Category Archives:emissions

29
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Asian air pollution may be changing U.S. weather patterns (via OnEarth)

Hearing on Inslee plan to charge polluters draws divided crowd (via Seattle Times)

A tax or a cap? Debating the path to carbon pricing in Oregon (via Portland Business Journal)

COAL 

Federal coal program costing taxpayers and states more than $1 billion per year in lost royalties (via Climate Progress)

Swedish, U.S. universities divest from coal, Oxford “meets to discuss” (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

New report urges western governments to reconsider reliance on biofuels (via New York Times)

China connected 18.7GW of wind to the grid in 2014, says NEA (via Recharge)

Germany adds 4.75GW onshore wind, breaking 12-year record (via Recharge)

Lowering interest rates “could cut Indian solar cost by a third” (via PV Tech)

China’s wind energy output dropped in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. wind power quadruples in 2014 as Texas leads installations (via Bloomberg)

GE, Siemens, Vestas dominate U.S. wind market in 2014 (via Recharge)

Walmart tops EPA’s on-site generation list (via Energy Manager Today)

Charting Hawaii’s spectacular solar growth (via Greentech Media)

CALSEIA issues California net metering update (via Solar Industry)

Minnesota: Where solar is about to take off (via Sustainable Business)

SolarWorld sees 6-8GW U.S. solar PV market over next decade (via Recharge)

First week of February is “Solar Education Week” (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment

NATURAL GAS 

Scotland announces moratorium on fracking for shale gas (via The Guardian)

Kansas earthquakes likely tied to rise in fracking wastewater, say state geologists (via International Business Times)

CLIMATE 

Climate models don’t over-predict warming, shows study (via Los Angeles Times)

British belief in climate change on the rise, finds research (via The Guardian)

House panel agrees to prioritize climate change (via The Hill)

TV networks now cover climate change, but they’re doing it wrong (via Grist)

OIL 

EIA chief: Cheap oil won’t last forever (via Christian Science Monitor)

Shell shaves $15 billion off three-year spending plans (via Forbes)

Shell wants to resume Arctic drilling this year (via The Hill)

Chevron and BP in deal to search for oil deep beneath Gulf of Mexico (via New York Times)

Senate votes on fracking, endangered species pave way for Keystone XL passage (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION : Energy and Environment

Sales of electric trucks and buses expected to reach nearly 160,000 annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Psychological barriers are holding back EV adoption (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK energy use falls by 7.5 percent (via BusinessGreen)

Ikea sees green product sales soar 58% to over €1 billion (via BusinessGreen)

Finally, an energy issue everybody (mostly) likes (via National Journal)

ENERGY POLICY

China’s overseas investments, explained in 10 graphics (via WRI Insights)

Northrup Grumman cuts ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

OPINION : Energy and Environment

Is surging U.S. wind power headed off a cliff? (via Breaking Energy)

The solar-utility battle is getting ugly (via Greentech Media)

The best idea in a long time: Covering parking lots with solar panels (via Washington Post)

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Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, arctic, Asia, biofuels, BP, california, CALSEIA, cap and trade, carbon tax, Chevron, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GE, germany, global warming, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Ikea, india, jay inslee, kansas, Keystone XL, minnesota, natural gas, Net metering, News, Northrup Grumman, offshore drilling, oil, oregon, Oxford University, renewables, Scotland, Shale gas, Shell, Siemens, solar, Solarworld, Sweden, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, vestas, Walmart, Washington State, wind
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28
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Supreme Court to hear cases against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

Why size doesn’t matter: Divesting from fossil fuels with a small endowment (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

NTSB finds “systemic problems” in gas pipeline oversight (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY 

Utility bosses see change coming, look to clean and distributed energy (via Grist)

How these energy geeks are reimagining an old school utility (via Reuters)

The University of California’s new retail energy supplier: Itself (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

USTDA to commit nearly $2 billion to renewable energy projects in India (via PV Tech)

German ground-mount solar to be limited to 1.2GW for 2015-2017 (via PV Tech)

