Category Archives:electric vehicles

03
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

West Coast states, British Columbia talk carbon collaboration (via Bloomberg)

Report: Wood-burning power plants emit more pollution per megawatt than coal (via Herald-Leader)

EPA faulted for failure to disclose pollutant test risks (via New York Times)

Social media data centers powered by dirty energy, warns Greenpeace (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Arctic sea ice falls to fifth lowest level on record (via The Guardian)

Warming temperatures could dry out one third of the planet (via Climate Central)

Climate change experts become an endangered species in North Carolina (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Soaring solar PV growth set to hit new highs in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Japan, UK drive 9GW solar PV installations in Q1 (via Recharge)

Green bonds hit record $8 billion mark in first quarter 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Merkel agrees to ease cuts in wind aid to appease regional governments (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy investment rises in 3 countries amid global decline (via Bloomberg)

One million solar lamps now shining across Africa (via RTCC)

White House doubles down on green tech loan program (via National Journal)

Rail congestion, cold weather raise ethanol spot prices (via US EIA)

5 renewable energy finance models bringing clean power to the people (via GreenBiz)

Minnesota lawmakers look to boost wind energy exports (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Old math casts doubt on accuracy of oil reserve estimates (via Bloomberg)

Energy industry leaders clash over US oil exports (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU “bullied” into diluting aviation emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

Li-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $26 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

DOE ready for more advanced transportation loans, now focusing on suppliers (via Autoblog Green)

US gasoline prices reach six-month high as ethanol climbs (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla to appeal changed New Jersey car regulations (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Gallup poll says majority of US favors energy conservation over production (via The Hill)

DOE and IMT build new green lease recognition program (via GreenBiz)

Demand response value isn’t just about capacity, finds study (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Less rainfall not the only risk factor in widespread drought shows study (via CBS News)

House passes “Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014” (via Washington Post)

Allergy alert: Tidal wave of pent up pollen could be headed our way (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

What climate change means in dollars and cents (via Bloomberg)

The UN’s new focus: Surviving, not stopping, climate change (via The Atlantic)

Injecting urgency into the World Bank’s climate change efforts (via World Resources Institute)

Why it’s still too early to bet on residential energy storage in the US (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Angela Merkel, arctic, Aviation emissions, battery, biomass, british columbia, california, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, data centers, Demand response, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Gasoline prices, global warming, Green bonds, Green lease, greenpeace, IMT, japan, minnesota, new jersey, News, North Carolina, oil, Oil exports, oregon, Petcoke, renewables, Sea ice melt, solar, Solar lamp, solar pv, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, united nations, Washington State, wind, World Bank
0
03
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

West Coast states, British Columbia talk carbon collaboration (via Bloomberg)

Report: Wood-burning power plants emit more pollution per megawatt than coal (via Herald-Leader)

EPA faulted for failure to disclose pollutant test risks (via New York Times)

Social media data centers powered by dirty energy, warns Greenpeace (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Arctic sea ice falls to fifth lowest level on record (via The Guardian)

Warming temperatures could dry out one third of the planet (via Climate Central)

Climate change experts become an endangered species in North Carolina (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Soaring solar PV growth set to hit new highs in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Japan, UK drive 9GW solar PV installations in Q1 (via Recharge)

Green bonds hit record $8 billion mark in first quarter 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Merkel agrees to ease cuts in wind aid to appease regional governments (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy investment rises in 3 countries amid global decline (via Bloomberg)

One million solar lamps now shining across Africa (via RTCC)

White House doubles down on green tech loan program (via National Journal)

Rail congestion, cold weather raise ethanol spot prices (via US EIA)

5 renewable energy finance models bringing clean power to the people (via GreenBiz)

Minnesota lawmakers look to boost wind energy exports (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Old math casts doubt on accuracy of oil reserve estimates (via Bloomberg)

Energy industry leaders clash over US oil exports (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU “bullied” into diluting aviation emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

Li-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $26 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

DOE ready for more advanced transportation loans, now focusing on suppliers (via Autoblog Green)

US gasoline prices reach six-month high as ethanol climbs (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla to appeal changed New Jersey car regulations (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Gallup poll says majority of US favors energy conservation over production (via The Hill)

DOE and IMT build new green lease recognition program (via GreenBiz)

