Category Archives:El Nino

08
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.8.15

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

CLIMATE 

Much of the world’s fossil fuel reserves must stay buried to prevent climate change, says study (via The Guardian)

Hot, unfriendly skies could alter future flights (via Climate Central)

EPA to delay U.S. carbon rule for power plants until summer (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Study: 80% of coal reserves need to stay in the ground (via BusinessGreen)

More than 90% of U.S. coal should stay underground: Climate study (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

IHS remains cautious on PV market demand growth (via PV Tech)

India issues draft guidelines for 3 gigawatts of solar projects (via Bloomberg)

China pushing harder for PV manufacturing consolidation; 10 companies to dominate (via PV Tech)

Dubai utility DEWA produces the world’s cheapest solar energy ever (via Renewable Energy World)

Pace of Japan’s renewable development is slowing (via CleanTechnica)

A Caribbean island says goodbye diesel, hello 100% renewable electricity (via RMI Outlet)

Solar patents reach a record high (via Energy Manager Today)

Almost 4,000 U.S. schools are now running on solar (via Sustainable Business)

California on its way to meeting clean energy goals, say officials (via Huffington Post/AP)

Poll: 82% of Oregonians support renewable energy (via Portland Business Journal)

National Grid “officially” cuts ties with Cape Wind (via Recharge)

Department of Energy opens up $125 million fund for energy innovation (via GigaOm)

SunEdison buys 1.6GW of “PTC-eligible” wind turbines (via Recharge)

Tea Party is pushing for solar power in Florida (via Washington Post)

Perovskite solar cell reaches record efficiency (via Phys.org)

EMISSIONS 

Oil plunge seen eroding emissions ambition on carbon and climate (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing in 2014 (via Energy Collective)

EPA to create CO2-slashing plan for states that won’t (via Climate Central)

71% of Washington State voters support proposed cap-and-trade system (via Seattle Times)

OIL 

No chance of OPEC output cut, even after oil dips below $50, say Gulf delegates (via Reuters)

Shrinking foreign oil bill sends U.S. trade deficit lower (via Houston Chronicle)

Renowned trader sees $40 oil as “absolute price floor” (via Houston Chronicle)

White House not under pressure to expand U.S. oil exports, says Podesta (via Reuters)

White House issues formal Keystone XL veto threat (via The Hill)

Oil taxes tempt recession-scarred U.S. states as prices plummet (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry joins hands with solar in latest annual report (via Greentech Media)

DOE Secretary: Strategic Petroleum Reserve needs “modernization” (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Green vehicle demand revs up as UK electric car sales quadruple (via The Guardian)

Key GOP senator says gas hike is on the table (via The Hill)

New Oregon rules require 10% cleaner fuels (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

GRID 

Even in the off-season, utilities must prepare the smart grid with storage for natural disasters (via Renewable Energy World)

Why big energy companies want to invest in energy storage startups (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

New U.S. generating capacity in 2014 was overwhelmingly natural gas, wind, solar (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Can nuclear energy compete in today’s energy markets? (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

EU banned pesticides to help bees, but now other bugs are invading (via Bloomberg)

NOAA reduces odds of El Nino conditions this winter (via Weather Underground)

OPINION 

Why leaving fossil fuels in the ground is good for everyone (via The Guardian)

Smart money is on storing energy, not carbon, says economist (via Phys.org)

A tumultuous year for demand response (via Navigant Research)

Bold clean tech investing predictions for 2015 (via Greentech Media)

SMUD’s community renewable energy development program: Partnering for results in clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

How to get famous in the solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Understanding the oil price drop: What does $50-per-barrel oil mean? (via Greentech Media)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Cape Wind loses power contracts, becomes victim of class warfare (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: ARPA-E, california, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, Caribbean, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, department of energy, diesel, DOE, Dubai, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, European Union, ev, Florida, grid, india, japan, Jim Inhofe, Keystone XL, national grid, News, noaa, oil, Oil exports, OPEC, oregon, Perovskite, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, smart grid, SMUD, solar, strategic petroleum reserve, SunEdison, tea party, Transportation, united kingdom, Washington State, wind
0
10
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.10.14