Brazil’s Banco Itau Unibanco to finance $408 million in renewable energy projects (via Recharge)

Bangladesh looks to establish world’s “first solar nation” (via Telesur)

U.S. solar complaint against India set to reopen as Obama leaves town (via PV Tech)

UK study says solar panels made from perovskite far cheaper, more efficient (via Reuters)

U.S. approves Argentina proposal to qualify for biodiesel credits (via Reuters)

NextEra-HECO deal likely linked with Hawaiian utility’s about face on rooftop solar (via Forbes)

Every $1 of solar incentives puts $2.46 into the economy (via CleanTechnica)

West Virginia legislature repeals state renewable portfolio standard (via Charleston Daily Mail)

Cape Wind project faces new hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Can you turn your home into a hydroelectric plant? (via Forbes)

OIL 

Obama’s plan: Allow drilling in the Atlantic, but limit it in Arctic (via New York Times)

Green light for some would-be U.S. oil exporters, more questions for others (via Reuters)

Sen. Cruz won’t seek vote to end crude oil export ban (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

American Airlines expects to save $5 billion from tumbling oil prices (via Forbes)

Kansas City Power & Light to build 1,000 EV charging sites (via Green Car Reports)

After steadily falling, gas prices notch an increase (via New York Times)

Boston Power targets own battery gigafactory (via Inside EVs)

CLIMATE 

U.S. corporate supply chains vulnerable to climate risks (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Storage to follow solar’s path of falling costs, says Citigroup (via PV Tech)

Are carbon nanoballs the answer to renewable’s grid woes? (via BusinessGreen)

The case for long duration storage: Net electricity load in California is five years ahead of schedule (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Are stranded assets wearing down oil and coal industries? (via GreenBiz)

What utility executives think the future holds (via Utility Dive)

Solar Outlook 2015: Still growing, but no longer energy’s young kid (via Renewable Energy World)

10 Members of Congress who actually get sustainable business (via GreenBiz)

Another state fights war on solar and energy efficiency (via EcoWatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: American Airlines, arctic, Argentina, Bangladesh, battery, biodiesel, Boston Power, Brazil, california, cape wind, Citigroup, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, grid, Hawaii, HECO, hydroelectric, india, indiana, kansas, natural gas, News, NextEra, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Perovskite, Pipelines, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, Ted Cruz, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, University of California, Washington State, West Virginia
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27
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.27.15

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

COAL 

China coal production falls for first time this century (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS

Bill resurfaces to pull New Hampshire from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (via Nashua Telegraph)

RENEWABLES 

Seven interesting global renewable energy trends from NREL (via CleanTechnica)

Analysts predict global renewable energy capacity will double by 2025 (via BusinessGreen)

China takes over lead from Europe in 2013 solar PV installations (via Phys.org)

Renewable energy transmission backbone takes shape across U.S., Europe (via Sustainable Business)

Utilities at heart of Japan grid connection dispute will resume considering PV projects (via PV Tech)

Algeria doubles renewable energy target to 25GW by 2030 (via PV Tech)

GCL plans 2GW of PV power plant projects in China in 2015 (via PV Tech)

Siemens wind profits rise 21% in first quarter, but orders dip (via Recharge)

Two graphs highlight growth surge in U.S. solar market (via CleanTechnica)

Florida utility to build 225MW of solar power capacity (via PV Tech)

Barriers to renewable energy in Michigan could affect state’s economic future (via Lansing News)

Indiana and West Virginia look to slash support for renewable energy (via Greentech Media)

Hawaii’s electric system is changing with rooftop solar growth and new utility ownership (via U.S. EIA)

Dirty ground starts to sprout clean energy projects (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE 

Obama ends visit with challenge to India on climate change (via New York Times)

Climate change responsible for super-charging winter storms, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Climate change will hit Australia harder than rest of world, shows study (via The Guardian)

Climate change will cause more extreme La Ninas, says research (via Bloomberg)

Atlantic, Pacific fish face mixing as Arctic warms (via Discovery)

Copenhagen reveals world’s first neighborhood adapted for climate change (via TriplePundit)

