Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.4.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Mining tar sands produces 2-3 times more air pollution than thought (via Smithsonian)

Keystone Pipeline report fallout: The latest (via National Journal)

Greens warn base will sit out election if Obama approves Keystone XL (via The Hill)

White House vows to keep Keystone call above “political influence” (via The Hill)

Canadian group pitches Alaska rail line for oil sands (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Ocean temperatures spiked globally in 2013 (via Grist)

Adapting to sea level rise could save trillions (via Renew Economy)

Winter ice season now 24 days shorter than in 1950s (via Science Recorder)

January’s temperatures leave a nation blowing hot and cold (via Climate Central)

Northern Alaska lake ice shows “dramatic decline” in 20 years (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

FiT has lit up Japan’s solar landscape (via Recharge)

How solar shifted the peak during Australia’s heat waves (via Renew Economy)

Wind industry carries momentum into 2014 – will it last? (via Midwest Energy News)

Will solar energy in Hawaii be a test case for grid penetration? (via Energy Collective)

National Cooperative Bank arranges $82 million in financing for North Carolina solar projects (via Solar Industry)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s new pollution plan starts to look like emissions trading (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

China building codes could cut energy use 22% (via Energy Manager Today)

DOE wants to make your phone charger more energy efficient (via National Journal)

OIL 

BP quarterly profit falls as divestments impact income (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

“Insane” GHG savings from workplace EV charging, according to NASA (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf sales get January jump as Chevy Volt trends down (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla completes cross-country Supercharger drive in Model S EVs (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Europe introduces harmonized power market across 15 countries (via Reuters)

A next-gen battery tech is coming soon to the power grid (via GigaOm)

A123’s path back to grid-scale battery business (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

EPA seeks to modernize nuclear standards (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

California’s drought raises stakes for water tunnels (via Bloomberg)

Duke pipe break causes coal ash release into North Carolina river (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Should Obama approve Keystone XL? (via National Journal)

Ten key numbers in the Keystone XL pipeline report (via Washington Post)

Rejecting Keystone XL could damage US environmental movement (via Forbes)

How to convince your friends to believe in climate change…it’s not as hard as you think (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.4.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Mining tar sands produces 2-3 times more air pollution than thought (via Smithsonian)

Keystone Pipeline report fallout: The latest (via National Journal)

Greens warn base will sit out election if Obama approves Keystone XL (via The Hill)

White House vows to keep Keystone call above “political influence” (via The Hill)

Canadian group pitches Alaska rail line for oil sands (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Ocean temperatures spiked globally in 2013 (via Grist)

Adapting to sea level rise could save trillions (via Renew Economy)

Winter ice season now 24 days shorter than in 1950s (via Science Recorder)

January’s temperatures leave a nation blowing hot and cold (via Climate Central)

Northern Alaska lake ice shows “dramatic decline” in 20 years (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

FiT has lit up Japan’s solar landscape (via Recharge)

How solar shifted the peak during Australia’s heat waves (via Renew Economy)

Wind industry carries momentum into 2014 – will it last? (via Midwest Energy News)

Will solar energy in Hawaii be a test case for grid penetration? (via Energy Collective)

National Cooperative Bank arranges $82 million in financing for North Carolina solar projects (via Solar Industry)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s new pollution plan starts to look like emissions trading (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

China building codes could cut energy use 22% (via Energy Manager Today)

DOE wants to make your phone charger more energy efficient (via National Journal)

OIL 

BP quarterly profit falls as divestments impact income (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

“Insane” GHG savings from workplace EV charging, according to NASA (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf sales get January jump as Chevy Volt trends down (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla completes cross-country Supercharger drive in Model S EVs (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Europe introduces harmonized power market across 15 countries (via Reuters)

A next-gen battery tech is coming soon to the power grid (via GigaOm)

A123’s path back to grid-scale battery business (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

EPA seeks to modernize nuclear standards (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

