Category Archives:Defense Department

16
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Right wing threatens EU climate change goals (via RTCC)

Study ties epic California drought, “frigid east” to manmade climate change (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

The green case against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Jimmy Carter comes out against Keystone XL pipeline (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment rises 9%, led by solar power (via Bloomberg)

European Investment Bank promises €2 billion clean energy funding boost (via BusinessGreen)

India signs power contracts for 700MW of new solar capacity (via Bloomberg)

IFC backs 50MW Pakistan wind project (via Recharge)

Solar trends for Q1 of 2014 and beyond: View from Mercom Capital (via Forbes)

Department of Defense undertakes largest solar project to date (via Climate Progress)

Oil group says EPA may flip-flop on ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Dual turning point for biofuels (via New York Times)

Tiny portable wind turbine fits in your bag, charges your gadgets (via TreeHugger)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 0.8% in 2013 (via Reuters)

Plants are key to removing 63 million tons of CO2 a year (via The Guardian)

US greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.4% in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Federal appeals court says EPA can force power plans to cut mercury emissions (via Washington Post)

US EPA studies whether to regulate methane from oil and gas (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Pitzer College selling fossil fuel stocks in environmental move (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Identifying the global coal industry’s water risks (via World Resources Institute)

The Pacific Rim coal bubble (via Sightline Daily)

Washington University students continue Peabody protest (via St. Louis Business Journal)

ENERGY POLICY 

American penitentiaries emphasize the need for sustainability (via TreeHugger)

BOEM announces plan to auction 21 million Gulf acres (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors urge Duke Energy to vote out directors (via News Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

China poised to beef up national Environmental Protection Law (via BusinessGreen)

Congo deforestation could cause region to warm 3C by 2050 (via RTCC)

Pollution is substantially worse in minority neighborhoods across the US (via Washington Post)

GAO audit finds lack of data on environmental reviews (via The Hill)

A brutal allergy season is ahead – blame the polar vortex (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Radioactive waste booms with shale oil as new rules mulled by US (via Bloomberg)

BP, Coast Guard end spill cleanup on Gulf shoreline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to stay global first in vehicle miles drive, says futurist (via Green Car Reports)

BMW lifts i3 electric car production 43% on higher demand (via Bloomberg)

Where do US electric cars save money the quickest? (via Green Car Reports)

DOE announces $10 million to upgrade technology for renewable drop-in fuels production (via Green Car Congress) 

GRID 

How a small California county went grid positive (via RMI Outlet)

Home energy management grows in some mind-bending ways (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EIA: Natural gas will slash diesel’s dominance as rail fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania DEP “monitoring” Ohio earthquake situation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Is Pennsylvania wasting its fracking wealth? (via National Journal)

New York City hotel commissions combined heat and power plant (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

A backup plan for climate change (via Washington Post)

Felipe Calderon: Economic arguments needed to fight climate change (via Forbes)

The eight factors driving global industrial efficiency (via Greentech Media)

It’s okay to support nuclear power and still enjoy a movie now and then (via Bloomberg)

Why it’s a big deal that half of the Great Lakes are still covered in ice (via The Atlantic)

Energy companies need to remake their boards before activists force them to (via Forbes)

Why the great Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal matters (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Allergies, australia, biofuels, BMW, BOEM, BP, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Congo, Defense Department, deforestation, diesel, Divestment, DOE, drought, duke energy, earthquakes, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Investment Bank, European Union, ev, Felipe Calderon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, Great Lakes, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, IFC, india, Jimmy Carter, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear power, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Peabody, pennsylvania, Pitzer College, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Shale oil, small wind, solar, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington University, wind
0
13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Ecototality, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Renewables forecasting, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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11
Jul

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, australia, barack obama, biofuels, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, canada, carbon capture, carbon tax, Carbon Trust, China, Climate Change, coal, colorado, David Vitter, Defense Department, Demand response, distributed generation, Divestment, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, HSBC, hydrogen, IEA, india, interior department, International Energy Agency, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Nanomaterials, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, new york state, News, nike, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Opower, Peru, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rooftop solar, rps, Russia, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Texas A&M, Transportation, wind
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10
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.10.13

