Category Archives:Energy Efficiency

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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07
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN says time running out to meet global warming target (via Reuters)

US seeks changes to “skewed” data in UN climate draft (via Bloomberg)

Forest fires arrive early as Siberia sees record high temperatures (via Siberian Times)

Climate change could turn focus on Canadian Prairies for food production (via Calgary Herald)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gazprom stops courting US investors after Crimea crisis (via Houston Chronicle)

Ukraine in emergency talks with EU neighbors on natural gas imports (via Reuters)

Interior Department works through millions of comments on fracking rules (via Bloomberg)

Exxon Mobil to reveal fracking data (via Time)

Wyoming to start plugging old methane wells (via Billings Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global trends in renewable energy investment 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new energy policy stops short of setting renewables targets (via Bloomberg)

Britain embraces distributed solar (via Forbes)

Solar capacity in India crosses 2.6GW (via Panchabuta)

Fastest quarterly growth in polysilicon prices since 2010 (via Greentech Media)

Wind power has cut US CO2 emissions 4.4%, says report (via Huffington Post)

Wind power is reducing electricity rates: Repays tax credit 17x over (via TriplePundit)

Policy headwinds for the wind industry (via Navigant Research)

Deeper data dives yield more certainty on solar jobs (via Solar Industry)

Study touts benefits of wood pellets for energy (via Houston Chronicle)

Kansas lawmakers pass net metering plan in defeat for ALEC (via Midwest Energy News)

Home Depot launches the next generation of outdoor power (via EarthTechling)

Women are key residential solar energy customers (via Energy Collective)

Criticism of 2008 law part of new debate over Ohio green energy bill (via Columbus Dispatch)

Tackling energy poverty with renewables? (via Breaking Energy)

OIL 

Canada can move faster than US on oil rail cars, says Transport Minister (via Reuters)

Interior says Atlantic offshore drilling tests could begin this year (via The Hill)

Coast Guard report criticizes Shell’s judgment in Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

California regulations block state shale oil boom (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Solar, hydrogen, and aluminum: A guide to the latest advanced vehicle technology (via Climate Progress)

Electricity pricing and the economics of EVs (via Navigant Research)

NUCLEAR 

Dozens of nuclear reactors must prove safety under revised quake estimates (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Opower makes public market debut, gives hope to other green tech startups (via Forbes)

TAR SANDS

Mounting evidence of health concerns near tar sands development (via Energy Collective)

Enbridge first to confirm re-exports of Canadian crude via US (via Reuters)

Is Minnesota the next tar sands fight battleground? (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

Enabling remote microgrids in the developing world (via Navigant Research)

Texas blackouts rise, rank second in nation (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Declare a California fracking moratorium now (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Must-see video: Showtime climate series “Years of Living Dangerously” (via Climate Progress)

Can “Generation Hot” avoid its fate? (via The Daily Beast)

Should the wind production tax credit be revived? (via National Journal)

Opower IPO is a sign that “intelligent efficiency” truly matters (via Greentech Media)

Why Norway has embraced Tesla and other EVs (via Renew Economy)

Louisiana’s coastline is disappearing – here’s why it’s so hard to escape (via Washington Post)

Is Tesla Motors a carmaker, or really a grid-storage company? (via Green Car Reports)

What does “winning” the clean energy race even mean? (via Greentech Media)

Can complexities of sugarcane ethanol imports lead to increased carbon emissions? (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, arctic, biofuels, biomass, Blackout, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, Electric Vehicle, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, ethanol, ev, Exxon Mobil, fracking, Gazprom, global warming, green jobs, grid, Home Depot, india, interior department, japan, kansas, Louisiana, methane, Microgrid, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, norway, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, Oil train, Opower, production tax credit, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shell, Siberia, solar, tar sands, Tesla Motors, texas, Transportation, Ukraine, US Coast Guard, Wildfire, wind, wyoming
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04
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change will “lead to battles for food,” says World Bank president (via The Guardian)

Global warming study casts doubt on “missing heat” hypothesis (via Washington Post)

Climate change is already altering the Australian landscape (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU concludes French feed-in tariffs for wind energy permissible (via Renewable Energy World)

Japan moves closer to approving post-Fukushima energy policy (via Bloomberg)

US used more energy, put out more CO2, in 2013 (via Greenbang)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than LNG in Asia for power, says report (via Bloomberg)

Costa Rica opens the door to more renewable energy generation (via Tico Times)

US lags behind China in renewables investments (via Climate Central)

Senate Finance Committee votes to restore wind tax credit (via The Hill)

Consortium aims to bring solar to US schools (via Solar Industry)

Vermont boosts solar by nearly quadrupling net metering cap (via CleanTechnica)

Low-income rooftop solar program helping hundreds of California families (via Renewable Energy World)

