Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.14

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL pressure mounts before State of the Union (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone likely to be missing from Obama’s speech, but visible before and after (via National Journal)

Enviro groups to pressure Obama by parading inflatable pipeline around Capitol (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Heat stress, not flooding, drives most climate migrants (via ClimateWire)

Why we could see more cold snaps in a warming world (via StateImpact Texas)

FEMA: Caught between climate change and Congress (via InsideClimate News)

CBS boss will meet with senators pushing more climate change coverage (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

EU adds 1.57GW offshore wind in 2013 (via Recharge)

Renewable energy provides 37% of all new US electrical generating capacity in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

US solar jobs grew 20% to more than 142,000 last year (via Bloomberg)

The oil industry just talked EPA into reconsidering its 2013 cellulosic biofuel mandate (via Climate Progress)

Five facts you should know about America’s booming solar jobs market (via Greentech Media)

National labs lead clean energy quest (via Energy Manager Today)

Wyoming wind pitches cost savings to California (via EarthTechling)

New Hampshire solar isn’t as small as you’d think (via Nashua Telegraph)

“Green Tea” activist set to launch free-market energy group (via EnergyWire)

The secrets of selling solar: Drivers of REC Solar’s strong growth (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS 

OPEC producer UAE considers importing North American gas (via Reuters)

Demand may push up natural gas prices after 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

Inside the complicated relationship between natural gas and climate change (via National Journal)

GRID 

Energy storage having mixed results in market (via Forbes)

Retail electric choice grew at stronger pace in 2013 than previous two years (via COMPETE Coalition)

Smart meter backers see role in Texas power market debate (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could build a local manufacturing plant in China (via GigaOm)

Free Tesla Supercharger network now covers cross-country driving (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

Job aid zones face a new test in coal country (via New York Times)

Unfazed by environmental challenges, coal industry mounts PR assault (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Public and private financing drives energy efficiency in rural America (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

90% of executives believe in sustainability, but half don’t act (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought could impact world food prices (via Voice of America)

OPINION 

Dire signs from a warming world (via Washington Post)

Five energy and climate questions to watch at State of the Union (via National Journal)

How cold weather impairs our climate change judgments (via EcoAffect)

Why the cost of carbon pollution is both too high and too low (via Energy Collective)

Will the oil boom shrink America’s trade deficit? Maybe not. (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.14

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL pressure mounts before State of the Union (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone likely to be missing from Obama’s speech, but visible before and after (via National Journal)

Enviro groups to pressure Obama by parading inflatable pipeline around Capitol (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Heat stress, not flooding, drives most climate migrants (via ClimateWire)

Why we could see more cold snaps in a warming world (via StateImpact Texas)

FEMA: Caught between climate change and Congress (via InsideClimate News)

CBS boss will meet with senators pushing more climate change coverage (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

EU adds 1.57GW offshore wind in 2013 (via Recharge)

Renewable energy provides 37% of all new US electrical generating capacity in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

US solar jobs grew 20% to more than 142,000 last year (via Bloomberg)

The oil industry just talked EPA into reconsidering its 2013 cellulosic biofuel mandate (via Climate Progress)

Five facts you should know about America’s booming solar jobs market (via Greentech Media)

National labs lead clean energy quest (via Energy Manager Today)

Wyoming wind pitches cost savings to California (via EarthTechling)

New Hampshire solar isn’t as small as you’d think (via Nashua Telegraph)

“Green Tea” activist set to launch free-market energy group (via EnergyWire)

The secrets of selling solar: Drivers of REC Solar’s strong growth (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS 

OPEC producer UAE considers importing North American gas (via Reuters)

Demand may push up natural gas prices after 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

Inside the complicated relationship between natural gas and climate change (via National Journal)

GRID 

Energy storage having mixed results in market (via Forbes)

Retail electric choice grew at stronger pace in 2013 than previous two years (via COMPETE Coalition)

Smart meter backers see role in Texas power market debate (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could build a local manufacturing plant in China (via GigaOm)

Free Tesla Supercharger network now covers cross-country driving (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

Job aid zones face a new test in coal country (via New York Times)

Unfazed by environmental challenges, coal industry mounts PR assault (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Public and private financing drives energy efficiency in rural America (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

90% of executives believe in sustainability, but half don’t act (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought could impact world food prices (via Voice of America)

OPINION 

Dire signs from a warming world (via Washington Post)

Five energy and climate questions to watch at State of the Union (via National Journal)