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

GRID 

India has €2 billion market potential for high-voltage transmission lines (via Hindu Business Line)

NRG Energy looks into solar-based microgrids in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Ontario ramps up smart grid investment as coal is phased out (via Triple Pundit)

Texas calls for 317MW of compressed air energy storage (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to lose market share to shale in 2014 as rivals pump more (via Reuters)

Criminal investigation begun into deadly Canada train crash (via New York Times)

Quebec oil train explosion visible from space (via Climate Central)

North Dakota shale oil relies on rail for transport (via Grand Forks Herald)

Alaska pushing new plan for ANWR oil research (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

India’s first wind auction stalled by court case (via Bloomberg)

China won’t introduce duties on EU polysilicon imports (via Bloomberg)

Tidal energy could power half of Scotland (via RTCC)

Wind energy in Brazil: the country of the future? (via Renewable Energy World)

Records set to be smashed as Germany’s solar output soars (via RTCC)

US passes 10GW installed solar PV capacity milestone (via CleanTechnica)

Benefits of renewables in US better seen in eastern states (via EarthTechling)

EMISSIONS 

Air pollution causing higher risk of lung cancer and heart failure in Europe (via The Guardian)

Program begins large-scale CO2 injection in Michigan field test (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

EIA estimates annual US coal burn, supply to drop; exports to increase (via Platts)

Recent coal export trends: Q1 2013 (via Sightline Daily)

FirstEnergy shuttering two western Pennsylvania coal plants (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

CLIMATE 

Study says small birds may be able to cope with climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

Water worries: climate change in the desert Southwest (via USA Today)

In the US heartland, a young conservative climate campaign launches (via ClimateWire)

Toronto deluged with its all-time record 1-day rainfall (via Weather Underground)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA’s abandoned Wyoming fracking study one retreat of many (via High Country News)

Depleted offshore Gulf of Mexico natural gas well suffers blowout, leak (via Reuters)

Philadelphia may be marketed as natural gas hub (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Amish debate fracking and temptation (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Greener fuels at heart of EU’s €3.8 billion biotech package (via BusinessGreen)

US Department of Defense alternative drive vehicle spending will top $900 million by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Study finds pairing an EV with green electricity program increases buyer interest by 23% (via Green Car Congress)

TAR SANDS 

Canada tar sands expansion conditionally approved despite “significant” effects on wildlife (via Globe and Mail)

ENVIRONMENT 

Europe must tackle air pollution, warn UN scientists (via Climate Central)

Australia admits Barrier Reef environmental conditions are “poor” (via Phys.org)

Attitudes on GMO crops are modifying (via New York Times)

States falling short on Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

NUCLEAR 

Japan nuclear regulator alarmed at Fukushima contamination reports (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Report shows remarkable “climate disconnect” in House GOP voting record (via Climate Progress)

Vitter drops filibuster threat on EPA nominee McCarthy (via Washington Post)

Wealthy donors in his corner as Obama comes out swinging on climate (via InsideClimate News)

Senate Dems huddle with Obama adviser on climate plan (via The Hill)

Top US offshore drilling regulator stepping down (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Can Germany afford its “energy bender” shift to green power? (via BBC News)

UK’s green industrial revolution at risk from government “dithering” (via BusinessGreen)

You can’t deny global warming after seeing this graph (via Washington Post)

California energy efficiency a national role model (via EarthTechling)