Demand response value isn’t just about capacity, finds study (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Less rainfall not the only risk factor in widespread drought shows study (via CBS News)

House passes “Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014” (via Washington Post)

Allergy alert: Tidal wave of pent up pollen could be headed our way (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

What climate change means in dollars and cents (via Bloomberg)

The UN’s new focus: Surviving, not stopping, climate change (via The Atlantic)

Injecting urgency into the World Bank’s climate change efforts (via World Resources Institute)

Why it’s still too early to bet on residential energy storage in the US (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Angela Merkel, arctic, Aviation emissions, battery, biomass, british columbia, california, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, data centers, Demand response, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Gasoline prices, global warming, Green bonds, Green lease, greenpeace, IMT, japan, minnesota, new jersey, News, North Carolina, oil, Oil exports, oregon, Petcoke, renewables, Sea ice melt, solar, Solar lamp, solar pv, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, united nations, Washington State, wind, World Bank
0
02
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.2.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Hubei province starts China’s second-biggest carbon exchange (via Bloomberg)

India mulls low-carbon fuel standard to cut vehicle exhaust by 2021 (via Bloomberg)

US EPA carbon rule for existing power plants sent to White House (via Reuters)

Promotion of cap-and-trade money for residents downplays looming higher electricity rates (via ClimateWire)

Companies try to catch CO2 before it touches the sky (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia tightens pressure on Ukraine with rise in natural gas prices (via New York Times)

UK could produce shale gas within four years in emergency (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

India to award 1 gigawatt of solar permits by 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Brazil planning its first solar-specific national auction (via Renewable Energy World)

Iceland’s clean energy lures metal companies from abroad (via SmartPlanet)

Senators leave Production Tax Credit out of renewable fuel proposal (via Houston Chronicle)

Crowdfunding for solar, wind reaching fevered pitch (via Sustainable Business)

Advancements in wind turbine technology improve efficiency; reduce cost (via Renewable Energy World)

BOEM publishes environmental assessment of potential Georgia offshore wind area (via Recharge)

BOEM readies Massachusetts offshore wind auction (via Recharge)

Vermont raises net metering cap to 15% (via Solar Industry)

Mystery property tycoon makes $533 million bet on solar (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

German states water down energy reform but Merkel pleased (via Reuters)

Net US energy imports in 2013 lowest in more than 20 years (via US EIA)

Hearings begin today in latest push against Ohio energy laws (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Canadian safety board urges faster phase out of oil rail tankers (via Reuters)

Crunch year ahead for Norway’s Arctic oil adventure (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Number of electric vehicles doubling every year (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf has 2nd-best sales month ever, Chevy Volt does a 2013 repeat (via Autoblog Green)

Volkswagen could bring wireless EV charging to market by 2017 (via Autoblog)

California forms waiting list for electric car rebates (via Plugin Cars)

Tesla to use North American materials amid pollution worry (via Bloomberg)

Koch Brothers quietly seek to ban new mass transit in Tennessee (via Climate Progress)

TAR SANDS 

Oil sands link to health concerns, says Canadian report (via Globe and Mail)

CLIMATE 

Climate change responses to shape Asia’s future (via Washington Post)

China and EU pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)

Biofuels might hold back progress combating climate change (via Scientific American)

NUCLEAR 

Japan may only be able to restart one-third of its nuclear reactors (via Reuters)

Utility Exelon wants to kill wind and solar subsidies while keeping nukes (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Utility spending on smart grid IT systems will total nearly $140 billion from 2014 through 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Unique state models offer a glimpse of New England’s microgrid future (via Greentech Media)

Maine Public Utilities Commission: Smart meters are safe (via Renew Grid)

RES Americas launch 8MW energy storage system in PJM (via Energy Manager Today)

Grid Edge 20: Companies transforming the US power sector (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Chinese coal firms creak under heavy debt, tumbling prices (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Meager snowpack bad news for drought-parched California (via USA Today)

Rains won’t quell California wildfire season (via Climate Central)

OPINION 

Climate change: Is anybody listening? (via Newsweek)

Global warming and the developing world (via New York Times)

Will Oregon cook up a carbon tax? (via Sightline Daily)

Rumsfeldian climate risks (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, biofuels, BOEM, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Exelon, Georgia, geothermal, germany, grid, Hubei, Iceland, india, japan, Koch Brothers, Maine, mass transit, massachusetts, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, norway, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, Oil train, oregon, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, renewables, RES Americas, Russia, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meters, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, Tesla, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, vermont, Volkswagen, Wildfire, wind
0
01
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.1.14

