customers leave the grid (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Europe a dark spot for global solar PV market (via Recharge)

China lagging on 2020 hydro goals as premier urges new dam building (via Reuters)

Renewables in MENA to double next year, says Desertec (via Renewable Energy World)

750MW of FiT-approved solar PV projects in pipeline for Kenya (via CleanTechnica)

Google reaps tax breaks in $1.4 billion clean energy bet (via Bloomberg)

US DOE studies what motivates solar adoption to sustain growth (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Plan offered to move Oklahoma to all-renewable energy by 2050 (via The Oklahoman)

Illinois cut pollution equivalent of a million cars through renewable energy buys (via Huffington Post/AP)

Maryland bills would allow wind, solar projects on preserved farmland (via Baltimore Sun)

In Central Texas, drought threatens hydropower (via Texas Tribune)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

While US waits on Keystone XL decision, Canada approves a different tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Anti-Keystone comments outnumber supporting one 2 to 1 (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

Potential clash anticipated between US, EU at UN climate meeting (via Bloomberg BNA)

GAO: Climate change poses serious risk to US energy systems (via DeSmogBlog)

US government creates incentives to rebuild flood-hit coastal homes, over and over (via InsideClimate News)

Democrat Senators plan all-night climate change “talkathon” (via USA Today)

OIL 

Major gaps in plan to slow down oil trains (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

US public transit use reaches highest level since 1956 (via New York Times)

US car-sharing programs have taken 500,000 cars off roads (via Yale e360)

Gas prices may jump from California emissions law (via ABC News/AP)

Report: Tesla turned down California sites for Gigafactory (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

First energy-efficiency bonds sold to investors (via Reuters)

NREL tool measures building energy performance (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

Bitter cold knocks invasive insects down but not out (via AccuWeather)

Housing developments near drying forests a deadly combination in US West (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Don’t send America’s natural gas to Ukraine (via Politico)

Did concentrated solar power miss its chance? (via Christian Science Monitor)

The green movement has a Millennial problem (via Washington Post)

The Northeast’s cap-and-trade system is back on track to cut emissions (via Climate Progress)

Solar and crowdfunding getting cozier every day (via GigaOm)

How solar breaks traditional planning on the distribution grid (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: california, canada, cap and trade, Car sharing, carbon markets, China, climate, Climate Change, concentrated solar power, Desertec, distributed generation, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, europe, European Union, Flood, GAO, google, grid, Hydropower, Illinois, Kenya, Keystone XL, maryland, MENA, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, NREL, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Pipeline, PJM Interconnection, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, solar, solar pv, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, Ukraine, wildfires, wind
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24
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.24.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Fitch Ratings: Net metering can destabilize entire utility industry (via CleanTechnica)

US pipeline safety agency says no to pipeline safety improvements (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Russian oil giant becomes first in world to pump oil Arctic (via Yale e360)

Landrieu could swing at export limits with energy gavel (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Global warming will intensify drought, says new study (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Global geothermal industry passes 12GW operational capacity (via Green Car Congress)

Vestas to supply Middle East with first utility-scale wind project (via CleanTechnica)

If the US solar business is booming, why are solar jobs declining? (via Quartz)

Siemens puts weight behind US offshore wind (via EarthTechling)

Wood-pellet bonds show US biomass market expanding worldwide (via Renewable Energy World)

Catching rays in California, and storing them (via New York Times)

New York Green Bank to launch with $210 million in funding (via BusinessGreen)

The solar net metering battle moves to Colorado (via Greentech Media)

Solar energy projects finally getting boost in New York State (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Wind farms in Maine stir a power struggle (via Wall Street Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New efficiency rules for cable boxes could save enough energy to power 700,000 homes per year (via Climate Progress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese nuclear angst weighs on neighbors concerned about emissions (via Forbes)

Cleanup at Fukushima Daiichi might take three years (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

US carbon emissions set to miss Obama’s targets (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

Americans are buying less electricity – that’s a big problem for utilities (via Washington Post)

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

A biofuels holiday wish list (via The Energy Collective)

Have EVs already reached the tipping point? ABB says yes (via Green Car Reports)

Does merchant solar make any sense? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, arctic, biofuels, biomass, california, climate, Climate Change, colorado, concentrated solar power, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EVs, Fitch Ratings, Fukushima Daiichi, geothermal, global warming, japan, Maine, Mary Landrieu, Net metering, new york, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, PHMSA, renewables, Russia, Siemens, solar, vestas, wind
0
09
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

US Supreme Court to hear cross-state air pollution rule (via The Hill)

Companies increasingly counting internal cost of carbon (via BusinessGreen)