How cold weather impairs our climate change judgments (via EcoAffect)

Why the cost of carbon pollution is both too high and too low (via Energy Collective)

Will the oil boom shrink America’s trade deficit? Maybe not. (via Washington Post)

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 – 1.17.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Earth’s record 41 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2013 (via Weather Underground) 

California drought expands, fueling heat and fire (via Climate Central)

West Virginia spill heightens concerns about Ohio waterways (via Public News Service)

What Californians can expect from the drought (via Significant Figures)

COAL 

Japan utilities December coal use rises 15% year-over-year (via Reuters)

First lawsuit against Obama’s new coal limits just got filed (via Mother Jones)

Despite decline, states still spending billions to import coal (via Midwest Energy News)

Feds pledge $1 billion to build FutureGen 2.0 (via Springfield State Journal-Register)

RENEWABLES 

India could reach 100% renewables by mid-century (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank projects 56GW of solar to be installed in 2015 (via Facts of the Day)

John Hancock backs US solar PV build (via Recharge)

Solar on a grand scale: Big power plants coming online in the West (via Washington Post)

Military deployment of clean technology accelerates (via San Jose Mercury-News)

US Marine ExFOB 2014 seeks next-gen energy harvesting systems (via CleanTechnica)

California gives go-ahead to Blythe solar plan (via Renewable Energy World)

New Mexico joins the geothermal power ranks (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Europe to America: We want your natural gas (via National Journal)

UK thwarts EU plan to create binding fracking rules (via EnergyWire)

Report predicts 20 years of stable natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals (via US EIA)

Oklahoma regulators consider new rules for wastewater disposal wells (via The Oklahoman)

Study finds 5,893 natural gas leaks in Washington DC (via USA Today)

CLIMATE 

Climate protection may cut world GDP 4% by 2030, says UN (via Bloomberg)

Sluggish economy prompts Europe to reconsider its climate change intentions (via New York Times)

Environmental groups say Obama needs to address climate change more aggressively (via Washington Post)

Extreme weather wreaking havoc on food as farmers suffer (via Bloomberg)

US Chamber’s new energy plan disregards previous climate change concerns (via SNL Energy)

Climate change will cut California’s ability to make electricity just as more is needed (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada loses patience on Keystone XL, tells US to decide (via Chicago Tribune)

Canadian support of Keystone XL pipeline is falling, says new poll (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

EPA chief: No politics behind delay in climate rule (via National Journal)

Mitch McConnell aims to torpedo EPA carbon rules with obscure legislative tool (via Huffington Post)

Emails between EPA, Sierra Club become talking point in emissions rule battle (via Greenwire)

OIL 

How the oil boom could change US foreign policy (via Washington Post)

Investigation shows feds knew of risks ahead of crude-by-rail accidents (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Toyota pledges to top US effort to double fuel economy by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

IHS says grid-connected energy storage set to “explode” (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GREEN BUILDING 

Net-zero energy buildings double in 2013 (via Sustainable Business)

Bringing a touch of green to American capitals (via EarthTechling)

OPINION 

How the SEC can fight climate change (via Huffington Post)

The most impressive clean tech comeback story you haven’t heard (via CleanTechnica)

National “Shout Out for Solar” day enjoys broad support (via Renewable Energy World)

Better to export natural gas fracking or advanced coal technologies? (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Report: South Korea confirms carbon market launch date (via BusinessGreen)

EU carbon prices rise 4.9% as free permit handouts stall (via Thompson Reuters)

Canada’s carbon emissions predicted to soar 38% by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Under pressure, FirstEnergy agrees to study emissions (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

EU set to scale back 2030 climate ambitions (via Thompson Reuters)

Obama administration is seen as retreating on environment in Pacific trade talks (via New York Times)

Governor Patrick unveils $50 million climate change prep plan for Massachusetts (via AP/WBUR)

Native Alaskans grapple with global warming impacts (via Roll Call)

Senate group wants climate change on Sunday talk shows (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

UN climate chief calls for tripling of clean energy investment (via BusinessGreen)

Wind power leads generation output for Denmark and Spain in 2013 (via Recharge)

Google plows $75 million into its 15th clean energy project (via SmartPlanet)

SolarCity to allow retail investors to invest in its projects (via Reuters)

Harvard team sets sights on cheap energy storage of wind and solar power (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

New regulations for oil on rail cars to come in 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

Rail accidents seen pushing Obama to approve Keystone XL (via Bloomberg)

