Category Archives:emissions

24
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.24.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted (via The Guardian)

China to impose tougher penalties on polluters under new law (via Reuters)

Up to a third of wild US seafood likely “illegal” (via Environmental Leader)

New map could refocus California’s pollution battles (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Poland pushes coal on Europe as Putin wields gas weapon (via Bloomberg)

Federal government lowers level of coal dust allowed in mines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Investment in aging coal plants a losing proposition (via Energy Manager Today)

CDC: West Virginia symptoms “consistent” with coal ash chemical health effects (via Charleston Daily Mail)

RENEWABLES 

Green bonds could cut India clean energy costs 25% (via Bloomberg)

UK approves five offshore wind projects with capacity to power three million homes (via Sustainable Business)

Biomass: The world’s biggest provider of renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Environmental groups ask US trade rep to drop complaint over India’s solar policy (via Huffington Post)

DOE Secretary: Federal loans possible for Cape Wind project (via Cape Cod Times)

Google and SunPower join forces to fund solar homes (via Forbes)

Unlocking solar energy’s value as an asset class (via Renewable Energy World)

Three new finance models for non-profits to go solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Report says ethanol generates $19.3 billion in economic activity, supports 73,000 jobs in Iowa (via The Gazette)

Illinois still in search of solution for “broken” renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

EMISSIONS 

Australia slashes emission penalties in new climate plan (via RTCC)

Ireland outlines low-carbon transition plans with new climate bill (via RTCC)

Two-thirds of mayors can quantify carbon emissions cuts (via Environmental Leader)

Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal enters third week (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Report says US not ready for Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

Oil price declines as US oil supplies rise (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to remain largest plug-in market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro lead spot from LA (via Green Car Congress)

Lufthansa says helping to test new aviation biofuel (via Reuters)

Tesla could build EVs in China as soon as 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House disputes report on Keystone XL (via National Journal)

Spirit camp embodies Sioux opposition to Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Greenland’s icecap losing stability (via Alaska Dispatch/Deutsche Welle)

African Development Bank launches new climate change fund (via RTCC)

Climate change threatens California’s air quality, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Storm surge could flood New York City one in every four years (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

In landmark ruling, jury says fracking company must pay $3 million to sickened family (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PSE&G frustrated by resistance to “Energy Strong” effort (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CalCharge: A model for California energy storage dominance (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU warned energy efficiency plans are slipping (via BusinessGreen)

Five million reasons for communities to lower their energy use (via Energy.gov)

Opower IPO signals growing market for energy management tools (via Navigant Research)

California schools get $381 million in first wave of energy efficiency upgrades (via Sustainable Business)

Advocates of Ohio’s green energy law say it saves $2 for every $1 spent (via Columbus Dispatch)

OPINION 

Obama’s last shot (via Rolling Stone)

The left’s secret club (via Politico)

Which US universities are the greenest? (via Climate Progress)

What a win-win on unburnable carbon looks like (via GreenBiz)

The green heroes of the Time 100 (via Time)

What’s climate change got to do with lung cancer? (via EcoAffect)

Posted:   |   Categories: African Development Bank, australia, biomass, CalCharge, california, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal dust, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Flooding, fracking, google, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Illinois, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Lufthansa, natural gas, new jersey, New York City, News, offshore wind, Ohio, Opower, Poland, PSE&G, Renewable energy standard, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, SunPower, Tesla, uk, Vladimir Putin, West Virginia
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23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
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23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
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22
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.22.14

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

COAL 

China’s coal boom is waning with ambitious reductions targets (via Triple Pundit)

Ontario closes last coal-fired power plant (via Solar Industry)

Federal judge strikes part of Minnesota energy law preventing coal power (via MPR News)

CLIMATE 

China spreading the use of insurance to cope with climate change damage (via ClimateWire)

Climate-linked drought adding to Syria’s misery (via RTCC)

Hot West, cold East may be new normal as world warms (via Climate Central)

Since first Earth Day, US temperatures marching upward (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

China Premier Li reiterates plans to boost clean energy (via Bloomberg)

Australia’s renewables review kicks off with battle over numbers (via Renew Economy)

Top ten trends in Brazil biofuels for 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

US to dodge solar shortage in 2014 despite looming PV tariffs (via Solar Industry)

Next step for solar industry: Leases for solar plus storage (via Renew Economy)

Study: Fuels from corn waste not better than gasoline (via AP)

US Army to build military’s largest solar array in Arizona (via The Hill)

