Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate chief says Australian Direct Action plan “more expensive” than pricing carbon (via BusinessGreen)

Natural gas, energy efficiency fuel US carbon emissions decline (via Climate Central)

Carbon intensity of US economy dropped a record 6.5% in 2012 (via Facts of the Day)

US energy-related emissions drop to 1994 levels (via BusinessGreen)

US Chamber, Kochs join “social cost of carbon” lobbying battle (via The Hill)

NUCLEAR 

After storm, toxic water overflows at Fukushima (via New York Times)

EDF agrees to build UK’s first nuclear plant since 1995 (via Bloomberg)

Toxic water stymies Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant cleanup (via Washington Post)

Sandy a warning that rising seas threaten nuclear plants (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Energy storage for solar and wind will pass $10 billion in annual market value by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Wind could see 18% of world’s 2050 energy share, says IEA (via Recharge)

Hunting fertile fields, advanced biofuels providers look abroad (via Navigant Research)

The rise of rooftop solar among the middle class (via Center for American Progress)

USDA announces $181 million to support advanced biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

Solar gardens let communities share renewable power (via National Geographic)

OIL 

China, Russia agree to oil supply deal (via ABC News/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

How to site EV charging stations? It’s the parking, stupid (via Green Car Reports)

EV charging networks start to unify (via Navigant Research)

What financing could mean for public EV charging (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE 

Australian wildfires threaten new prime minister’s anti-climate agenda (via Climate Progress)

Global warming linked to wildfires, says UN climate chief (via Phys.org)

Debunking the UN climate-change conspiracy (via National Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Weatherizing homes to uniform standard can net $33 billion in annual energy savings (via Phys.org)

How much are we really spending on energy efficiency? (via Greentech Media)

10 things you didn’t know about combined heat and power (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Congress turns a blind eye to global warming (via Washington Post)

In Germany, net metering brings unintended consequences (via Navigant Research)

US shale gas boom won’t do much for climate change, but it will make us richer (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Shell predicts oil-powered cars will be “nearly” gone by 2070 (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK universities urged to cut fossil fuel funding (via RTCC)

In first vote, Columbia College students back fossil fuel divestment (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

No oil from North Dakota spill seen in water sources (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil found on Louisiana shore surges three years after BP spill (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Grid parity, low LCOE driving 34% global renewables capacity by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

FERC report says solar leads all new US capacity except natural gas (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Clean tech VA investments crater, drop to pre-2006 levels (via GigaOm)

Study says most Americans would consider residential solar (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NRG buying 1.7GW of US wind (via Recharge)

Xcel get approval to add 750MW of wind power to Midwest grid (via Renew Grid)

New York State plugs solar farms (via Albany Times-Union)

Wind power gains favor in Ohio (via Springfield News-Sun)

Michigan PACE program growing rapidly, may soon add state’s largest county (via Midwest Energy News)

Arizona experiments with storing solar power (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Which countries win and lose from US shale gas boom? (via Breaking Energy)

Britain looks to fracking as North Sea oil dwindles (via New York Times)

Study projects no long-term climate benefit from shale gas revolution (via Climate Progress)

California finds more instances of offshore fracking (via Phys.org/AP)

OPINION 

Shell director: US has “overfracked and overdrilled” (via National Journal)

Reading renewable energy tea leaves in latest FERC report (via CleanTechnica)

How 9 major papers deal with climate denying letters (via Mother Jones)

Will fracking suck California dry? (via National Journal)

California’s energy and climate agenda: Visionary leader or cautionary tale? (via National Journal)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.18.13

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

GRID 

Worldwide smart meter shipments for first half 2013 surpass 51 million (via Navigant Research)

Will smart meters change consumer habits? Early indicators say yes (via Midwest Energy News)

California adopts first-in-nation energy storage plan (via Contra Costa Times)

Construction begins on landmark Panhandle wind transmission project (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas cranks up $7 billion CREZ wind power transmission project (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

China tests carbon markets before tax, says government official (via Bloomberg)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign spreads to Europe (via Huffington Post)

Microsoft drives home sustainability with internal carbon pricing (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Wind at wholesale price parity in world’s major markets (via Renew Economy)

Germany expects 28.7% renewables in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

EU biofuel regulations set to be delayed until 2015 (via BusinessGreen)

Brazil’s wind tender price cap set at $58 per MWh (via Recharge)

India’s biofuel moves help offset swelling oil-import bill (via Panchabuta)

Southwest Power Pool keeps breaking wind records (via Renew Grid)