AFL-CIO president opposes lifting ban on crude-oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Boeing aims to seek approval for green diesel as jet fuel (via Reuters)

Toyota hybrid sales top 6 million vehicles globally (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla delivers hundreds more cars than expected last quarter (via GigaOm)

EVs pose different risks than gas models, says top US auto-safety regulator (via Bloomberg)

Tesla has Supercharger routes up, down, and around the US (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Analyst predicts world’s next shale boom will be in Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Polar vortex, winter storm predictions push up natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

China wants time-of-use pricing by 2015, one meter per home by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

Analysis offers ways for transmission line developers to ease local opposition (via Midwest Energy News)

TAR SANDS

Governor Quinn seeks statewide petcoke restrictions in Illinois (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s Shanghai announces new measures to curb pollution (via Reuters)

Officials start to clear West Virginia regions of chemically tainted water (via The Guardian)

West Virginia water contamination may have started weeks ago, say residents (via Climate Progress)

Governor Brown to officially declare drought in California (via CBS News)

OPINION 

Thin air: Why the odds eventually favor a PTC extension (via SNL Energy)

Ten reasons why coal is here to stay (via Houston Chronicle)

Are injection wells helping spark Texas quakes? (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Top global emitter China best on climate change, Figures says (via Bloomberg)

After years of decline, US carbon emissions rose 2% in 2013 (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Google buys Nest for $3.2 billion (via Forbes)

Seattle energy benchmarking finds $90 million potential annual utility bill savings (via CleanTechnica)

Net zero at unprecedented scale on Illinois campus (via EarthTechling)

Nest gives Google its next big data play: Energy (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

UK solar panels reach half a million rooftop milestone (via BusinessGreen)

How the new US-China trade case could change the American solar market (via Greentech Media)

UK renewable energy firms “looking to hire more staff” (via BBC News)

Clean tech venture investment is on the rise, says report (via GreenBiz)

Solar City takes 32% of 2013 3Q US residential PV marker as utilities squirm (via CleanTechnica)

Ethanol mandate unlikely to face repeal in 2014 (via Argus Leader/Gannett)

North Carolina to join California as top 10 global PV “country” in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Coal-dependent Michigan ready to make the switch to clean energy (via EnergyWire)

New ACORE head outlines renewable energy priorities (via National Journal)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubled coal burning on nuclear shutdown (via Bloomberg)

Coal reliance puts Australia second on OECD’s emissions list (via The Guardian)

China to boost annual railway coal capacity to 3 billion tons by 2020 (via Reuters)

Omnibus federal spending bill thwarts Obama on overseas coal funding limits (via National Journal)

Most states remain dependent on coal imports, draining billions from local economies (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

CLIMATE 

Massive Antarctic glacier has entered irreversible melt, could add up to 1 centimeter of sea level rise (via InsideClimate)

New assessment of climate change’s economic risks is ready for business (via Climate Progress)

Historic black colleges leading climate change advocacy (via Huffington Post)

The flood next time: Grappling with sea level rise sooner not later (via New York Times)

Massachusetts governor to unveil climate change prep plan today (via Boston Herald/AP)

Washington DC’s water utility takes lead in preparing for warming world (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

Trains will still move oil despite wrecks, Keystone XL (via Climate Central)

Federal report says 400,000 gallons of oil spilled in North Dakota train derailment (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 2.6 million EVs will be sold in the US between 2013 and 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Ford F150 truck trail blazes new green technologies (via TriplePundit)

Annual North Carolina fee on electric vehicles starts this month (via Winston-Salem Journal)

Inslee won’t rule out low-carbon fuel standards in Washington State (via Washington State Wire)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL: Texas high court gives hope to landowners in eminent domain fight (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

West Virginia chemical crisis: The latest (via National Journal)

Water restrictions lifted on day five of West Virginia chemical spill (via The Hill)

GRID 

A123 installs 3MWh grid storage solution in Spain (via Renew Grid)

Upper Great Plains Region looking to join Southwest Power Pool grid (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY POLICY 

How one utility giant created its own pipeline of skilled workers (via National Journal)

Has shale gas really reduced US carbon emissions? The problem of coal exports (via Energy Collective)

OPINION 

Keep up the pressure, climate activists (via Washington Post)

Infrastructure snags: What’s so hard about moving energy? (via National Journal)

Why Nest could be a nightmare for Google (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

Europe’s floods trump Haiyan as costliest natural disaster of 2013 (via RTCC)

