Category Archives:Concentrating solar power

12
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.12.15

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama’s India visit could yield progress on climate change and solar power (via The Guardian)

Solar plus batteries unlikely to threaten utilities anytime soon, says study (via Forbes)

Wholesale power prices increase across the U.S. in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea launches carbon cap-and-trade system (via The Hill)

Stanford professors urge withdrawal from fossil fuel investments (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

India plans five separate $5 billion green energy funds (via Panchabuta)

Solar at grid parity in most of world by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Renewable energy investment surges, nearly surpasses 2011 mark (via Climate Progess)

Solar accounted for nearly half of all global clean energy investment in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

5GW wind-solar energy park planned in Gujarat, India (via CleanTechnica)

Indian oil corporation targets 10,000 solar-powered gas stations (via CleanTechnica)

SunEdison plans $4 billion India solar factory as demand climbs (via Bloomberg)

Morocco solar agency awards 350MW of concentrating solar power contracts (via PV Tech)

Chile will be home to latest challenger for world’s largest merchant solar plant (via PV Tech)

Wind developers seen bidding to build Brazil transmission lines (via Bloomberg)

Steady wave power could be cheaper than wind and solar (via BusinessGreen)

Wind forecasting receives $2.5 million boost from U.S. DOE (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley deal nudges 2015 U.S. residential solar investment toward $800 million (via PV Tech)

Net metering fight comes to New Mexico (via Navigant Research)

Utility commission order bolsters North Carolina’s status as a rising solar power (via Solar Industry Magazine)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: State Department studying Nebraska ruling on Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Not enough votes to override Keystone veto, says Sen. Coons (via The Hill)

TransCanada CEO: “We need Keystone” (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Countries could leave UN climate body if Paris fails, says Todd Stern (via RTCC)

Most physicians already seeing health effects of climate change in patients (via Yale e360)

72 percent of Republican Senators are climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Oil tumbles to 5-½ year low as OPEC reaffirms stance (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Venezuela, Saudi leaders meet to talk oil prices in Riyadh (via Houston Chronicle)

As oil plummets, how much pain still looms for U.S. energy firms? (via Reuters)

Oil drillers bail on U.S. boom, idle most rigs since 1991 (via Bloomberg)

Shell to cut five to ten percent of oil sands jobs (via Houston Chronicle)

Bakken oil producers need $55 a barrel to keep production steady (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Inflexible ethanol costs stopping further decrease in gas prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt arrives with 50-mile EV range, 41 mpg (via Autoblog)

Official Chevrolet Bolt details: 200-mile range, $30,000 starting price (via Inside EVs)

University of Tennessee to head $250M advanced composites manufacturing institute (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS 

Idea for gas terminal off East Coast rankles fracking foes (via Houston Chronicle)

New York fracking ban seen as having little impact on supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

A next-gen battery to land in Hawaii, courtesy of Aquion Energy (via GigaOm)

Massachusetts awards $18 million for microgrids, energy resiliency (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $235 billion in value by 2019 (via Environmental Leader)

New U.S. DOE lighting standards could save $15 billion (via CleanTechnica)

What’s unique about the Texas PACE-in-a-box toolkit? (via Renewable Energy World)

ENVIRONMENT 

We can fix the Gulf dead zone, for $2.7 billion a year (via Grist)

New York is biggest city to ban foam packaging (via Grist)

California’s almonds use as much water annually as Los Angeles uses in three years (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

How EVs could impact the grid in four charts (via Greentech Media)

How innovative solar business models can benefit all (via GreenBiz)

Bakken oil wells and the Red Queen’s revenge (via Reuters)

U.S. car travel has been on the decline for a decade – will cheap gas change that? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Aquion Energy, Bakken Shale, Batteries, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, chevrolet, Chevy Bolt, chevy volt, Chile, Chris Coons, climate, Climate Change, Concentrating solar power, Divestment, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking ban, gas prices, Green Buildings, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Keystone XL, massachusetts, Microgrids, Morgan Stanley, Morocco, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, New Mexico, New York City, new york state, News, North Carolina, oil, OPEC, PACE, renewables, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shell, solar, South Korea, Stanford, SunEdison, Tennessee, texas, Todd Stern, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, UNFCC, Venezuela, wind
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05
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.5.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon emissions to rise 2.5% in 2015 (via RTCC)

Four questions for global carbon markets in 2015 (via The Energy Collective)

Aviation industry set to triple emissions by 2050 (via EcoWatch)