Dropping cost of “grid defection” means you could soon ditch your utility (via Fast Company)

RMI’s plan to help Fortune 500 companies up their renewables game (via GreenBiz)

Surpassing milestone of 100,000 solar roofs, PG&E calls for “sustainable” solar policy (via Greentech Media)

Western Texas college joins Texas Tech University on wind energy degree (via PR Web)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone backers keep their faith in embattled pipeline plan (via Reuters)

Horses, teepees arrive on Mall for Keystone XL protest (via Politico)

Keystone XL pipeline fate now in hands of Nebraska court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s new environmental protection law submitted to parliament (via Reuters)

Brazil strips protected status from 5.2 million hectares of land (via Mongabay)

Consumer electronics industry sets recycling record (via Environmental Leader)

Apple offering free recycling on all used products (via ABC News/AP)

Interior Department launches landscape mitigation strategy (via Triple Pundit)

Wildfires in West increasing burn area at rate of one Denver per year (via Climate Progress)

Fields and farm jobs dry up with California’s worsening drought (via NPR)

Texas city first to reuse water from sewers as drought continues (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

Alaska lawmakers back natural gas export plans (via New York Times)

Ohio utilities replacing thousands of miles of gas pipeline (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

Divestment campaigns struggle against stock market, profits (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Russia ships its first Arctic oil – is a boom coming? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Four years later, a sharp divide on Gulf oil spill (via National Journal)

US railroads show untapped value of delay in building oil pipeline (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Musk says Tesla will make cars in China within four years (via Bloomberg)

Hybrids significantly more fuel-efficient in India and China than US (via CleanTechnica)

US exporting a “tidal wave” of gasoline, other fuels (via Houston Chronicle)

Nissan Leaf likely to offer larger battery for longer range (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Gigafactory seeks North American raw materials to cut pollution (via Green Car Reports)

A detailed look at the dreams and failure of Better Place (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY POLICY 

Renewable energy gains in 2013 but coal and gas still dominate (via Greentech Media)

Power players muster forces for electricity market reforms (via EnergyWire)

Obama Administration spared developers millions in fees for Georgia nuclear project (via Greenwire)

POLITICS 

Not a single Republican has mentioned Earth Day in Congress since 2010 (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Two degrees: How the world failed on climate change (via Vox)

The clean energy transition is unstoppable, so why fight it? (via Smart Planet)

Where is the real innovation in wind energy? (via CleanTechnica)

World’s top serial bird killers put infamous windmills to shame (via Bloomberg)

Right wing trains its hysterical eye on renewable energy (via Mother Jones)

How conserving water, energy isn’t always about a green lifestyle (via Daily News)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, apple, arctic, arizona, australia, battery, better place, biofuels, Brazil, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, E-recycling, Earth Day, emissions, energy storage, environment, Fossil fuel divestment, Gasoline, Georgia, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hybrids, india, interior department, Keystone XL, LNG, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, ontario, PGE, Pipelines, Recycling, RMI, Russia, solar, Solar trade war, Syria, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, texas, Texas Tech University, wildfires, wind
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18
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

One-fifth of China’s farmland is polluted (via New York Times)

California suffers astonishingly fast snowpack melt as drought intensifies (via Mashable)

COAL 

Barclays and Citigroup funded worst of US coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Old-school coal is making a comeback (via Miami Herald/McClatchy)

Cold January boosted capacity factor of retiring coal plants above 50% (via SNL Energy)

Duke Energy tells shareholders coal ash spill won’t affect bottom line (via Charlotte News Observer)

RENEWABLES 

Ukraine seeks renewable energy boost to counter Russia (via Bloomberg)

South Africa moves to add more renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

The 20 best cities for solar power as US prepares for an energy “revolution” (via Huffington Post)

Eleven states generated electricity from non-hydro renewables at double US average (via US EIA)

A few of America’s greenest colleges are really big on renewables (via US News and World Report)

Green Power Partnership driving on-site energy (via Energy Manager Today)

New simulation tool could help add more solar to America’s grid (via Energy.gov)

EPA data shows 57,860 gallons of cellulosic biofuel produced in Q1 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Wisconsin solar garden sells out in two weeks (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

5.3 million years of sea level change on one cliff face (via Wired Science)

More, bigger wildfires burning western US, shows study (via AGU)

After dry winter in California, preparations begin for harsh wildfire season (via Climate Progress)