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

EMISSIONS 

World foots $1.9 trillion fossil fuel subsidy bill every year (via Recharge News)

Mining giant Chile prepping carbon tax to curb CO2 emissions (via Reuters)

Exxon: Highly unlikely world limits fossil fuels (via AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hybrid vehicles more fuel efficient in India, China than in US (via Phys.org)

Study: Gasoline prices will fall if US exports crude oil (via Houston Chronicle)

Massachusetts plugs into electric vehicle rebates (via CleanTechnica)

With EV market in its infancy, Tesla still needs to take risks (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Global wind power market declined 20% from 2012 to 2013 (via Navigant Research)

Latin America to add 53GW new wind by 2023 (via Recharge)

Merkel may ease cuts for onshore wind power to save jobs (via Bloomberg)

First Solar sees 20MW new solar capacity in Australian mining projects (via Renew Economy)

Support for solar energy climbs to nearly 80% of Americans (via Navigant Research)

Utilities enter the distributed generation era (via Navigant Research)

Wind farms have no sizable impact on house prices (via CleanTechnica)

Study: Michigan could triple renewable energy at low consumer cost (via Midwest Energy News)

3.3MW solar system tops San Diego airport (via Energy Manager Today)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear kingdom: Saudi Arabia’s atomic ambitions (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

Report predicts cities’ reaction to climate change (via Environmental Leader)

Combating climate change may take a global vegetarian movement (via National Journal)

MIT researchers propose massive microbe bloom may have triggered Permian extinction (via Green Car Congress)

Baseball bats may be next victim of climate change (via Daily Climate)

NATURAL GAS 

Chevron, Polish firm jointly explore for shale gas (via CNBC/AP)

Pennsylvania leases more than 1,400 acres under rivers and streams to natural gas drillers (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

GRID 

Green Charge Networks: In some markets, cost-effective energy storage is here (via Forbes)

Solar Decathlon houses make up solar village to test microgrid technology (via Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL 

Silicon Valley’s elite comes out against Keystone XL (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

ENVIRONMENT 

“Living with drought” website created for Nevada (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

From energy guzzler to energy efficient – 5 ways to create an energy-saving home (via The Good Human)

OPINION 

Is the SolarCity model the only way to scale residential solar? (via Greentech Media)

MIT climate scientist responds on disaster costs and climate change (via FiveThirtyEight)

Latinos benefit from green jobs: Dirty energy industry green with envy (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, carbon tax, Chevron, Chile, China, climate, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ev, Extinction, First Solar, fracking, gas prices, germany, green jobs, grid, india, Keystone XL, Latin America, massachusetts, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, nuclear, Oil exports, pennsylvania, Poland, renewables, San Diego, saudi arabia, Shale gas, solar, Solar Decathlon, SolarCity, Subsidy, Tesla, Transportation, wind
0
28
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.28.14

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

CLIMATE 

IPCC report: Climate change felt “on all continents and across the oceans” (via The Guardian)

Sinking island nations battle tides of climate change (via Deutche Welle)

Facing rising seas, Bangladesh confronts climate change consequences (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Environmentalists debate impacts of LNG exports on global warming (via Greenwire)

Fracking the USA: New map shows 1 million oil, gas wells (via Climate Central)

Report says each Marcellus gas well costs thousands in road damage (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

RENEWABLES 

2013: Renewable energy’s best of times, worst of times (via CleanTechnica)

Future of Chile’s energy sector lies with renewables, shows new report (via Renewable Energy World)

Wind power “could yield €8.3 billion” for Ireland (via Recharge)

As solar prices fall, wind still finds a role in microgrids (via Navigant Research)

New US wind power projects fall 93% in 2013 (via The Hill)

As net metering battles move to small markets, solar advocates claim early victories (via Energy Collective)

Solar “net metering” extended by California regulators (via San Francisco Chronicle)

California utility PG&E exceeds 20% renewable energy standard (via Greentech Media)

BOEM to hold competitive Maryland offshore wind energy lease auction this summer (via Recharge)

Waste-to-energy could help Wisconsin expand sustainable energy (via Journal-Sentinel)

