Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.7.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
NOAA: 2012 shows climate change in record sea-level rise, Arctic melting, heated oceans (via Washington Post/AP)
Study questions nature’s ability to “self-correct” climate change (via Phys.org)
NOAA report says Arctic sea ice disappearing at unprecedented pace (via The Guardian)
2012 one of 10 warmest years on record, report says (via Los Angeles Times)
Investors see climate change as risk that influences decisions (via Bloomberg)
Climate change softens up already-vulnerable Louisiana (via USA Today)
EMISSIONS
EU carbon tops €4.50 on strong auction results (via Reuters Point Carbon)
NUCLEAR
Japanese government to help stabilize nuclear plant after leaks (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Grid-parity era now underway for global solar markets (via Renewable Energy World)
EU won’t impose provisional duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)
Index shows global PV market upswing in June (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Europe explores floating wind turbines to expand offshore power (via ClimateWire)
Britain opens world’s second-largest offshore wind farm (via Reuters)
Rollercoaster policy threatens US wind energy’s record-setting pace (via CleanTechnica)
More homeowners going solar for electricity, but uncertainty and cost stops others (via Washington Post/AP)
GE abandons plans for largest US solar panel plant near Denver (via Denver Post)
East Bay cities announce streamlined process for solar permits (via San Jose Mercury News)
COAL
China’s carbon goal shows coal growth has peaked (via Reuters)
Kosovo groups ask for US help to stop coal power project (via Reuters)
Report: Plenty of growth for coal sector – in power plant decommissioning (via BusinessGreen)
The coal export bubble (via Sightline)
Wyoming dominates sales of coal produced from federal and Indian lands (via US EIA)
ENERGY POLICY
Mexico’s energy debate approaches fever pitch (via Forbes)
BIOFUELS
EPA gives refiners more time to meet renewable mandate (via Bloomberg)
EPA slashes this year’s cellulosic targets (via Greenwire)
Almost eight months late, EPA sets 2013 biofuel blend requirement (via The Hill)
EPA lowers target for cellulosic biofuels in gasoline (via Houston Chronicle)
US refiners, plagued by RINsanity, see “half step” on biofuels (via Reuters)
OIL
Interior Secretary tours Bakken Shale (via Grand Forks Herald)
Interior Secretary commends efforts to cut pollution in booming Bakken (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Your car’s “big data” is worth $1,400 a year (via Autoblog)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Methane leaking in Utah suggests higher national rate (via Climate Central)
How much does a shale gas well cost? “It depends” (via Breaking Energy)
Controversial coal-to-gas plant shuts down six days after opening (via Indianapolis Star)
Chesapeake drops energy leases in fracking-shy New York State (via Reuters)
GRID
Smart meters to save Pakistan 100MW of electricity (via The Nation)
Utility executives: Major cyberattack on power grid is inevitable (via Houston Chronicle)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone contractor probe energizes pipeline opponents (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)
Inquiry into State Department’s environmental contractor could jeopardize Keystone XL decision timeline (via EnergyWire)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Are investors confident enough to invest billions in efficiency projects? (via Greentech Media)
GREEN BUSINESS
Will sustainability reporting standards change the way business does business? (via The Guardian)
Los Angeles gets first chief sustainability officer (via Sustainable Industries)
ENVIRONMENT
California governor struggles to win support for water plan (via Los Angeles Times)
OPINION
Trouble in fracking paradise (via SmartPlanet)
Bold leadership needed from US insurers to tackle climate change (via The Guardian)
Wind energy: curtailment by any other name would be ordinary (via Energy Collective)
Can Europe meet its 2020 offshore wind targets?