Connecticut moves (mostly) ahead on clean energy (via CLF Scoop)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, alaska, Alberta, anwr, australia, barack obama, BOEMRE, Brazil, CAES, california, canada, Carbon sequestration, Chesapeake Bay, China, Climate Climate change, coal, Coal exports, Compressed air energy storage, Connecticut, David Vitter, Defense Department, drought, eia, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EPA, EU, ev, Extreme weather, FirstEnergy, fracking, fukushima, germany, Gina McCarthy, GMO, Great Barrier Reef, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Heather Zichal, india, japan, LNG, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas export, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, ontario, OPEC, pennsylvania, philadelphia, Quebec, renewables, Scotland, Severe weather, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, tar sands, texas, tidal energy, Toronto, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, wind, wyoming
0
23
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

98% of DOE’s $34 billion loan portfolio is being repaid (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Thawing permafrost could produce lower CO2 emissions than previously thought (via ClimateWire)

New EU climate policy unlikely before 2015 (via Phys.org)

10 cities that will be hardest hit by climate change (via Grist)

Gov. Jerry Brown keeps pressing on the perils of climate change (via San Jose Mercury News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale boom shapes international energy markets (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy-rich Colorado becomes setting for fracking fight (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House panel approves fracking measure (via Chicago Tribune)

Grassroots greens challenge EDF on fracking involvement (via Mother Jones)

RENEWABLES 

Germany investing €50 million in solar PV innovation (via Recharge)

Switch to low-carbon energy would save UK households 1,600 (via The Independent)

White House, Pentagon at odds over biofuel refinery program (via Greenwire)

Wind potential – all about the data (via Renewable Energy World)

North Carolina renewable energy policy will remain in place (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

China emissions cap proposal hailed as climate breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

China unveils details of pilot carbon-trading program (via The Guardian)

CBO: carbon tax an option to avoid “catastrophic” outcomes (via The Hill)

College fossil-fuel divestment movement builds (via Houston Chronicle)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

House passes bill to speed up Keystone XL, avoid Obama review (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL’s southern leg nears completion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Motors repays its government loan in full (via Greentech Media)

Tesla Model S set to bring EVs into mainstream (via BusinessGreen)

Coalition launches EV charging station project in upstate New York (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

Coal regains some electric generation market share from natural gas (via US EIA)

Mining lobby touts economic impact of coal exports (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK government to boost energy efficiency efforts across sectors (via Energy Manager Today)

How Cree perfected the 20-year light bulb (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

Death by a thousand cuts: coal boom could destroy Great Barrier Reef (via Spiegel)

POLITICS 

The GOP’s green energy tent is slowly getting bigger (via National Journal)

Climate activists to protest at Obama group’s climate events (via Grist)

Q&A: Steven Chu on his time as US Energy Secretary (via Stanford News)

Green billionaire Steyer plans to get involved in Massachusetts Senate race (via The Hill)

Terry McAuliffe reverses course, backs bill to allow oil drilling off Virginia coast (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Europe, Australia, and the slow death of carbon trading (via Renew Economy)

Could a Chinese carbon cap pave the way for a global climate deal? (via Grist)

The impact of budget sequestration on DOD energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Posted:   |   Categories: arra, australia, biofuel, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Cree, Defense Department, Divestment, DOE, edf, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Environmental Defense Fund, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Illinois, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LED, massachusetts, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, OFA, offshore drilling, Permafrost, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, solar pv, Stanford, steven chu, tar sands, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, virginia, wind
0
30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.13

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

EMISSIONS

Global carbon dioxide concentration now at highest level in 5 million years (via USA Today)

Global carbon dioxide levels set to pass 400ppm milestone (via The Guardian)

EU uncertainty likely to affect global carbon markets (via RTCC)

COAL 

In the Northwest, rising coal exports to Asia stir huge fight (via Seattle Times)

Bank of America and Citigroup biggest lenders to coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal warns of liquidation without major cuts to labor (via Reuters)

GRID 

Ethiopia getting Chinese funds for $1 billion hydropower line (via Renewable Energy World)

DOE: $2.9 billion in smart grid investment yields $6.8 billion in economic output (via AOL Energy)

RENEWABLES 

Latin American clean energy investment surged 127% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

India’s clean power capacity races past 28GW in 2012-2013 (via Panchabuta)

