Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.29.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TRANSPORTATION
Long-delayed EPA gasoline pollution rules set for Friday debut (via The Hill)
Consumer concerns about range and economics still hinder interest in buying EVs (via Navigant Research)
Tesla Model S wins 2013 World Green Car of the Year (via Autoblog Green)
A little lesson in electric vehicles (via New York Times)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EPA and Department of Energy recognize 2013 Energy Star awardees (via Environmental Leader)
Los Angeles maps electricity use at the block level (via MIT Technology Review)
OIL
OPEC oil output falls to lowest level since 2011 (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
A record year for world wind power in 2012 (via Greentech Media)
India’s wind power base to rise 50% by 2015 (via Hindustan Times)
Asian giants embracing more clean energy (via EarthTechling)
Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar capacity (via Renewable Energy World)
India’s off-grid renewables initiative changing lives (via Renewable Energy World)
German solar to gain from Cyprus crisis as investors seek safety (via Bloomberg)
Solar storage market set for rapid growth (via Renewable Energy World)
Report: some federal wind energy programs “duplicative” (via The Hill)
New process may make renewable energy reliable at last (via Climate Central)
Lured by savings and cash, many American schools are going solar (via ClimateWire)
New York State’s competitive solar program off to a bright start (via Greentech Media)
Maine introduces feed-in tariff legislation (via Renewable Energy World)
New bill could help Georgia reap solar energy cash crop (via Energy Collective)
The wind blows, the sun shines: the tax breaks (via Texas Tribune)
NATURAL GAS
The new tech that could make methane leaks a thing of the past (via Forbes)
CLIMATE
Scientists find “missing heat” of global warming 700 meters below the sea (via Mongabay)
Study: climate worst-case scenario may backfire in activists’ campaign (via Huffington Post)
Survey: Americans believe in climate change risks but won’t pay to fix them (via The Guardian)
Survey explores how UK gardeners are adapting to climate change (via Phys.org)
Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit (via RTCC)
San Diego, bracing for climate change, studies its weaknesses (via ClimateWire)
ENVIRONMENT
Canada first country to pull out of UN drought convention (via The Globe and Mail)
GRID
Lone Star Transmission lights up 330 miles of Texas CREZ power lines (via Renew Grid)
GREEN BUSINESS
Accounting for environmental externalities is good for business and the planet (via BusinessGreen)
Ford reduces water use in vehicle assembly by 10.6 billion gallons (via Autoblog Green)
EMISSIONS
UK’s CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (via The Guardian)
Fungi drives carbon uptake by boreal forests (via Mongabay)
Hong Kong to raise air quality standards and cut emissions (via Bloomberg)
TAR SANDS
Pentagon officials tour oilsands as part of effort to recruit veterans to jobs (via Calgary Herald)
Total sets sights on getting oil sands crude to Gulf coast (via Globe and Mail)
OPINION
IMF says global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1.9 trillion a year…and that’s probably an underestimate (via Grist)
Brutal solar market benefits consumers (via Navigant Research)
Poll: Americans want energy focus on renewables, not oil (via Houston Chronicle)