Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.11.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
US, China agree on climate steps to curb emissions (via Washington Post)
Australia carbon emissions fell 7% in first year of carbon tax (via Platts)
A new one-stop shop for greenhouse gas emissions data (via WRI Insights)
Use of coal to generate power rises; greenhouse gas emissions next? (via Los Angeles Times)
Nanomaterials could accelerate CO2 removal from coal power plants (via RTCC)
Two more financial institutions divest from fossil fuels (via Energy Collective)
NATURAL GAS
China wants bigger share of US shale revolution (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Clean energy investment rises 22% led by US, China (via Bloomberg)
Wind to double and solar to triple in 6 years, says IEA (via Greentech Media)
Worldwide solar PV market will pass $134 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
HSBC: wind at parity with new coal in India, solar to join by 2018 (via Renew Economy)
Peru to use solar panels to provide electricity to 2 million people (via Latin American Herald Tribune)
EU parliament approve proposals to reduce biofuels emissions (via BusinessGreen)
Uncertainty over Australian Renewable Energy Target delays 1GW new wind (via Recharge)
State RPSs hold steady or expand in 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)
DoD, Interior inch closer to cooperation on renewable energy projects (via Federal Times)
Six Sioux tribes collaborate on biggest US wind farm (via Sustainable Business)
$1 billion cost to meet Colorado’s renewable-energy goal (via Denver Business Journal)
Rooftop solar takes off across California as costs come down (via San Jose Mercury News)
New York awards $54 million for 79 solar projects (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Texas A&M plans world’s largest solar testing center (via Sustainable Business)
OIL
IEA says US oil boom to erode OPEC market share in 2014 (via Reuters)
Russia to lift oil exports to Asia at expense of Europe (via Reuters)
Report says feds should expand damage assessment of BP oil spill (via Greenwire)
Canadian officials: death toll from train crash presumed at 50 (via Los Angeles Times)
TRANSPORTATION
China widens car-purchase restrictions to fight pollution (via Bloomberg)
Upgraded urban travel could save $70 trillion by 2050 (via Phys.org)
European Commission launches $1.8 billion fuel cell and hydrogen research initiative (via Green Car Congress)
Ford refocuses, cuts price of 2014 electric car by 10% (via NBC News/Reuters)
GRID
Climate change will cause more energy system breakdowns, warns US (via New York Times)
Power grids to spend $64 billion on new gear by 2020 (via Reuters)
Japan sets up hydrogen “task force” to advance fuel-cell infrastructure (via Autoblog Green)
Canada represents $7 billion in smart grid potential (via Renew Grid)
Continuous test operation begins for large-format Li-ion energy storage system (via Green Car Congress)
CLIMATE
New report tracks decades of climate change (via Rolling Stone)
Study says some trees use less water amid rising carbon dioxide (via New York Times)
A scientific storm is brewing over the hurricane-climate connection (via Mother Jones)
Dangerous global warming could be reversed, say scientists (via The Guardian)
Chicago-sized iceberg calves off Antarctic glacier (via The Guardian)
NUCLEAR
Japanese nuclear plant may have been leaking for two years (via New York Times)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
New EIA inventory tracks state energy efficiency programs (via US EIA)
House votes to block light bulb efficiency standards (via Climate Progress)
Nest and Opower talk strategy for residential demand response (via Greentech Media)
Curtailing energy during “peak power hour” reduces next year’s rates (via Energy Manager Today)
GREEN BUSINESS
Carbon Trust unveils supplier directory for green businesses (via BusinessGreen)
Report: reducing emissions and increasing manufacturing can go hand in hand (via Greentech media)
Nike’s new “Making” app shows sustainability of clothing material (via Inhabitat)
Sustainability exchange for cities to collaborate on best practices (via Energy Manager Today)
POLITICS
Battle rages over Obama’s climate standards for Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)
What David Vitter got for blocking Gina McCarthy (via Politico)
Conservative climate hawks to GOP: wake the hell up (via Mother Jones)
GOP aide writing anonymously: party should “reclaim” climate debate (via The Hill)
House panel approves bill curtailing EPA power on climate regulations (via The Hill)
OPINION
Bad news: fossil fuels are more than keeping up with clean energy (via Washington Post)
The money behind fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)
Green energy policy matters in selling EVs (via Houston Chronicle)