Virginia Supreme Court rules for U-Va, in global warming case (via Washington Post)

New Jersey residents want to reduce coastal risks, but they don’t want to pay (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican energy industry working to restructure for the future (via Breaking Energy)

State AGs take up fossil fuels boom as IPCC and feds lean green (via Denver Post)

Kasich questions electricity deregulation at PUCO chief’s swearing in (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Brazil looks to swap World Cup publicity for carbon credits (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania asks EPA for more flexible emissions, trading rules to boost power plant energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Steyer vows to aid anti-Keystone lawmakers (via Politico)

Ohio voters favor renewables, energy efficiency and candidates who do the same, says poll (via Plain Dealer)

OPINION 

On climate, business as usual (via Washington Post)

Let’s use fossil fuels to make stuff, but let’s not cook the planet (via CleanTechnica)

Thanks in part to climate change, the American West will see more fiery summers (via Washington Post)

The Deepwater Horizon threat (via New York Times)

The fracking industry faces its climate demon (via National Journal)

Energy efficiency doesn’t sell, but it can (via Energy Manager Today)

Posted:   |   Categories: Barclays, biofuels, Brazil, california, carbon trading, Cellulosic biofuel, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate adaptation, coal, coal ash, deepwater horizon, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, environment, EPA, fracking, Green Power Partnership, Hydropower, IPCC, John Kasich, Keystone XL, mexico, Michael Mann, new jersey, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil spill, pennsylvania, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, solar, solar garden, South Africa, Tom Steyer, Ukraine, virginia, wildfires, Wisconsin
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17
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.17.14

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

CLIMATE 

EU to host industry talks ahead of setting 2030 climate goals (via Reuters)

Farmers seeking heat relief signal Brazil climate peril (via Bloomberg)

California drought/polar vortex jet stream pattern linked to global warming (via Weather Underground)

COAL 

Is this the end of China’s coal boom? (via Climate Progress) 

North Carolina governor proposes new coal ash plan (via Citizen-Times/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Yingli forms $160 million China solar project fund (via Recharge)

HSBC says wind and solar best picks in climate stocks (via Renew Economy)

Gaps linger between clean energy and bond market support, says report (via ClimateWire)

Feds to provide $4 billion in green energy support (via The Hill)

Obama to challenge private companies to boost solar power use (via Washington Post)

Just how off is EIA’s renewable energy outlook? How about 20+ years? (via CleanTechnica)

Solar disrupting wholesale energy markets (via Greentech Media)

Virginia’s largest rooftop solar array to be dedicated (via Washington Times/AP)

Meet the governor who crippled his state’s solar energy future (via EcoWatch)

Oklahoma will charge customers who install their own solar panels (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

Beijing’s bid to move polluting firms watched warily in nearby regions (via Reuters)

Pope Francis urged to back fossil fuel divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Alberta considers emissions rules to win support for oil (via Bloomberg)

California shows residents the greenhouse gas money (via Bloomberg BNA)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU agrees to Putin’s call for natural gas security talks (via Reuters)

With white papers, EPA takes first step on potentially far-reaching methane regulations (via ClimateWire)

Leading states tacking fugitive emissions head on (via Breaking Energy)

States peering over the fence on fracking rules (via National Journal)

Andarko joins ad blitz to thwart Colorado fracking curbs (via Bloomberg)

Ohio state plan for earthquake monitoring worries drilling industry (via Columbus Business First)

GRID 

Hydro-Quebec, Sony forming JV to develop large-scale energy storage for grids (via Green Car Congress)

Loan guarantees are back: DOE targets “catalytic” grid integration technology (via Greentech Media)

How synchrophasors are bringing America’s grid into the 21st century (via Energy.gov)

California to utilities: Connect battery-solar systems to the grid (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity resumes applications for California batteries (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Industry opposes push to tighten oil field safety rules (via Houston Chronicle)

US Coast Guard, BP end “active cleanup” of Louisiana’s coast, nearly four years after spill (via Times-Picayune)

Is Gulf cleanup over or not? BP and Coast Guard differ. (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Selling Teslas in China won’t do much for the environment (via MIT Technology Review)

Nissan will expand free charging incentive to 25 Leaf markets (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

One-degree thermostat change could save NYC buildings $145 million per year (via Energy Manager Today)

The link between home ownership and energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

California water contracts can be challenged by green groups (via Bloomberg)