Masdar to invest £1 billion with UK Green Investment Bank (via BusinessGreen)

Obama Administration limits mining on potential renewable energy sites (via The Hill)

Largest solar power plant in world now under construction in California (via Renew Economy)

Seven US offshore wind demonstration projects (via Renewable Energy World)

New wind industry CEO to mix business with environment (via Greentech Media)

Reshuffling the top 5 micro wind turbines (via CleanTechnica)

Website aims to become Yelp of solar power (via Midwest Energy News)

Very small wind hopes to power you up (via EarthTechling)

Colorado wins stronger solar mandate (via Greentech Media)

Slowing clean energy investing rush could hurt Sacramento industry (via Sacramento Bee)

OIL 

China is using up oil faster than we can produce it (via Washington Post)

Saudi-US relations to withstand North American oil boom (via Reuters)

Latest government data shows Canadian oil exports to US rising (via Wall Street Journal)

As shale booms, US crude exports jump to 13-year high (via Reuters)

BP hit by wave of new spill lawsuits ahead of April deadline (via Reuters)

California lawmakers advance bill to halt oil fracking in state (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Texas shale boom has major impact on state budget (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Fleet owners driven toward natural gas vehicles as oil prices soar (via Bloomberg)

Diesel, hybrid sales rocket past overall US market growth rate (via Autoblog Green)

Remember: DOE rejected most of the EV startups that wanted loans (via GigaOm)

Tesla Motors offers unlimited battery warranty (via Plugin Cars)

Nissan Leaf time lapse shows the EV being built (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Rich countries blamed for setting climate talks “back a decade” (via RTCC)

Climate change compounds rising threats to koala (via The Guardian)

Report links rise in US disaster relief spending to climate change (via Climate Progress)

Along New Jersey bay, rising sea draws ever closer (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan utilities post $16 billion loss, outlook clouded on reactor restarts (via Reuters)

California nuclear shutdown offset low 2012 natgas prices (via Reuters)

Marcellus Shale cities, entwined with gas, among latest to join fossil fuel divestment push (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

EU votes to ban bee-killing pesticides (via BusinessGreen)

US Defense Department becomes a wildlife protector (via Los Angeles Times)

5 butterfly species just went extinct while no one was looking (via Mother Jones)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nearly 50 groups lobbying for Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Nest Labs updates smart thermostat for summer (via Greentech Media)

Ohio industry backs state energy efficiency standards (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The politics of climate change (via Phys.org)

House GOP demands details on DOE loan guarantees (via The Hill)

How “green” is new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell? (via Christian Science Monitor)

New Interior Department chief savors a steep learning curve (via New York Times)

Landrieu primed to lead Senate Energy panel – if she wins re-election (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer finds herself at odds with environmentalists (via Los Angeles Times)

Zukerberg group draws fire over pro-fossil fuel ads (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why do conservatives like to waste energy? (via Mother Jones)

How the political crusade against Fisker Automotive stifles innovation (via OnEarth)

Carbon market crossroads: new ideas for harnessing global markets to confront climate change (via Climate Progress)

Climate myths: how climate deniers are getting away with bad science (via Mongabay)

How to spot greenwashing (via The Good Human)

The limits of climate adaptation are social, not physical or economic (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, adaptation, awea, Bank of America, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, Climate denier, coal, Coal export, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, Defense Department, diesel, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, Extinction, Fisker, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenwashing, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, Hydropower, india, interior department, investment, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, mark zuckerberg, Mary Landrieu, masdar, mountaintop removal, Nest, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Patriot Coal, Pesticides, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sacramento, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, small wind, smart grid, solar, Tesla Motors, texas, Tom Kiernan, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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18
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Green groups rally on climate, urge Obama to reject Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Canada defends climate record amid Keystone XL protests in US (via Canadian Press)

Canadian ambassador slams press coverage of Keystone XL pipeline battle (via The Hill)

Oil sands tailings leaking into groundwater, Canadian Natural Resources Minister told in memo (via Canada.com)