Institutional investors look toward the Sun, away from fossil fuels (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL 

Report: Pipelines pose less risk than trains or trucks in carrying oil (via The Hill)

Texas oil production could double by 2020, says industry regulator (via Houston Chronicle)

In North Dakota, new concerns over mixing oil and wheat (via New York Times)

US Coast Guard discovers 4,000-pound tar mat in Gulf of Mexico (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Vehicle-to-grid market to reach $190 million by 2022 (via Energy Manager Today)

Most drivers expect all vehicles to be at least partly electrified in 20 years (via CleanTechnica)

Volvo turns vehicle body panels into batteries (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harold Hamm: Hope dwindling for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Climate change to cost East Asia 5.3% of GDP by 2100 (via Bloomberg)

Report: Western wildfires growing more intense, insurers deeply concerned (via Washington Post)

Britain warming faster than global average (via The Telegraph)

Raging Australian wildfires leave Sydney shrouded in smoke (via The Telegraph)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North Dakota landowners sue fossil fuel companies over wasted natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Oklahoma is next destination for shale revolution (via Reuters)

Police arrest 40 as Canada shale gas protest turns violent (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US and world are actually making big strides in energy efficiency (via Climate Progress)

Building energy management systems market to surpass $23 billion by 2017 (via Renew Grid)

The bright future of energy-efficient Walmart stores (via Green Room)

COAL 

AEP takes coal “out of the picture” as it plans for future (via Columbus Business Journal)

NUCLEAR 

China set to invest in UK nuclear industry (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

The big no: Republicans on science panel reject budget deal (via Science)

GOP to California governor: Don’t spoil fracking potential (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Are the days of fossil fuel subsidies numbered? (via EarthTechling)

Europe’s advanced biofuels innovation: Following overambitious US example? (via Energy Collective)

Debate about future of utilities moves deeper into world of regulation (via Greentech Media)

Let’s prevent this crisis: A letter to Harvard’s President Faust (via Huffington Post)

Legacy of 1970’s oil embargo energy crisis still lingers today (via Houston Chronicle)

Poll: Majority wanted EPA open during federal shutdown (via The Hill)

5 reasons to care about California’s new energy storage mandate (via GigaOm)

Cost of West Texas power lines could shock ratepayers (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.10.13

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

CLIMATE 

By 2047, coldest years may be warmer than hottest in past, say scientists (via New York Times)

Melting permafrost is creating “drunken forests” around Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Saudi efforts to weaken IPCC report in Stockholm exposed (via RTCC)

Can cities solve climate change? (via Scientific American)

Mining, fossil fuel firms talk about embracing climate change adaptation (via SNL Energy)

Florida considers creating alternative to federal flood insurance (via Miami Herald)

FEDERAL SHUTDOWN 

90% of America’s nuclear regulators will be furloughed today (via Gizmodo)

Energy industry beginning to feel federal shutdown’s bite (via Anchorage Daily News)

RENEWABLES 

World’s largest wealth fund may become green energy investor (via Renew Economy)

Q3 portfolio review: A bottom for clean energy developers? (via Renewable Energy World)

GE boosts wind turbine output up to 5% with industrial Internet technology (via CleanTechnica)

EPA drafts scaled-back renewable fuels goal (via National Journal)

Pennsylvania discourages renewable energy as climate solution (via Philadelphia Business Journal)

New York’s SUNY Cortland College using 100% renewable energy (via EarthTechling)

Will Oregon test project bring offshore wind to the West Coast? (via ClimateWire)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon markets cut emissions 17x cheaper than subsidies (via CleanTechnica)

Study finds setbacks in carbon capture projects worldwide (via New York Times)

EU already close to meeting 2020 emissions goal (via Reuters)

Early repeal of carbon price system could cost Australia $2 billion (via Australian Financial Review)

Shell exec says oil companies might become carbon capture ones (via MIT Technology Review)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign growing, says study (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Europe votes to tighten rules on drilling method (via New York Times)

GRID 

UK, Denmark advance grid link-study (via Recharge)

Canada unveils energy storage research program (via Renew Grid)

Less than 1% of residential electricity customers will adopt dynamic pricing by 2020 unless utilities act aggressively (via Navigant Research)

AB327 signed into law with net metering warning from Gov. Brown (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

Citibank: Utilities are dinosaurs waiting to die (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Study: Efficiency leads to “amazingly good energy news” (via Midwest Energy News)

San Francisco publishes open data on energy use in city buildings (via Sustainable Industries)

