Category Archives:DOE

17
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.17.13

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

CLIMATE 

Smaller glacier melt boost sea level rise as much as largest ones (via Climate Central)

USGS: warmer springs causing loss of snow cover throughout Rocky Mountains (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian government doubles advertising spend on tar sands (via The Guardian)

Canadian prime minister warns US against Keystone XL rejection (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Keystone XL oil pipeline bill moves to full US House (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

EU confirms two percent reduction in ETS emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Norwegian firm seeks way to trap cement factory CO2 (vie Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China PV prices “could rise 45%” in June (via Recharge)

Australia launches clean energy map (via Renew Economy)

Solar power costs closing in on wind (via Reuters)

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom (via GreenBiz)

US military’s renewable energy development at risk from Sequester (via Medill)

Goldman Sachs to finance $500 million for SolarCity roofs (via Bloomberg)

Report outlines US military’s 130MW solar power might (via CleanTechnica)

Are run-of-river hydropower systems ready for the US? (via Renewable Energy World)

800MW solar power plant goes online in California (via Sacramento Bee)

Renewable power generation grew 7 percent in Texas last year (via Houston Chronicle)

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plans (via Courier-Press/AP)

COAL 

NRG settles lawsuit with NJ & CT; will shut down coal units (via Renew Grid)

TRANSPORTATION 

Global capacity of lithium-ion batteries for EVs will grow 10-fold by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s market value soars but some see a bubble (via Washington Post)

Nissan Leaf sales hit 25,000 in US (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Baltic LNG terminal deal likely for late 2013 (via Retuers)

Interior Department unveils fracking rules for federal lands (via The Hill)

Fracking risks to groundwater assessed by scientific review (via Phys.org)

Could we see three US LNG export projects approved by 2014? (via Breaking Energy)

Shale drilling nearly doubles Ohio output since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China’s State Grid to buy stake in Australian electricity network for $802 million (via Washington Post/AP)

California ISO market fix boosts renewables in state (via Reuters)

National Grid unveils plans for sustainability hub (via Daily Finance)

ENERGY POLICY 

What British Columbia election means for Northwest fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

EPA ranked most effective of all federal agencies (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE publishes protocols to determine energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)

Five technologies to make government buildings more efficient (via Greentech Media)

NREL teams up with US Navy to cut energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study finds world’s fish have been moving to colder waters for decades (via Washington Post)

Indonesia extends landmark ban on clearing rainforests and peatland (via New York Times)

State officials seek federal help fighting invasive species (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Senate approves Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy (via Greentech Media)

Senate committee advances EPA nominee McCarthy in party-line vote (via The Hill)

GOP says EPA’s FOIA decisions show “anti-conservative attitude” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Strengthening ownership and effectiveness of climate finance (via WRI Insights)

How low can utility emissions go? (via Greentech Media)

Proposed fracking rules anger environmentalists, annoy industry (via National Journal)

Spigot of money starting to open up for installing solar panels (via GigaOm)

A new model for valuing distributed energy (via Greentech Media)

 

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, british columbia, Cal-ISO, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate finance, coal, Coal exports, Concentrating solar power, Connecticut, csp, deforestation, distributed generation, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Hydropower, indiana, Indonesia, investment, Keystone XL, LNG, national grid, natural gas, Natural gas export, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, norway, NREL, NRG, Ohio, renewables, rooftop solar, Run-of-river hydropower, Sea level rise, Sequester, Shale gas, Shale oil, Snow cover loss, solar, solar pv, SolarCity, State Grid, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, US Navy, usgs, wind
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16
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: aerovironment, Arctic Council, battery, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, ConocoPhillips, Demand response, Divestment, DOE, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging system, Extreme weather, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, global warming, grid, Illinois, Jean Shaheen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, offshore wind, oil, PGE, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rob Portman, rooftop solar, SEC, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stephen Harper, Tesla, Transocean, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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16
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: aerovironment, Arctic Council, battery, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, ConocoPhillips, Demand response, Divestment, DOE, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging system, Extreme weather, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, global warming, grid, Illinois, Jean Shaheen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, offshore wind, oil, PGE, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rob Portman, rooftop solar, SEC, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stephen Harper, Tesla, Transocean, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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15
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.13