California cap-and-trade now covers transportation fuel retailers (via CleanTechnica)

Former Obama advisor calls for carbon tax (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China struggles to find prospective blocks for third shale auction (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell criticizes fracking bans (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar announces construction of four Pacific island PV projects (via PV Tech)

Scotland’s power grid could be fossil fuel free by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

2015 outlook: Brazil gets serious about solar (via Recharge)

UK wind power up 15%, smashes annual output record (via BusinessGreen)

Egypt’s first renewable energy tender twice oversubscribed on solar projects (via PV Tech)

SolarWorld speaks out against latest EU trade case on solar glass (via PV Tech)

Santander, Gamesa request permits for Mexico wind (via Bloomberg)

La Paz, Mexico to be 100% solar powered (via CleanTechnica)

A setback for SolarWorld, a trade case win for Chinese solar manufacturers (via Greentech Media)

Hanwha SolarOne says it can provide 600MW of tariff-free PV modules to U.S. in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

Community and home solar remain great investments (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables over 13% of U.S. electricity production Jan-Oct 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel doubling renewable energy generation in Minnesota (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Future of wind farms cloudy in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

Solar-powered EV charging initiative aids San Francisco apartment dwellers (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE

2014 was hottest year on record globally, says Japan meteorological agency (via Climate Progress)

2014 was UK’s “warmest year on record,” confirms Met Office (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Oil below $60 tests economics of U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

U.S. Senate panel to introduce Keystone XL bill Thursday (via Reuters)

GOP prepares Keystone blitz (via The Hill)

Alaska Governor Walker bracing for budget crisis amid oil price crash (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to extend new EV subsidies through 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Mexico to re-launch $3.75 billion high-speed train tender January 14 (via Reuters)

By 2017, under 50% of new cars will use conventional gas engines (via Autoblog)

Nissan Leaf set U.S. EV sales record in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

First hybrid-electric airplane uses 30% less fuel (via CleanTechnica)

Lower fuel prices could save U.S. motorists $80 billion in 2015 (via Autoblog)

December 2014 plug-in EV sales report card (via Inside EVs)

Tesla Model S demand continues to outstrip supply (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.S. office buildings and schools to save $15 billion with new DOE standards (via Energy Manager Today)

Green buildings cost 25% less to operate (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Government confirms £960 million cost of capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

Massachusetts cities get $18.4 million for energy resiliency projects (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Voters give Obama, Congress poor grades on energy (via The Hill)

New Senate chairmen aim to undo Obama’s policies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Sen. Thune leaves wiggle room on gas tax (via The Hill)

EPA says Google, Kohl’s, REI reflect trends in green power (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

South Africa faces looming water crisis, says newspaper (via Bloomberg) 

Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The top ten electricity stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

The year of concentrating solar power: Five new plants to power America with clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

The Sol-Wind IPO: Can a renewable YieldCo win master limited partnership benefits? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Brazil, california, cap and trade, Capacity auction, carbon markets, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, community solar, Concentrating solar power, drought, Egypt, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA. Google, ev, Extinction, global warming, green building, grid, high speed rail, japan, Jim Inhofe, John Thune, Kohl's, masdar, massachusetts, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, Ohio, oil, REI, renewables, Sally Jewell, Scotland, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, South Africa, Tesla Model S, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, xcel, YieldCo
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03
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.14

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

UN CLIMATE TALKS

What to expect in Lima: An overview of the 2014 UN climate negotiations (via Center for American Progress)

Lima climate talks: One in three countries not sending ministers (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY

EU, US present Russian with united sanctions, energy front (via Reuters)

Brazilian companies cut output, sell power instead in weak economy (via Reuters)

U.S. nuclear plants squeezed by cheap gas, uranium costs (via Bloomberg)

First utility receives B Corp certification (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES

Canada’s green energy sector employs more people than tar sands (via Climate Progress)

9% of solar homes are doing something utilities love – will others follow? (via Outlier)

DOE to fund $9 million in solar module technology R&D (via Recharge)

AWEA warns job cuts begin in January without PTC deal (via Recharge News)

Utility-scale PV O&M: A crowded vendor landscape (via Greentech Media)

Abengoa’s 280MW California solar plant begins operation (via Bloomberg)

Could Kansas be the next state to kill its renewable energy target? (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

2014 set to be world’s hottest-ever year (via The Guardian)

Antarctica losing Mt. Everest worth of ice as melt triples (via Bloomberg)

