Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TRANSPORTATION
High-capacity chargers target Europe’s luxury market (via Pike Research)
Estonia installs “world’s first” nationwide fast-charging network (via BusinessGreen)
Lithium-ion battery gives IBM hope of power without fires (via Bloomberg)
EPA sets renewable fuel standard, tackles fraud (via The Hill)
Tesla expects to turn its first profit in the first quarter of 2013 (via GigaOm)
2013 Nissan Leaf: 75-mile range “anticipated in new EPA test (via Green Car Reports)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Report: oil sands dependence could hurt Canada’s economy (via Canadian Press)
Canadian crude rolling into Gulf Coast refineries (via Houston Chronicle)
Supporters of Keystone XL outspend opponents 35 to 1 (via Climate Progress)
ALEC pushes Keystone pipeline approval through six states (via Sustainable Business)
RENEWABLES
EU to register Chinese solar panels in move toward duties (via Reuters)
Ontario might get a 400MW pumped storage station five times the height of Niagara Falls (via TreeHugger)
Mexico just scratching the surface of solar demand (via Renewable Energy World)
Iceland looks to export geothermal power (via New York Times)
Nine amazing teenagers innovating in cleantech (via Treehugger)
Renewables increase US electricity market share 44% from 2007 to 2012 (via Facts of the Day)
Michigan sees surge in wind power, thanks to renewable portfolio standard (via Renew Grid)
Oversupply and uncertainty for Massachusetts SREC market in 2013 (via Greentech Media)
Offshore wind production bill gets preliminary approval in Maryland House (via Washington Post/AP)
Minnesota bill introduced seeking 10% solar energy standard (via St. Paul Pioneer Press)
PACE funding in Florida gets $500 million boost (via CleanTechnica)
Work begins on new 400MW Texas solar PV plant (via Recharge)
How a city can get more clean, local energy (via CleanTechnica)
OIL/GASOLINE
US oil production will soar in 2013 – can it last? (via Christian Science Monitor)
AAA reports largest increase in gasoline prices in three years (via The Hill)
BP civil settlement remains elusive as trial nears (via Shreveport Times/AP)
ENERGY INDUSTRY
Germany, UK offer contrasting visions for electricity (via Reuters)
Energy to help Texas economy outpace nation’s (via Houston Chronicle)
Enron-era ruling signals $1.6 billion California consumer refunds (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Merkel leaves door open to fracking as shale gains appeal (via Bloomberg)
Marcellus production rises again in Pennsylvania (via Pittsburgh Business Times)
Chesapeake probe finds no “intentional” CEO misconduct (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
Filipino super-typhoon an ominous warning of climate change impact (via The Guardian)
If you don’t believe in climate change, talk to a clam digger (via Grist)
Activist investors put climate change issue up for vote at PNC Bank (via Los Angeles Times)
Bill would require Kansas teachers to question climate science (via InsideClimate News)
ENVIRONMENT
After China’s multibillion-dollar cleanup, water still unfit to drink (via Reuters)
Explained in 90 seconds: permafrost (via Mother Jones)
Biofuel rush wiping out America’s grasslands at fastest pace since 1930’s (via Washington Post)
EMISSIONS
Another study names oil and gas drilling as ozone culprit (via Climate Progress)
RGGI changes help both the environment and business (via C2ES)
GRID
PSE&G proposes $4 billion for grid resiliency in New Jersey (via Greentech Media)
EnerNOC adapting demand response for “big data” applications (via Greentech Media)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Efficiency is a more important economic driver than energy supply (via Greentech Media)
University at Albany SUNY saves $704,000 per year with energy efficiency upgrades (via Environmental Leader)
COAL
Oregon governor questions wisdom of headlong coal-export push (via Grist)
West Virginia, US Mine Safety and Health Administration seek greater focus on coal mining safety (via Charleston Gazette)
NUCLEAR
Deal advances development of a smaller nuclear reactor (via New York Times)
POLITICS
Obama settles on EPA, DOE nominees (via Reuters)
Climate change and the Obama Administration (via Council on Foreign Relations)
Kerry comes out swinging on climate change (via The Hill)
Moniz: shale gas boom a low-carbon solution – for now (via InsideClimate News)
Senate Democrat touts support for Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
EU and China stumble toward solar trade war (via Reuters)
How the looming food and energy crises are intertwined (via Good)
Tesla’s explosive revenue suggests a bright future (via MIT Technology Review)
Low emissions are no justification for Kansas scaling back renewables (via The Guardian)
Cheap ways you can get green power (via EarthTechling)