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

CLIMATE 

Sea levels may rise 27 inches through 2100 on ice melt (via Bloomberg)

UN says natural disasters cost $2.5 trillion since 2000 (via Phys.org)

Visiting Sweden, Kerry offers “regret” US hasn’t done more on climate (via The Hill)

Rockefeller Foundation launches $100 million resilient cities initiative (via BusinessGreen)

Sea levels rising so fast London faces significant flooding risk this century (via The Independent)

For insurers, no doubts on climate change (via New York Times)

GRID 

More than 1,300 demand response programs underway worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid efforts to thrive in Asia-Pacific (via Renew Grid)

RENEWABLES 

China gives environmental approval to country’s biggest hydro dam (via Reuters)

Greece announces drastic solar FIT cuts (via PV Magazine)

Fighting blackouts: Japan residential PV and energy storage market flourishing (via Renewable Energy World)

Morocco begins construction of world’s largest concentrating solar plant (via Sustainable Business)

China wants dialogue with EU in solar trade war (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Acting DOE chief: US not backing down on India solar trade war (via The Hill)

Clean tech incubators join forces across the Atlantic (via Sustainable Business)

Proposed bill would add natural gas-based ethanol to US biofuels mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Study: Arizona solar energy provides millions in ratepayer benefits (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL 

Oil majors under EU investigation over alleged oil and biofuel price fixing (via BusinessGreen)

Report: most nations lack safeguards in oil, mining oversight (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Will your next car join the “revolution” in information technology? (via ClimateWire)

Proposed law would stop Tesla electric car sales in North Carolina (via News & Observer)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate energy chairman seeks May floor action for efficiency bill (via The Hill)

California plans to force cuts in power use by computers, electronics, and appliances (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Industrialized fishing has forced seabirds to change what they eat (via Mongabay)

China granted observer seat on Arctic Council (via Reuters)

Amazon flood/drought cycle becoming more extreme, less predictable (via Mongabay)

POLITICS 

Merkel’s green challenger seeks CO2 price rise to ditch coal (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Clean energy learns to compete in Europe (via New York Times)

Christie’s broken climate promise (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, arizona, biofuel, Biofuel mandate, california, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, Concentrating solar power, csp, Demand response, DOE, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, EU, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Flooding, germany, Greece, grid, Hydropower, india, japan, john kerry, London, Morocco, News, North Carolina, oil, renewables, Resiliency, Rockefeller Foundation, Sea level rise, Severe weather, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Sweden, Tesla, Transportation, UN, united nations
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14
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate change. Global warming, Climate refugees, Climate resilience, coal, deforestation, Demand response, DOE, drought, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energiewende, environment, EU, European Union, ev, germany, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, Matt Mead, mexico, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Sea ice melt, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, SolarCity, solyndra, South Korea, sustainability, Wildfire, wind, wyoming
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14
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate refugees, Climate resilience, coal, deforestation, Demand response, DOE, drought, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energiewende, environment, EU, European Union, ev, germany, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, mexico, Mount Everest, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Sea ice melt, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, SolarCity, solyndra, South Korea, sustainability, Wildfire, wind, wyoming
0
13
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global CO2 levels pass long-feared milestone (via New York Times)

UNFCC Paris meeting projected as pivotal climate point (via USA Today)

We’ve hit 400ppm – here’s what that means (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Is Canada’s oil too dirty for Europe? (via International Herald Tribune)

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline seen dragging past summer (via Reuters)

TransCanada files lawsuit to block Keystone XL protests (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

White House outlines framework for managing Arctic (via The Hill)

Half world’s plants, third of animals threatened by climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

PwC questions EU-China solar PV tariff claims (via Recharge)

Solar module manufacturing trends in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Hyundai’s 50-acre rooftop solar system will be South Korea’s largest PV system (via Autoblog Green)

Better batteries could revolutionize solar, wind power (via USA Today)

Wind industry wants PTC extended for big piece of energy pie (via Greentech Media)

A rare bipartisan clean energy bill is ready for passage (via InsideClimate News)

Is Xcel’s top spot in US wind power in jeopardy? (via Star-Tribune)