Water shortage divides Californians on solutions and blame (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Is a clean energy boom coming in 2014? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Utilities have four choices in solar revolution, and none are easy to swallow (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Andarko, battery, Beijing, BP, Brazil, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, colorado, Divestment, DOE, drought, earthquakes, eia, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, Federal loan guarantee, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fugitive emissions, Green bonds, grid, Gulf of Mexico, HSBC, Hydro-Quebec, Louisiana, Maine, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, Paul LePage, Polar vortex, Pope Francis, renewables, solar, SolarCity, Sony, Synchrophasors, Tesla, Transportation, US Coast Guard, virginia, Vladimir Putin, Wholesale energy markets, wind, Yingli
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16
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Right wing threatens EU climate change goals (via RTCC)

Study ties epic California drought, “frigid east” to manmade climate change (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

The green case against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Jimmy Carter comes out against Keystone XL pipeline (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment rises 9%, led by solar power (via Bloomberg)

European Investment Bank promises €2 billion clean energy funding boost (via BusinessGreen)

India signs power contracts for 700MW of new solar capacity (via Bloomberg)

IFC backs 50MW Pakistan wind project (via Recharge)

Solar trends for Q1 of 2014 and beyond: View from Mercom Capital (via Forbes)

Department of Defense undertakes largest solar project to date (via Climate Progress)

Oil group says EPA may flip-flop on ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Dual turning point for biofuels (via New York Times)

Tiny portable wind turbine fits in your bag, charges your gadgets (via TreeHugger)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 0.8% in 2013 (via Reuters)

Plants are key to removing 63 million tons of CO2 a year (via The Guardian)

US greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.4% in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Federal appeals court says EPA can force power plans to cut mercury emissions (via Washington Post)

US EPA studies whether to regulate methane from oil and gas (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Pitzer College selling fossil fuel stocks in environmental move (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Identifying the global coal industry’s water risks (via World Resources Institute)

The Pacific Rim coal bubble (via Sightline Daily)

Washington University students continue Peabody protest (via St. Louis Business Journal)

ENERGY POLICY 

American penitentiaries emphasize the need for sustainability (via TreeHugger)

BOEM announces plan to auction 21 million Gulf acres (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors urge Duke Energy to vote out directors (via News Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

China poised to beef up national Environmental Protection Law (via BusinessGreen)

Congo deforestation could cause region to warm 3C by 2050 (via RTCC)

Pollution is substantially worse in minority neighborhoods across the US (via Washington Post)

GAO audit finds lack of data on environmental reviews (via The Hill)

A brutal allergy season is ahead – blame the polar vortex (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Radioactive waste booms with shale oil as new rules mulled by US (via Bloomberg)

BP, Coast Guard end spill cleanup on Gulf shoreline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to stay global first in vehicle miles drive, says futurist (via Green Car Reports)

BMW lifts i3 electric car production 43% on higher demand (via Bloomberg)

Where do US electric cars save money the quickest? (via Green Car Reports)

DOE announces $10 million to upgrade technology for renewable drop-in fuels production (via Green Car Congress) 

GRID 

How a small California county went grid positive (via RMI Outlet)

Home energy management grows in some mind-bending ways (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EIA: Natural gas will slash diesel’s dominance as rail fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania DEP “monitoring” Ohio earthquake situation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Is Pennsylvania wasting its fracking wealth? (via National Journal)

New York City hotel commissions combined heat and power plant (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

A backup plan for climate change (via Washington Post)

Felipe Calderon: Economic arguments needed to fight climate change (via Forbes)

The eight factors driving global industrial efficiency (via Greentech Media)

It’s okay to support nuclear power and still enjoy a movie now and then (via Bloomberg)

Why it’s a big deal that half of the Great Lakes are still covered in ice (via The Atlantic)

Energy companies need to remake their boards before activists force them to (via Forbes)

Why the great Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal matters (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Allergies, australia, biofuels, BMW, BOEM, BP, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Congo, Defense Department, deforestation, diesel, Divestment, DOE, drought, duke energy, earthquakes, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Investment Bank, European Union, ev, Felipe Calderon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, Great Lakes, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, IFC, india, Jimmy Carter, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear power, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Peabody, pennsylvania, Pitzer College, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Shale oil, small wind, solar, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington University, wind
0
14
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Act fast to curb global warming or extract CO2 from air, says UN (via Reuters)

IPCC report: World must urgently switch to clean energy sources (via The Guardian)

World Bank president says fighting climate change and poverty are linked (via ClimateWire)