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

CLIMATE

India planning $100 billion on climate-related projects (via Bloomberg)

Green Climate Fund will get $200 million from Australia after Tony Abbott’s about turn (via The Guardian)

Belgian pledge pushes Green Climate Fund to $10 billion goal (via Reuters)

Kerry going to Peru for climate talks (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY

Canada will not impose oil and gas regulations unilaterally, given prices (via Reuters)

UK business energy costs predicted to rise by around a third by 2030 (via Business Green)

RENEWABLES

“Explosive growth” in solar distributed generation market to take China to 14GW (via PV Tech)

Renewable energy grows, large and small, in Africa (via Navigant Research)

Pakistan repeals import tax on solar equipment (via PV Tech)

Russian, Indian funds to invest $1 billion in hydropower (via Reuters)

Belgian wind energy island may get go-ahead in early 2015 (via Reuters)

10 slides show the complex future and “tipping point” of U.S. solar (via Greentech Media)

Solar and wind increasingly shaping CAISO load curves (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Small wind leases open up new markets (via Navigant Research)

Testimonies coming out of the US solar anti-dumping hearings (via CleanTechnica)

OIL

OPEC sees weakest demand for its crude in 12 years across 2015 (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils Australian Supercharger network plan, delivers first EVs to country (via Renew Economy)

Gas could hit $2.50 by Christmas (via The Hill)

California leads the nation in adoption of EVs (via US EIA)

EMISSIONS

Senate Dems to EPA: Make climate rule stronger (via The Hill)

Researchers say carbon tax could reduce Oregon’s emissions without hurting economy (via The Oregonian)

GRID

Lower-cost batteries likely to create $190 million storage market in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT

Japan’s weather bureau declares first El Nino (via The Guardian)

OPINION

What can Hawaii expect from NextEra’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric? (via Greentech Media)

How EVs can aid the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Belgium, california, canada, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, distributed generation, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, EVs, gas prices, Green Climate Fund, grid, Hawaii, HECO, Hydropower, india, japan, john kerry, News, NextEra, oil, OPEC, oregon, pakistan, renewables, Russia, small wind, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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07
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate talks grapple with regional carbon market integration: IEA (via Bloomberg)

China plans to cap carbon emissions from steel, cement producers by 2020 (via ClimateWire)

Election shifts Oregon closer to carbon tax, not so much for Washington (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

COAL 

Coal’s defender-in-chief tries to shift debate about fuel (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables now cheaper than fossil fuels in developing countries (via Energy Collective)

UK utility-scale solar boom on tap for 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar doesn’t pay right now in Germany (via Renewables International)

UK solar companies lose legal battle over subsidy cuts (via BusinessGreen)

Republicans urged to reject wind tax credit in lame duck (via Houston Chronicle)

First Wind closes $254 million financing for Texas wind farm (via Bloomberg)

40% renewable energy integration no trouble for Midwest (via CleanTechnica)

UC-Irvine adding 3.2MW of solar canopies (via Energy Manager Today)

Vestas upgrades sales, margins forecast as profit surges (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows (via The Guardian)

Brazil wants richer countries to step up on climate (via The Hill)

New global warming remedy: Turn rangelands into carbon vacuums (via California Magazine)

Shrimp depletion in Gulf of Maine part of a global pattern (via Portland Press-Herald)

Republican gains in Washington state legislature spoil plans for West Coast bloc of climate action states (via ClimateWire)

Tech company SAP severs ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS 

DOJ subpoenas Chesapeake Energy over royalty complaints (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois lawmakers approve fracking rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

EU’s bank to loan Britain’s power grid $2.4 billion (via Reuters)

Battery storage will replace many peaker spinning reserve plants (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Testing U.S. oil export ban carries some risks (via Reuters)

Federal Appeals Court reaffirms BP is liable in Gulf oil spill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

White House would “consider” Keystone bill (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Which EV makers are serious? U.S. sales show top three (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla projecting years of 50% growth sparks share rise (via Bloomberg)