The next big climate question: Will India follow China? (via New York Times)

Volcanoes may be responsible for much of the global surface warming slowdown (via The Guardian)

Keystone antagonist steps down as head of climate group 350.org (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS

Number of natural gas customers participating in customer choice programs is increasing (via US EIA)

GRID

Ontario pumps millions into smart grid projects (via Renew Grid)

Utilities are building the infrastructure for California’s shift to EVs (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Cheap oil is hitting these countries the hardest (via Houston Chronicle)

Green groups sue DOT over oil-by-rail regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil from Deepwater Horizon spill is still trapped in Alabama beaches, finds study (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Workplace charging doubles in two years, 90% of charging stations full (via Green Car Reports)

Nissan battery breakthrough to double Leaf EV range within a few years (via Autoblog)

Audi plans electric crossover to take on Tesla in U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Model S leads Consumer Reports satisfaction survey (via San Jose Mercury News)

COAL

Germany targeting coal plants to reach 2020 climate goals (via Reuters)

Find out which state wants to bail out big coal (via EcoWatch)

EMISSIONS

Emissions reduction fund passed by Australian parliament (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. sees voluntary emissions cuts as key to climate change accord (via Los Angeles Times)

Nike, IKEA join 221 companies in backing EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

OPINION

How much coal will be squeezed out of Germany’s grid by 2019? (via Renewables International)

Here’s a cool way to visualize carbon emissions (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: abengoa, Alabama, Antarctica, audi, australia, awea, B Corp, Bill McKibben, BP, Brazil, california, canada, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Concentrating solar power, COP20, deepwater horizon, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, European Union, EV chargers, germany, global warming, grid, Ikea, india, kansas, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, nike, nissan LEAF, nuclear, Ohio, Oil DOT, oil spill, Oil train, ontario, production tax credit, renewables, Russia, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, wind
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06
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.6.14

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

CLIMATE 

Past measurements may have missed massive ocean warming (via Science)

Could climate change affect the number of boys and girls born? (via Smithsonian)

Miami Beach prepares for annual “King Tide” flooding and a taste of sea level rise (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

U.S. sees drop in coal exports in 2014 (via Mining.com)

U.S. coal exports fall on lower European demand, increased global supply (via U.S. EIA)

U.S. coal companies having tough 2014 so far (via Knoxville News Sentinel)

New regulations, competition have coal industry reeling (via Tuscaloosa News)

RENEWABLES 

7 renewable energy lessons from Germany (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar PV market continues shrinking (via Renewables International)

U.S. DOE says 54GW of offshore wind power waiting to be tapped (via TriplePundit)

Siemens says wind power needs subsidy to compete in U.S. (via Financial Times)

U.S. DOE awarding $25 million to reduce CSP costs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OSU researchers build rechargeable solar battery (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

USDA provides $91 million for biogasoline blendstock plant (via Green Car Congress)

First commercial quantities of cellulosic ethanol from woody biomass marketed (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Shell suspends Siberian oil project, says Russian partner (via Wall Street Journal)

Orphaned Russian oil heads to U.S. west on Asia overflow (via Bloomberg)

Rosneft CEO says he’ll develop Arctic oil with or without Exxon (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

BP seeks revised verdict or new trial on spill negligence (via Bloomberg)

Gov. Inslee: “Outdated, inadequate, and dangerous” oil trains crossing state (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

TRANSPORTATION 

European regulators say incorrect C02 ratings could cost drivers $580/year (via Autoblog Green)

Carnival cruises toward $2.5 billion in fuel savings (via GreenBiz)

UMTRI monthly report shows large drop in new-vehicle fuel economy in September (via Green Car Congress)

Toyota racks up 7 million hybrids sold since 1997 (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks faster energy market integration amid crisis (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Brazil keeps renewable energy transmission & distribution discounts (via Recharge News)

Building wind power superhighways (via Chicago Tribune)

Grid-scale energy storage continues making inroads (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS 

An industry you’ve never heard of is trying to cut $1.8 billion in wasted natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Two gas drillers agree to disclose fracking risks to investors (via The Hill)

Maryland report: Fracking poses little risk to drinking water in the state (via Climate Progress)

Drilling waste site roils tiny Texas town (via Texas Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

Fish failing to adapt to rising CO2 levels in ocean (via The Guardian)

China emissions rising on high-carbon economic growth (via RTCC)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Tougher energy efficiency target would boost UK economy by £62 billion (via The Guardian)

Johnson Controls, WRI partnership targets energy efficiency in cities (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

