Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.21.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COP 19
Turmoil at COP 19 as blame game heats up (via Yahoo! News/AP)
Deep division as climate talks enter final stretch (via Phys.org)
China clashes with US & EU on roles in new climate deal (via Bloomberg)
EU denies attempt to hide greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)
Poland, while hosting COP 19 conference, sacks environment chief (via Los Angeles Times)
COAL
Report tallies $35 billion in public funds for overseas coal plants since 2007 (via The Hill)
Coal seen as new tobacco, sparking investor backlash (via Bloomberg)
UK joins US pledge to stop funding foreign coal power plants (via Bloomberg)
Coal’s challenge to the EPA (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
UK solar industry facing job losses as household panels taper off (via The Guardian)
EU imposes duties on biodiesel from Argentina, Indonesia (via Reuters)
Net metering battle likely to shift to other fronts after Arizona clash (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Re-Powering America: Updated project tracking matrix and map (via US EPA)
Alstom unveils world’s largest offshore wind turbine (via BusinessGreen)
Solar fee defeated in Georgia Power rate case (via Renewable Energy World)
Key questions about the future for utility-scale solar industry (via Yale e360)
ENERGY POLICY
House passes bill to tighten onshore drilling permit deadlines (via National Journal)
Fossil fuel subsidies outstrip climate aid fivefold (via Bloomberg)
EMISSIONS
Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of all manmade global emissions (via The Guardian)
Australia’s lower house votes to dump carbon tax after 18 months (via The Guardian)
Mexico to follow carbon tax with region’s first carbon offset market (via Triple Pundit)
States press EPA for flexibility in power plant emission rules (via The Hill)
University of Illinois students vote six to one for fossil fuel divestment (via Grist)
FRACKING
Fracking boom fractures the environmental movement (via National Journal)
House votes to block Interior Department from regulating fracking (via The Hill)
Fracking without freshwater at a West Texas oilfield (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Chevy Volt owners drive more electric miles than Nissan Leaf drivers (via Green Car Reports)
Just 10% of EV charging stations California promised in legal deal are ready (via Washington Post)
US launches investigation into Tesla Model S fires (via Reuters)
Toyota shows off fuel cell concept vehicle (via New York Times)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone won’t be finished until 2016 – here’s what that means (via National Journal)
Keystone foes seek to thwart oil sands exports by rail (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Report: Climate protection goal slipping away (via The Hill)
2015 is make-or-break year for UN process, says former climate czar (via ClimateWire)
Forests buffer the effects of climate change on plants (via Phys.org)
Members of Congress recruit pro sports leagues for climate push (via Politico)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
More than 130 Members of Congress push Obama on energy efficiency extension (via The Hill)
Retailers save millions by curbing energy use (via Houston Chronicle)
A positive diagnosis: How hospitals are reducing their energy consumption (via GreenBiz)
Shaheen: Energy-efficiency bill could hit Senate floor soon (via The Hill)
ENVIRONMENT
US, Norway, UK pledge nearly $300 million to cut deforestation (via Bloomberg BNA)
Great Lakes recover substantial water levels (via New York Times)
OPINION
Why the UN climate talks keep breaking down in five simple charts (via Washington Post)
Explained in 90 seconds: Breaking the carbon budget (via Mother Jones)
Has demand response peaked in the Northeast US? (via Navigant Research)
Carbon capture and storage is coal’s pipe dream (via Energy Collective)