KEYSTONE XL 

Alberta’s current carbon strategy no match for Keystone’s emissions (via InsideClimate News)

Influence in America: TransCanada’s Keystone XL lobbying activities (via DeSmog Blog)

TRANSPORTATION 

New vehicle fuel economy continues to increase (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT 

Chicago’s investment in cleaner, greener water (via Huffington Post)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens turn frosty toward any alliance with Merkel (via Reuters)

OPINION 

Are there any major world financial institutions that don’t want to act on climate? (via Climate Progress)

Could weather forecasting be the secret to energy management? (via Greentech Media)

Are biofuels contributing to the dead zone? (via Treehugger)

Battle over Binz: An anomaly, or first shot in a drawn-out war? (via E&E Daily)

How to divest from fossil fuels, no matter the size of your piggy bank (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

When CO2 levels doubled 55 million years ago, Earth may have warmed 9 degrees F in 13 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon markets 16 times cheaper than renewable aid, OECD says (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

UK shale drillers offered water cheaper than residents (via Bloomberg)

EIA raises 2013 US natgas production, demand (via Reuters)

Some foes of fracking reach out to drillers on safety (via National Journal)

GRID 

US smart grid could save each consumer $100 annually (via Energy Manager Today)

15 European national power markets set to link in search for best price (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

UK plans to increase solar power eight-fold by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy is taking a beating in Spain (via New York Times)

At what point will small-scale solar energy storage become viable? (via CleanTechnica)

Wind turbine blade maker ramps up in US (via Breaking Energy)

Oil industry sues EPA over Renewable Fuel Standard (via The Hill)

AWEA sees strong 2014 for US wind (via Recharge)

Boom and bust in New Jersey SREC market (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside DOE, one of world’s biggest clean energy finance shops is back in business (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE 

OECD: “No bailout” for climate threat (via BBC News)

80% of ecosystems vulnerable to climate change, finds study (via Yale e360)

IMF director Lagarde sounds warning on climate action (via The Hill)

World Bank and IMF stress urgency of climate action (via RTCC)

Alaska sinks as climate change thaws permafrost (via Des Moines Register)

After Sandy, group calls for federal fund to deal with extreme weather (via Star-Ledger)

COAL 

Peak coal in China, or a long and high plateau? (via Energy Collective)

150 plants retired: Another major milestone in moving beyond coal (via Grist) 

New England’s largest coal-fired plant is shutting down (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Official says Mexican energy reform will require new laws (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of utilities predict “complete transformation” by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

Keystone XL’s not the only cross-border energy fight (via Greenwire)

The South’s new power push: Natural gas and tiny nukes (via Climate Central)

Eight practical local energy policies to boost the economy (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sports beginning to see the energy-efficient light (via New York Times)

New York City apartment dwellers can compare energy, water use online (via Sustainable Business)

San Francisco public buildings’ energy use down 3.6% from 2011 (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Analyst predicts growing North American production unless oil falls to $60 (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs find a growing market in China (via Navigant Research)

California backs hydrogen stations in a big way (via EarthTechling)

NUCLEAR 

Report says a shortage of nuclear ingredient looms (via New York Times)

EU energy guidelines leave out nuclear in blow for Britain (via Reuters)

Nuclear plants vexed at prices that shift as demand does (via New York Times)

Small nuclear-fossil fuel reactors attracting attention but not capital (via Forbes)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens elect new leaders before talks with Merkel (via Reuters)

Poll: Plurality of Virginians favor EPA climate rule (via Politico)

OPINION 

Carbon emissions explained, with my son’s Legos (via Energy Collective)

US can still be the world’s solar manufacturing leader (via Sustainable Business)

Three models that could help utilities make money from solar (via Greentech Media)

The Model S fire was a good thing for Tesla (via Plugin Cars)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.8.13

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

EMISSIONS 

How to slice a global carbon pie? (via New York Times)

US Supreme Court scheduled to consider climate change cases (via Reuters)

Divestment campaign against fossil fuels growing, says study (via The Guardian)

California highlights emissions reduction progress (via CleanTechnica)

New Jersey sets hearing on rejoining RGGI carbon trading program (via Bloomberg)

Microsoft achieves carbon neutrality, says NRDC (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Beijing to close main coal plants by 2015 in smog crackdown (via BusinessGreen)

King Coal’s last stand (via Vice)

RENEWABLES 

China set to lead 2014 solar energy boom (via RTCC)

Floating offshore wind power taking hold (via Renewable Energy World)