EPA says more fuel-efficient cars available in 2015 (via The Hill)

Tesla Model X delayed thanks to Model S production lessons (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. weather forecaster slightly reduces El Nino outlook (via Reuters)

No recovery, but a sliver of drought gain for California (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial and industrial demand response poised for major growth (via Renew Grid)

Arizona energy efficiency programs in jeopardy (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Republican wave unlikely to wash away Obama’s major rules (via Greenwire)

House to vote on EPA “secret science” bills (via The Hill)

Republican sweep highlights climate change politics in Alaska (via NPR)

National Democrats yanking Louisiana ad buy as Landrieu faces runoff (via Bloomberg)

Meager returns for the Democrats’ biggest donor (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Six renewable energy trends to watch for in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Do Americans really want a hard right turn on climate and renewables? (via The Hill)

Can SolarCity crack the code of boosting business beyond solar homes? (via Forbes)

Election special: What the Republican takeover means for clean energy (via Greentech Media)

President Obama has stalled on Keystone for years. Now he has to make a decision. (via Slate)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, battery, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chesapeake Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, First Wind, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mary Landrieu, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, production tax credit, renewables, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, UC Irvine, united kingdom, vestas, Washington State, wind
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10
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.10.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican opposition party clears first hurdle in bid for energy referendum (via Wall Street Journal)

Net U.S. energy imports as share of consumption lowest in 29 years (via U.S. EIA)

CEOs tout reserves of oil and gas but revealed to be less in federal reports (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

China coal tariff sends message to cut supply (via Reuters)

China coal tariffs add to pressure on Australian producers (via Bloomberg)

Cheap natural gas and emission rules darker future of U.S. coal (via Financial Times)

EMISSIONS 

Forest fragmentation’s carbon bomb: 736 million tonnes CO2 annually (via Mongabay)

Huge methane emissions “hot spot” found in U.S. (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Scotland approves four offshore wind farms with 2.2GW capacity (via BusinessGreen)

Germany’s KfW issues largest-ever U.S. green bond - $1.5 billion (via Renew Economy)

Australians copy solar garden idea (via Energy Manager Today)

Yieldcos “big” for U.S. offshore wind (via Recharge)

Amid PV boom, solar thermal systems often overlooked (via Midwest Energy News)

Battle lines drawn over Colorado net metering dispute (via PV Tech)

SunEdison yieldco makes third-party acquisition (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE

Few U.S. states preparing for climate change, says study (via Los Angeles Times)

White House pushes climate protections for natural resources (via The Hill)

DOE Secretary says climate change will affect Gulf energy facilities (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Venezuela, in a quiet shift, gives foreign partners more control in oil ventures (via New York Times)

Crude oil prices fall to lowest levels in years as market pressures converge (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil companies quietly prepare for a future of carbon pricing (via GreenBiz)

Green groups sue over expansion of California crude by rail (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Unmoved by oil export proponents, Americans still fear gasoline spike (via Reuters)

Tesla unveils all-wheel drive Model D (via San Francisco Chronicle)

310- to 373-mile EV range by 2020, says Volkswagen executive (via CleanTechnica)

GM confirms 200-mile range EV (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking setback in Poland dims hope for less Russian gas (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains over the last decade saved more energy than China consumed in 2011 (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PJM Interconnection offers bid to salvage demand response (via EnergyWire)

Texas power grid has first rotating outages since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

China pollution levels hit 20 times safe limit (via The Guardian)

U.S. weather forecaster says El Nino expected to begin in 1-2 months (via Reuters)

Atlantic hurricane season making late threat (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Silva not yet read to endorse Neves in runoff (via Reuters)

GOP flails about looking for climate denial alternatives (via Grist)

California’s top power regulator to exit amid criticism (via ABC News/AP)

Oil and gas industry “soul searching” over Landrieu (via Politico)

OPINION 

Our planet is going to blow past the “2 degrees” climate limit (via The New Republic)

The $9.7 trillion problem: Cyclones and climate change (via Climate Central)

Latin America needs good data to plan for water stress and climate change (via WRI Insights)

