Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Research says latest international climate pledges still fall short of 2C goal (via ClimateProgress)
Europe’s record-hot year made 35 times more likely by climate change (via The Guardian)
New York, other major cities face more power outages thanks to climate change (via ClimateProgress)
Rutgers research shows climate change driving fish north (via Newark Star-Ledger)
NUCLEAR
Japan approves two new nuclear reactors (via The Hill)
RENEWABLES
Duties set by U.S. on imports of China, Taiwan solar goods (via Bloomberg)
New tariffs on Chinese solar-panel makers split the U.S. solar industry (via Greentech Media)
Beijing urges U.S. to be reasonable in search for trade settlement (via PV Tech)
David Cameron declares UK has “enough” onshore wind farms (via BusinessGreen)
British Columbia approves $7.5 billion hydropower dam (via Reuters)
Central America’s biggest wind farm gets $300 million from IFC (via Bloomberg)
Chile’s mines set hot pace on renewables – Australia should take notice (via Renew Economy)
Where does solar make sense? New state study shows big differences and surprises (via Breaking Energy)
NREL demonstrates 45.7% efficiency for solar cell (via NREL)
California approves major revisions in its Renewable Auction Mechanism (via Greentech Media)
Rural co-ops promise net metering but don’t always deliver (via Midwest Energy News)
Cape Wind will miss 2014 goal to close project financing (via Recharge)
Power options: Comparing costs of rooftop solar to traditional electricity (via WRI Insights)
Think tank proposes 40 options to change ethanol mandate (via The Hill)
Staples California announces green energy offering for small businesses (via Environmental Leader)
EMISSIONS
Beijing reveals bottom-up approach to national carbon market (via RTCC)
Australia quietly re-instates a carbon-trading scheme (via Renew Economy)
Industry’s mercury challenge could undermine attack on EPA climate rule (via Greenwire)
A carbon pollution policy with all the fixins’ (via Sightline Daily)
California pensions should divest coal assets, says state senate leader (via Reuters)
Washington Governor proposes carbon tax to fund pressing transportation needs (via Huffington Post)
OIL
OPEC net oil export revenues expected to fall in 2014-2015 (via U.S. EIA)
An OPEC of the West? North American nations eye stronger oil and gas ties (via Christian Science Monitor)
U.S. talking oil exports just when the world needs it least (via Bloomberg)
Investors in beat-up oil bonds lean on banks for rescue (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
ABB-led consortium launches $10.5 million project to install EV fast chargers along key European highways (via Green Car Congress)
4,700 all-electric cars sold in Europe during October (via Inside EVs)
U.S. households to spend $550 less on gasoline in 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)
California, Washington lead all other states in EV ownership rates (via Green Car Reports)
GRID
Utility distribution microgrids are expected to reach $6 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)
Developing a reliable wind “super grid” for Europe (via Phys.org)
Cautiously, private utilities dip toes into microgrid pool (via Navigant Research)
Will states take over demand response markets in the U.S.? (via Renewable Energy World)
PG&E testing new grid-scale battery system at $160 per kWh (via Energy Manager Today)
ENVIRONMENT
Italy says it will oppose EU plans to scrap environmental law (via The Guardian)
Obama withdraws Alaska’s Bristol Bay from drilling (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
Top 10 universities taking the lead on sustainability worldwide (via EcoWatch)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working on more regulations than EPA (via Greenwire)
Rocky Mountain Institute, Carbon War Room join forces (via BusinessGreen)
Cutting the cord without blowing your power bill (via Sustainable Cities Collective)
POLITICS
McConnell says Keystone first item on GOP Senate agenda (via The Hill)
Lobbying of Hillary begins (via The Hill)
Jeb Bush may be “the smart brother” but he’s as much a climate denier as any conservative (via The Guardian)
Renewable energy companies use new clout in statehouses (via Stateline)
OPINION
Is India’s grand solar vision becoming reality? (via Renewable Energy World)
Plunging oil prices are doing Obama’s foreign policy for him (via Washington Post)
Protecting Bristol Bay was an easy call for Obama – the hard ones come next (via National Journal)
Should the price of oil really impact renewable energy adoption? (via Greentech Media)
In defense of Massachusetts: Why the Bay State is leading in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)
The real reason Tesla’s stock is tanking (via Huffington Post)