Nebraska utility says transmission project for Keystone XL will be delayed (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shale LPG poised to make US net exporter for first time (via Bloomberg)

Fracking is only way to achieve Obama climate goals, says senior scientist (via The Guardian)

Apache natural gas well has leak beneath floor of Gulf of Mexico (via Reuters)

Shale gas boom slows in Marcellus formation (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Illinois fracking rules could be strictest in America (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

China on track to exceed targets, install 140GW of wind capacity by 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Why German solar is so much cheaper than US solar – updated study (via CleanTechnica)

Solar PV below $2/watt in Australia (via CleanTechnica)

US bioethanol makers face 5-year EU anti-dumping tariff (via Bloomberg)

New trends in financing wind power (via Greentech Media)

Wind energy records fall in Washington, Texas, Colorado (via EarthTechling)

Bill proposed in Congress would streamline US solar and wind permits (via Recharge)

Wyden floats plan to boost geothermal energy (via The Hill)

Could wind power cool New England’s price fever? (via New York Times)

Federal approval near for sprawling California wind project (via Greenwire)

Offshore wind gets another try in Maryland (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers (via Autoblog)

What does a sub-$20k EV mean for the industry? (via EarthTechling)

More electric car owners install home charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

ARPA-E funds $20 million to develop energy storage systems for EVs (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

Global warming affects Arctic and Antarctic regions differently (via Phys.org)

Extreme rainfall rises with global temperatures (via Climate Progress)

Tens of thousands demand action on climate change (via USA Today)

Secret funding of climate skeptics is not restricted to the US (via The Guardian)

Two thirds of Americans want Obama to act on climate (via Climate Central)

OIL 

Direct threat to Canadian economy posed by US shale oil production (via Edmonton Journal)

Elegiac images from North Dakota’s boom (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS 

BASIC countries oppose EU carbon tax model (via Yahoo! News/Hindustan Times)

Obama’s carbon “cavalry” may help revive EU market (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas isn’t the only reason US carbon emissions are falling (via Washington Post) 

GRID 

Electricity costs up in gas-dependent New England (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Military facilities benefit from using LEED (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

The low-tech solution to big cities’ climate woes: triple-pane windows (via Grist)

Defense Department “should continue” LEED certifications (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Misunderstanding coal in Europe (via Christian Science Monitor)

Developers drop plans for Texas coal plant (via Houston Chronicle)

After White Stallion power plant canceled, coal faces dark future in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

ENVIRONMENT 

NOAA head: weather forecasts at risk over budget cuts (via Climate Central)

Report points to risk of serious gap in weather satellite data (via New York Times)

The top 10 hardest-hit states for crop damage (via Climate Central)

TESLA-NEW YORK TIMES CONFLICT 

Tesla, the New York Times, and the leveling of the media playing field (via PaidContent)

Tesla Model S owners crowdsource trip to counter NYT report (via Green Car Reports)

Sparks fly between Tesla and NYT, but here’s what matters to the rest of us (via OnEarth)

POLITICS 

Obama faces risks in pipeline decision (via New York Times)

Keystone for climate: could Obama craft a horse trade? (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama acknowledges climate change difficulties (via Politico)

Billionaire Steyer has unique role in official Washington: climate change radical (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Environmentalists and the military should play nice (via Slate)

Oil and gas feeding off each other while they fuel an economic recovery (via Forbes)

Will shale oil stop the Keystone XL pipeline? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, arctic, ARPA-E, australia, barack obama, Bioethanol, biofuel, california, canada, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Defense Department, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, Fuel Economy, geothermal, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, LEED, marcellus shale, maryland, natural gas, Nebraska, New England, News, noaa, north dakota, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, renewables, Ron Wyden, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Washington State, wind
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28
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.13

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

GRID 

Google spending millions to influence smart grid regulations (via AOL Energy)

Cisco unveils “connected grid” approach for power companies (via AOL Energy)