Why climate litigation could soon go global (via Globe and Mail)

The Keystone killer environmentalists didn’t see coming (via Bloomberg)

Google is gone, but ALEC is still winning (via National Journal)

The bell tolls for KiOR (via Energy Trends Insider)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, australia, biofuel, Blackout, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, deforestation, Demand response, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, germany, GM, google, Green bond, grid, Hurricane, Keystone XL, KiOR, methane, mexico, natural gas, Net metering, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, Poland, renewables, Russia, Scotland, solar, solar garden, Solar Thermal, SunEdison, Tesla, Tesla Model D, texas, Transportation, Volkswagen, YieldCo
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07
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

Australia sees little consensus among G20 for new climate action (via The Hill)

Report says UK climate change policies have not harmed economy (via The Guardian)

Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont take serious climate adaptation action (via CleanTechnica)

Ceres: half of America’s largest companies don’t report on climate risk (via Triple Pundit)

Meet the scientist who might end the climate culture wars (via Popular Science)

RENEWABLES 

Lessons in solar development for the Latin American market (via Renewable Energy World)

Brazil planning local-content rules for solar industry (via Bloomberg)

Deutsche Bank predicts big increase in publicly traded solar-based Yieldcos (via CleanTechnica)

Global solar jobs surge to 2.3 million in 2013 (via Recharge)

Solar thin-film panels reach 11-month high on trade war (via Bloomberg)

World Bank to invest $775 million in clean energy across India (via Economic Times)

Renewables jump to 31% in Germany for first half 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil’s national development bank loans $251 for wind projects (via Recharge)

Insurers to cover European withdrawal of solar and wind subsidies (via Financial Times)

Gamesa and Areva ink deal to form offshore wind giant (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. weighs offshore wind tourism impact (via Recharge)

Two federal agencies side with Cape Wind on environmental issues (via Cape Cod Times)

North Carolina utilities panel will delve into cost of renewable power (via Charlotte News Observer)

Michigan PSC says state could boost solar at no cost to utility customers (via Environmental Law & Policy Center)

Lessons from the making of Massachusetts’ solar compromise bill (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Modi’s power pledge set to lift coal imports to record (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

U.S. Ex-Im Bank weighs loan to major India coal project (via Reuters)

Coal poised for rare win over Obama in Ex-Im Bank fight (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

U.S. pension funds ignore divestment calls, keep fossil fuels burning (via Financial Times)

Taking oil industry cue, environmentalists drew emissions blueprint (via New York Times)

California Democrat introduces bill to delay cap-and-trade expansion (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. now world’s biggest oil producer after overtaking Saudi Arabia (via Bloomberg)

Lac Megantic, Quebec still recovering from deadly oil train disaster (via Huffington Post)

US Commerce Secretary says “serious conversations” underway on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Model S earns top score in industry for total quality (via Green Car Reports)

Toyota to offer wireless charging on next-generation Prius in 2016 (via Plug-in Cars)

Data shows why EV owners are so different from the rest of us (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Germany drafting anti-shale fracking rules on public opposition (via Bloomberg)

Research links Oklahoma quakes to drilling activity (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy companies say disposal wells central to Oklahoma’s oil, gas operations (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reed faces ravaging from expected El Nino (via The Guardian)

Nearly 80% of California now under “extreme” drought conditions (via Los Angeles Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Homebuilders, restaurants herald cracks in Japan’s power market (via Bloomberg)

DOE issuing up to $4 billion in loan guarantees for energy, efficiency projects (via Green Car Congress)

A hot July energy legislation forecast on Capitol Hill (via National Journal)

The future of batteries: Q&A with director of national laboratory battery hub (via Phys.org)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Utilities reveal just how much customers are saving with energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Biggest hospital in North America to feature a green roof with medicinal herbs (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

World Bank email leaks reveal internal row over power project loans (via The Guardian)

Green bond market is growing, but what makes a bond green? (via The Economist)

Here’s why the forecast for microgrids looks so sunny (via GreenBiz)

Why carbon market participants want more corporate involvement (via GreenBiz)

