Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.22.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
China’s coal boom is waning with ambitious reductions targets (via Triple Pundit)
Ontario closes last coal-fired power plant (via Solar Industry)
Federal judge strikes part of Minnesota energy law preventing coal power (via MPR News)
CLIMATE
China spreading the use of insurance to cope with climate change damage (via ClimateWire)
Climate-linked drought adding to Syria’s misery (via RTCC)
Hot West, cold East may be new normal as world warms (via Climate Central)
Since first Earth Day, US temperatures marching upward (via Climate Central)
RENEWABLES
China Premier Li reiterates plans to boost clean energy (via Bloomberg)
Australia’s renewables review kicks off with battle over numbers (via Renew Economy)
Top ten trends in Brazil biofuels for 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)
US to dodge solar shortage in 2014 despite looming PV tariffs (via Solar Industry)
Next step for solar industry: Leases for solar plus storage (via Renew Economy)
Study: Fuels from corn waste not better than gasoline (via AP)
US Army to build military’s largest solar array in Arizona (via The Hill)
Dropping cost of “grid defection” means you could soon ditch your utility (via Fast Company)
RMI’s plan to help Fortune 500 companies up their renewables game (via GreenBiz)
Surpassing milestone of 100,000 solar roofs, PG&E calls for “sustainable” solar policy (via Greentech Media)
Western Texas college joins Texas Tech University on wind energy degree (via PR Web)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone backers keep their faith in embattled pipeline plan (via Reuters)
Horses, teepees arrive on Mall for Keystone XL protest (via Politico)
Keystone XL pipeline fate now in hands of Nebraska court (via Bloomberg)
ENVIRONMENT
China’s new environmental protection law submitted to parliament (via Reuters)
Brazil strips protected status from 5.2 million hectares of land (via Mongabay)
Consumer electronics industry sets recycling record (via Environmental Leader)
Apple offering free recycling on all used products (via ABC News/AP)
Interior Department launches landscape mitigation strategy (via Triple Pundit)
Wildfires in West increasing burn area at rate of one Denver per year (via Climate Progress)
Fields and farm jobs dry up with California’s worsening drought (via NPR)
Texas city first to reuse water from sewers as drought continues (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS
Alaska lawmakers back natural gas export plans (via New York Times)
Ohio utilities replacing thousands of miles of gas pipeline (via Midwest Energy News)
EMISSIONS
Divestment campaigns struggle against stock market, profits (via Houston Chronicle)
OIL
Russia ships its first Arctic oil – is a boom coming? (via Christian Science Monitor)
Four years later, a sharp divide on Gulf oil spill (via National Journal)
US railroads show untapped value of delay in building oil pipeline (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Musk says Tesla will make cars in China within four years (via Bloomberg)
Hybrids significantly more fuel-efficient in India and China than US (via CleanTechnica)
US exporting a “tidal wave” of gasoline, other fuels (via Houston Chronicle)
Nissan Leaf likely to offer larger battery for longer range (via Green Car Reports)
Tesla Gigafactory seeks North American raw materials to cut pollution (via Green Car Reports)
A detailed look at the dreams and failure of Better Place (via Autoblog Green)
ENERGY POLICY
Renewable energy gains in 2013 but coal and gas still dominate (via Greentech Media)
Power players muster forces for electricity market reforms (via EnergyWire)
Obama Administration spared developers millions in fees for Georgia nuclear project (via Greenwire)
POLITICS
Not a single Republican has mentioned Earth Day in Congress since 2010 (via National Journal)
OPINION
Two degrees: How the world failed on climate change (via Vox)
The clean energy transition is unstoppable, so why fight it? (via Smart Planet)
Where is the real innovation in wind energy? (via CleanTechnica)
World’s top serial bird killers put infamous windmills to shame (via Bloomberg)
Right wing trains its hysterical eye on renewable energy (via Mother Jones)
How conserving water, energy isn’t always about a green lifestyle (via Daily News)