California’s drought raises stakes for water tunnels (via Bloomberg)

Duke pipe break causes coal ash release into North Carolina river (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Should Obama approve Keystone XL? (via National Journal)

Ten key numbers in the Keystone XL pipeline report (via Washington Post)

Rejecting Keystone XL could damage US environmental movement (via Forbes)

How to convince your friends to believe in climate change…it’s not as hard as you think (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.3.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL unites environmentalists and landowners in pipeline battle (via The Guardian)

Keystone pipeline inches toward green light with crucial climate finding (via National Journal)

Keystone report reignites battle over pipeline’s impact (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA review could be lynchpin to Keystone review process (via Reuters)

Pressure is on Kerry as Keystone pipeline decision nears (via Washington Post)

State Department Inspector General won’t release Keystone XL contractor report (via Washington Post)

Keystone foe Steyer urges review of “defective” analysis (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

EU wind market shrank 8% in 2013 (via Recharge)

Repowering boosts new German onshore wind capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Rooftop solar will soon be cheaper than coal in the EU (via Greentech Media)

Dong Energy to sell half of London Array offshore wind stake for £644 million (via BusinessGreen)

Canadian hydro gambles big on US export market – but at what cost? (via EnergyWire)

Goldman Sachs says renewables one of most compelling investment sectors (via CleanTechnica)

2014 wind boom: Record 12,000MW of wind now under construction (via Facts of the Day)

Solar continues to attract financing, M&A, and VC (via Greentech Media)

Price of solar much lower than solar savings (via CleanTechnica)

What does $2 million buy? How about 1,800GW of wind power (via CleanTechnica)

Is ethanol eating your car’s engine? (via Forbes)

Colorado PUC keeps net metering in place for now (via Renew Grid)

Solar thermal power poses challenges for drought-stricken California (via MIT Technology Review)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

CHP capacity will grow 16.3GW annually through 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

Panama Canal expansion could increase LNG exports to Asia (via Houston Chronicle)

North Carolina fracking panel sets safe drilling distances from homes, streams (via Charlotte Observer)

EMISSIONS 

In China’s war on bad air, government decision to release data gives fresh hope (via Washington Post)

Canadian prime minister defers emissions rules in Obama Keystone standoff (via Bloomberg)

UK carbon capture industry potential estimated at up to £35 billion by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Lower emissions cap for RGGI takes effect in 2014 (via US EIA)

California carbon prices “will remain low” (via Environmental Leader)

California cities compete to see which can be “coolest” and cut emissions (via United Press International)

COAL 

Australia permits coal port dredge dumping near Barrier Reef (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Indian microgrids seek to bring millions out of darkness (via GreenBiz)

Global smart meter installations to top 800 million by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Construction of wind-energy transmission line to create Missouri jobs (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

OIL 

BP digs in as last leg of Gulf oil spill trial approaches (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla aims for electric car coast-to-coast record (via USA Today)

BMW exec says public chargers not important for EV success (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philadelphia rates its buildings for energy consumption (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENVIRONMENT 

UK’s January flooding surpasses all 247 years of data on the books (via Climate Progress)

Severe drought has U.S. west fearing worst (via New York Times)

Congress tried to cut subsidies for homes in flood zones – it was harder than they thought (via Washington Post)

Leading scientists explain how climate change is worsening California’s epic drought (via Climate Progress)

California drought prompts unprecedented water conservation efforts (via Huffington Post/AP)

How a brewery might save one town during the California drought (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

EU ETS isn’t out of trouble just yet (via Energy Collective)

No matter how you count them, fossil fuel subsidies are high as ever (via DeSmogBlog)

Long path still ahead for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

Five takeaways from State Department’s Keystone XL pipeline review (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL, a sorry symbol of continued fossil fuel reliance (via Los Angeles Times)

Approving Keystone XL could be the biggest mistake of Obama’s presidency (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.31.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL review “to say pipeline will not appreciably increase emissions” (via The Guardian)