OIL 

Obama Administration opens door to Atlantic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

U.S. Senate blocks swift passage of Keystone XL pipeline bill (via Reuters)

Supreme Court rejects BP executive’s appeal in oil spill case (via The Hill)

Northwest oil spills: Raw data and growing risk (via Sightline)

Wyoming, Halliburton agree to greater fracking disclosure (via Star-Tribune)

BP to freeze pay for most of its employees (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle battery market set to top $21 billion by 2019 (via BusinessGreen)

China expected to launch subsidy for EV lithium batteries (via Renewable Energy World)

EV sales in Germany hit new high in December 2014 (via Inside EVs)

Nissan already planning for EV sales once incentives run out (via Autoblog Green)

POLITICS 

Here’s what every governor thinks about climate and clean energy (via Climate Progress)

Obama’s Arctic power grab (via Politico)

NY Governor Cuomo blames northeast snowstorm on “changing climate” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Prince Charles: Global climate change pact could be Magna Carta for Earth (via The Guardian)

What a warming world means for major snowstorms (via Climate Central)

With cheap oil flowing, U.S. looks to next energy revolution (via Navigant Research)

Liebreich: 10 predictions for clean energy in 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Why cheap energy is the biggest threat to climate action (via GreenBiz)

Factors that will drive U.S. oil production in 2015 (via Reuters)

Divestment will not keep carbon in the ground (via Energy Collective)

Snowmageddon 2015 proves you were right about climate change (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Algeria, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, battery, BP, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, COP21, copenhagen, denmark, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, ev, Extreme weather, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Halliburton, Hawaii, HECO, india, indiana, japan, Keystone XL, La Nina, Michael Liebreich, michigan, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Hampshire, new york, News, Nissan, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Prince Charles, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Siemens, solar, Transportation, West Virginia, wind, wyoming
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23
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.15

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

CLIMATE 

“Hottest year” story obscures bigger news: Ocean warming now off the charts (via Climate Progress)

UN asks countries for climate plans after record warm 2014 (via Reuters)

Climate change moves the Doomsday Clock (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

China’s wind power capacity now bigger than UK’s total electricity supply (via BusinessGreen)

India clean energy investments rebound, set to pass $10 billion in 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Solar R&D needs “systemic shock” to avert death of European PV (via PV Tech)

Taiwan could use its own loophole to sidestep U.S. solar tariffs (via PV Tech)

Beyond-the-grid solar sector matures with new finance and projects (via Huffington Post)

Etrion’s latest approved Chile project could also be a “merchant” plant (via PV Tech)

Texas wind power cracks 10% threshold (via Houston Chronicle)

Iowa ethanol lobby starts 2016 campaign to regain influence (via Bloomberg)

U.S. Navy, Air Force sign up for 120MW of Florida solar (via PV Tech)

Proof in numbers: Putting solar job census, home value study in perspective (via Renewable Energy World)

In the quest to finance smaller commercial solar deals, pipeline is king (via Renewable Energy World)

Are floating PPAs an ideal worth floating to solar investors? (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

Oil prices rise after Saudi king’s death (via The Hill)

New Saudi king seen holding line on OPEC policy to keep oil output high (via Reuters)

The oil price tag investors say would signal a global recession (via Forbes)

Africa oil boom on hold as prices spur explorer caution (via Bloomberg)

Senate sets final Keystone XL vote next week (via The Hill)

Trial witness says Gulf spill response removed far less crude than BP expert estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Gas tax push on fumes, says House chairman (via The Hill)

DOE offers $55 million for vehicle fuel efficiency technology (via The Hill)

Energy Secretary confirms U.S. will miss Obama goal of 1 million EVs by 2015 (via Green Car Reports)

VW, BMW, ChargePoint partner to create fast-charging corridors on East & West Coasts (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon market price expected to rise before 2020 following MEPs’ vote (via The Guardian)

Into think air: Boston pipes leak $90 million in fuel yearly (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Buildings represent 40% of total U.S. energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

When it comes to efficiency, U.S. military soldiers on (via Grist)