Congress’s head-in-the sand approach to climate change (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Areva, australia, Batteries, Brazil, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, Ceres, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, DOE, drought, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, g20, Gamesa, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Green bond, green jobs, green roof, Hawaii, india, japan, Latin America, massachusetts, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, oklahoma, Quebec, renewables, rhode island, saudi arabia, solar, Solar trade war, Subsidies, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Toyota, Toyota prius, Transportation, united kingdom, vermont, Wastewater disposal wells, wind, World Bank, Yieldcos
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02
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Caribbean coral reefs “will be lost within 20 years” (via The Guardian)

U.S. military bases threatened by climate change (via Fiscal Times)

What every governor really believes about climate change, in one handy map (via Climate Progress)

VA governor revives climate change panel, citing sea level rise threat (via Washington Post/AP)

Eight summer miseries made worse by global warming, from poison ivy to allergies (via National Geographic)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU utilities will suffer from low power prices until 2020, says Moody’s (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

BNEF: Renewable energy’s about to dominate global power investments (via CleanTechnica)

Research shows solar panels benefit crops (via Ashland Daily Tidings)

New EIA energy maps show four renewable energy trends (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Northeast added more than 800MW of new renewables capacity in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Cape Wind gets $150 million boost from U.S. Energy Department (via Boston Globe)

Will EPA carbon rules push Michigan harder on clean energy? (via Midwest Energy News)

NextEra yieldco IPO raises $442.7 million (via Recharge)

Barclays and MSCI launch green bond index (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Colorado coal mine rejection on global-warming grounds has major implications (via InsideClimate News)

Georgia coal-to-solar pivot shows the way on climate regulations (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

The amount of atmospheric CO2 just reached a new record, and scientists are worried (via Climate Progress)

Giving up fossil fuels to save the climate: The $28 trillion write-down (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Nine states join lawsuit against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

EPA looks to reduce emissions at landfills (via The Hill)

EPA’s CO2 rule and the back door to cap and trade (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic disappearing from oceans, scientists say, but why? (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Brazil made big environmental promises for its Rio Olympics – here’s why it won’t keep them (via National Journal)

California may step up water restrictions enforcement amid drought (via Reuters)

Water use fell 23% in March as LA reports driest two-year total (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Bakken Shale oil producers told to cut flaring or face punishment (via Houston Chronicle)

With North Dakota oil boom comes concern over spills (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

While you’re asleep, electric car owners are guzzling power (via Mashable)

Chevy Volt sales drop in June, Nissan Leaf inches upward (via Autoblog Green)

Gas prices at six-year high heading into July 4th holiday weekend (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North Dakota’s latest fracking problem: Burning off excess gas (via Wall Street Journal)

Russia says European Union requests natural gas talks (via Reuters)

GRID 

Hackers find open back door to power grid with renewables (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

IEA: $80 billion wasted on power for online devices in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

LED lighting will constitute 94% of annual global street lighting sales by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

GE opens a pricing war over the connected LED light bulb (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

How El Nino will change the world’s weather in 2014 (via The Guardian)

EPA’s carbon rule is both a tax and a subsidy (via Forbes)

If Jerry Brown is so green, why is he allowing fracking in California? (via The Nation)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bakken Shale, Barclays, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Brazil, california, cap and trade, cape wind, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, drought, eia, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, fracking, gas prices, GE, Georgia, global warming, Green bond, grid, IEA, Jerry Brown, LED, los angeles, methane, michigan, Moody's Renewables, natural gas, News, NextEra, nissan LEAF, north dakota, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Terry McAuliffe, Transportation, virginia, YieldCo
0
26
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.26.14

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

CLIMATE 

EU global warming damages are seen reaching $259 billion (via Bloomberg)

UK infrastructure neglected, at risk from climate change, warn engineers (via The Guardian)

Five graphics showing U.S. climate change costs (via Climate Central)

White House boasts progress on climate agenda (via The Hill)

Rhode Island signs off on new climate change law (via RTCC)

Obama calls climate-change skeptics “fringe” element (via Bloomberg)