Wilderness as economic stimulus? A closer look at the evidence (via The Hill)

In virtual mega-drought, California avoids defeat (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Rousseff in tight runoff against pro-business Neves (via Reuters)

Clashing visions of conservation shake Brazil’s presidential vote (via New York Times)

Democrats lean heavily on PACs in coordinated push to counter GOP (via New York Times)

McConnell on climate change: “Not a scientist” (via Courier-Journal)

This woman could become one of the world’s most influential environmentalists (via National Journal)

OPINION 

India’s mixed climate change forecast (via Washington Post)

Why the oil majors are backing away from renewable energy (via EnergyWire)

Cold days for coal could mean a better forecast for our climate (via Energy Collective)

A carbon tax will create jobs for Americans (via CNN)

Congress should fix the gas tax (via Washington Post)

NASA explains how climate change is like the flu (via National Journal)

Will investors flock to SunEdison’s emerging market YieldCo? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, battery, biofuels, BP, Brazil, california, carbon tax, cellulosic ethanol, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Concentrating solar power, department of energy, Dilma Rousseff, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, European Union, fracking, Fuel Economy, Gas tax, germany, global warming, grid, india, jay inslee, Johnson Controls, maryland, methane, Mitch McConnell, NASA, natural gas, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil trains, renewables, Rosneft, Russia, Sea level rise, Shell, Siemens, solar, SunEdison, texas, Toyota, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, YieldCo
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18
Aug

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arctic Circle, australia, BOEM, california, Carbon market, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, coal, Colombia, Concentrating solar power, deforestation, drought, emissions, environment, EPA, Extinction, Florida, fracking, global warming, grid, Indonesia, Interconnection, interior department, mass transit, Missouri River, natural gas, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, oil, oklahoma, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Solar trade war, south carolina, Spain, tar sands, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, University of California Irvine, wind
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18
Aug

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arctic Circle, australia, BOEM, california, Carbon market, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, coal, Colombia, Concentrating solar power, deforestation, drought, emissions, environment, EPA, Extinction, Florida, fracking, global warming, grid, Indonesia, Interconnection, interior department, mass transit, Missouri River, natural gas, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, oil, oklahoma, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Solar trade war, south carolina, Spain, tar sands, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, University of California Irvine, wind
0
23
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

West Antarctic ice collapse “could drown Middle East and Asia crops” (via The Guardian)

Australia’s pollution U-turn threatening UN climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Saudis accused of deleting part of UN climate science report (via RTCC)

Global warming linked to frigid U.S. winter, say scientists (via NBC News)

Cold U.S. winter caused by warm tropical waters? (via Climate Central)

COAL 

Deutsche Bank won’t fund Australia coal port expansion near reef (via Reuters)

EPA reaches deal with Duke Energy over coal ash spill (via The Guardian)

Petitioners ask Gov. Nixon to halt Missouri coal ash landfill construction (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Over 600 local elected officials back Obama’s coal rules (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

India hits US, China with solar imports & anti-dumping duties (via Reuters)

A brief history of ethanol in Brazil (via Green Car Reports)

Abengoa says CSP with storage will beat baseload gas by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

5 trends illustrating the resurgence of solar suppliers in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Ohio kicks RPS vote to next week (via Recharge)

400-mile transmission line could expand Texas wind market (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina prepares for solar revolution with historic vote (via EcoWatch)

Can yieldcos reduce the risk of solar financing? (via Renewable Energy World)

NUCLEAR 

Russia may build eight nuclear reactors for Iran (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Building efficiency upgrades save $730 million across U.S. (via Greenbang)

Lighting is a “gateway drug to energy efficiency” (via Breaking Energy)

Google won’t serve ads to your Nest, but will find you elsewhere (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

UK says South England holds billions of barrels of shale oil (via Bloomberg)

North Dakota governor warns oil producers on gas flaring (via Bismarck Tribune/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Energy consumption falling in the transportation sector (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

U.S. utility’s control system was hacked, says Homeland Security (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia-China deal to damp LNG prices as output rises (via Bloomberg)

Obama faces fracking protesters on New York visit (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

How does your state rank on climate emissions? (via Sustainable Business)

California carbon auction sells all allowances (via Environmental Leader)

17 things to know about California’s carbon cap (via Sightline Daily)

Does working from home grow your carbon footprint? (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

First shipment of Canadian tar sands heads toward EU shores (via RTCC)

TransCanada eyes “bridge” to Keystone XL pipeline approval (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