POLITICS 

Senate Democrats play offense on climate change ahead of 2016 (via Bloomberg)

Democrats divided on climate change (via National Journal)

KXL votes allow Dems to begin building beachhead to protect EPA rules (via E&E Daily)

Romney says climate change is real (via The Hill)

Mitt Romney believes in global warming again, but how would he deal with it? (via Vox)

Tom Steyer isn’t running for Senate, but may be angling for another office (via National Journal)

OPINION 

100 most sustainable multibillion-dollar companies revealed in Davos (via GreenBiz)

Will 2015 be a breakthrough year for energy storage in the UK? (via Greentech Media)

Solar loans: Should PV be more like car sales or cable television? (via Greentech Media)

Edison Electric Institute’s anti-solar PR spending revealed (via Huffington Post)

Missing a mining opportunity (via RMI Outlet)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, BMW, Boston, BP, cap and trade, Carbon market, ChargePoint, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, Edison Electric Institute, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU ETS, European Union, EV chargers, EVs, Florida, fuel-efficiency, Gas tax, global warming, green jobs, Gulf of Mexico, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Mitt Romney, natural gas, News, oil, oil spill, OPEC, PPA, renewables, saudi arabia, solar, Solar trade war, Taiwan, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, Volkswagen, wind
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22
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Fate of EU carbon market hangs in balance of reform vote (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading reforms in doubt after MEPs fail to agree on start date (via BusinessGreen)

European Parliament committee fails to agree on carbon reform date (via Reuters)

How the oil industry will try to kill carbon pricing (via Sightline Daily)

CLIMATE

Citing climate, Obama issues Arctic executive order (via USA Today)

The case of Greenland’s disappearing lakes (via CBS News)

How far Obama’s message on climate change has come (via Washington Post)

COAL 

U.S. coal declines, bucks global trend (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

EPIA: Germany’s solar tender plan “makes no sense” while PV prices fall (via PV Tech)

U.S. trade panel triggers duties on China, Taiwan solar gear (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar remains committed to supplying PV modules to U.S. after ITC ruling (via PV Tech)

Dubai ups renewable energy target to 15% by 2030 (via PV Tech)

Plans submitted for 205MW Chile solar project (via PV Tech)

Greenwood to build 80-megawatt solar power facility in Chile (via Bloomberg)

U.S. wind power installations rose six-fold in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s biggest utility wants to ditch solar net metering (via Greentech Media)

Moth eyes inspire scientists to cut reflection on solar panels (via GigaOm)

Solar as an energy equity solution (via Renewable Energy World)

Higher renewable energy standard could boost Minnesota’s economy (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS 

House passes bill to speed natural gas pipelines (via The Hill)

GRID 

Grid edge investments total $1.3 billion in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

FERC files Supreme Court challenge to demand response decision (via Greentech Media)

Clean Line solicits 3.5GW capacity for Grain Belt Express (via Recharge)

OIL 

OPEC chief says oil will rebound, defends decision not to cut (via Reuters)

Spain mulls fracking after offshore drilling comes up dry (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP head expects oil prices “low for up to three years” (via BBC)

U.S. drivers put oil market on road to recovery (via Reuters)

Nearly 3 million gallons of brine spill in North Dakota oil boom’s largest leak (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tokyo wants 6,000 fuel cell cars from Toyota and Honda for 2020 Olympics (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republican hints at Keystone XL backup plan (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

GOP knives come out against U.S.-China carbon pact, Paris climate talks (via National Journal)

Senate votes 98-1 that “climate change is real and not a hoax” (via Climate Progress)

How senators voted on whether climate change is real and “human activity significantly contributes” (via National Journal)

Republicans edit climate-denial mockery out of Obama’s State of the Union (via Grist)

Obama to Republicans: So long, and thanks for nothing (via Grist)

Tom Steyer’s green ambitions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

As Obama and Modi meet, 4 opportunities for U.S.-India action on clean energy and climate (via WRI Insights)

U.S.-India climate talks could pave way for billions in clean energy investment but not emissions goals (via International Business Times)