SolarCity’s new $70 million securitized rooftop solar portfolio (via Greentech Media)

Robots find a job in the emerging world of solar energy (via Washington Post)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2014: Patience rewarded (via Renewable Energy World)

South Dakota senators confident in wind energy tax credit extension (via Prairie Business)

OIL 

UN panel to weigh dangers of oil-by-rail cargo (via Reuters)

Bakken Shale oil output to soar as spending hits $15 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

High gas prices not fueling decline in driving (via The Hill)

Average fuel economy of new US vehicles was 25.4 mpg in March; best mark yet (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Exxon agrees to disclose fracking risk, quells shareholder action (via Dallas Morning News)

Mind the fracking data gap, says study (via Climate Central)

Toxic emission spikes at fracking sites are rarely monitored, finds study (via InsideClimate News)

Interior IG says agency’s injection wells “a threat to the nation’s drinking water” (via Greenwire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

$13.2 billion derived from sales of energy efficiency services by end of 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

Studies show efficiency still the cheapest energy resources (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy-saving company Opower set for public offering (via New York Times)

Opower prices IPO at high end of $19 per share (via GigaOm)

GRID 

Millions of smart meters are coming to Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

Texas grid upgrade spurs wind records (via Recharge)

COAL 

China to close nearly two thousand small coal mines (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

El Nino probably won’t quench California’s thirst (via FiveThirtyEight)

OPINION 

Earth has a fever, but the heat is sloshing into the oceans (via The Guardian)

“Big green bucket” needed for development bank loans (via Bloomberg)

Three “next steps” for California climate action (via National Geographic)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bakken Shale, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, CREZ, drought, El Nino, Energy Efficiency, EU, European Union, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fracking, France, Fuel Economy, fukushima, gas prices, global warming, grid, Heidi Hietkamp, interior department, japan, Jim Yong Kim, John Thune, LNG, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, Oil train, Opower, pennsylvania, production tax credit, renewables, smart meters, solar, SolarCity, South Dakota, texas, Transportation, vermont, wind, World Bank
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03
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

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

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

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

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

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

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

OPINION 

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

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

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

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

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

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

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

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

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

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

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

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

OPINION 

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

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

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Angela Merkel, arctic, Aviation emissions, battery, biomass, british columbia, california, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, data centers, Demand response, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Gasoline prices, global warming, Green bonds, Green lease, greenpeace, IMT, japan, minnesota, new jersey, News, North Carolina, oil, Oil exports, oregon, Petcoke, renewables, Sea ice melt, solar, Solar lamp, solar pv, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, united nations, Washington State, wind, World Bank
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01
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.1.14

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

Massachusetts plugs into electric vehicle rebates (via CleanTechnica)

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

Utilities enter the distributed generation era (via Navigant Research)

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

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

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

NUCLEAR 

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

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

GRID 

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

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

KEYSTONE XL 

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

ENVIRONMENT 

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

OPINION 

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

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, carbon tax, Chevron, Chile, China, climate, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ev, Extinction, First Solar, fracking, gas prices, germany, green jobs, grid, india, Keystone XL, Latin America, massachusetts, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, nuclear, Oil exports, pennsylvania, Poland, renewables, San Diego, saudi arabia, Shale gas, solar, Solar Decathlon, SolarCity, Subsidy, Tesla, Transportation, wind
0
31
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.31.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a threat to security, food, and humankind – UN IPCC report (via The Guardian)

UN panel’s warning on climate risk: Worst is yet to come (via New York Times)

UN report: Effects of climate change seen everywhere (via USA Today)

Pacific Ocean is acidifying faster than expected, shows study (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Record natural gas demand keeps bulls betting on rising prices (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

UK Green Investment Bank launches £461 million wave of offshore wind funding (via BusinessGreen)

Japan’s ruling parties seek clean energy 2030 target (via Bloomberg)

German regional politicians resist green energy reforms (via Reuters)

Mexico tapping its wind potential (via Houston Chronicle)

US DOE to offer new loan aid program to renewable energy companies (via Reuters)

Wind power sets new 10GW record in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

Cool Planet closes $100 million capital round for biofuels (via Forbes)

MIT Energy Initiative announces $1.6 million in energy innovation funding (via Green Car Congress)

The pros’ clean energy picks: Solar dominates, emerging markets drag (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

China’s war on smog will be won or lost in polluted Hebei (via Reuters)

Obama considers new climate regulations for oil, gas sectors (via Reuters)

California climate-change fight results in utility bill credits for consumers (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Heartland, rejecting climate change harm, says more CO2 is good for the planet (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

US government: Industry hampering oil train safety (via Houston Chronicle)

5 states and Gulf of Mexico produce more than 80% of US crude oil (via US EIA)

BP raises Lake Michigan oil spill estimate (via Chicago Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