Oil sands opponents file challenge against European Commission (via Reuters)

Canada regulator approves Enbridge’s Alberta oil pipeline plan (via Reuters)

Obama Administration prepared to show cards on Keystone (via National Journal)

Keystone foes say two pipelines are worse than one (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

10 cities making massive emissions cuts through energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)

Northeast, Mid-Atlantic invested $2.5 billion in energy efficiency during 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)

The ultimate guide to efficient light bulbs (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

China installed record amounts of solar in 2013 – but coal is still winning (via Washington Post)

MoU signed for enormous 4,000MW solar project in India (via CleanTechnica)

Goldman Sachs sees “transformational moment” in renewables investment (via Renew Economy)

U.S. installed 1.08GW wind in 2013 (via Recharge)

Wind power supporters push Congress to revive expired tax credit (via Washington Post)

Renewable energy finance outlook for 2014: Where will the cash flow? (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds carbon intensity of corn ethanol to be 43-60% lower than oil by 2022 (via Green Car Congress)

Biodiesel boom continues with eight straight months above 100 million gallons (via Facts of the Day)

Texas tops nation in new wind power construction (via Houston Chronicle)

Rooftop solar and net metering win big in Colorado (via Greentech Media)

Why New Jersey’s solar market just got hot again (via Renewable Energy World)

Eagle permits: A way forward for wind or a license to kill? (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea confirms 30% carbon reduction target by 2020 (via RTCC)

China unhappy with “carbon budget” reference in IPCC review (via RTCC)

EU panel votes to limit concessions on airline carbon curbs (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

New US generation capacity falls 54% in 2013 as new wind plunges (via Facts of the Day)

Energy Secretary: ability to transport U.S. oil, gas lags booming output (via Reuters)

White House taps Norman Bay to head FERC (via Politico)

EPA prepares hundreds of regional buyouts in sweeping workforce overhaul (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE 

Lima talks should deliver first draft of 2015 UN climate deal, says Peru minister (via The Guardian)

Obama’s agenda: EPA leading the charge on climate change (via Politico)

EPA chief: Climate change regulation “done deal” despite Supreme Court review (via National Journal)

Green groups: Obama not doing enough on climate (via AP)

Business groups form multi-million dollar campaign to fight Obama climate plan (via Washington Post)

Bloomberg tapped to be UN cities, climate change envoy (via Reuters)

OIL 

White House willing to explore “policy options” on crude oil exports (via National Journal)

OPEC oil output rises in January from 2 ½-year low (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

White House releases plan to make Arctic shipping safer (via Reuters)

House Democrats demand better fuel efficiency from USPS vehicles (via The Hill)

Which state has the highest percentage of EVs? No, not California (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

Its great lake shriveled, Iran confronts water supply crisis (via New York Times)

California may have hit its driest point in 500 years, and the effects are frightening (via Huffington Post)

For California, more wildfires mean more pollution and long-lasting health problems (via ClimateWire)

California snowpack hits record low (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

Return on investment from smart grid deployment is top priority for public power utilities (via Renew Grid)

OPINION 

The extraordinary climate and environmental legacy of Henry Waxman (via Climate Progress)

Supporters, opponents of Waxman’s climate agenda lament retirement (via SNL Energy)

Enlightened power: New eco warriors are really well armed (via Bloomberg)

Extreme weather is a reality – the insurance industry must adapt (via The Guardian)

Two things to know about Indonesia’s forest moratorium (via World Resources Institute)

Four insights on unlocking finance for clean energy access in Africa (via World Resources Institute)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.30.14

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

EMISSIONS

Foundations representing $1.8 billion band together in fossil fuel divestment (via New York Times)

US consultancy ICF to help plan China carbon market (via Reuters)

COAL

EPA sets December deadline for coal ash rule (via Charleston Gazette)

Why Obama’s climate push means trouble ahead for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE

As sea level rises, Fijian village begins to relocate citizens (via Climate Progress)