NRG’s grand ambition to dominate the solar market (via Forbes)

Five reasons why companies should invest in climate resilience now (via GreenBiz)

The most important solar trends in eight charts (via Greentech Media)

Climate action protects the middle class (via Huffington Post)

The Senate is pretty clearly a hoax (via Vox)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, BP, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, Dubai, emissions, EU ETS, FERC, fracking, fuel cell, germany, greenland, Greenwood Energy, grid, Hawaii, honda, india, Keystone XL, minnesota, natural gas, Net metering, News, north dakota, NRG, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Taiwan, Tom Steyer, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, Trina Solar, wind
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21
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.21.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL pipeline battle begins in Senate as Dems push trio of amendments to GOP-backed bill (via International Business Times)

Nebraskans file new lawsuits to stop Keystone XL pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Keystone XL builder files for eminent domain for pipeline route (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Study downgrades climate impact of wood burning (via Climate Central)

Global coal lobby downplays divestment fears (via RTCC)

$48 million to help states cut emissions (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Sleeping giants wake to give utility-scale solar yet another record year (via Renew Economy)

PV installations in China could top 15GW in 2015, says China investment bank (via PV Tech)

Badly located renewable power plants cost Europe $100 billion: Davos report (via Reuters)

Austria crosses 2GW threshold for installed wind (via Renewables International)

Chile sees 1.2 solar PV, wind in 2014 (via Recharge)

Japan could cut solar tariffs as much as 18% following cost drop (via Bloomberg)

Egypt to produce 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020 (via Ahram Online)

Australia installs more than 800MW small-scale solar capacity in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy bond investors want full buffet of options (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Abengoa to build world’s largest solar desalination plant (via Bloomberg)

Hawaiian Electric Company plans to reduce customer solar net metering credits (via Star-Advertiser)

Portland produces “in-pipe” energy from water pipeline (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

The unlikely climate allies bridging divides in UN talks (via RTCC)

OIL 

U.S. won’t intervene in global oil market (via The Hill)

BP, U.S. attorneys clash in oil spill trial opening statements (via Houston Chronicle)

Falling oil investment will hit U.S. economy (via Reuters)

Coalition of investors to pressure oil firms to go green (via The Independent)

U.S. shale oil growth hurts Canadians as well as OPEC (via Bloomberg)

Shareholders challenge BP to confront climate change risk (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

CCM forecasts 5-fold growth in China Li-ion market by 2017 to meet EV demand (via Green Car Congress)

New automotive propulsion technology patent activities surge six-fold in five years (via Green Car Congress)

STATE OF THE UNION 

Obama: Climate change is greatest threat to future generations (via The Hill)

Obama touts climate action, mocks “I’m not a scientist” caucus (via Climate Progress)

State of the Union 2015 fact check (via National Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

After December rains, California comes up dry (via Climate Central)

High, wide sand dunes worked during Hurricane Sandy, finds report (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

Why India can’t stop at 100GW of solar (via Greentech Media)

How Australia could become a battery storage manufacturing hub (via Renew Economy)

EVs won’t die because of low gas prices (via Autoblog)

How the rise of a mega solar farm shows us the future of energy (via GigaOm)

Four things to watch for in 2015 energy storage market (via Greentech Media)

Uncovering green alternative energy mutual funds (via Renewable Energy World)

Could Keystone XL poison the Senate’s energy plans? (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: abengoa, australia, Austria, battery, BP, california, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, COP21, Divestment, drought, Egypt, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, europe, EVs, Fossil fuel divestment, Green bonds, Hawaii, HECO, Hurricane Sandy, india, japan, Keystone XL, Nebraska, News, oil, oil spill, OPEC, portland, renewables, solar, tar sands, Transportation, wind
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20
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.20.15

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate chief Figueres says carbon bubble is now a reality (via RTCC)

Ten years of the European Union Emissions Trading System (via Energy Collective)

China cuts energy intensity by 4.8 percent in 2014 (via Reuters)

Investors’ new climate calculation: Engage or divest? (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