New British solar energy fund has chance to shine (via Daily Mail)

UK tests new method to balance renewables on the grid (via Greentech Media)

Nighttime solar power arriving in United States (via EarthTechling)

Will a new guide for regulators settle the debate over rooftop solar’s value? (via Greentech Media)

Oakland’s bid to become a solar power hub (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cumulative Nissan Leaf sales in Japan pass 30,000 mark (via Green Car Congress)

Honda plots US hybrid resurgence starting with Accord (via Bloomberg)

EV sales for 2013 up over 440% from one year ago (via Climate Progress)

Palo Alto requires homes to be pre-wired for electric cars (via EarthTechling)

Is there any business model for public electric car charging? (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

Texas on track to be among world’s largest oil producers (via Houston Chronicle)

California Gov. Brown supports hydraulic fracturing (via Houston Chronicle)

BP spars with US government over size of Gulf of Mexico spill (via Reuters)

GRID 

PJM board approves $1.2 billion in transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Why the hot money is chasing energy storage (via Renew Economy)

ENERGY POLICY 

Proposed LNG exports spark controversy in British Columbia (via ClimateWire)

Quebec’s Keystone conundrum (via Politico)

Electricity utilities could lose half their market to solar and storage (via Renew Economy)

Grid Edge: How will utilities, vendors, and energy service providers adapt? (via Greentech Media)

ESCO market to reach $8.3 billion in 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

California law to change energy rates, aid renewable power (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese prime minister seeks foreign help containing Fukushima water leak (via United Press International)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How Denmark turned an efficiency obligation into opportunity (via Midwest Energy News)

Building energy benchmarking and window retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

An illustrated guide to the enormous power of energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Energy management saves Office Depot $2.2 million annually (via Energy Manager Today)

Cincinnati launches energy benchmarking toolkit (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Obama’s top climate and energy adviser to leave White House (via Washington Post)

Front-runner for FERC may be clean slate Obama’s looking for (via Greenwire)

The battle for FERC and the future of energy security (via Energy Trends Insider)

OPINION 

Solar power, in small doses (via The Economist)

Who created the global warming “pause”? (via Mother Jones)

The future of the electricity system is called Grid Edge (via Greentech Media)

Burning question: Are Europe’s biomass imports sustainable? (via Renewable Energy World)

America’s net metering war (via CleanTechnica)

Can we fly more and still meet carbon targets? (via The Guardian)

We might blow our carbon budget sooner than we think (via Renew Economy)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

Federal shutdown weakens weather and climate operations (via Washington Post)

What the shutdown means for energy and environment programs (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

California and Quebec take another step toward linking cap-and-trade programs (via Green Car Congress)

California’s cap and trade market still needs a price ceiling (via Energy Collective)

COAL 

Coal to surpass gas in Southeast Asia power boom, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

France launches 80MW tidal power tender (via Recharge)

Analysis shows wind tax credit would cost billions (via The Hill)

Washington DC unanimously passes community solar legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE 

Poland pits itself against EU climate pledges (via Reuters)

Fossil fuel interests ready to pump millions into climate change debate (via Forbes)

Three things we aren’t as sure of as climate change but accept as fact (via Climate Progress)

Wildfire season could be longer, more intense by 2050 due to climate change (via National Journal)

Climate adaptation goes mainstream in Wisconsin (via Grist)

Yosemite’s largest ice mass is melting fast (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

Public health report released on 2010 Michigan oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

At trial, BP denies dithering during response to US Gulf spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 64,000 public EV charging stations installed worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Once you go electric, you don’t go back, finds study (via BusinessGreen)

Tesla Model S was best-selling car in Norway during September (via Green Car Congress)

Nissan Leaf outsells Chevy Volt 1,953 to 1,766 in September (via Autoblog Green)

GM intensifies military hydrogen fuel cell research (via BusinessGreen)

$2 billion for cleaner vehicles in California (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

40MW energy storage facility goes live in Ohio (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Chambers of Commerce want fracking oversight left to states (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

IPCC report recommends fossil fuels stay in the ground (via Huffington Post)

What the carbon budget means for business (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon market main hurdle to aviation deal, India says (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Europe whets appetite for coal as US eschews it (via Climate Central)

Stop funding coal, green groups tell European Bank (via BusinessGreen)

The local election that could determine the future of US coal (via Climate Progress)

Nebraska coal plant tests new pollution-control system (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind in Europe: Lessons for the US (via Huffington Post)