Kansas flirts with repeal of renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

Virginia awards $860,000 in offshore wind research (via Virginian-Pilot)

EMISSIONS 

RGGI announces 2015 CO2 allocation (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

One year after Exxon’s Arkansas spill, basic questions still unanswered (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs, plug-ins already saving 45 million gallons of gasoline per year in US (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

North Carolina inspectors failed to notice crack before coal ash spill (via The Guardian)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water, wildlife surge back into once-parched Colorado River delta (via Los Angeles Times)

US lists lesser prairie chicken as threatened, energy groups wary (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ohio GOP drafts plan to freeze state’s renewable, energy efficiency rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

Indiana governor lets energy efficiency program expire (via Indianapolis Star)

OPINION 

Can evolution outrace climate change? (via FiveThirtyEight)

Spring training, and Spring, starting way earlier than usual (via Bloomberg)

Three utilities most likely to fall in death spiral, via Morningstar (via Forbes)

How distributed energy resources affect US capacity markets (via Solar Industry)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, Bangladesh, BOEM, california, Capacity market, Chile, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado river, distributed generation, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EVs, Exxon, fracking, indiana, IPCC, Ireland, kansas, Lesser Prairie Chicken, LNG, marcellus shale, maryland, Microgrids, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PGE, Plug-in hybrids, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, solar, Transportation, virginia, wind, Wisconsin
0
25
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.25.14

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

COAL 

Netherlands to stop funding overseas coal power plants (via RTCC)

EPA’s coal ash rule still not done (via Politico)

Supreme Court declines to hear Arch Coal mining permit case against EPA (via Reuters)

Coal ash pods: How power companies get a “bypass” on pollution regulations (via National Geographic)

EPA joins North Carolina in probe of coal ash spill (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Japan approves 2014-2015 renewable energy FiT rates (via Recharge)

Italy, Spain, Germany hit commercial solar grid parity in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

India may see slow growth in new solar capacity additions (via Panchabuta)

Developers register 12GW potential Brazil wind projects for June auction (via Recharge)

Kenya’s 300MW Lake Turkana wind farm to break ground in June (via Renewables Biz)

Solar PV industry targets 100GW annual deployment in 2018 (via Solar Industry)

Mercom Capital forecasts 46GW new solar in 2014 (via Solar Industry)

Greenwood Biosar completes Panama’s first utility-scale solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley: Going off grid nears tipping point (via Renew Economy)

FERC issues license for tidal energy pilot project in Pacific Northwest (via Renew Grid)

Feds clearing path for Pacific wave energy test (via Houston Chronicle)

Cape Wind update: A big legal victory and another legal challenge (via Greentech Media)

Maryland seeks global offshore wind role (via Recharge)

Koch-funded groups fuel assault on Kansas clean energy law (via Climate Progress)

New Jersey’s offshore wind goals up in the air after project rejection (Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL 

Southern leg of Keystone XL pipeline reaches capacity ahead of schedule (via The Oklahoman)

Not building Keystone XL will leave a billion barrels of bitumen in the ground (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

New study reveals workings of China’s pilot emissions cap-and-trade systems (via Triple Pundit)

China’s Hubei province to launch carbon market on April 2 (via Reuters)

China’s Shenzen says carbon market had 10% surplus in first year (via Reuters)

As listener and saleswoman, EPA chief takes to the road for climate rules (via New York Times)

States aren’t shying away from regulating carbon emissions from power plants (via Bloomberg BNA)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE approves natural gas export terminal (via The Hill)

North Dakota gas flaring doubles, pumping CO2 into air (via Climate Central)

CLIMATE 

UN official: Countries on track to reach 2015 global climate treaty (via The Hill)

EU delays 2030 climate package decision until October (via RTCC)

WMO: Global warming not stopped, will go on for centuries (via Reuters)

Climate change could leave another 50 million people facing hunger by 2050 (via The Guardian)

UN says 13 of 14 hottest years on record occurred since 2000 (via BusinessGreen)

Weather extremes “consistent” with manmade climate change, says UN (via Agence France-Presse)

OIL 

Houston Channel closed as 24 vessels skim 4,000-barrel oil spill (via Bloomberg)

Galveston Bay oil spill will take economic, ecological toll (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

VW chairman says component cost decreases keep him confident of EV success (via Autoblog Green)