India’s Modi calls for “paradigm shift” on climate (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment jumps 12 percent in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

China “on course to miss distributed solar PV target” (via PV Tech)

Saudi Arabia delays $109 billion solar plant by 8 years (via Bloomberg)

Defective panels threatening profit at China solar farms (via Bloomberg)

Draft of Germany PV auction rules leaked (via Renewables International)

Chile now home to world’s largest merchant solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

France celebrates 1GW surge in wind farm capacity (via BusinessGreen)

France proposes increasing feed-in tariff for residential solar projects (via PV Tech)

America installed 22 times more solar in 2014 than in 2008 (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Norway redefines Arctic ice edge in potential oil exploration boost (via Reuters)

50,000 gallons of crude oil spills into partially frozen Yellowstone River (via Climate Progress)

BP oil spill penalty trial begins in New Orleans (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Light-duty EV sales expected to reach 6.4 million annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Plug-in EV sales in China increase 350 percent (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf enjoys 33 percent European sales boost (via BusinessGreen)

Usage rises at DC fast chargers along West Coast EV highway (via Inside EVs)

NATURAL GAS 

Kansas official links earthquakes to fracking wastewater disposal (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Japan plans to pump $700 million into energy storage (via Greentech Media)

New York town tries to “island” itself with microgrid to avoid storm-driven power outages (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. Senate tees up votes on Keystone XL, oil exports, climate (via Houston Chronicle)

Spiking energy prices drive interest in Massachusetts competitive power market (via Energy Manager Today)

Proposal would void new North Dakota methane flaring, oil shipment rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

POLITICS 

GOP finds secret weapon against Obama’s regulatory agenda (via The Hill)

OPINION 

First Solar moves into silicon: Why efficiency is back (via Forbes)

Why solar costs will fall another 40 percent in just two years (via Renew Economy)

Lower oil prices will blunt fuel efficiency drive (via Reuters)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, BP, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EU ETS, EVs, feed-in tariff, First Solar, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, France, germany, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, japan, kansas, Keystone XL, massachusetts, methane, Microgrid, Narenda Modi, natural gas, new york, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, norway, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, renewables, saudi arabia, solar, Transportation, wind, Yellowstone River
0
15
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.15

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

EMISSIONS 

EU power sector emissions drop a “staggering” eight percent (via BusinessGreen)

South Korea cap-and-trade market becomes world’s second-largest (via CleanTechnica)

Warm weather sinking EU emissions-market plans (via Bloomberg)

EPA air chief “confident” as rulemakings face legal, political fire (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Drillers say Obama plan to plug methane leaks imperils boom (via Bloomberg)

President Obama’s gas-drilling dance (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Germany passes 1GW offshore wind, set to triple this year (via Recharge)

Wind and bioenergy star in 2030 U.S. green energy mix, PV not so much (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. solar jobs climb 22% as clean power aids economic recovery (via Bloomberg)

Policy uncertainty drives 25 percent of wind industry suppliers out of business (via CleanTechnica)

SolarCity taps Credit Suisse for $200 million on “MyPower” financing (via PV Tech)

Net metering for rooftop solar: How to fix the problems (via The Energy Collective)

Xcel’s community solar program creates “bite-sized” utility projects (via Solar Industry)

Florida Tea Party helps launch ballot initiative for third-party solar (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to see market share drop even as oil slump slows shale boom (via Reuters)

Wells Fargo examines its energy loans after oil-price drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

The $2.4 billion plan to get Germans to buy EVs (via Autoblog)

Production and sales of plug-in EVs boomed in China in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla chief asks automakers to support electric cars (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

Rate of sea-level rise more significant than thought (via BBC)

Map reveals which countries will survive climate change (via Inhabitat)

Scientists reveal which coral reefs can survive global warming (via The Guardian)

Pope Francis says climate change is mostly man’s fault (via The Guardian)

Global Climate Fund on GOP’s budget hit list (via InsideClimate News)

For vulnerable barrier islands, a rush to rebuild on U.S. coast (via Yale e360)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada still expecting Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