Snowden docs: US spied on negotiators at 2009 climate summit (via Huffington Post)

Industry coalition seeks to shape EPA’s climate rules (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

UK should have 10 million homes with solar panels by 2020 (via The Guardian)

Merkel: German renewable energy no longer “niche” (via Recharge)

IHS pegs South Africa as top emerging solar market (via Solar Industry Magazine

Net metering in 2014: Where the first battles will be fought (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy finance outlook for 2014: Where will the cash flow? (via Renewable Energy World)

Intel, Microsoft, Kohl’s lead EPA’s green power ranking (via GreenBiz)

How California can hit 50% renewable energy by 2030 (via EarthTechling)

OIL

Shell backs off Arctic drilling after legal blow (via National Journal)

Justice Department urges judge to maintain BP federal contracts suspension (via National Journal)

Oil shipments blocking Amtrak trains (via The Hill)

Texas oil boom could be nearing slowdown (via Houston Chronicle)

New York governor orders emergency response review for oil rail shipments (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

JD Power asks EV buyers why they buy EVs (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT

Monarch butterflies keep disappearing – here’s why (via Washington Post)

West Virginia officials dispute formaldehyde claim (via AP)

Arizona state legislators push bill to nullify EPA regulations (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Industry in North Dakota to cut flared natural gas (via New York Times)

New York “extremely unlikely” to allow fracking before 2015 (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENERGY MARKETS

California PUC president: Utility death spiral is “last year’s hype” (via Greentech Media)

Two states feel the market heat as their deregulated neighbors reap rewards (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LED market to grow 12-fold to $25 billion in 2023 (via CleanTechnica)

10 US cities plan coordinated attach on building energy waste (via Greentech Media)

White roofs are better than green roofs, and everything’s better than black (via Grist)

KEYSTONE XL

Canadian officials bullish on Keystone environmental review findings (via National Journal)

OPINION

Obama’s State of the Union climate mention fits pattern (via Climate Central)

Obama says fracking can be a “bridge” to a clean-energy future – it’s not that simple (via Washington Post)

What the new farm bill means for energy and the environment (via Climate Progress)

How to teach kids about climate change (via The Good Human)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.27.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas market heats up as temperatures fall (via New York Times)

Deep freeze exposes challenges for gas-dependent PJM Interconnection (via Greenwire)

Chevron, Shell seek new LEED-like certification for shale gas (via GreenBiz)

Ohio state EPA fast tracks fracking permits, raising concerns (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Emissions trading in China: First reports from the field (via World Resources Institute)

World Bank chief backs fossil fuel divestment drive (via RTCC)

China’s air pollution prompts creative, sometimes wacky solutions (via Washington Post)

China’s Guandong to cut oil, coal use to slow emissions growth (via Reuters)

California air pollution drops over the past decade (via Daily Democrat)

RENEWABLES 

China says U.S. should stop new dumping probe on solar products (via Chicago Tribune)

Global leaders agree to cut tariffs on clean energy goods (via The Hill)

The budding Latin America solar market: 5 key takeaways (via Greentech Media)

China installed more solar panels in 2013 than any country ever has (via Quartz)

UK won’t meet renewable energy target beyond 2020 (via Climate Central)

Scottish offshore wind spending fell 55% in 2013 (via Recharge)

UK’s biggest solar farm exceeds expectations (via Bloomberg)

Waste-to-energy market to reach $28.57 billion in 2016 (via Environmental Leader)

UK government launches £100,000 community energy competition (via BusinessGreen)

Forget intermittency: NREL says wind energy can boost grid reliability (via CleanTechnica)

Cost of solar 2 to 100 times lower than you think (via CleanTechnica)

New England’s governors ask for more clean energy capacity from ISO-NE (via Renew Grid)

Solar surges, wind wanes in 2013 U.S. installs (via EarthTechling)

In the Midwest, farmers leading the way on solar power (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Lawmakers demand stricter oil train regulations (via The Hill)