The millions behind Bjorn Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center think tank (via DeSmogBlog)

NUCLEAR 

France’s proposed “cap” on nuclear electricity capacity (via Energy Collective)

Tepco faces down protest to press ahead with atomic restarts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable electricity nears 20% of UK mix (via BusinessGreen)

German utilities struggle in a renewable world (via Navigant Research)

Yieldcos could cut renewable costs by 20%, says study (via Greentech Media)

Securitized solar PV “set for breakthrough” in US (via Recharge)

US investors fear yieldco buying frenzy (via Recharge)

California continues to set daily records for utility-scale solar energy (via U.S. EIA)

Post-2020 RPS “unlikely” for California (via Recharge)

As renewables grow in Texas, battles over fees and subsidies emerge (via StateImpact Texas)

COAL 

North Carolina lawmakers order coal ash pond cleanup after Duke spill (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon capture and storage enters the twilight zone (via Renew Economy)

California earmarks quarter of its cap-and-trade revenue for environmental justice (via InsideClimate News)

OIL 

How a U.S. decision to allow oil exports could change the world’s energy balance (via Quartz)

Is U.S. oil production becoming a potential foreign policy tool? (via Christian Science Monitor)

White House says no change to U.S. ban on crude oil exports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China reviews rules to help Tesla-like carmakers sprout (via Bloomberg)

Tesla looking to create pan-European supercharger network by end of 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Plug-in America estimates 250,000 EV sales by September (via CleanTechnica)

Opponents of California renewable fuel law ask for U.S. Supreme Court hearing (via Reuters)

EV advocates urge New Jersey to develop charging stations, incentives (via Bergen Record)

KEYSTONE XL 

Political leader says carbon incentives in Canada would help Keystone bid (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

WMO: 80% chance of El Nino by December 2014 (via RTCC)

One quarter of India is turning into desert (via Climate Progress)

Fruit and vegetable prices rise as California drought continues (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

House votes to speed up natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Colorado city rejects fracking moratorium (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

U.S. microgrid capacity will exceed 1.8GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

America’s largest university pursues a microgrid (via RMI Outlet)

Crumbling U.S. grid gets jolt in Houston smart power system (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICENCY 

Is LED lighting the next solar war with China? (via Sustainable Business)

DOE unveils efficiency standards for furnace fans (via The Hill)

Is LEED becoming the new normal? (via TriplePundit)

POLITICS 

Barack Obama becomes mocker-in-chief on climate change skeptics (via Politico)

Congress the butt of Obama’s climate science jokes (via Reuters)

John Boehner wants to sue President Obama (via Washington Post)

Issa threatens EPA with contempt as Team Obama celebrates climate anniversary (via National Journal)

Harry Reid says FERC nominees to get vote when Senate returns from July 4 recess (via Bloomberg BNA)

OPINION 

A carbon tax and climate change (via New York Times)

Why the U.S. needs business to save it from Congress (via Bloomberg)

With “Risky Business,” a bid to shift the climate debate (via Breaking Energy)

What does Clive Palmer’s carbon tax decision mean for Australia? (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bjorn lomborg, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, Daryl Issa, Desertification, DOE, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, France, germany, grid, harry reid, Houston, india, japan, John Boehner, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, plug-in America, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rhode island, solar, Solar trade war, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Superchargers, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Yieldcos
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26
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.26.14

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

CLIMATE 

EU global warming damages are seen reaching $259 billion (via Bloomberg)

UK infrastructure neglected, at risk from climate change, warn engineers (via The Guardian)

Five graphics showing U.S. climate change costs (via Climate Central)

White House boasts progress on climate agenda (via The Hill)

Rhode Island signs off on new climate change law (via RTCC)

Obama calls climate-change skeptics “fringe” element (via Bloomberg)

The millions behind Bjorn Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center think tank (via DeSmogBlog)

NUCLEAR 

France’s proposed “cap” on nuclear electricity capacity (via Energy Collective)

Tepco faces down protest to press ahead with atomic restarts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable electricity nears 20% of UK mix (via BusinessGreen)