Red state, blue state, hot state, cold state: Mapping the politics of climate change (via Politico)

League of Conservation Voters raises $3 million for campaign contributions (via The Hill)

Climate change is on the ballot (via Huffington Post)

Ohio churches fight to save renewables and energy efficiency (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

When China became the world’s workshop it inherited the world’s air pollution, too (via Grist)

How fossil fuel interests attack renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Dust Bowl days: Will we cut carbon fast enough to prevent permanent droughts? (via Climate Progress)

How green energy won out over fossil fuels in a red state (via National Journal)

The real reason why no one cares about CNN’s climate stories (via Climate Progress)

Why “ratepayer” is a dirty word (via Greentech Media)

Defending clean energy in Ohio and beyond (via Grist)

Why owning your own power plant might not be crazy (via RMI Outlet)

Posted:   |   Categories: abengoa, Antarctica. Australia, Brazil, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal export, Concentrating solar power, Deutsche Bank, drought, duke energy, Dust Bowl, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, fracking, global warming, google, Great Barrier Reef, grid, india, iran, Jay Nixon, Keystone XL, League of Conservation Voters, LED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, LNG export, methane, Methane flaring, Missouri, natural gas, Nest, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, Russia, Saudi Araba, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, south carolina, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, wind, Yieldcos
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16
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico’s energy reform could take a bite out of U.S. shale-gas sellers, says EIA chief (via Houston Chronicle)

North Carolina fracking bill would clear way for exploratory drilling next spring (via News Observer)

FERC finds little environmental impact in Maryland natural gas export project (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Obama said to consider power plant emissions rule that tests law (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China targets 70GW of solar power to cut coal reliance (via Bloomberg)

Philippines cuts ribbon on first utility-scale solar farm (via BusinessGreen)

24/7 concentrating solar power plant gains environmental approval in Chile (via Triple Pundit)

The red-hot renewable that could incite a green power revolution (via Climate Progress)

On-site solar could spawn tax consequences (via Energy Manager Today)

What does the Colorado decision mean for challenges to state clean energy targets? (via Greentech Media)

Wind Production Tax Credit stalls in US Senate (via Recharge)

Austin’s energy mix just got much sunnier with 150MW solar farm (via StateImpact Texas)

CLIMATE 

Climate change “biggest issue in 2014 proxy season” (via Environmental Leader)

More big companies say they’re concerned about climate risks (via The Guardian)

Brazil “unprepared” for climate change, warns leading scientist (via RTCC)

Wyoming Gov. Mead seeks to recast on climate change to solutions (via Star-Tribune)

New $1.1 billion sea wall protects New Orleans against major storms but may cultivate complacency (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL 

Beyond Keystone XL, more pipelines with more problems (via Greenwire)

Keystone XL delays fuel push for Canada east coast oil pipeline (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

A future of thirst: Hydrologists predict worldwide water crisis (via Jamaica Observer/Agence France-Presse)

All of California in severe drought for first time this century (via USA Today)

Drought among the worst in Texas in past 500 years (via Houston Chronicle)

23% of American honeybee colonies died this winter, report Feds (via Huffington Post/AP)

GRID 

FERC approves changes to PJM’s demand response program (via Renew Grid)

Texas mulls capacity market (via EnergyBiz)

Elon Musk sees nearly unlimited demand for energy storage (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How much did Nest Labs save utilities last summer? (via Greentech Media)

In Opower’s first earnings report as a public company, it grows sales, widens loss (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION 

Why the federal gas tax is way too low (via Washington Post)

U.S. Senate panel backs transportation bill to maintain funding (via Reuters)

Plug-in rebates finally come to Texas, but not for Tesla (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

The dirty politics that killed the Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via Greentech Media)

Sen. Whitehouse challenges Sen. Rubio on climate change (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why the struggle over climate is moving to the executive branch (via National Journal)

Local, state governments lead the way on global warming (via The Oregonian)

Why is Texas terrible at producing solar power? (via National Journal)

Inslee’s climate effort will face steep odds (via Crosscut)

Posted:   |   Categories: Austin, battery, Brazil, california, canada, Capacity market, Chile, China, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, Demand response, drought, eia, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, FERC, fracking, Gas tax, geothermal, global warming, grid, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Marco Rubio, maryland, Matt Mead, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, New Orleans, News, North Carolina, Opower, Philippines, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale gas, Sheldon Whitehouse, solar, Tesla, texas, Transportation, wind, wyoming
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14
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Arctic autumns on track to warm a staggering 23 degrees F, warns NOAA (via Climate Progress)