92,000 oil train tankers are not puncture resistant (via Facts of the Day)

North Dakota recorded 300 oil spills in two years without notifying public (via The Guardian/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

EV charging costs, and one way to control them (via EarthTechling)

California Governor Brown remains ready for one million EVs (via Autoblog Green)

New Jersey Honda dealer first in U.S. to use no net electricity (via Green Car Reports)

Rough patch for Uber’s challenge to taxis (via New York Times)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL pipeline decision on collision course with midterm elections (via Wall Street Journal)

Reading John Kerry’s mind on the Keystone XL pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE 

Climate change brings new risks to Greenland (via Climate Central)

Hundreds of homes face more flooding in south of England (via The Guardian)

COAL 

How the coal industry impoverishes West Virginia (via The Nation)

Report: Future dim for Connecticut’s last coal-fired power plant (via New Haven Register)

GRID 

Survey: Only 32% of utilities know what kind of data analytics they use (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

When will consumers realize the 60-cent light bulb wasn’t a bargain? (via ClimateWire)

Philadelphia to be national model for green infrastructure (via TriplePundit)

OPINION 

Cambridge University: Fracking firms “should pay £6 billion a year tax to compensate for climate change” (via The Guardian)

Getting carbon out of your portfolio is tricky (via AP)

Telling sugarcane ethanol’s sustainability story (via Energy Collective)

What’s the state of Obama’s energy and climate agenda? (via National Journal)

The good, the bad, and the ugly of natural gas (via National Journal)

The difference between organizing and policy analysis (via Slate)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate takes center stage at World Economic Forum (via National Journal)

Europe, facing economic pain, may ease climate rules (via New York Times)

Massachusetts invests $50 million in grid, coastal climate resiliency (via CleanTechnica)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

EU may scrap green fuel law in boon for tar sands industry (via InsideClimate News)

TransCanada calls Keystone XL “safest pipeline to date” (via The Hill)

TransCanada’s 2013 lobbying topped $1 million (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Global utility-scale solar capacity climbs past 21GW in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

European Union relaxes renewable energy target (via Houston Chronicle)

Latin America gets its first concentrating solar plant (via Sustainable Business)

A U.S. offshore wind farm, made in Europe (via New York Times)

U.S. appeals court won’t revisit California ethanol ruling (via Reuters)

Honda ramps up U.S. wind power capability (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Federal appeals court rules Arctic oil lease sale flawed (via Washington Post)

Big Oil, small jobs: A look at the oil industry’s dubious job claims (via Center for American Progress)

North Dakota governor says new national safety standards for oil trains needed sooner than 2015 (via Inforum)

TRANSPORTATION 

The U.S. government keeps predicting we’ll drive more than we actually do (via Washington Post)

Silicon Valley workplaces rage when more EVs than charging stations (via Autoblog Green)

$50 million for advanced EV tech and more (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

California aims to increase energy efficiency, demand response (via Renew Grid)

How Harry Reid delivered a 235-mile long transmission line to Nevada (via National Journal)

Another 40MW of grid scale energy storage in the California pipeline (via Greentech Media)

New York looking to catch up with California’s lead in energy storage (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Moniz: Natural gas risks can be “managed” (via Houston Chronicle)

Proposed fracking in Virginia national forest meets broad opposition (via Los Angeles Times)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to tax coal for power, lower LNG and fuel oil tax from July 1 (via Reuters)

Europe divides over more ambitious pollution limits (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Institutional investors concerned about climate risk, “stranded assets” (via Breaking Energy)

Divesting from Big Oil – and making money (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio nuclear plant reports radioactive leak (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENVIRONMENT 

Historic California drought called a red flag for future of U.S. (via Christian Science Monitor)

Second chemical leaked during West Virginia spill prompts new probe (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

Pennsylvania governor releases all-of-the-above energy plan (via Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Internet and cable giant Comcast will soon sell electricity in Pennsylvania (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUILDING 