GRID 

Clean Line scores key approval for Plains & Eastern transmission line (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima meltdowns pervade South Korea debate on reactor renewal (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

USDA to provide $370 million for environmental conservation projects (via The Hill)

State of the California drought: Still very bad (via ScienceBlogs)

OPINION 

Could China become the OPEC of solar manufacturing? (via Forbes)

Institutional investors are blowing it on renewable energy (via GreenBiz)

Cost-competitive clean energy well placed to rise out oil price slump (via Forbes)

Solar industry added jobs nearly 20 times faster than overall U.S. economy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, california, canada, cap and trade, China, Clean Line, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, community solar, Coral reefs, Credit Suisse, drought, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, Florida, fracking, fukushima, germany, Global Climate Fund, grid, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, OPEC, Pope Francis, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, SolarCity, South Korea, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, usda, Wells Fargo, xcel
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14
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China calls for local targets to curb coal use, cut pollution (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing set to cover 80 percent of Canada’s economy (via RTCC)

White House methane plan takes aim at oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)

Goddard College becomes fourth Vermont school to divest from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Harvard invests tens of millions in fossil fuels despite divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Top 10 carbon market predictions for 2015 (via TriplePundit)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank predicts solar grid parity in 80% of global market by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to build 2.3GW wind capacity by 2019 (via Recharge)

Green bond market hits record $36.6 billion in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Utilities push back as solar industry booms in Japan (via Forbes)

Google’s clean energy capacity passes 2.5GW with latest solar investment (via BusinessGreen)

Report: Solar is cheaper than the grid in 42 of 50 largest U.S. cities (via Greentech Media)

U.S. homes fitted with PV attract higher prices, says report (via PV Tech)

As North Carolina solar industry booms the region takes notes (via Environmental Leader)

Ohio renewable energy policies spurred growth, now driving away business, says report (via Cleveland.com)

NREL enzyme could help offset fossil fuel dependence (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

India’s faulty grid presents a transmission opportunity (via Navigant Research)

Moody’s and Navigant offer conflicting views on economics of solar-plus storage (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE 

Developing cities hold big key to climate action (via Climate Central)

Melting glaciers imperil Kathmandu, perched high above rising seas (via Bloomberg)

Moisture shortfall, heat threaten Southwestern forests (via Climate Central)

Climate change is laying waste to water supplies, warns Farm Bureau (via Grist)

OIL 

Record oil imports take China closest ever to passing U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Commodity traders exploit crude crash to make oil storage king (via Bloomberg)

Poll: Majority of voters oppose more oil exports (via The Hill)

EIA forecasts temporary peak in U.S. oil output in May (via Reuters)

Some on Wall Street see oil plunging to $40 and below (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone-oil export ban sought by Senator backing pipeline bill (via Bloomberg)

Tool shows how taxpayer money could be spent instead of subsidizing Big Oil (via EcoWatch)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to cut subsidies for non-electric vehicles (via Bloomberg)

United Kingdom emergency services in front line of government EV rollout (via BusinessGreen)

Honda announces all-electric and PHEV model while debuting FCV concept (via Inside EVs)

Musk: Tesla can make a few million cars a year by 2025 (via GigaOm)

Nissan CEO: Chevy Bolt “not a surprise”  - Nissan has competing, long-range EV in development (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Annual revenue from fuel cell systems is expected to reach nearly $57.8 billion by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reverse net metering? California penalizes certain types of energy efficiency (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

Worries about consumers cutting utility ties are overblown, say Moody’s analysts (via Greentech Media)

Top 50 green American schools, as Stanford faculty calls for fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

The 25 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2014 (via WeatherUnderground)

POLITICS 

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening (via The Hill)

Two ways Obama can win on Keystone even if Republicans triumph (via Slate)

Ted Cruz oil export amendment difficult vote for some GOP senators (via National Journal)

The greenest governor in America tells Grist about his big climate plan (via Grist)

Massachusetts’s governor appoints controversial new energy team (via Boston Globe)