GM recall total in 2014 reaches 4.8 million (via New York Times)

Tesla’s $5 billion Giga-Factory factory and deep politics in AZ, TX, NV, and NM (via Greentech Media)

Massachusetts to offer rebates on plug-in EV purchases (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency progress by America’s utilities: An update (via Energy Collective)

9 ways to get stakeholders to care about energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Desalination is now a billion-dollar industry, shows report (via Triple Pundit)

Long California drought could harm utility ratings, says Fitch (via Reuters)

Mini gold rush spurred by historic California drought (via Christian Science Monitor)

OPINION 

How climate change will affect where you live (via New Scientist)

When Obama’s “All of the Above” and global warming collide (via National Journal)

4 takeaways from IPCC report show worsening climate change impacts (via WRI Insights)

California regulators hitting climate policies out of the park (via Bloomberg BNA)

Climate change report: Five key points (via The Guardian)

Is a Value of Solar tariff really better than net metering? (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, biofuel, BP, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, Cool Planet, desalination, DOE, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Fitch Ratings, germany, global warming, GM, Gulf of Mexico, Heartland Institute, Hebei, japan, Lake Michigan, massachusetts, Methane emissions, mexico, MIT, natural gas, Net metering, Nevada, New Mexico, News, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil train, renewables, solar, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, texas, Transportation, uk, UN IPCC, united kingdom, Value of solar tariff, wind
0
28
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.28.14

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EMISSIONS 

RGGI announces 2015 CO2 allocation (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

COAL 

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

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

OPINION 

Can evolution outrace climate change? (via FiveThirtyEight)

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

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, Bangladesh, BOEM, california, Capacity market, Chile, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado river, distributed generation, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EVs, Exxon, fracking, indiana, IPCC, Ireland, kansas, Lesser Prairie Chicken, LNG, marcellus shale, maryland, Microgrids, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PGE, Plug-in hybrids, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, solar, Transportation, virginia, wind, Wisconsin
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26
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations hit 400ppm 2 months early this year (via ClimateWire)

Visualizing the global carbon budget (via WRI Insights)

Christie administration improperly pulled NJ out of RGGI (via Bergen Record)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA proposes greater protections for streams, wetlands under Clean Water Act (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US energy efficiency programs cost 2 cents per kilowatt-hour saved (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Japan cuts subsidy for solar power, boosts offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

India could cut wind farm subsidies by up to 78% (via Bloomberg)

UK’s offshore wind vital amid Russian tensions, says energy secretary (via The Guardian)

Greece proposes more cuts to renewable energy feed-in tariff (Renewable Energy World)

China loses rare earth export trade dispute, says US (via Reuters)

Siemens to invest $264 million in UK wind turbine manufacturing project (via New York Times)

Top 50 PV module manufacturers to add 10GW in module capacity in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar extends net metering win streak with Vermont decision (via PR Newswire)

California will enable residential PACE through property tax bill (via Solar Industry)

Solar rivals Sungevity, Sunrun form alliance (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS 

US expands gas exports in bid to punish Putin for Crimea (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

UN climate science report will highlight “limits to adaptation” (via RTCC)

Asia’s great cities face rising flooding risks in warming world (via RTCC)

UK Met Office: Deadly heat wave summers to become the norm by 2040 (via The Independent)

OIL 

Kremlin oil partnership places BP at risk in Russia crisis (via Bloomberg)

Crimea crisis pushes Russian energy to China from Europe (via Bloomberg)

Transport limits causing “serious logistical challenge” for shale boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon, PHMSA withholding key documents on Pegasus pipeline as restart nears (via InsideClimate News)

BP confirms oil spill into Lake Michigan from refinery (via Chicago Tribune)

Ohio pipeline spill twice as large as original estimate (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volvo testing flywheel energy capture with 25% fuel savings (via Green Car Reports)

COAL 

House votes to stop Obama’s new coal mining rules (via The Hill)

Duke Energy: Cleaning up coal ash “is going to take time” (via The State)

GRID 

Where will the next $400 billion in grid investment come from? (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage hits the rails in California and Nevada (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Why climate change will make mudslides more common (via Salon)

Grid parity: Why electric utilities should struggle to sleep at night (via Washington Post)

PACE financing for California’s clean energy future: Expanding the residential market (via Breaking Energy)

Hot air about American natural gas won’t scare Putin (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, BP, california, Carbon budget, China, Chris Christie, Clean Water Act, coal, coal ash, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Exxon, feed-in tariff, FIT, Flywheel, Greece, grid, Grid Parity, india, japan, Lake Michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Oil train, PACE, PHMSA, Pipeline, Rare earths, renewables, rggi, Russia, Shale oil, Siemens, solar, solar pv, south carolina, Sungevity, Sunrun, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, vermont, Vladimir Putin, Volvo, wind
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