NYISO reports record-low prices, more wind integration in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Vermont study concludes smart meters are safe (via Renew Grid)

COAL 

Vancouver port approves first of two controversial coal-export projects (via Vancouver Sun)

EMISSIONS 

Russian row over Kyoto extension rumbles on (via BusinessGreen)

Obama rejects carbon tax, prefers focus on jobs (via Environmental Leader)

Experts outline how REDD+ credits could fit into California’s cap-and-trade program (via Mongabay)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV market set to rebound next year (via Recharge)

New Chinese wind installations fall again in 2012 (via Recharge)

Europe installed over one offshore wind turbine a day in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Canada’s first offshore wind farm set for British Columbia (via CleanTechnica)

Solar costs to fall as REITs emerge as funding source (via Bloomberg)

Total capacity of US Defense Department renewable energy installations will quadruple by 2025 (via Pike Research)

Federal court overturns EPA’s biofuels mandate (via New York Times)

Falling costs power wind boom: down another 21% since 2010 (via Facts of the Day)

Net metering hits the wall in California (via Pike Research)

A sneak attack on commercial solar in Arizona (via Greentech Media)

Wyoming wind could be good fit for California (via EarthTechling)

Oregon sets wave energy development course (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Japanese energy, business groups urge US natgas export approvals (via The Hill)

Fracking’s other danger: radiation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Survey: consumers want centralized energy efficiency, demand response management (via Renew Grid)

Can smart buildings be catalysts for a second term White House agenda? (via GreenBiz)

Los Angeles saves millions with LED street light deployment (via Forbes)

DC finalizes regulations for benchmarking energy use in large buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

San Francisco 49ers dig for gold with NFL’s first LEED stadium (via CleanTechnica)

TAR SANDS 

Fight intensifies over tar sands pipelines (via Sustainable Business)

Enbridge resisting final clean up of its Michigan oil spill (via InsideClimate News)

Protesters in Maine rally against tar sands oil (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek/AP)

CLIMATE 

Davos strives to make climate talk more than hot air (via Reuters)

Could China and the BRICs nations lead on climate change? (via The Guardian)

NASA’s alarming map of the worst Australian heat wave on record (via The Atlantic)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia: “rampaging domestic demand” threatens future as oil exporter (via AOL Energy)

Environmental groups say insurance cannot cover oil spills in Canada (via Business Insurance)

North Dakota oil boom takes a toll on health care (via New York Times)

Barge accident causes Mississippi River oil spill (via USA Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to increase number of public EV charge stations 40% in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota Prius was California’s best-selling car in 2012 (via Autoblog Green)

California still hasn’t bought land for bullet train route (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazil plans Amazon tree census to assess deforestation (via The Guardian)

Waste heat from cities may be altering weather patterns (via Climate Central)

Measuring the consequence of forest fires on public health (via Phys.org)

Low snowfall raises concerns about drought recovery (via Climate Central)

Texas, New Mexico tangle over water (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Washington and business brace for an Obama wave of regulations (via The Hill)

Western candidates top list of prospects to head Interior Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Red state, green Republican: Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

Can emerging wind markets compensate for stagnant European growth? (via Renewable Energy World)

6 technologies that could shape the future of energy (via GigaOm)

How should Washington address climate change? (via National Journal)

Is divestment an effective means of protest? (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, arizona, australia, barack obama, biofuels, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, China, Cisco, climate, coal, Coal export, Davos, Defense Department, deforestation, Demand response, Divestment, DoD, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, europe, ev, EV charging stations, fracking, google, grid, Heat wave, high speed rail, Incentives, japan, Kyoto Protocol, LED, LEED, los angeles, Maine, michigan, Mississippi River, natural gas, Natural gas export, Net metering, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, NYISO, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oregon, REDD, REIT, renewables, Russia, san francisco, saudi arabia, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Toyota prius, Transportation, Vancouver, vermont, Washington DC, Wave energy, Wildfire, wind, World economic forum, wyoming
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