How four states are trying to woo Tesla Motors’ gigafactory (via Autoblog Green)

Ford: Baby boomers leading trend to compact utility vehicles (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC Order 1000 has its day in court (via Renewable Energy World)

Southwest Power Pool launches wholesale energy marketplace (via Energy Manager Today)

Car companies take expertise in battery power beyond the garage (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

WHO links 7 million premature deaths annually to air pollution; 12.5% total global deaths (via Green Car Congress)

China says polluting industry still growing too fast (via Reuters)

China aims to launch national pollution permit market within three years (via Reuters)

Brazil desperately seeking solutions to worst drought in decades (via The Guardian)

Water scarcity drives US communities toward smarter use, recycling (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

By 2020, LEDs may rival incandescent bulbs in cost without rebates (via Greentech Media)

LBNL calculates “cost of saved energy” from efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower sets IPO price range at $17-19, could raise $110 million (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

Green groups spend $5 million to defend three Democrats (via Wall Street Journal)

Mary Landrieu is paying – and getting paid big – for her global warming stance (via National Journal)

OPINION 

“War on coal” isn’t the real reason your utility rates will rise (via Triple Pundit)

Why you shouldn’t applaud Exxon’s decision to disclose climate risks (via Climate Progress)

Galveston oil spill: Does US oil boom mean more spills? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Steven Chu solves utility companies’ death spiral (via Forbes)

Maybe transit isn’t surging after all (via Atlantic Cities)

Watts the mystery? The energy units that power our lives. (via Smart Planet)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, battery, Brazil, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, FERC, FERC Order 1000, FIT, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Grid Parity, Hubei, india, italy, japan, kansas, Kenya, LED, Mary Landrieu, maryland, methane, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Netherlands, new jersey, News, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Opower, oregon, Panama, renewables, Shenzen, Southwest Power Pool, Spain, SPP, steven chu, Tesla Motors, tidal energy, transit, Volkswagen, War on Coal, wind, WMO
0
18
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.18.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change is putting world at risk of irreversible changes, warns AAAS (via The Guardian)

Global warming may double Japan’s heat-related deaths, says study (via Bloomberg)

42% of Americans think global warming exaggerated, suggests poll (via The Hill)

Study: Rockies’ wildflower season 35 days longer from climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

White House to host climate change resilience event (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China mandates firms must start reporting carbon emissions (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

37GW of new solar capacity installed worldwide in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

African Renewable Energy Fund secures $100 million for Sub-Saharan renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

UK invests $6.6 million to cut offshore wind costs (via Recharge)

India cuts renewable funds, impeding solar rooftop growth (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels production drives growth in overall US biomass energy use since 2002 (via US EIA)

US ethanol profits in 2013 second highest on record (via Des Moines Register)

Oceans stand to deliver abundant carbon-free energy (via Climate Central)

States look to green banks to leverage private clean tech investment (via Energy Collective)

Kansas co-op plans state’s largest solar array (via Midwest Energy News)

First Solar seeking growth to replace giant desert plants (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Tweak to North Carolina law protected Duke’s coal ash pits (via ABC News/AP)

William Koch, pessimistic about coal’s future in US, gets out of the business (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

Japan launches battery storage subsidy for homes, businesses (via Renew Economy)

Ontario grid operator issues RFP for up to 35MW energy storage (via Renew Grid)

Midwest wind power transmission line plan irks farmers (via Huffington Post/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

New Jersey eyes ban on fracking waste from any state (via Sacramento Bee/AP)

Ohio’s earthquake average has risen since 2010 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Not into fracking? How about some nuclear waste? (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Who will emerge as the Opower of commercial building efficiency? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

US Department of Energy releases results from Strategic Petroleum Reserve sale (via Reuters)

Alaska sues Obama administration for rejecting Arctic drilling plan (via The Hill)

Oil spill reaches Missouri River in North Dakota (via Bismarck Tribune/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

How more EV sales in America hurts China’s environment (via Autoblog)

GM executive chief EV engineer says reducing cost of plug-in vehicles “huge priority” (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

60% of pro-Keystone XL comments tied to industry, says group (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Warmest winter on record worsens California drought (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

1,500-year-old Antarctic moss brought back to life (via Scientific American)

OPINION 

China’s “solar bubble” may be a coal bubble in disguise (via Navigant Research)

