Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NATURAL GAS
Ukraine readies for winter without Russian gas (via The Hill)
Winter season heightens Russia-Europe gas game (via Retuers)
U.S. gas boom turns global as LNG exports shake up market (via Bloomberg)
FERC approves Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export facility (via Reuters)
EPA shows 73% decline in methane emissions from fracked wells (via Green Car Congress)
EMISSIONS
Smog clouds Shanghai’s drive to become global financial center (via Bloomberg)
U.S. emissions increased in 2013, according to EPA (via Huffington Post)
RENEWABLES
India will be renewables superpower, says energy minister (via The Guardian)
Germany renewables output tops coal for first time (via Bloomberg)
Japan may apply solar brakes with rate overhaul (via Bloomberg)
India to build first offshore wind power project (via Bloomberg)
Brazil study shows 30 ethanol mills near bankruptcy (via Bloomberg)
Japan to slap more restrictions on solar power (via Reuters)
Wave power finally on the horizon? (via Renewables International)
New Western U.S. real-time market aims to smooth bumps in renewable generation (via EnergyWire)
Massachusetts: 100,000 clean energy jobs (via Sustainable Business)
Vivint Solar prices IPO at $16 per share, aims for SolarCity-style ride (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Coal competing with oil and gas for space on rails (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Alpha Natural sees room for just 2-4 big U.S. coal miners (via Bloomberg)
For sale: Coal mines for investors willing to buck trend (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
U.S., India partner on climate resilience (via The Hill)
Six EU states cast doubt on proposed 2030 climate goals (via RTCC)
South Pacific flotilla to protest climate change inaction at Australia coal port (via Reuters)
OIL
OPEC oil output hits highest since 2012 on Libya, Saudi (via Reuters)
Crude oil prices recover as Saudi Arabia cuts production (via Houston Chronicle)
Rising U.S. crude exports move closer to 1957 record (via Bloomberg)
U.S. could press for international Arctic drilling standards (via Houston Chronicle)
Oil, rail industries want 7 years to fix tank cars (via ABC News/AP)
Oil lobby: Rail tank car phase-out could cost $45.2 billion (via The Hill)
Enbridge delays North Dakota oil pipeline at least a year (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla breaks into Japan (via Forbes)
NUCLEAR
DOE to offer $12.6 billion for nuke projects (via The Hill)
GRID
California is integrating western utilities into its grid balancing market (via Greentech Media)
Dozens of developers show interest in Hawaii’s energy storage proposal (via PV Tech)
ENVIRONMENT
North American beekeepers sue to stop pesticides (via Triple Pundit)
California governor signs plastic bag ban (via The Hill)
California burns through $209 million wildfire budget, taps $70 million more (via Los Angeles Times)
POLITICS
An environmentalist’s calculated push toward Brazil’s presidency (via Reuters)
OPINION
Taxes, fees: The worldwide battle between utilities and solar (via Reuters)
The world’s biggest energy hogs aren’t who you think they are (via Christian Science Monitor)
Holding out on solar? It’s time to reconsider (via GreenBiz)
Power markets and the changing color of the grid (via The Energy Collective)
Searching for the good life in the Bakken oil fields (via The Atlantic)
The explosive debate over a new natural gas pipeline through the Northeast (via Climate Progress)