New report compares economic payoffs of white, green, or black roofs (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

10 questions to ask about scaling on-grid renewable energy (via World Resources Institute)

Finally, a reason for some optimism about climate change (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: 2013 tied for fourth-warmest year on record (via The Guardian)

2013 timeline: A year of extreme weather events (via WRI Insights)

Report says China must spend $330 billion more to do fair share on climate (via Reuters)

Climate change: “Water supply at risk from back-to-back extreme events” (via The Guardian)

Extreme weather in Canada cost insurers billions in 2013 (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

EU sets targets of 40% carbon cut and 27% renewables by 2030 (via The Guardian)

China’s per capita CO2 emissions are now greater than Europe’s (via Energy Collective)

Europe divides over more ambitious pollution limits (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China lifts 2014 solar PV installation target to 14GW (via Renew Economy)

Will Germany meet its renewable energy targets? (via Renew Economy)

China’s wind power sector foresees a recovery in 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

Clean tech’s investment cycle: Don’t worry, think bigger (via Renewable Energy World)

Corn ethanol reduces emissions 32% compared to petroleum (via Environmental Leader)

California official: Utilities would like to “strangle” solar (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Community-owned solar creates a new business model in Massachusetts (via Greentech Media)

Lessons from Minnesota – an unexpected solar success (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

India’s coal imports rise 21% in 2013 (via Reuters)

West Virginia spill just latest case of coal tainting U.S. waters (via AP)

Outside energy experts question EPA reliance on “unproven” clean coal technology (via National Journal)

Republicans’ strategy on new EPA coal rule: Kill it now before it’s finalized (via Inside Climate News)

GRID 

States to utilities: Modernize the grid (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

What Japan’s bloody dolphin hunt has in common with the BP oil spill (via Climate Progress)

West Virginia governor pushes bill tightening chemical storage regulations (via The Hill)

Houston’s ozone mystery: Pockets of pollution unlike other cities (via StateImpact Texas)

OIL 

U.S. oil demand grew faster than China’s in 2013 – that won’t last (via Time)

What happens when the shale oil boom ends? (via Christian Science Monitor)

More oil spilled from trains in 2013 than in previous four decades (via McClatchy)

Keystone XL’s southern leg to begin transporting oil to U.S. Gulf Coast (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla expands Supercharger network in central Europe (via Autoblog Green)

Study shows recent increase in US households without a vehicle (via Green Car Congress)

Will “car rage” join “range anxiety” as EV owner emotion? (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Saudi’s SABIC expects to enter US shale market this year (via Reuters)

Australia divided on fracking (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency is about to get a $200 million jolt from Wall Street (via Greentech Media)

More and more cities switching to LED street lighting (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

ASHRAE publishes fourth edition of green building GreenGuide (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

State of Green Business Report 2014 (via GreenBiz)

10 things you didn’t know about Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (via Energy.gov)

Five big questions about the massive West Virginia chemical spill (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: 2013 tied for fourth-warmest year on record (via The Guardian)

2013 timeline: A year of extreme weather events (via WRI Insights)

Report says China must spend $330 billion more to do fair share on climate (via Reuters)

Climate change: “Water supply at risk from back-to-back extreme events” (via The Guardian)

Extreme weather in Canada cost insurers billions in 2013 (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

EU sets targets of 40% carbon cut and 27% renewables by 2030 (via The Guardian)

China’s per capita CO2 emissions are now greater than Europe’s (via Energy Collective)

Europe divides over more ambitious pollution limits (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China lifts 2014 solar PV installation target to 14GW (via Renew Economy)

Will Germany meet its renewable energy targets? (via Renew Economy)

China’s wind power sector foresees a recovery in 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

Clean tech’s investment cycle: Don’t worry, think bigger (via Renewable Energy World)

Corn ethanol reduces emissions 32% compared to petroleum (via Environmental Leader)