Is Canada the next energy superpower? (via Christian Science Monitor)

The US can’t really undermine Russia by exporting gas (via MIT Technology Review)

Shielding the transmission grid means protecting the economy (via Forbes)

Transparent utility pricing will make the smart grid smarter (via Greentech Media)

Could Minnesota’s “value of solar” make everyone a winner? (via Grist)

What is PACE financing? (via Energy Collective)

POLITICS 

Democrats’ anti-Koch strategy is risky (via Washington Post)

Solar industry worries Wyden’s ties to SolarWorld may affect China trade case, ITC (via SNL Energy)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, alaska, Antarctic, arctic, battery, biofuels, biomass, california, canada, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, DOE, drought, earthquake, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, First Solar, fracking, global warming, GM, Green bank, grid, india, japan, kansas, Keystone XL, minnesota, Missouri River, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, ontario, Opower, PACE, renewables, Ron Wyden, Russia, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, strategic petroleum reserve, tidal energy, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
0
12
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.12.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA warns global warming could be 20% higher than previous estimates (via RTCC)

Climate change not a top US worry, finds poll (via The Hill)

Keeling Curve in danger of budget cuts (via Weather Underground)

COAL 

Italian judge blames coal plant for hundreds of deaths, forces it to close (via Huffington Post)

Duke CEO: Customers should pay to empty coal ash ponds (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

100GW solar PV market in 2018, forecasts NPD Solarbuzz (via Recharge)

IEA: High renewable energy market penetration is feasible in any country (via CleanTechnica)

Latin America is emerging as a force in solar: Here’s what early developers have learned (via Greentech Media)

4.58GW of solar PV added in Japan (via CleanTechnica)

GE to supply 213MW of turbines for European wind farms (via Bloomberg)

Wind Production Tax Credit “dead” in Congress this year (via Bloomberg)

US homeowners, especially Republicans, want to be able to choose clean energy (via Climate Progress)

Minnesota regulators set to decide on solar tariff formula (via EnergyWire)

Automatic self-optimization of wind turbines (via Phys.org)

Cincinnati City Council debates buying green energy (via Cincinnati Business Courier)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL southern leg having major effect on US oil hub (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts: Keystone XL may create fewer jobs than most expect (via US News & World Report)

Unions: Keystone review “reeks of politics” (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Nine Chinese cities suffered more severe smog days than Beijing (via The Guardian)

Poor nations need financing to cut carbon emissions, says China (via Bloomberg)

For EPA’s global warming rules, will “next year” mean “never”? (via National Journal)

OIL 

US oil boom fuels rail industry resurgence (via Christian Science Monitor)

US refiners form lobby against easing crude export limits (via Reuters)

Moody’s: Many US oil companies on investors’ hit list (via Houston Chronicle)

North Dakota oil boom puts pressure on Great Plains farmers (via Huffington Post/Stateline)

GRID 

California drought dries up hydro but power stays on (via National Geographic)

NY regulator, ConEd embrace plan to climate-proof power grid (via InsideClimate News)

After failing in EVs, Coda Energy pursues no-money-down energy storage (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

16 countries’ regulatory bodies have changed policy in response to Fukushima (via US GAO)

Three years after Fukushima, Japan makes U-turn on nuclear (via Christian Science Monitor)

US nuclear agency hid concerns, hailed safety record as Fukushima melted (via NBC News)

FRACKING 

Ohio looks at whether fracking led to two quakes (via New York Times)

POLITICS

How talking about climate change might actually help Democrats win elections (via Washington Post)

Clinton Keystone dodge prompts donors to rethink support (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Four reasons why the fight against climate change is likely to fail (via Washington Post)

Japan’s energy dilemma, in one chart (via Washington Post)

All you need to know about BC’s carbon tax shift in five charts (via Sightline)

China builds bridges to US EV market (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: Beijing, british columbia, california, carbon tax, China, Cincinnati, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coda Energy, ConEd, drought, duke energy, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, europe, fracking, fukushima, GE, global warming, grid, hillary clinton, Hydro, IEA, italy, japan, Keeling Curve, Keystone XL, minnesota, NASA, NERC, new york, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, solar, tar sands, wind
0
03
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China may build biggest smog lab to control pollution (via Bloomberg)

Norwegian government reviews fossil fuel divestment plan (via BusinessGreen)

