Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.12.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Rising global temperatures accelerate drought-induced forest mortality (via Phys.org)
DOE to boost energy sector climate change efforts (via The Hill)
States seek flexibility in Obama climate plan (via Stateline)
Rising temperatures, shrinking snowpack fuel western wildfires (via Climate Central)
US admirals, generals link climate change to national security (via Public News Service)
ENERGY POLICY
Japan’s “third arrow” aims for renewables, energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)
Use of coal to generate power rises; greenhouse gas emissions next? (via Los Angeles Times)
Pumping water underground for geothermal or fracking could trigger major earthquake, say scientists (via The Guardian)
RENEWABLES
Q2 2013 global green investment at $53.1 billion (via Greentech Media)
France wind power feed-in tariff dispute nears finish line (via Recharge News)
New offshore wind turbines begin turning in Europe, but cash scarce (via Reuters)
California fast-tracks renewable energy projects (via Greentech Media)
California Solar Initiative shines with 391MW-installed record year (via CleanTechnica)
Walgreens taking on big boxes for solar energy leadership (via Midwest Energy News)
OIL
IEA sees 20-year supply peak outpacing demand in 2014 (via Bloomberg)
Fracking pushes US oil output to highest level since 1992 (via Houston Chronicle)
US oil soars above $106 to 15-month high (via Wall Street Journal)
Gulf oil spill settlement payment offers reach nearly $4 billion (via Houston Chronicle)
Leaner BP blanches at bill for oil spill cleanup (via New York Times)
TRANSPORTATION
OECD countries invest on average around 1% of GDP on road and rail infrastructure (via Green Car Congress)
The business model for solar-powered electric car charging (via Plug-in Cars)
Tesla Model S output speeds past 400 per week (via Bloomberg)
ENVIRONMENT
Air pollution kills more than 2 million people every year (via The Guardian)
Russia and Ukraine likely to block huge proposed Antarctic marine reserve (via The Guardian)
Glass sponge invasion follows Antarctic ice shelf retreat (via Los Angeles Times)
US drought grows for fourth straight week, South driest in weeks (via Reuters)
For Western landscapes, fire may be an agent of change (via ClimateWire)
Steep drop in coastal fish found in California power plant records (via Los Angeles Times)
GRID
Global smart meter unit shipments will peak at 131 million annually in 2018 (via Navigant Research)
Distributed management systems help utilities balance complex loads (via Navigant Research)
ComEd deploying 4 million smart meters in Illinois (via Renew Grid)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
China raises natural gas prices 15% (via Energy Manager Today)
Distant seismic activity can trigger quakes at fracking sites (via Reuters)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
How utilities can make any customer care about efficiency (via GreenBiz)
EIA launches energy efficiency program tracker (via Greentech Media)
Natgas industry push to repeal zero-carbon building law splits green community (via InsideClimate News)
POLITICS
Infographic: the anti-science climate denier caucus (via Climate Progress)
Reid, McConnell spar on EPA nomination in “nuclear” debate (via The Hill)
Congress tries to turn off lights on efficient bulb mandates (via Houston Chronicle)
Over 10,000 Google users protest company’s Inhofe fundraiser (via Climate Progress)
OPINION
German tariffs make green energy too expensive to store (via BBC News)
Hey utilities – have you seen the traffic in Los Angeles lately? (via RMI Outlet)
How climate change makes it harder to keep the lights on (via Washington Post)