Maine governor wants wind energy goals out of state law (via Bangor Daily News)

Rooftop solar firms launch net metering advocacy alliance (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GRID 

UK regulators defer smart meter rollout (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid revenue in China will surpass $15 billion a year by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

India’s coal import boom has limited beneficiaries (via Reuters)

Coal-export plans going off the rails in Pacific Northwest (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

Project aims to track carbon footprints of big cities (via Phys.org)

It’s not all about CO2: a plan to help cut short-term climate pollutants (via Grist)

Texas project called milestone for carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Russia plowing $32 billion into nuclear over next two years (via SmartPlanet)

Exelon waiting for pricier power (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains could cut cellphone network power use 90% (via GreenBiz)

DOE energy efficiency upgrade program nets over $41 million in savings (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION 

Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 (via Autoblog Green)

New interactive map tracks plug-in vehicle adoption in California (via Green Car Congress)

Ohio a potential hub for EV jobs (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

Global oil prices pressured by US tripling crude exports to Canada (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Tennessee Valley Authority to remain publicly owned (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas export plans stir debate (via NPR/AP)

POLITICS 

Washington politics splits Silicon Valley on Keystone XL (via Greentech Media)

150 major Democratic donors urge Obama to reject Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Elon Musk bails on Zuckerberg group after Keystone, drilling ads (via The Hill)

OPINION 

We just passed the climate’s “grim milestone” (via Mother Jones)

Should Washington go small on energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Adding an EV cut payback point of solar panel investment in half (via GigaOm)

Two conversations the wind industry must own, and soon (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, DOE, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Exelon, Extinction, green jobs, grid, Hyundai, india, Maine, mark zuckerberg, MLP, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oklahoma, Paul LePage, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, Russia, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, UNFCC, united kingdom, wind, xcel
0
10
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.10.13

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

GRID 

North America boasts 95% of demand response projects (via Energy Manager Today)

Microgrids for military bases to surpass $377 million in annual market value by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

PacifiCorp continues high-voltage transmission grid expansion (via Renew Grid)

Nest aims to shake up residential demand response (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Global green trade to reach $2.2 trillion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

How are China’s overseas investments affecting the environment? (via WRI Insights)

Patagonia’s new VC fund to invest in trailblazing green firms (via GreenBiz)

An effort to thwart sale of Tribune Company papers to the Kochs (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

EU to hit 100+ China solar panel makers with anti-dumping tariffs (via Greentech Media)

Wind PTC secured for now, industry focuses on long-term growth (via Greenwire)

Unique floating wind turbine base could provide glimpse into future (via Bangor Daily News)

Doubling wind power could save Mid-Atlantic consumers $6.9 billion a year (via Climate Progress)

New Hampshire governor opposes Connecticut’s plans to change renewable energy standard (via New Haven Register)

Rate design matters: utility tariffs and solar project economics (via Greentech Media)

Big gust of new wind power coming Iowa’s way (via EarthTechling)

Illinois Senate backs Lake Michigan offshore wind study (via News-Gazette)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE using broad criteria to judge LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Studies of the past show an ice-free Arctic could be in our future (via Time)

Countries finding new ways to address climate change (via Sustainable Business)

Prince Charles: climate change skeptics are turning Earth into dying patient (via The Guardian)

Is it time to abandon the 2-degree warming target? (via RTCC)

Obama Administration rolls out climate and health data tool (via The Hill)

GREEN BUILDING 

Green building now mandatory in Dubai (via Sustainable Business)

“Monumental shift” in US buildings sector may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

TRANSPORTATION 

2013 Nissan Leaf named “Top Safety Pick” in IIHS crash tests (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf moves beyond early adopters to cost conscious (via Forbes)

Australian researchers more than double EV battery capacity (via Autoblog Green)

OIL 

New blowout preventer mandates coming – but companies won’t have to comply overnight (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry: BLM preventing job creation by postponing oil, gas lease auctions (via Washington Post/AP)

BIOMASS 

Europe’s new biomass satellite will map Earth’s forests to calculate carbon stores (via Inhabitat)

Does burning wood instead of fossil fuels increase GHG emissions? (via Midwest Energy News) 

