Category Archives:deforestation

12
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.12.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Obama administration limits on soot pollution upheld by appeals court (via Los Angeles Times)

Deval Patrick calls for “future free of fossil fuels,” zero coal in four years (via Climate Progress)

Stanford divesting coal helps students seeking domino effect (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Merkel says Germany would support Siemens-Alstom merger (via Reuters)

Obama doubles down on solar, energy efficiency in climate push (via The Hill)

US failed to inspect thousands of at-risk oil and gas wells, finds report (via The Guardian)

House votes to make energy research tax credit permanent (via ABC News/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Global renewable energy jobs count tops 6.5 million (via BusinessGreen)

UBS: Solar could be 10% global capacity by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

Germany approves 328MW of offshore wind (via Recharge)

Chile approves 110MW solar-thermal plant (via Recharge)

Renewables provide record 27% of German electricity demand (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s newly opened energy market attracts renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

More solar energy powering corporate America (via USA Today)

Wal-Mart doubles down on solar energy plans (via Wall Street Journal)

SolarCity surges on higher rooftop installation forecast (via Bloomberg)

US hopes to tap offshore wind potential (via Houston Chronicle)

ABB rolls out new grid interconnection technology for wind farms (via Renew Grid)

Solar seen bailing California out of summer hydro shortage (via Bloomberg)

Ohio senate votes to kill state’s renewable energy standard (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii confronts green energy’s bugaboo: Batteries (via Christian Science Monitor)

The only active landfill in Vermont goes solar (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

China’s coal dependency threatens efforts to curb warming (via New York Times)

Coal investments a bad bet for state pensions (via Times-Union)

After coal ash spill, Dan is a river of calm and caution (via Winston-Salem Journal)

CLIMATE 

Lloyd’s of London urges insurers to factor in climate change risk (via Environmental Leader)

Obama continues to push unilateral action to fight climate change (via National Journal)

As population surges, harsh Southwest climate will only get harsher (via Climate Progress)

South Carolina’s solution to sea level rise: Build more walls (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate standoff threatens to kill energy efficiency bill (via The Hill)

Energy bill fizzles as Senate begins debate on tax extenders (via National Journal)

Better Buildings Challenge partners reduce energy use 2.5% (via Energy Manager Today)

PACE is picking up for Michigan efficiency program (via Midwest Energy News)

Philips continues lighting revolution, tweaks LEDs for hydroponic growing (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia ratchets up Ukraine’s gas bills in shift to economic battlefield (via New York Times)

Cleanest fossil fuel is Wall Street’s bet on climate change (via Bloomberg)

EPA weighs rule requiring fracking chemical disclosure (via The Hill)

Hundreds of small quakes in North Texas since December (via StateImpact Texas)

EMISSIONS 

IEA: Decarbonizing world economy will save $71 trillion by 2050 (via RTCC)

Few funds ready to follow Stanford’s lead on fossil fuel stocks (via Reuters) 

OIL 

Oil industry risks $1.1 trillion of investor cash (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia, OPEC said will cover any Ukraine-related oil shortage (via Reuters)

BNSF says federal order won’t affect railroad oil shipments (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

US buyers show little interest in big hybrids (via Autoblog Green)

RMI: What’s the true cost of EV charging stations? (via GreenBiz)

Texas will soon offer $2,500 rebate for EVs, PHEVs, and more (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Obama: Palm oil is destroying Malaysia’s rainforests (via Mongabay)

Summer blockbuster? El Nino looking more likely (via Climate Central)

California drought: Parched state braces for fire season (via San Francisco Chronicle)

KEYSTONE XL 

How the Senate’s Keystone XL vote came crumbling down (via EcoWatch)

Keystone XL foes vow to fight South Dakota permit renewal (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Australian households could go off-grid by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

USDA awards $540 million for electric system upgrades, including $35 million for smart grid (via Renew Grid)

Clean Line wins key FERC approval (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

Rubio on a presidential bid, and climate change (via New York Times)

Colorado – energy’s continental divide (via Politico)

OPINION 

How to phase out incentives and grow solar energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Climate debate isn’t so heated in the US (via New York Times)

Obama’s energy announcements are nice, but we’ll need much more (via Time)

Can Congress ever have a reasonable energy debate? (via National Journal)

Texas is American energy leader – so how can its electricity markets be such a mess? (via Energy Trends Insider)

Obama’s new energy efficiency standards will lead to big electricity, consumer, carbon savings (via NRDC Switchboard)

Obama’s solar move is equivalent to a year without 80 million cars (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, Alstom, Angela Merkel, australia, battery, Better Buildings Challenge, BNSF, california, Chile, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, deforestation, deval patrick, Divestment, drought, earthquakes, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, EMI, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ev, ev charging, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, hybrid, Hydropower, IEA, Keystone XL, LED, Lloyd's of London, Malaysia, Marco Rubio, mexico, michigan, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, OPEC, PACE, palm oil, PHEV, Philips, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Siemens, smart grid, solar, SolarCity, south carolina, South Dakota, Stanford University, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, usda, vermont, wal-mart, Wildfire, wind
0
30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, Gigafactory, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
0
23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
0
23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
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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
10
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks cheaper power, curbs renewable subsidies (via ABC News/AP)

