Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EPA EMISSIONS PLAN
Obama to unveil historic plan to cut U.S. carbon pollution by up to 25% (via The Guardian)
How Obama’s power plant emission rules will work (via Washington Post)
EPA’s approach on carbon limits to spark court challenges (via Wall Street Journal)
GAO shuts down McConnell’s push to block EPA carbon regulations (via The Hill)
NRDC says Obama climate rule will save consumers $37 billion (via The Hill)
EPA may nod to nuclear in carbon rules as generators fear closures (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
China expects to launch national carbon market in 2018 (via RTCC)
CO2 monitoring could be “space-based” in the future (via Climate Central)
RENEWABLES
Brazil expects 3GW new wind power in auctions this year (via Recharge)
UK solar capacity passes 3GW (via RTCC)
Japan wind lobby boosts wind capacity target by half (via Bloomberg)
Iceland moves closer to power Europe with geothermal power (via Bloomberg)
UK radar fix could open up 1GW of onshore wind potential (via BusinessGreen)
Rooftop solar’s emerging markets are in middle-class neighborhoods (via Climate Progress)
Connecting the dots: How fossil-fuel interests are funding state RPS battles (via Greentech Media)
Biodiesel producers push for higher mandate (via The Hill)
Ohio freezes standards for renewable energy in landmark vote (via Bloomberg)
Solazyme opens commercial algae oil factory in Brazil (via GigaOm)
California moves closer to streamlined solar permitting (via Greentech Media)
COAL
AEP foresees coal plant closures on Obama plan (via Bloomberg)
Testing shows slow movement of coal ash in Dan River (via Roanoke Times)
Coal ash spill upends North Carolina politics, but will substantive legislation result? (via E&E Daily)
CLIMATE
Fishing industry is poised to lose billions due to climate change (via Climate Progress)
Markey meets Pope to make common cause on climate (via Boston Globe)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Russia’s energy minister says no gas payments from Ukraine (via Reuters)
Pro-fracking bill flies through North Carolina legislature (via Climate Progress)
ENVIRONMENT
Study: Species disappearing far faster than before (via AP)
Brazil drought fuels World Cup blackout fears (via RTCC)
KEYSTONE
TransCanada credibility dented by Keystone defects (via Forbes)
TRANSPORTATION
California, seven other states ready for 3.3 million EVs by 2025 (via Autoblog Green)
GRID
Advanced battery capacity for utility-scale storage will grow 71% per year through 2023 (via Navigant Research)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Missouri utility to make up for lost time on energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)
POLITICS
Republicans on climate science: Don’t ask us (via Politico)
The House Science Committee spent yesterday in a climate change denial echo chamber (via Motherboard)
Harry Reid’s attacks on Koch Brothers sends GOP donors into shadows (via Washington Post)
Big money, the Koch Brothers, and me (via Politico)
OPINION
Obama is planning his biggest climate policy yet – and he doesn’t need Congress (via Vox)
Wonks collide as Obama climate plan prompts new ideas (via Forbes)
Evolving the conversation on climate change (via Washington Post)
Lies, damn lies, and global warming rules (via National Journal)
You down with LCOE? Maybe you, but not me (via RMI Outlet)