Eastern US states press Midwest to improve air (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

LNG’s future hinges on demand more than exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Battle widens over “gas rush” climate footprint (via National Journal)

Marcellus region to provide 18% total US natural gas production this month (via US EIA)

USGS sending instruments to record Texas quakes (via EnergyWire)

Ohio shale gas boom closer than many realize (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

RENEWABLES 

US wind farms get extended leeway on eagle deaths (via Los Angeles Times)

Which states win and which states lose on the Production Tax Credit? (via CleanTechnica)

Wind energy projects rush to start construction in advance of expiring PTC – again (via Energy Collective)

Has concentrated solar power run out of steam in the US? (via Greentech Media)

Reservoir emissions: A quiet threat to expanding hydropower (via ClimateWire)

Bioports emerge as runway for aviation biofuels (via Navigant Research)

New wind farms in New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota cost just 2.2-3.3 cents/KWh (via Facts of the Day)

TVA to increase renewable energy capacity by 126MW in 2014 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

California utility merges forecasting, weather, economics to handle renewables (via Greentech Media)

Wind power and wildlife can get along, birders say (via EarthTechling)

Kansas lawmaker, religious allies push for renewable energy (via News OK/AP)

KEYSTONE XL 

Clock ticks on Canadian carbon rules as Keystone decision looms (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Study says Arctic thaw tied to European, US heat waves and downpours (via Reuters)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

US Navy predicts summer ice-free Arctic by 2016 (via The Guardian)

Australian firefighter numbers “will need to double by 2030 as climate change bites” (via The Guardian)

What London would have looked like on Friday without flood defenses (via Forbes)

Two big issues to tackle as the green climate fund sets up shop (via WRI Insights)

OIL 

Oil near $98 as US economy shows improvement (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Offshore drilling industry takes aim at safety rule (via Houston Chronicle)

Northeast Nevada eyed for more oil exploration (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US partners with China to put auto emissions in check (via Washington Post)

Advanced batteries reached $10.8 billion in market value in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Average new-vehicle MPG ratings continue to climb, now up to 24.8 (via Autoblog Green)

Americans are driving less and taking public transit more: Let’s invest accordingly (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Minnesota orders Xcel Energy to study shutting down two large coal units (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Will costs delay energy efficiency gains in developing countries? (via Breaking Energy)

Interest groups call on EPA to write energy efficiency into upcoming regulations (via National Journal)

Expanded “Green Button” will reach federal agencies, more US energy consumers (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Four possible scenarios for Australia’s energy future (via CleanTechnica)

Five ways wind power can survive without extending the Production Tax Credit (via Christian Science Monitor)

How best can we use natural gas, or should we use it at all? (via National Journal)

Bye, bye biofuels: Why the US Renewable Fuels Standard failed (via Forbes)

The fracking-earthquake connection (Dallas Morning News)

Monterey Shale isn’t all it’s fracked up to be (via Smart Planet)

Cap, trade, and profit (via Albany Times-Union)

Renewable energy might save thousands of lives in Ohio (via Crain’s Cleveland Business)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuel, california, cap and trade, China, climate, coal, concentrated solar power, Cross state air pollution rule, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, Floods, fracking, Fuel Economy, Geoengineering, Green Button, Green Climate Fund, Hydropower, kansas, LNG, marcellus shale, methane, minnesota, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Nevada, New Mexico, News, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, production tax credit, ptc, public transportation, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Renewables forecasting, Renewables integration, RFS, rggi, Sea ice melt, Shale gas, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, Transportation, TVA, usgs, Wildfire, wind, xcel energy
0
25
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.25.13

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

CLIMATE 

New map shows world’s most climate-vulnerable regions (via Climate Progress)

Major wind and rain belts could shift north as Earth warms (via Yale e360)

Stanford: Climate change occurring 10 times faster than any time in past 65 million years (via DeSmog Blog)

HSBC: Australian economy badly exposed to climate change (via Renew Economy)

EPA chief hits road for climate rule sales pitches (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Top US trade official lobbies for tar sands oil in EU negotiations (via Huffington Post)

Canadian company to drain Alberta lake due to oil sands leak (via Reuters)

Keystone XL: Five years later, a changed energy dynamic (via Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLES 

500MW expected in first Russian renewable energy auction (via Recharge)

Sun begins to shine again on UK solar market (via EarthTechling)

Wind turbines quieter than a heartbeat, acoustical experts find (via Climate Progress)

Cost to add more solar, wind to US West power grid is small – study (via Reuters)

US Senator asks CFTC to look into biofuel credit pricing (via Reuters)