UK risks brownouts without power from Scotland (via Bloomberg)

New England power generators oppose Massachusetts proposed clean energy mandates (via ClimateWire)

Arizona utility’s long-term plan calls for more renewables, less coal (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels just hit their highest point in 800,000 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon trading in China: Short-term experience, long-term wisdom (via C2ES)

California issues first forestry offsets for carbon market (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

GWEC: Global installed wind power capacity will almost double in five years (via Renewable Energy World)

Chinese solar module prices may increase up to 20% in the US in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Offshore wind advances in Rhode Island, Texas, Georgia (via CleanTechnica)

Majority of Americans support renewable fuel standard, poll shows (via The Hill)

Net metering update: What do recent decisions tell us? (via Greentech Media)

A breakthrough for utility-scale solar on contaminated lands? (via Greentech Media)

Stanford researchers develop less resource-intensive way to make ethanol (via MIT Technology Review)

COAL 

China plans ban on imports of coal with high ash, sulfur (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate changes to result in bird, reptile shifts (via ABC News/AP)

Obama targets climate change in wildfire strategy (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cars become biggest driver of greenhouse gas increases (via Bloomberg)

The US Navy has found a way to turn seawater into fuel (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Walmart and GE team up for global LED rollout (via BusinessGreen)

How Japan replaced half its nuclear capacity with efficiency (via Energy Collective)

LA, DC top cities for Energy Star buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

Big manufacturers urging Ohio lawmakers to keep energy-efficiency benchmarks (via Columbus Business First)

FRACKING 

Researcher: 2014 slated to be most active year for global shale drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

P&G pledges zero deforestation by 2020 (via GreenBiz)

Wildlife in Gulf of Mexico still suffering four years after BP oil spill: report (via The Guardian)

GRID 

Wind, solar energy driving electricity storage technology (via Climate Central)

Grid operator endorses $590 million power project for Houston area (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Shale gas blooms in China? Not so fast (via Breaking Energy)

Obama Administration’s enthusiasm for coal sales undermines its climate program (via Center for American Progress)

Cowboys and Indians against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Why California’s drought isn’t going anywhere (via Climate Central)

Making climate adaptation finance work (via World Resources Institute)

Can a fair price for solar energy win over utilities? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, BP, california, Carbon market, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, energy storage, environment, ERCOT, ethanol, EU, European Union, fracking, GE, Georgia, Global Wind Energy Council. Renewables, grid, Gulf of Mexico, GWEC, japan, Keystone XL, LED, los angeles, massachusetts, Net metering, New England, News, nuclear, Offsets, offshore wind, Ohio, oil spill, P&G, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, rhode island, Scotland, shale, solar, Stanford, Subsidies, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Navy, Walmart, Washington DC, Wildfire, wind
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27
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.27.14

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

OIL 

Spain’s oil deposits and fracking trigger energy gold rush (via The Guardian)

US now producing 10% of world’s crude oil (via The Hill)

New York State seeks more data on crude oil rail operations (via New York Times)

Battle begins over plan to send oil trains through California cities (via Climate Progress)

UTILITIES 

UK’s big six utilities face competition probe (via Bloomberg)

FERC orders gas and electricity suppliers to work together (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Citigroup says “Age of Renewables” has begun (via Renew Economy)

Global solar deployment edged out wind in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

New wind power blows UK green electricity to record levels (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy starts 2014 off strong in US (via Renew Grid)

Study finds wind power cost competitive with natural gas in US (via Phys.org)

New US wind power installations plummet 93% in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

US solar market grappling with impact of federal tax credit expiration (via Greentech Media)

Kansas Senate approves bill ending renewable energy standards (via Kansas City Star)

Solar turf wars: NRG Energy buys roof diagnostics, Sunrun allies with Sungevity (via Greentech Media)

Watch how fast wind farms spread across the US (via Climate Central)

CLIMATE 

New UN IPCC report is cautious on making climate predictions (via Yale e360)

No pause in global sea level rise (via Scientific American)

Disasters led to $45 billion in global insurance losses in 2013 (via ABC News/AP)

Report says climate change is world’s “gravest security threat” (via RTCC)

Top scientists say global warming caused record Australian heatwave (via The Telegraph)

2013: Extreme weather, extreme damage in US (via Center for American Progress)

Obama talks climate change in new Showtime documentary (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

Trade deal would ease US natural gas exports to Europe (via Reuters)

Fracking’s earthquake risks push states to collaborate (via Bloomberg)

Keystone XL battle plan may not fit enviros’ fight against LNG exports (via E&E Daily)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s rivers at the brink of collapse (via Huffington Post)

Big challenges for reclamation of ravaged tar sands lands (via Yale e360)

House GOP wants to make it nearly impossible for Obama to create new national monuments (via National Journal)