California official: Utilities would like to “strangle” solar (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Community-owned solar creates a new business model in Massachusetts (via Greentech Media)

Lessons from Minnesota – an unexpected solar success (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

India’s coal imports rise 21% in 2013 (via Reuters)

West Virginia spill just latest case of coal tainting U.S. waters (via AP)

Outside energy experts question EPA reliance on “unproven” clean coal technology (via National Journal)

Republicans’ strategy on new EPA coal rule: Kill it now before it’s finalized (via Inside Climate News)

GRID 

States to utilities: Modernize the grid (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

What Japan’s bloody dolphin hunt has in common with the BP oil spill (via Climate Progress)

West Virginia governor pushes bill tightening chemical storage regulations (via The Hill)

Houston’s ozone mystery: Pockets of pollution unlike other cities (via StateImpact Texas)

OIL 

U.S. oil demand grew faster than China’s in 2013 – that won’t last (via Time)

What happens when the shale oil boom ends? (via Christian Science Monitor)

More oil spilled from trains in 2013 than in previous four decades (via McClatchy)

Keystone XL’s southern leg to begin transporting oil to U.S. Gulf Coast (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla expands Supercharger network in central Europe (via Autoblog Green)

Study shows recent increase in US households without a vehicle (via Green Car Congress)

Will “car rage” join “range anxiety” as EV owner emotion? (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Saudi’s SABIC expects to enter US shale market this year (via Reuters)

Australia divided on fracking (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency is about to get a $200 million jolt from Wall Street (via Greentech Media)

More and more cities switching to LED street lighting (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

ASHRAE publishes fourth edition of green building GreenGuide (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

State of Green Business Report 2014 (via GreenBiz)

10 things you didn’t know about Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (via Energy.gov)

Five big questions about the massive West Virginia chemical spill (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.21.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s exports linked to western U.S. air pollution (via CNN)

Study finds handful of species most important to ecosystem health (via Mongabay)

NUCLEAR 

Japan says new leak detected at Fukushima reactor (via New York Times)

Texas company, alone in US, cashes in on nuclear waste (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

World can double renewables share at low cost, says report (via RTCC)

Germany’s offshore wind capacity hits 520MW (via Recharge)

4,000MW of new solar PV capacity added in Japan (via CleanTechnica)

India surpasses 2013 solar energy goal, adds 1GW to grid (via EcoBusiness)

Solar PV clipped Australia’s peak demand by 4.6% during heat wave (via Renew Economy)

Germany’s industrial base at risk if green energy shift fails (via Reuters)

A new way to harvest more light and make solar cells more efficient (via GigaOm)

Report reveals U.S. military’s renewable energy victories (via GreenBiz)

Study: Active power control of wind turbines can improve grid reliability (via NREL)

Explosive growth for California’s surviving solar firms (via San Francisco Chronicle)

New York PSC signals big changes to prioritize clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

OIL 

Domestic oil output surge puts pressure on decades-old export ban (via National Journal)

Price-rigging probes jammed by oil industry bid to protect its secrets (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

New data shows electric cars won’t be a problem for utilities (via Green Car Reports)

More than 25,000 Teslas on road as company sets sales record in 4Q (via Facts of the Day)

EMISSIONS 

China’s carbon markets risk missteps without transparent data (via Reuters)

Europe split over stronger pollution limits (via The Hill)

Europe energy investment seen at risk without 2030 carbon target (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

CLIMATE 

Soil microbes alter DNA in response to climate change, says study (via Yale e360)

Climate change: Don't get scared, get ready (via The Guardian)

As uses of biochar expand, climate benefits still uncertain (via Yale e360)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Final specifications released for ENERGY STAR version 6.0 (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Buy green, sell stranded (via Slate)

Clean-energy experts offer Obama a path forward without Congress (via National Journal)

New research: How to move Americans on climate (via EcoAffect)

Washington is silent on West Virginia’s chemical spill (via Washington Post)