Australia heat wave sets records across continent (via Huffington Post/AP)

Flooding could cost UK insurance industry £400 million (via RTCC)

US cold snap inspires climate change denial, while scientists see little room for doubt (via National Geographic)

White House says polar temperatures part of climate change (via The Hill)

Why some mushrooms may be magic for climate change (via Time)

OIL 

Unforeseen US oil boom upends markets as drilling spreads (via Bloomberg)

US oil exports have been banned for 40 years – is it time for that to change? (via Washington Post)

Train carrying oil derails, catches fire in Canada (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

New German solar PV installations fall by half to 3.3GW in 2013 (via Recharge)

Austria adds record 309MW new wind energy capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australia reaches two million small-scale solar systems (via Renew Economy)

US installed record 4.2GW solar PV in 2013 (via Recharge)

DOE’s $3 million clean energy incubator funding is very NIICE (via CleanTechnica)

CRS report outlines PTC phase-out allowing wind, gas parity (via E&E Daily)

New battery material could help wind power go big (via MIT Technology Review)

Wind aids grid as cold hits conventional power (via EarthTechling)

Thanks to wind energy, Texans didn’t lose power during polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

Solar gardens grow in Colorado (via CleanTechnica)

California leads clean energy patent pack (via Energy Manager Today)

Political activism at the grid’s edge: Ethical Electric scores $11 million (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity: Taking on and powering big companies around the world (via The Guardian)

Company pushing massive tar sands pipeline drops $200 million on Texas mega-wind project (via Climate Progress)

COAL 

Wall Street backs away from Washington coal export facility (via Huffington Post)

GRID 

FERC’s new “fast track” interconnection rules will make clean energy development easier (via Greentech Media)

Rural cooperatives: The next smart grid investment frontier (via Navigant Research)

As winter takes hold, plunging temperatures test utilities (via New York Times)

Cold knocks out 36.6GW of power generation in PJM, proving no power plant is 100% dispatchable (via Facts of the Day)

Energy storage company completes $55 million financing round (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Location, location, lifestyle determines global warming pollution (via Scientific American)

EPA publishes emissions rule to GOP’s dismay (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL 

Former top Obama security aide endorses Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

China sets air particulate pollution reduction goals (via The Guardian)

Tree islands more effective way to replant the world’s forests (via Mongabay)

Can America’s grasslands be saved? (via Think Progress)

Celebrating deep freeze, insect experts see a chance to kill off invasive species (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips promises to halve commercial lighting energy use with new LED tube (via BusinessGreen)

Seattle’s latest benchmarking data shows where efficiency programs should focus (via Greentech Media)

Houston boosts energy efficiency in new homes (via Texas Tribune)

NUCLEAR 

300 groups oppose top climate scientists’ call to embrace nuclear power (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Aerodynamic trailer design more than doubles fuel economy (via CleanTechnica)

OPINION 

Five reasons the clean tech industry is stronger than ever (via Renew Grid)

Four reasons California cap and trade had an extraordinary first year (via Forbes)

Oil trains: What you should be reading (via Sightline Daily)

Cap and trade throws a wrench into gears of green consumerism (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Natural disasters killed more, cost less worldwide in 2013 (via Huffington Post/AP)

COAL 

Coal surge sullies Germany’s clean energy image (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

India’s coal imports rise 20 percent to help fuel new power plants (via Reuters)

The future of coal: Appalachia’s downturn sends miners west (via Wall Street Journal)

More coal plant retirements in New England? Perhaps not so fast (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

EU urged to set 2030 renewable energy target by ministers (via The Guardian)

China’s CNOOC oil company selling wind, biofuels projects (via Thompson Reuters)

Mexico as bellwether for an unsubsidized solar future (via Greentech Media)

Wind emerges as Spain’s dominant power source in 2013 as emissions plummet (via BusinessGreen)

US consumer support for clean energy at highest level since 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

White House urged EPA restraint on 2014 RFS targets (via Greenwire)

NREL adds 5MW wind turbine test facility (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium urged by California lawmakers (via Sacramento Bee)

Sen. Schumer presses for safer crude-by-rail shipments (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nissan Leaf has record sales in 2013 as it challenges Volt for top EV spot (via Facts of the Day)

Plug-in vehicles: For utilities, more opportunity than challenge (via Navigant Research)

Jerry Brown seeks $250 million to boost California’s bullet train (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Polar vortex may be example of global warming (via Climate Central)

Everything you wanted to know about the polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports (via The Hill)