Shippers and seabirds clash over Arctic territory (via Alaska Dispatch)

GRID 

Weather-related blackouts doubled since 2003 (via Climate Central)

FERC says steps underway to protect grid (via AP)

DOE Inspector General: Power grid threats should have remained classified (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Northern Gateway pipeline rejected by British Columbia First Nation (via Huffington Post)

Canadians turn up the heat against Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Opponents carve massive anti-Keystone XL message into field that could hold future pipeline (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Are we halfway to market dominance for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A rising tension: Value of solar tariff versus net metering (via Greentech Media)

How much are solar Facebook fans worth? About $403 each (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

UN says world’s greenhouse gas emissions growing rapidly (via The Hill)

IPCC says major greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2050 (via Climate Central)

IMF, World Bank push for price on carbon (via Business Standard/AFP)

Greenland ice sheet samples show impact of US Clean Air Act on climate (via Austrian Tribune)

Desmond Tutu calls for anti-apartheid style boycott of fossil fuel industry (via The Guardian)

EPA held over 100 meetings, met with over 200 groups to design carbon rules (via Climate Progress)

Harvard faculty members urge university to divest from fossil fuels (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gas carousel making Spain Europe’s biggest LNG exporter (via Bloomberg)

How many jobs does fracking really create? (via National Journal)

Geologists say fracking likely cause of Ohio earthquakes (via Time) 

Early speculators let drilling leases lapse as North Carolina fracking prospects remain uncertain (via Winston-Salem Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Entire marine food chain at risk from rising CO2 levels in water (via The Guardian)

El Nino could raise meteorological hell this year (via Grist)

US drought retreats 15% in one year (via Climate Central)

OIL 

IMF says North American boom to keep oil prices low (via Christian Science Monitor)

Crude oil leak in China taints water for millions (via New York Times)

Rail transport of crude oil increases as pipelines fall short (via New York Times)

Big Oil comes up short in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Houston fills with crude oil that can’t be shipped out (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Sales of electric and alternative fuel vehicles will reach 12.4 million annually by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Washington State’s governor signs pro-Tesla bill (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

China cuts in coal use may mean world emissions peak before 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Clean coal might work in China, but we won’t see much of it here (via Washington Post)

Chicago 30-hour ties up for Buffet’s trains slows coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency bill gaining momentum in US Senate (via Bloomberg BNA)

Cities collaborate and compete to improve energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR 

Japan supports nuclear power in national energy plan (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Unions or greens – which Keystone XL player is doing more to keep the Senate blue? (via E&E Daily)

NRDC, LCV create environmental political alliance (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Is protecting the grid a matter of national security? (via National Journal)

Three most sobering graphics from UN’s new climate report (via Climate Progress)

400ppm: The milestone that puts Earth in the “danger zone” (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, Blackout, british columbia, canada, China, clean air act, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, Desmond Tutu, Divestment, DOE, drought, earthquakes, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, europe, ev, Extreme weather, facebook, FERC, First Nations, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenland, grid, Harvard, Houston, IMF, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LCV, LNG exports, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, nrdc, nuclear, Ocean acidification, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, Pipeline, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Spain, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, UN, UN IPCC, Value of solar tariff, Washington State, World Bank
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10
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks cheaper power, curbs renewable subsidies (via ABC News/AP)

UK risks brownouts without power from Scotland (via Bloomberg)

New England power generators oppose Massachusetts proposed clean energy mandates (via ClimateWire)

Arizona utility’s long-term plan calls for more renewables, less coal (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels just hit their highest point in 800,000 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon trading in China: Short-term experience, long-term wisdom (via C2ES)

California issues first forestry offsets for carbon market (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

GWEC: Global installed wind power capacity will almost double in five years (via Renewable Energy World)

Chinese solar module prices may increase up to 20% in the US in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Offshore wind advances in Rhode Island, Texas, Georgia (via CleanTechnica)

Majority of Americans support renewable fuel standard, poll shows (via The Hill)

Net metering update: What do recent decisions tell us? (via Greentech Media)

A breakthrough for utility-scale solar on contaminated lands? (via Greentech Media)

Stanford researchers develop less resource-intensive way to make ethanol (via MIT Technology Review)

COAL 

China plans ban on imports of coal with high ash, sulfur (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate changes to result in bird, reptile shifts (via ABC News/AP)

Obama targets climate change in wildfire strategy (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cars become biggest driver of greenhouse gas increases (via Bloomberg)