German utilities struggle in a renewable world (via Navigant Research)

Yieldcos could cut renewable costs by 20%, says study (via Greentech Media)

Securitized solar PV “set for breakthrough” in US (via Recharge)

US investors fear yieldco buying frenzy (via Recharge)

California continues to set daily records for utility-scale solar energy (via U.S. EIA)

Post-2020 RPS “unlikely” for California (via Recharge)

As renewables grow in Texas, battles over fees and subsidies emerge (via StateImpact Texas)

COAL 

North Carolina lawmakers order coal ash pond cleanup after Duke spill (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon capture and storage enters the twilight zone (via Renew Economy)

California earmarks quarter of its cap-and-trade revenue for environmental justice (via InsideClimate News)

OIL 

How a U.S. decision to allow oil exports could change the world’s energy balance (via Quartz)

Is U.S. oil production becoming a potential foreign policy tool? (via Christian Science Monitor)

White House says no change to U.S. ban on crude oil exports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China reviews rules to help Tesla-like carmakers sprout (via Bloomberg)

Tesla looking to create pan-European supercharger network by end of 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Plug-in America estimates 250,000 EV sales by September (via CleanTechnica)

Opponents of California renewable fuel law ask for U.S. Supreme Court hearing (via Reuters)

EV advocates urge New Jersey to develop charging stations, incentives (via Bergen Record)

KEYSTONE XL 

Political leader says carbon incentives in Canada would help Keystone bid (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

WMO: 80% chance of El Nino by December 2014 (via RTCC)

One quarter of India is turning into desert (via Climate Progress)

Fruit and vegetable prices rise as California drought continues (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

House votes to speed up natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Colorado city rejects fracking moratorium (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

U.S. microgrid capacity will exceed 1.8GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

America’s largest university pursues a microgrid (via RMI Outlet)

Crumbling U.S. grid gets jolt in Houston smart power system (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICENCY 

Is LED lighting the next solar war with China? (via Sustainable Business)

DOE unveils efficiency standards for furnace fans (via The Hill)

Is LEED becoming the new normal? (via TriplePundit)

POLITICS 

Barack Obama becomes mocker-in-chief on climate change skeptics (via Politico)

Congress the butt of Obama’s climate science jokes (via Reuters)

John Boehner wants to sue President Obama (via Washington Post)

Issa threatens EPA with contempt as Team Obama celebrates climate anniversary (via National Journal)

Harry Reid says FERC nominees to get vote when Senate returns from July 4 recess (via Bloomberg BNA)

OPINION 

A carbon tax and climate change (via New York Times)

Why the U.S. needs business to save it from Congress (via Bloomberg)

With “Risky Business,” a bid to shift the climate debate (via Breaking Energy)

What does Clive Palmer’s carbon tax decision mean for Australia? (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bjorn lomborg, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, Daryl Issa, Desertification, DOE, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, France, germany, grid, harry reid, Houston, india, japan, John Boehner, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, plug-in America, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rhode island, solar, Solar trade war, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Superchargers, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Yieldcos
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21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Antarctic, australia, Brazil, california air resources board, cape wind, CARB, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, climategate, coal, Connecticut, Cree, Drought Brazil, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, enel, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, First Solar, Flaring, Floods, fracking, global warming, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Grid Parity, Hawaii, hillary clinton, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, LED, Levelized cost of energy, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, new jersey, new york, News, north dakota, norway, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Philips, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, Shell, Soft costs, solar, Solazyme, South Africa, Stockholm, Sydney, texas, tidal energy, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, wildfires, wind
0
21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Antarctic, australia, Brazil, california air resources board, cape wind, CARB, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, climategate, coal, Connecticut, Cree, Drought Brazil, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, enel, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, First Solar, Flaring, Floods, fracking, global warming, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Grid Parity, Hawaii, hillary clinton, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, LED, Levelized cost of energy, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, new jersey, new york, News, north dakota, norway, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Philips, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, Shell, Soft costs, solar, Solazyme, South Africa, Stockholm, Sydney, texas, tidal energy, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, wildfires, wind
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