Deutsche Banks says China solar PV may reach 15GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil: Just not that into second-generation biofuels (via Energy Collective)

Movin’ and shakin’ – geothermal projects face a rocky road (via Renewable Energy World)

US renewables mid-year report: 10% energy consumption, 14% net electrical generation (via Renewable Energy World)

Tax credits to spur renewable energy seen set to end (via Bloomberg)

US Air Force trains for combat on wind power (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China faces steep climb to exploit its shale riches (via New York Times)

US gears up to be a prime natural gas exporter (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects federal funds for fracking studies (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

“Climate refugee” fighting to stay in New Zealand goes to court (via ABC News)

The hard math of flood insurance in a warming world (via Time)

How farmworkers experience a warming climate (via EarthFix)

Bloomberg, Steyer, Paulson team up to gauge global warming’s economic toll (via The Hill)

New climate assessment likely to spark action by companies; Congress, not so much (via ClimateWire)

Resilient communities are the incentive for businesses to focus on climate change (via Triple Pundit)

“Atmospheric River” smashes storm records in Pacific Northwest (via Climate Central)

OIL 

An uphill climb for the oil giants (via New York Times)

Feds to release new rules for offshore emergency equipment this year (via Houston Chronicle)

Lawyers tell trial BP lied about size of US Gulf oil spill (via Reuters)

Texas regulators issue few fines for Eagle Ford pollution (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicles speeding toward 7% of all global sales by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

EV-wary consumers still want utilities to develop charging infrastructure (via Renew Grid)

BMW to electrify its entire lineup (via CleanTechnica)

Ford C-Max hybrid owners get rebate for disappointing mileage (via New York Times)

GRID 

Will energy storage save the grid? (via Energy Collective)

New California net metering study appears to be DOA (via Greentech Media)

TAR SANDS 

Oil sands deals dive as foreign-state firms scrutinized by Canada (via Houston Chronicle)

British Columbia, Alberta move closer to tar sands pipeline agreement (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency drive yields $1 billion, 11 million metric tons CO2 cuts for US manufacturers (via Triple Pundit)

POLITICS 

EIA can operate through October 11 under government shutdown (via Reuters)

EPA to be hit hard in shutdown, could delay renewable fuel standard (via Reuters)

FERC nominee Binz withdraws amid coal pushback (via Politico)

“No evidence” EPA used private emails to keep records secret (via The Hill)

Can Bob Inglis make the GOP relevant on climate and clean energy policy? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.20.13

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

COAL 

Obama takes on coal with first-ever carbon limits (via Associated Press)

Coal’s future darkens around the world (via Associated Press)

Government’s latest coal auction attracts lowest bid in 15 years (via Climate Progress)

It’s not just Obama’s carbon rules that are killing coal – it’s cheap gas (via Time)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon markets set “to be oversupplied until 2027” (via BusinessGreen)

France to cut fossil fuels 30% by 2030, president says (via Phys.org)

EU carbon price forecast to hit €66 per ton by 2030 (via Recharge)

Administration presses ahead with limits on power plant emissions (via New York Times)

Study: Fracked shale formations could store carbon dioxide (via Yale e360)

How bad for the environment are gas-powered leaf blowers? (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Germany industry wants end of feed-in tariff on rising power cost (via Bloomberg)

Is Brazilian sugarcane the answer to US biofuel needs? (via Green Car Reports)

Algae biofuels cut CO2 emissions more than 50% compared to petroleum fuels (via Phys.org)

Siemens opens state-of-the-art wind service training center (via Energy Collective)

Solar Exchange launches with over $28 million in solar goods (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Top 10 challenges for the biofuels industry (via Renewable Energy World)

In Minnesota, looking for lessons from Goodhue wind fight (via Midwest Energy News)

Massachusetts racks up 11.8% growth in clean energy (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s future depends on stopping Fukushima leaks, PM tells workers (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Ozone treaty offers quicker fix for global warming (via Bloomberg)

Russia urges UN climate report to include geoengineering (via The Guardian)

Australia scraps national climate commission (via The Guardian)

India and China face significant flooding risk warns Swiss Re (via RTCC)

UN climate report set to establish “global carbon budget” (via RTCC)

Study says journalists should talk about climate change like a pension policy (via Climate Progress)

Clash over flood insurance rates sharpens days before hikes are enacted (via ClimateWire)

The many small ways Americans are adapting to climate change (via The Atlantic)

ENERGY POLICY 

US revives aid program for cleaner fossil fuels (via New York Times)