The US Navy has found a way to turn seawater into fuel (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Walmart and GE team up for global LED rollout (via BusinessGreen)

How Japan replaced half its nuclear capacity with efficiency (via Energy Collective)

LA, DC top cities for Energy Star buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

Big manufacturers urging Ohio lawmakers to keep energy-efficiency benchmarks (via Columbus Business First)

FRACKING 

Researcher: 2014 slated to be most active year for global shale drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

P&G pledges zero deforestation by 2020 (via GreenBiz)

Wildlife in Gulf of Mexico still suffering four years after BP oil spill: report (via The Guardian)

GRID 

Wind, solar energy driving electricity storage technology (via Climate Central)

Grid operator endorses $590 million power project for Houston area (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Shale gas blooms in China? Not so fast (via Breaking Energy)

Obama Administration’s enthusiasm for coal sales undermines its climate program (via Center for American Progress)

Cowboys and Indians against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Why California’s drought isn’t going anywhere (via Climate Central)

Making climate adaptation finance work (via World Resources Institute)

Can a fair price for solar energy win over utilities? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, BP, california, Carbon market, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, energy storage, environment, ERCOT, ethanol, EU, European Union, fracking, GE, Georgia, Global Wind Energy Council. Renewables, grid, Gulf of Mexico, GWEC, japan, Keystone XL, LED, los angeles, massachusetts, Net metering, New England, News, nuclear, Offsets, offshore wind, Ohio, oil spill, P&G, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, rhode island, Scotland, shale, solar, Stanford, Subsidies, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Navy, Walmart, Washington DC, Wildfire, wind
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09
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

US used more energy in 2013 than 2012, but efficiency is up too (via National Geographic)

Grandfather utilities threatened by spreading renewables (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Wyden aims for energy parity in overhaul to “rotting” tax code (via E&E Daily)

CLIMATE 

414 cities report over 4,000 climate actions (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

El Nino odds seen at more than 70% as Pacific warms (via Bloomberg)

Data shows low snowpack years will happen more frequently in Pacific Northwest (via EarthFix)

Virginia governor to revive climate change panel (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy installations to rise 37% by 2015, says BNEF (via Bloomberg)

Enel Green sees Africa as “next big place” for renewables (via Bloomberg)

India’s solar power capacity tops 2.6GW (via CleanTechnica)

Solar, wind no longer face high capital costs, says Shah (via Bloomberg)

Solar jumps to 22% of new US generation capacity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Crowdfunding seen topping $5 billion for rooftop solar (via Bloomberg)

Fishermen’s Energy appeals BPU offshore wind project rejection (via Recharge)

Clean energy victory bond could generate $150 billion in financing, 1 million jobs (via Business Journals)

COAL 

Duke Energy, North Carolina appeal coal ash ruling (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost “accelerating global warming” (via International Business Times)

Many nations wary of extracting carbon from air to fix climate (via Reuters)

Shell, Unilever, 68 others seek 1 trillion-ton limit on CO2 output (via Bloomberg)

Chile plans to enact the first carbon tax in South America (via Climate Progress)

Utilities disagree on how EPA should regulate emissions (via Climate Central)

Carbon divestment activists claim victory as Harvard adopts green code (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium proposal advances in California State Senate (via Los Angeles Times)

Scientists, oil industry still probing fracking-earthquake link (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

Debunked: Hybrid vehicle myths and truths (via Breaking Energy)

GM investing $449 million for advanced EV and battery manufacturing (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Toronto’s “Race to Reduce” garners 9% energy efficiency cut (via Energy Manager Today)

Indonesia gets world’s first net-zero energy skyscraper (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

5 market trends that will drive microgrids into the mainstream (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

The geopolitical potential of the US energy boom (via Council on Foreign Relations)

How the US power grid is like a big pile of sand (via National Journal)

What made Vermont’s net metering expansion process so unique? (via Greentech Media)

If “value of solar” is optional, will Minnesota utilities adopt it? (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, battery, california, carbon tax, Chile, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Divestment, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Enel Green, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, Fisherman's Energy, fracking, Geoengineering, global warming, GM, Green bond, grid, Harvard, hybrid vehicle, india, Indonesia, Jigar Shah, Microgrid, minnesota, Net metering, Net zero, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Pacific Ocean, Permafrost, renewables, Ron Wyden, Shell, solar, South America, Terry McAuliffe, Toronto, Transportation, Unilever, Value of Solar, vermont, virginia, wind
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