Ivanpah solar project “syncs” to grid for first time (via KCET)

EPA announces Green Power Leadership awards (via Environmental Leader)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Let the building begin (via Energy.gov)

270MW of new renewable energy coming to Connecticut’s grid (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Obama vows to protect “free flow” of Middle East oil (via The Hill)

High oil costs hitting nation’s wallet, too (via Houston Chronicle)

Research: Deep sea ecosystem may take decades to recover from Deepwater Horizon spill (via Phys.org)

TRANSPORTATION 

High-speed rail transforms China (via New York Times)

RFS: Ethanol cuts gas prices by up to $1.50 a gallon (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

EPA rules on emissions at existing coal plants may give states leeway (via New York Times)

Carbon offset market alive and well in California (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas generation lower than last year because of differences in relative fuel prices (via US EIA)

GRID 

Remote microgrids will surpass $8.4 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Remote microgrid revenues will top $8 billion by 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

In China’s hinterland, microgrids emerge (via Navigant Research)

Skinny grids: LEDs harness more distributed energy for less (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean acidification “refugees” move to Hawaii (via Seattle Times)

Battle lines form as EPA hints at revised Clean Water Act (via Greenwire)

OPINON 

Is natural gas “clean”? (via New York Times)

EPA rules open new era for clean energy in US (via Navigant Research)

How a former EPA official became the “Michael Jordan of solar policy” (via Greenwire)

What are the impacts of high wind and solar penetration on the grid? (via Greentech Media)

Why sustainability indexes miss the mark (via BusinessGreen)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, australia, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon offsets, CFTC, China, Clean Water Act, climate, Climate Change, coal, concentrated solar power, Connecticut, deepwater horizon, emissions, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Ivanpah, Keystone XL, LED, Microgrid, natural gas, News, Ocean acidification, Offsets, oil, oil spill, OPEC, renewables, RIN, Russia, solar, Solar Decathlon, tar sands, uk, united kingdom, US Trade Representative, wind, wind turbines
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18
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN carbon’s longest rally to persist on supply crunch (via Bloomberg)

Australia carbon link may spur EU management panel, says Accenture (via Bloomberg)

EU-Australia CO2 union shows price tension (via Reuters)

Geology matters when it comes to storing carbon (via Climate Central)

21% of households account for 50% of greenhouse gas emissions (via Phys.org)

White House regulatory chief defends “social cost of carbon” boost (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

How will cheaper natural gas affect business and the economy? (via Washington Post)

Interior Secretary defends federal fracking regulations (via Bloomberg)

California officials wrestle with handling fracking trade secrets (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

Saudi Arabia aims to be world’s largest renewable energy market (via Arab News)

China hits US and South Korea with solar material duties, skirts EU decision (via Reuters)

India unveils plans for massive concentrated solar power (via RTCC)

Is Germany the hot spot for battery-backed solar? (via Greentech Media)

New wind and solar can supply 100% of annual US electricity load growth (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

NASA: Globally, June was second warmest on record (via Climate Progress)

Researchers project ice-free Arctic by 2058 (via Phys.org)

EU hails China’s commitment to climate change (via Fox News/Agence-France Presse)

Fossil fuels tax to fund climate efforts proposed at UN talks (via RTCC)

Bill to shift NOAA resources to weather marches on (via Climate Central)

Zichal: Climate rules can be finished during Obama’s term (via Politico)

Reid blames climate change for wildfires: “West is burning” (via Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CIA backs $630,000 study on controlling climate change (via Grist)

After wildfire tragedy, talk of global warming’s contribution a delicate matter (via InsideClimate News)

OIL 

China pumps crude at fastest pace since 2010 as oil prices climb (via Bloomberg)

US Gulf oil profits will lure $16 billion in more rigs by 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

US ranks #5 on petroleum risk list (via Breaking Energy)

Exxon secrecy over ruptured pipeline may mask national danger (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf of Mexico oil sheen traced to Deepwater Horizon rig wreckage (via Los Angeles Times)

Enbridge seeks swift approval of 600-mile Midwest oil pipeline, pitches project at open houses (via Washington Post)

Anadarko, unshaken by Deepwater Horizon legacy, builds big in Gulf of Mexico (via Forbes)

US Air Force to study drilling for oil off California coast (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

United Kingdom invests £1 billion in low-carbon auto manufacturing (via CleanTechnica)

Comparing driving costs of EVs and conventional cars (via Energy Collective)

Report says efficient urban transportation could save world $70 trillion (via Inhabitat)

“Dreamliner” nightmare continues: 787 catches fire in London (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Creating climate wealth through energy efficient buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