US lays out vision for 2015 climate pact to United Nations (via Point Carbon)

Obama to announce $1 billion climate resilience fund (via The Hill)

The real reason why this week’s massive ice storm is so unusual (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Methane emissions from fracking up to 75% higher than EPA estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

US decision watched in row over solar imports from China, Taiwan (via Reuters)

Green banks can multiply the impact of clean energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

US solar industry more than 60% of the way to SunShot cost-competitiveness goal (via Renew Grid)

Distributed energy could make up 1/3 the US power supply by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

Electric rates fall in top 11 wind states but increase in other 39 states (via Facts of the Day)

Ivanpah dedicated with all three concentrating solar plants now online (via Solar Industry)

COAL 

US Attorney’s office probing North Carolina officials following coal ash spill (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Many car dealers don’t want to sell EVs: Here’s why (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Motors shares flirt with $200, still close at record price (via Los Angeles Times)

Are Tesla sales slowing in California? (via San Jose Mercury News)

ENVIRONMENT 

How China’s appetite for raw materials is transforming the world (via Washington Post)

Australian bushfire has grown to size of Melbourne (via Yale e360)

White House to launch administration-wide drought response (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate resilience, coal, coal ash, Concentrating solar power, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, global warming, Green bank, Ivanpah, methane, natural gas, News, North Carolina, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, SunShot, Taiwan, Tesla Motors, Transportation, united nations, Wildfire, wind
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23
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate takes center stage at World Economic Forum (via National Journal)

Europe, facing economic pain, may ease climate rules (via New York Times)

Massachusetts invests $50 million in grid, coastal climate resiliency (via CleanTechnica)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

EU may scrap green fuel law in boon for tar sands industry (via InsideClimate News)

TransCanada calls Keystone XL “safest pipeline to date” (via The Hill)

TransCanada’s 2013 lobbying topped $1 million (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Global utility-scale solar capacity climbs past 21GW in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

European Union relaxes renewable energy target (via Houston Chronicle)

Latin America gets its first concentrating solar plant (via Sustainable Business)

A U.S. offshore wind farm, made in Europe (via New York Times)

U.S. appeals court won’t revisit California ethanol ruling (via Reuters)

Honda ramps up U.S. wind power capability (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Federal appeals court rules Arctic oil lease sale flawed (via Washington Post)

Big Oil, small jobs: A look at the oil industry’s dubious job claims (via Center for American Progress)

North Dakota governor says new national safety standards for oil trains needed sooner than 2015 (via Inforum)

TRANSPORTATION 

The U.S. government keeps predicting we’ll drive more than we actually do (via Washington Post)

Silicon Valley workplaces rage when more EVs than charging stations (via Autoblog Green)

$50 million for advanced EV tech and more (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

California aims to increase energy efficiency, demand response (via Renew Grid)

How Harry Reid delivered a 235-mile long transmission line to Nevada (via National Journal)

Another 40MW of grid scale energy storage in the California pipeline (via Greentech Media)

New York looking to catch up with California’s lead in energy storage (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Moniz: Natural gas risks can be “managed” (via Houston Chronicle)

Proposed fracking in Virginia national forest meets broad opposition (via Los Angeles Times)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to tax coal for power, lower LNG and fuel oil tax from July 1 (via Reuters)

Europe divides over more ambitious pollution limits (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Institutional investors concerned about climate risk, “stranded assets” (via Breaking Energy)

Divesting from Big Oil – and making money (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio nuclear plant reports radioactive leak (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENVIRONMENT 

Historic California drought called a red flag for future of U.S. (via Christian Science Monitor)

Second chemical leaked during West Virginia spill prompts new probe (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

Pennsylvania governor releases all-of-the-above energy plan (via Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Internet and cable giant Comcast will soon sell electricity in Pennsylvania (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUILDING 

New report compares economic payoffs of white, green, or black roofs (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

10 questions to ask about scaling on-grid renewable energy (via World Resources Institute)

Finally, a reason for some optimism about climate change (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, california, climate, Climate resiliency, Comcast, Concentrating solar power, Demand response, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, green building, green roof, grid, harry reid, honda, Keystone XL, massachusetts, natural gas, Nevada, new york, News, nuclear, Offshore drilling North Dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, Pipeline, renewables, Shale oil, solar, South Korea, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, virginia, West Virginia, White roof, wind, World economic forum
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