California’s strategic plan for renewables and efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Beacon Power starts up flywheel energy storage facility in Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Halliburton pleads guilty to destroying evidence after BP oil spill (via The Hill)

Legal, political battles await EPA’s power plant emissions limits (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

General Motors looks to cut battery prices and increase EV range (via New York Times)

Tesla shares hit yet another record high at $180 (via Autoblog Green)

Ecotality bankruptcy could give Nissan its own charger network (via Plugin Cars)

2014 Chevy Spark EV test drive (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senate support unravels for Obama’s FERC nominee (via The Hill)

US Senate GOP leader says he will work to defeat FERC nominee (via Reuters)

Government funding battle knocks stalled energy efficiency bill off Senate floor (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Sorry, Arctic sea ice isn’t really “recovering” (via Washington Post)

Time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Will coal survive the EPA’s new carbon rules? (via Washington Post)

Obama’s coming climate crackdown (via Politico)

A clean energy revolution – now (via Energy.gov)

These five things need to happen before electric cars really go mainstream (via Washington Post)

Are wind farm-related eagle deaths higher than we think? (via EarthTechling)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama looks to fill fall scorecard with regulations, going small-bore (via The Hill)

German industry group seeks green energy overhaul after election (via Reuters)

COAL 

Three times more people working in green jobs than coal (via BusinessGreen)

On cost, new clean energy is beating coal (via EarthTechling)

Wyoming coal sale canceled by US on bid at 15-year low (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

China faces tough fight against air pollution (via Xinhua)

Business groups, GOP attack social cost of carbon on multiple fronts (via The Hill)

California clears way for use of offsets in carbon market (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

2.8GW solar PV capacity expected to be added in India in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Study flags UK’s offshore green jobs surge (via Recharge)

5 market innovations revolutionizing solar in the developing world (via Sustainable Industries)

Cost of US solar power 60% lower than in early 2011 (via CleanTechnica)

US charges 6 people, 3 firms with $100 million biofuels fraud (via Reuters)

Ten myths about geothermal heating and cooling (via National Geographic)

Google goes greener with 240MW wind power purchase (via Houston Chronicle)

New Era Wind will no longer pursue Goodhue wind farm in Minnesota (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Big solar comes to Utah with 300MW project (via SustainableBusiness)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s Abe orders surviving Fukushima reactors scrapped (via Reuters)

DOE still seeks beneficiary for small modular reactor funding (via Aiken Standard)

CLIMATE 

Delaying climate action will triple costs (via Grist)

Study identifies 10 regions to target climate adaptation funding (via RTCC)

Global temperature trends and the IPCC (via Energy Collective)

Nation-to-nation peer pressure may be best hope for global climate deal (via NBC News)

Poland partners with coal and oil corporate sponsors for COP19 climate conference (via DeSmog Blog)

Obama climate change plan gets first airing in front of House skeptics (via The Guardian)

17 states accuse EPA of exceeding its authority with climate change plan (via The Hill)

Most US companies ignoring SEC rule to disclose climate risks (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ranking reveals top US cities on energy efficiency (via USA Today)

A quest to prove the business case for installing big batteries at buildings (via GigaOm)

GM’s LEED Gold data center slashes electric bill by 70% (via EarthTechling)

Chicago passes energy benchmarking rules (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

The $1.5 trillion oil find in the Gulf of Mexico (via Christian Science Monitor)

Eagle Ford oil expected to surpass 1 million barrels per day (via Houston Chronicle)

One downside to more oil drilling? Wasted gas (via StateImpact Texas)

China finds resistance to oil deals in Africa (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

DOE advanced vehicle loan portfolio remains strong (via EarthTechling)

Ford adding 200 charging stations in next 15 months (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Environmental groups set for new fight over drilling on US-managed Utah land (via New York Times)

POLITICS 

Obama energy officials defend climate plan to Republicans (via Bloomberg)

Democrat Manchin’s opposition imperils Obama FERC nominee (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Time for Angela Merkel to fill the climate leadership vacuum? (via RTCC)

Carbon pricing levels playing field, reduces energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

Fracking may not be as bad for the climate as we thought (via Washington Post)

Clearing up a few myths about Brazilian biofuels trade (via Energy Collective)

Whether approved or not, Keystone XL has been a victory for lobbyists (via DeSmog Blog)

Naomi Klein “waging ideological war” instead of tacking climate change (via The Guardian)

What’s the climate change context behind Colorado’s floods? (via ClimateWire)