Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.9.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
World Bank President urges carbon price (via Environmental Leader)
EU carbon price crisis spreads to Australia (via RTCC)
EU carbon trading system remains in peril, but rescue attempts is launched (via ClimateWire)
Carbon market champions unfazed by Kyoto dead end (via Bloomberg)
Cap and trade auction investment plan a win for California (via Energy Manager Today)
COAL
Another Northwest coal export project falls by the wayside (via The Oregonian)
ENERGY POLICY
The 2013 US utility outlook on renewables, smart grid (via Greentech Media)
Foes suggest a climate trade-off if Keystone XL is approved (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Offshore wind industry will become €130 billion annual market by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)
World’s first green bank loans $1 billion in first five months of operation (via Reuters)
World Bank turns to hydropower to square development with climate change (via Washington Post)
German scientists use offshore wind farms to replenish lobsters (via Bloomberg)
Study finds tiny rate increases from state renewable portfolio standards (via Greentech Media)
US job market bursting with green tech opportunities (via EarthTechling)
Weak 2013 US wind turbine market predicted (via Recharge)
Minnesota House approves 4% by 2025 solar PV mandate (via Recharge)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Mexico still far from tapping shale potential, says energy minister (via Reuters)
US natural gas exports: friend or foe? (via WRI Insights)
US will use less natural gas in 2014 than in 2012, according to EIA (via Facts of the Day)
Interior Department’s fracking rules in cross hairs ahead of upcoming release (via The Hill)
TRANSPORTATION
European plug-in EV sales will reach 670,000 unites annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
Tesla posts first profit as Model S becomes best-selling US plug-in (via Autoblog Green)
California legislature aims to make public charging networks available to all (via Plugin Cars)
Consumer Reports gives near-perfect score to Tesla Model S (via Reuters)
OIL
How oil travels around the world, in one map (via Washington Post)
Shell announces plans to build world’s deepest production facility (via Houston Chronicle)
Interior Secretary to oil industry: don’t throw regulators under the bus (via Houston Chronicle)
Gulf of Mexico emergency oil spill equipment put to the test (via Houston Chronicle)
GRID
North American smart meter shipments will continue decline through 2014 (via Navigant Research)
Demand response cuts need for new generation in PJM grid (via Energy Collective)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Canada says it may take EU to WTO over oil sands dispute (via Reuters)
Can carbon capture clean up Canada’s oil sands? (via MIT Technology Review)
Academics warn Canada against further tar sands production (via The Guardian)
Pipeline wars seen spreading after Keystone XL fight (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency bill clears Senate panel (via The Hill)
Big data means big savings for big buildings (via GreenBiz)
Boston mandates energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)
CLIMATE
Declining snow cover imperils plant and animal species, study says (via Yale e360)
After swimming through Sandy’s havoc, New Jersey beach towns want to stay put (via ClimateWire)
POLITICS
Congressional scholar says holds on top administration posts “not business as usual” (via SNL Energy)
Environmentalists seize on Biden’s Keystone XL remarks to launch new attack (via Washington Post)
OPINION
How the anti-coal campaign is protecting Australia’s economy (via Renew Economy)
Carbon tax is best option Congress has (via Washington Post)
It’s official: $1 invested in EPA yields $10 in benefits (via Climate Progress)
Why aren’t environmental groups divesting from fossil fuels? (via The Nation)
Carbon tax has very broad, bipartisan support – outside of Congress (via Climate Progress)