USGBC wants all students educated on sustainability by 2040 (via GreenBiz)

Poll: Californians cutting water use amid drought (via San Francisco Chronicle)

COAL 

Poll finds support for more coal ash regulation in North Carolina (via News Observer)

TRANSPORTATION 

Modern diesels pollute over 20% less than those from 10 years ago (via Autoblog)

100% drop-in aviation biofuels “closer” to reality (via Renewable Energy World)

US high-speed rail gets a boost with 32-train order for Siemens (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

Germany’s $2.8 billion transmission link with Norway threatened (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

New Zealand’s “Kyoto forests” sow the seeds for a massive emissions surge (via The Guardian)

Have we reached the clean energy tipping point? (via GreenBiz)

Is a super El Nino coming to shatter extreme weather and global temperature records? (via Climate Progress)

Here’s why British Columbia’s carbon tax is so popular and effective (via Grist)

How the US natural gas boom just caused more US coal exports (via Climate Progress)

Why Nest’s valuation is higher than Opower’s: Hardware, consumers, homes (via GigaOm)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, barack obama, biofuel, british columbia, california, carbon tax, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, deforestation, diesel, drought, El Nino, Extreme weather, FERC, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, high speed rail, investment tax credit, itc, kansas, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, new york state, new zealand, News, North Carolina, norway, NRG Energy Sunrun, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Opower, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, solar, Spain, Sungevity, tar sands, Transportation, uk, UN IPCC, united kingdom, USGBC, wind
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27
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.27.14

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen, Portman finalize latest version of bill ahead of release (Via E&E Daily)

Opower’s evolution: Will the efficiency firm soon be a solar and EV integrator? (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

IG: State Dept did not break rules when hiring consultant for Keystone XL report (via Washington Post)

Corporation exploiting major loophole to quickly build 600-mile tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Canadian crude now moving through Keystone XL’s southern leg (via Houston Chronicle)

Kerry feels Keystone XL pressure from all sides (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer raises health concerns about Keystone XL (via USA Today)

Youth plan major White House protest against Keystone XL (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar set for record global expansion in 2014, led by China (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany must scrap its green energy law, say experts (via Reuters)

UK wind power output grew 38 percent in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

IEA says wind, solar can carry bulk of energy transformation (via Recharge)

Midsize EPCs squeezed globally while the US and China nurture top firms (via Solar Industry)

Morocco opens final tender on wind farms worth $1.7 billion (via Reuters)

Large offshore wind farms could soften blow of hurricanes (via Yale e360)

Report: Solar paired with storage is a “real, near, and present” threat to utilities (via Greentech Media)

Oregon Senate passes bill to protect state renewable energy mandates (via The Oregonian)

Cape Wind expects to wrap financing in Q3 (via Recharge)

OIL 

Dream of US oil independence slams against shale costs (via Bloomberg)

Accidents spur US to mandate tests of oil by train (via Reuters)

Seismic troubles stir up trouble in offshore drilling debate (via National Journal)

Shippers confused by new federal order on oil transport (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Obama proposed $302 billion transportation bill (via Washington Post)

Tesla Gigafactory will be capable of supplying 500,000 EVs a year (via Autoblog Green)

Honda to halt production of Insight hybrid vehicle (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

US, UK science academies say climate change is real (via Economic Times/Agence France-Presse)

Emerging economies lead climate action, says global study (via Bloomberg)

Climate change is increasing extreme heat globally (via Climate Central)

Report finds almost 500 laws to tackle climate change across world (via The Guardian)

COAL

Dollar value of US net coal exports has increase more than three-fold since 2005 (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT 

Radioactive water from Fukushima reaches Canada (via United Press International)

Ikea suspended by Forest Stewardship Council for illegal logging (via Environmental Leader)

California’s drought is extreme, but the government is making it worse (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Light-duty natural gas vehicles worldwide will reach nearly 40 million by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

LA and California lawmakers move to impose fracking moratoriums (via Grist)

GRID 

Smart grid benefits could bypass consumers, warns report (via Phys.org)

Threats to power sector gleaned from other industries’ attacks (via EnergyWire)

OPINION 

Obama’s pipeline (via New York Times)

Reuters’ climate coverage continues to decline under “skeptic” editor (via Media Matters for America)

Are high natural gas prices here to stay? (via National Journal)

Stunning map shows what a worst case climate change scenario might look like (via Business Insider)

Posted:   |   Categories: california, canada, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, drought, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ev, Extreme weather, forest stewardship council, fracking, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, honda, IEA, Ikea, john kerry, Keystone XL, los angeles, Morocco, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil train, Opower, oregon, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, smart grid, solar, State Department, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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21
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS 

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL 

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID 

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION 

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, amazon, barack obama, biomass, BNSF, Brazil, canada, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, denmark, Duke, ecuador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, green building, grid, Illinois, interior department, japan, John Kaisich, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, los angeles, Marcia McNutt, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, NREL, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, tar sands, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, usda, Wildfire, wind, wind turbine
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