Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.4.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
British Columbia set to announce five-year carbon tax freeze (via Vancouver Sun)
Two major air pollutants increase in Beijing (via New York Times)
Who’s really in charge on EPA rules? A chat with legal scholar Lisa Heinzerling (via Grist)
ENERGY POLICY
EU re-launches CCS and renewable energy fund (via BusinessGreen)
What would a manufacturing renaissance do to US energy intensity? (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Overseas demand breathes new life into US coal industry (via Climate Central)
RENEWABLES
India’s demand for clean energy credits almost triples in March (via Panchabuta)
Australia competing with Germany on low solar PV prices (via CleanTechnica)
Japan to become largest solar market after China (via Bloomberg)
Suntech unit bankruptcy had roots in deadbeat customers (via Bloomberg)
Renewable energy stations that double as wildlife reserves (via EarthTechling)
BP wind sale highlights renewable energy struggles (via Houston Chronicle)
Top ten wind states all have electric rates below national average (via Facts of the Day)
Online solar marketplace is like an eBay for solar (via TreeHugger)
Exelon falls from green favor as chief fights wind aid (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Canada seen beating US in $150 billion Asia LNG race (via Bloomberg)
Natural gas revolution and its implications: LNG exports 101 (via Energy Collective)
Natural gas pipeline market failure looms (via AOL Energy)
Senate panel to scrutinize natural gas exports – again (via Houston Chronicle)
Ohio not part of nonbinding Northeast fracking pact (via Columbus Dispatch)
TRANSPORTATION
China issues new EU-ETS aviation emissions warning (via Xinhua)
Tesla increases lease calculator costs; supercharging, “mystery” announcement soon (via Autoblog Green)
Gentlemen, start your calculators: checking the math of Tesla’s lend-lease program (via New York Times)
OIL
China to surpass US as world’s top crude importer, OPEC says (via Bloomberg)
Norway’s oil future seen with ice-free Arctic’s barrels (via Bloomberg)
Feds: all companies should heed Shell’s Arctic drilling lessons (via Houston Chronicle)
Gulf oil spill settlement dispute becomes more contentious (via Houston Chronicle)
Geologist’s Alaska gamble could turn into America’s next big shale play (via EnergyWire)
Inland US oil refiners stung by renewable energy credits (via Reuters)
No-fly zone in place over Arkansas pipeline spill site (via Nasdaq)
CLIMATE
Has the rate of sea level rise tripled since 2011? (via Climate Progress)
World Bank president says global warming threatens planet and poorest (via Washington Post)
Environmental policies matter for growing megacities, study finds (via Phys.org)
GRID
Over 400 microgrid projects underway en route to $40 billion market (via CleanTechnica)
How diverse is your state’s electricity generation portfolio? (via Climate Progress)
Smart meters still under fire in DC, Maine (via Renew Grid)
Big data dives clarify California power markets (via AOL Energy)
KEYSTONE XL
The Keystone XL pipeline and its politics, explained (via Washington Post)
Former White House spokesman: polls won’t drive Obama on Keystone (via The Hill)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Utility customers will spend $1.4 billion on building energy management systems by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
LED streetlights move from pilot projects to widespread use (via Midwest Energy News)
POLITICS
Obama on climate change: “the politics of this are tough” (via The Hill)
Poll: majority of Republicans believe global warming is a hoax (via The Hill)
Anti-Keystone billionaire rattles Democrats (via Politico)
Salazar to leave Interior Department with no regrets (via Washington Post)
OPINION
Why Africa is missing the solar power boat (via Renewable Energy World)
Slow and steady wins the solar race (via GigaOm)
“Social bankability” needed to expand off-grid clean energy (via Greentech Media)
Has Tesla made electric cars affordable? Not exactly (via Washington Post)