GRID 

First commercially operating Li-ion energy storage installation goes online in China (via Green Car Congress)

ISO-NE approves Northern Pass transmission line, other approvals needed (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top ten markets for energy efficient-lighting (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons cities neglect energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Clean energy should do without special tax breaks (via Washington Post)

The clean energy economy in three charts (via Energy.gov)

Canadian prime minister says Keystone XL pipeline will be approved (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.30.13

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

CLIMATE 

US-Japanese climate-tracking satellite to launch in February (via The Hill)

Climate change debate ready to heat up (via The Hill)

The dark money in climate change (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK won’t challenge EU environmental regulations on coal power plants (via Reuters)

Seeking cleaner alternatives, lenders pass on coal (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES 

Solar may reach 49 gigawatts in 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

Could Congress kill ethanol mandate altogether in 2014? (via Green Car Reports)

Solar power poised for a huge year in 2014 (via EarthTechling)

In the age of solar securitization, is it time for third-party assurance? (via Greentech Media)

West Texas wind will soon light up East Texas region (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

China’s air pollution could reach US (via The Hill)

Lawmakers act to raise European carbon price (via Triple Pundit)

China launches fifth carbon trading zone (via RTCC)

Obamacare overshadows cap and trade (via Politico)

OIL 

In midst of record oil boom, Obama administration seeks more production (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla leads way as EV sales double in 2013 (via Seattle Times/New York Times)

Electric vehicles may hold solution for power storage (via Los Angeles Times)

Winter cold shows value of plug-in vehicles as emergency generators (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Natural defenses best protect coastlines, says study (via Climate Central)

California could experience “historic” drought in 2014 (via Al-Jazeera America)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmentalists face day of reckoning on Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

Keystone XL foes want focus on spill clean up (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Executive perspectives: The most important trends in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS 

Vaclav Smil’s graph of the year: The natural gas boom (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Puerto Rico mandates energy storage in green power mix (via Energy Collective)

California ISO publishes roadmap for integrating EVs into grid (via Green Car Congress)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea may need five more nuclear plants for 2025-2035 (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Senate Democrats to make eleventh-hour push for tax extenders (via The Hill)

Baucus proposal replaces dozens of energy breaks with credits for “clean” fuel, electricity (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

China seeks to curb worst air pollution in 50 years (via The Guardian)

Guandong carbon market, expected to be China’s biggest, begins briskly (via Reuters)

Most companies still releasing unsustainable amounts of CO2, says study (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Asia key to 2014 solar PV forecasts (via Recharge)

Europe’s highest court fuels doubt over French wind tariffs (via Reuters)

Hydro-Quebec calls for 450MW wind power tender (via Recharge)

Clean energy shines as climate index outperforms equities (via Renew Economy)

EIA continues to lowball its renewable energy forecast (via Greentech Media)

BOEM announces third US offshore wind competitive lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Michigan conservatives launch renewable energy group (via Michigan Live)

OIL 

Dolphins suffering from lung disease due to Gulf oil spill, says study (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

$43 million in USDA loans flow to rural smart grids (via Greentech Media)

Four ways to grow grid-scale energy storage in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Fitch Ratings: US net metering set to grow (via Solar Industry)

California ISO board adopts joint plan with CPUC to ensure future electric reliability (via BusinessWire)

California ISO unveils roadmap to advance demand response, energy efficiency (via Renew Grid)

Texas electricity prices falling since power market deregulation (via Texas Tribune)

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada weighs rail bridge amid Keystone pipeline delay (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

The UN will try for a new disaster risk reduction agreement (via Climate Progress)

Climate change divides political parties in Iowa, nation (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

COAL 

Coal use hits record high in Japan (via Smart Planet)

GREEN BUILDING 

Future looks green for building industry (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles becomes first major city to require “cool roofs” (via Climate Progress)

Cool roofs rising (via Sustainable Industries)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

USGS releases New York baseline drinking water study in Marcellus Shale region (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

US gasoline pump prices to hit 2013 low (via The Hill)

Tesla will more than double Model S production with help of state tax breaks (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

White House to get aggressive on climate change? (via Washington Post)

British Columbia’s carbon tax leadership now more important than ever (via Vancouver Sun)

Why environmentalists should hope nuclear power sticks around (via Washington Post)

Here’s how the shale gas boom is saving Americans money (via Washington Post)

Christie Administration ignores climate change in New Jersey’s post-Sandy rebuild (via InsideClimate News)