EPA set to reveal tough new sulfur emissions rule (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL 

Hundreds arrested at White House Keystone XL protest (via Politico)

Native Americans vow a last stand to block Keystone XL oil pipeline (via Washington Post)

Boxer joins Grivalja in push for Keystone XL contractor review probe (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

US biodiesel production sets annual and monthly records (via Facts of the Day)

Analysis finds some research studies may overstate energy crop yields by as much as 100 percent (via Green Car Congress)

Battle over renewable energy ahead in Kansas legislative session (via Lawrence Journal-World)

PUC pushes limits on Pennsylvania solar net metering actions (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Cape Wind finds cash, eyes 2016 for offshore wind operation (via EarthTechling)

Maine governor seeks to get rid of wind energy goals (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Flood damage cost to rise fivefold across Europe by 2050 (via The Guardian)

Russia outlines plans to meet 2020 climate goals (via RTCC)

Apple CEO advises climate change deniers to get out of company stock (via CNET)

More companies face climate-related risks to supply chains (via GreenBiz)

GRID 

Joint-operating dispute reignites between Midwest grid operators (via EnergyWire)

Southwest Power Pool launches new market, is poised to double in size (via EnergyWire)

Energy storage: California’s new green tech battleground (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

IEA chief: Only a decade left in US shale boom (via Christian Science Monitor)

US natural gas prices rise a second day on winter storm, Ukraine escalation (via Bloomberg)

LA city council takes step toward fracking ban (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA takes step toward restricting Pebble Mine project on Alaska’s Bristol Bay (via Washington Post)

California governor signs $687 million drought relief legislation (via Reuters)

California rain brings mudslides but no drought relief (via Time)

North Carolina regulators cite Duke Energy in coal ash spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Top 10 regions for EV growth in US – Atlanta crushing it! (via CleanTechnica)

Almost $1 billion in claims filed against bankrupt Fisker (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico energy overhaul could renew interest in green power (via Houston Chronicle)

In search of new sales, defense contractors embrace energy market (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE steams ahead with third appliance standard in Obama’s “year of action” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Edison Electric Institute really does not want you to go solar (via Greentech Media)

Batteries combined with rooftop solar may speed grid’s “death spiral” (via EnergyWire)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, apple, Atlanta, Barbara Boxer, battery, biodiesel, Bristol Bay, california, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal ash, Coal ash spill, DOE, drought, duke energy, Edison Electric Institute, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, europe, ev, Fisker, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking ban, grid, IEA, Jerry Brown, kansas, Keystone XL, los angeles, Maine, mexico, MISO, natural gas, Net metering, News, North Carolina, norway, offshore wind, Paul LePage, Pebble Mine, pennsylvania, Raul Grivalja, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, SPP, Tim Cook, Ukraine, wind
0
14
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Arctic autumns on track to warm a staggering 23 degrees F, warns NOAA (via Climate Progress)

US lays out vision for 2015 climate pact to United Nations (via Point Carbon)

Obama to announce $1 billion climate resilience fund (via The Hill)

The real reason why this week’s massive ice storm is so unusual (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Methane emissions from fracking up to 75% higher than EPA estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

US decision watched in row over solar imports from China, Taiwan (via Reuters)

Green banks can multiply the impact of clean energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

US solar industry more than 60% of the way to SunShot cost-competitiveness goal (via Renew Grid)

Distributed energy could make up 1/3 the US power supply by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

Electric rates fall in top 11 wind states but increase in other 39 states (via Facts of the Day)

Ivanpah dedicated with all three concentrating solar plants now online (via Solar Industry)

COAL 

US Attorney’s office probing North Carolina officials following coal ash spill (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Many car dealers don’t want to sell EVs: Here’s why (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Motors shares flirt with $200, still close at record price (via Los Angeles Times)

Are Tesla sales slowing in California? (via San Jose Mercury News)

ENVIRONMENT 

How China’s appetite for raw materials is transforming the world (via Washington Post)

Australian bushfire has grown to size of Melbourne (via Yale e360)

White House to launch administration-wide drought response (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate resilience, coal, coal ash, Concentrating solar power, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, global warming, Green bank, Ivanpah, methane, natural gas, News, North Carolina, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, SunShot, Taiwan, Tesla Motors, Transportation, united nations, Wildfire, wind
0