Posted:   |   Categories: 1958, biofuel, california, canada, Carbon market, Carbon price, Chevy Bolt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, drought, eia, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, global warming, Goddard College, google, Green bonds, grid, Grid Parity, Harvard, honda, india, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, massachusetts, methane, mexico, natural gas, Net metering, News, Nissan, NREL, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, ontario, Pipeline, renewables, solar, Stanford University, Ted Cruz, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, vermont, wind
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13
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.13.15

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

EMISSIONS 

2015 begins with CO2 above 400ppm mark (via Climate Central)

South Korea launches world’s second-largest carbon trading market (via Climate Progress)

Social cost of carbon six times higher than thought (via RTCC)

KEYSTONE XL 

Attorney says Nebraska landowners can still challenge Keystone XL (via Topeka Capital-Journal)

Ten Democratic senators vote with Republicans for Keystone XL pipeline (via The Guardian)

Keystone XL pipeline opposition: Review of major claims, relevant facts, most probable impacts (via Energy Collective)

RENEWABLES 

Distributed energy storage system revenue expected to exceed $16.5 billion by 2024 (via Navigant Research)

Mexico sees $14 billion in wind energy investment by 2018 (via Reuters)

SunEdison to build 5GW of subsidy-free renewables in India (via PV Tech)

1.5 million solar arrays in Germany (via Renewables International)

Bird charity in legal fight against 2GW of Scottish offshore wind (via Recharge)

Insights from the solar industry in rural Peru (via Renewable Energy World)

A solar system is installed in America every 2.5 minutes (via Greentech Media)

U.S. “could hit” 27% renewables penetration in 2030, says IRENA (via Recharge)

NREL enzyme enables biomass conversion 14x faster than current alternatives (via Green Car Congress)

New Mexico maxes out Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (via GreenBiz)

Michigan could expand renewable energy to 25% for $2.60 per household (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Oil drops below $45 (via The Hill)

Iran’s president says countries behind oil price drop will suffer (via Reuters)

United Arab Emirates sees oil drop hurting shale drillers, not OPEC (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Shale drillers can brag about their holdings, as investors ask, “How’s your debt?” (via Bloomberg)

Falling oil prices to hit Texas budget, says comptroller (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

AAA: Gas below $2 per gallon in 18 states (via The Hill)

Uber offers cities an olive branch: Valuable trip data (via Washington Post)

CPUC says California utilities can own charging infrastructure (via Energy Collective)

CLIMATE 

The U.S. climate of 2014: Remarkable hot, cold, wet, and dry extremes (via Weather Underground)

The U.S. and India keep pushing toward a climate deal (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

China water stress may worsen even with transfer projects (via Bloomberg)

America sucks at recycling, so we’re burning trash again (via Grist)

POLITICS 

On Senate’s to-do list: Keystone, climate change, crude exports (via Houston Chronicle)

It’s open season for Keystone amendments, but big issues may stay dormant (via National Journal)

For green billionaire, a wealth of hurdles in California Senate race (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How low can oil prices go? Welcome to the oil market’s old normal (via Washington Post)

Let the Sun set on the solar industry subsidy (via The Hill)

Ejecting the power line foxes from the electric customer henhouse (via CleanTechnica)

Could Obama strike a Keystone XL deal with Congress? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Key role for solar in IRENA U.S. renewables transition plan (via PV Tech)

Business and nations headline WRI’s stories to watch in 2015 (via GreenBiz)

The three best ways to optimize a commercial solar PV system (via Greentech Media)

IRENA unveils Resource – “Google” for renewable energy information (via CleanTechnica)

Why Google’s future growth is in energy (via Motley Fool)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, AAA, biofuel, biomass, california, California Public Utilities Commission, cap and trade, Carbon market, climate, Climate Change, CPUC, drought, emissions, energy storage, ev charging, germany, global warming, google, india, iran, IRENA, Keystone XL, mexico, michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, News, NREL, offshore wind, oil, oil prices, OPEC, Peru, Recycling, renewables, Scotland, Shale oil, Social cost of carbon, solar, South Korea, SunEdison, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Uber, united arab emirates, wind
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