Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)
Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)
State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)
Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)
U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)
Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)
Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)
Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)
Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)
RENEWABLES
“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)
Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)
Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)
Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)
Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)
Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)
Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)
Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)
NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)
DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)
U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)
State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)
Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)
GREEN BUILDING
Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)
U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)
Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)
COAL
Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)
Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)
North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)
Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)
Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)
EMISSIONS
Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)
Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)
OIL
New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)
BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)
North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)
TRANSPORTATION
Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)
2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)
Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)
Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)
TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)
Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)
GRID
China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)
State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)
Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)
TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)
ENVIRONMENT
Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)
U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)
OPINION
Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)
Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)
USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)
Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)
Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)
Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)
Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)
Why is Hawaii scaling back on solar?