LED lights saved $675 million in energy costs in 2012 (via The Good Human)

Obama’s plan for energy-efficient federal buildings powered by clean energy (via Climate Progress)

New federal buildings face higher efficiency standard (via EarthTechling)

GRID 

Electricity prices soar past $200 per MWh as heatwave hits Eastern US (via Energy Collective)

USDA awards another $18 million in smart grid funding to rural utilities (via Renew Grid)

ENVIRONMENT 

World Bank: environmental damage costing India nearly 6% of GDP (via BusinessGreen)

Interior Secretary says drought may cause record wildfires in US (via Bloomberg)

Texas ranks last on US green state list (via Houston Chronicle)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainable manufacturing “can boost profits $15 billion annually” (via Environmental Leader)

Green consumers are brand loyal (via Mother Nature Network)

Report: companies see climate risks but few take action (via The Hill)

OPINION 

The World Bank cuts off coal funding – how big an impact will it have? (via Washington Post)

UK government over-estimating future fuel prices (via Reuters)

US can’t afford to cede green energy industry to competitors (via Christian Science Monitor)

Burning fossil fuels imperils our ability to burn fossil fuels (via Mother Jones)

The carbon footprints lead to you (via Washington Post)

Global warming is making life hell for firefighters (via Motherboard)

Will bioenergy with carbon capture save us? (via EarthTechling)

Posted:   |   Categories: Anadarko, arctic, australia, barack obama, battery, Bioenergy, Boeing Dreamliner, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon storage, carbon tax, China, CIA, climate, concentrated solar power, deepwater horizon, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EU ETS, ev, Exxon, fracking, germany, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, Heather Zichal, india, interior department, LED, London, NASA, natural gas, News, noaa, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Sea ice melt, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, Solar trade war, South Korea, texas, Transportation, UN, united kingdom, US Air Force, usda, Wildfire, wind, World Bank
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13
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

US-China climate deal was long in the works, reflects shifting incentive for developing nation (via Washington Post/AP)

EU positive over 2015 climate deal despite Russia row (via RTCC)

China is testing out cap and trade – but will it work? (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Coal remains world’s fastest-growing fossil fuel (via Platts)

Green groups see higher US coal fees after audit (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

UN says global renewables sector tops 5.7 million jobs (via BusinessGreen)

Global renewables investment fell in 2012 on weak economy (via Reuters)

Goldman Sachs eyes Japan offshore wind in $3 billion investment (via Bloomberg)

The coming US distributed solar boom (via Greentech Media)

Fulfilling the promise of concentrated solar power (via Climate Progress)

What Interior’s lease auction says about offshore wind innovation (via Innovation Files)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia remains key to oil prices, despite US production surge (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil notches record growth (via Wall Street Journal)

Iraq targets 4.5 million barrels per day oil production in 2014 (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

How climate change makes wildfires worse (via Mother Jones)

Kansas schools to teach evolution, climate change (via KSHB/AP)

Record heat fuels destructive fires in drought-baked Colorado (via Weather Underground)

What is a derecho, anyway? (via Mother Jones)

GREEN BUSINESS 

2013 Best Global Green Brands: complete rankings (via GreenBiz)

Chinese tune sustainability message for global credibility (via GreenBiz)

US corporate green spending keeps on climbing (via BusinessGreen)

Feel-good brands “outperform stock market” (via Environmental Leader)

Cash doesn't follow sustainability commitments (via Environmental Leader)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Analysts say Keystone Xl delays won’t stop Canadian crude exports (via Houston Chronicle)

TransCanada steps up defense of Keystone XL pipeline (via National Journal)

Alberta tar sands toxic waste spill biggest of recent North America disasters (via Globe and Mail)

GRID 

Utility advanced metering analytics market to hit $9.7 billion by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

Industrial demand response payments will reach $4.3 billion annually by 2019 (via Navigant Research)

NUCLEAR 

EU proposes mandatory nuclear reviews every six years (via Reuters)

Exelon blames “subsidized” wind, markets for derailing nuclear projects (via Midwest Energy News/Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Lifetime costs of EVs within 10% of competing vehicles (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Merkel vows to rein in renewable subsidies if re-elected (via Reuters)

White House regulatory nominee vows to speed up energy reviews (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: Advanced metering, Alberta, AMI, Angela Merkel, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal leases, colorado, concentrated solar power, csp, csr, Demand response, Distributed solar, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, EU, ev, Exelon, Goldman Sachs, green business, grid, HFC, interior department, iraq, japan, kansas, Keystone XL, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Offshore wind lease auction, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, tar sands, TransCanada, Transportation, UN, united nations, Wildfire, wind
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