POLITICS 

Republicans boycott vote on Obama’s EPA pick (via Mother Jones)

EPA nomination faces some hard math (via The Hill)

McCarthy’s nomination in doubt, angering Democrats (via Politico)

Major Obama donors compare Keystone decision to outlawing of slavery (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Conventional wisdom about clean energy is still way out of date (via Greentech Media)

Once more, with feeling: EPA is required to regulate carbon from existing power plants (via Grist)

Why you can’t talk about fixing the electric grid without talking about climate change (via Climate Progress)

Time to reconsider “baseload” power (via Midwest Energy News)

California’s new energy crisis centers on nuclear power (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, battery, biomass, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Connecticut, Demand response, DOE, Dubai, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Gina McCarthy, green building, green business, grid, Illinois, investment, Iowa, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Lake Michigan, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, New Hampshire, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear power, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil spill BLM, PacifiCorp, Patagonia, PJM Interconnection, Prince Charles, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, solar pv, Solar trade war, transmission, Transportation, wind
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08
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

China and India’s energy resource rivalry extends to the Arctic (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government postpones oil, gas lease auctions in California (via Houston Chronicle)

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge breaks safety rules at 117 of 125 pipeline pump stations across Canada (via CBC)

EMISSIONS 

New emissions plan could energize global climate talks, says US envoy (via The Guardian)

Ministers urge long term fix for EU emissions system (via RTCC)

“Inconsistency” between British Columbia’s carbon tax and fossil fuel exports (via The Tyee)

US appeals court judges skeptical of states challenging EPA regulatory authority (via Greenwire)

RENEWABLES 

EU-China solar trade war entering endgame? (via Renewable Energy World)

Latin America sees $4.6 billion in 2012 clean energy investment (via EarthTechling)

UK proposes $170 billion in low-carbon energy investment (via Bloomberg)

UK renewable energy generation increases 20% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s dominance in PV solar market over, says industry lobby (via Recharge)

Army to spur geothermal with $7 billion contract (via Federal Times)

Experts back continued dominance of US wind supply chain (via Recharge)

NCAR powers up renewable energy forecasts (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

G8 set to discuss climate change at summit (via RTCC)

US defends plan for countries to set their own climate goals (via RTCC)

Study says media ignore climate context of Midwest floods (via Climate Progress)

NJ town, flood-soaked and weary, tries to back away from the water (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Ohio may open national forest to coal mining (via Columbus Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama on natural gas exports – “I’ve got to make a decision” (via EnergyWire)

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

US DOE to award up to $20 million for methane hydrate research (via Green Car Congress)

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

California urges record $2.5 billion fine for 2010 natural gas blast (via Christian Science Monitor)

Local governments in Pennsylvania fail to disclose millions in shale gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

As North Carolina weighs fracking, questions loom on wastewater (via Stateline)

New 250-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for Ohio (via Akron Beacon Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency lags in the US South (via Navigant Research)

How Nest and Opower quietly morphed into competitors (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Shell pushes innovation to stay in deepwater drilling game (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

US urban trees store 708 million tons of carbon, provide $50 billion economic value (via Phys.org)

Texas groundwater levels suffer sharp drop, study finds (via Texas Tribune)

GRID 

Energy harvesting the next big thing for the smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Berkeley lab tests utility-customer smart grid communication (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Australian fast charger slashes EV charging time (via Renew Economy)

US lowers forecast for summer 2013 gasoline prices (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

California faces another summer without San Onofre nuclear plant (via Los Angeles Times)

As price of nuclear energy drops, a Wisconsin plant is shut (via New York Times)

OPINION 

This isn’t the weather we grew up with (via The Guardian)

A carbon trading system worth saving (via New York Times)

Solyndra was this much of an outlier in DOE’s loan portfolio (via Atlantic)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, Energy harvesting, environment, EPA, ETS, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fast charging, Floods, fracking, Fracking wastewater, G8, geothermal, grid, india, investment, Latin America, Methane hydrates, natural gas, Natural gas exports, NCAR, Nest, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Opower, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PV solar, renewables, San Onofre, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, solyndra, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, Water scarcity, wind, Wisconsin
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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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