Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.31.13

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

OIL/NATURAL GAS 

OPEC maintains 30 million bpd oil output target for 2013 (via Retuers)

Texas leads US in drilling activity with 47.7% of all rigs (via Houston Chronicle)

California lawmakers turn down fracking moratorium (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon offsets rise 4% in 2012 (via Phys.org)

Forest and soil carbon important, but does not offset fossil fuel emissions (via Phys.org)

ENVIRONMENT 

Green groups hail sustainable EU fisheries deal (via BusinessGreen)

The latest casualty of drought may be US aquifers (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Japan set to overtake Germany as world’s biggest solar market in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australia approaches 22% renewables by 2020, 51% by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

US favors net-metering while Europe, Japan like feed-in tariffs (via Energy Manager Today)

Japanese domestic solar shipments increase by most in 30 years (via Bloomberg)

Big dams are booming business, but politics remain difficult (via ClimateWire)

Ontario set to overhaul its renewables support policies, end feed-in tariff (via Recharge)

Polish offshore wind energy could be worth €17.5 billion by 2025 (via Renewable Energy World)

Google invests in 96MW South African solar project (via GigaOm)

Q1 2013 clean tech venture investments hit lowest point in 4 years (via Greentech Media)

FERC report says 33MW of new solar added in US during April (via Solar Industry Magazine)

First North American offshore wind turbine rises in Maine (via CleanTechnica)

Connecticut’s renewable portfolio standard set to include more hydropower (via Renew Grid)

North Carolina fights back against anti-solar bills (via Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL protesters seek dismissal of lawsuit preventing protests (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

Renault takes Better Place bankruptcy in stride, says EVs still a focus (via Autoblog Green)

Should the US government have made more money off Tesla? (via Washington Post)

Honda cuts US lease price for Fit EV to $259/month (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

North American smart grid sensor market set to double by 2014 (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS 

GOP US Senator praises solar, warns of human-caused climate change (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

How China may have just changed the climate game (via Climate Progress)

EU energy and climate change policy after 2020 (via Energy Collective)

Coming off fossil fuels is akin to quitting smoking – only harder (via The Guardian)

Coal is the enemy of the human race, video edition (via Grist)

How battery technology killed better place (via Environmental Leader)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.28.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Britain calls for EU target to halve emissions by 2030 (via The Independent)

California’s third cap and trade auction sells out at record price (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Rail picks up steam as a way to move crude (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Better Place announces bankruptcy, board “stands by original vision” (via Autoblog Green)

What Better Place’s bankruptcy tells us about the future of electric cars (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Europe-China solar trade talks end bitterly (via New York Times)

Russia approves 6GW renewables plan (via Recharge)

Brazil prepares for 2014 World Cup with 7 solar stadiums (via Renewable Energy World)

(more…)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

98% of DOE’s $34 billion loan portfolio is being repaid (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Thawing permafrost could produce lower CO2 emissions than previously thought (via ClimateWire)

New EU climate policy unlikely before 2015 (via Phys.org)

10 cities that will be hardest hit by climate change (via Grist)

Gov. Jerry Brown keeps pressing on the perils of climate change (via San Jose Mercury News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale boom shapes international energy markets (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy-rich Colorado becomes setting for fracking fight (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House panel approves fracking measure (via Chicago Tribune)

Grassroots greens challenge EDF on fracking involvement (via Mother Jones)

RENEWABLES 

Germany investing €50 million in solar PV innovation (via Recharge)

Switch to low-carbon energy would save UK households 1,600 (via The Independent)

White House, Pentagon at odds over biofuel refinery program (via Greenwire)

Wind potential – all about the data (via Renewable Energy World)

North Carolina renewable energy policy will remain in place (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

China emissions cap proposal hailed as climate breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

China unveils details of pilot carbon-trading program (via The Guardian)

CBO: carbon tax an option to avoid “catastrophic” outcomes (via The Hill)

College fossil-fuel divestment movement builds (via Houston Chronicle)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

House passes bill to speed up Keystone XL, avoid Obama review (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL’s southern leg nears completion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Motors repays its government loan in full (via Greentech Media)

Tesla Model S set to bring EVs into mainstream (via BusinessGreen)

Coalition launches EV charging station project in upstate New York (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

Coal regains some electric generation market share from natural gas (via US EIA)

Mining lobby touts economic impact of coal exports (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK government to boost energy efficiency efforts across sectors (via Energy Manager Today)

How Cree perfected the 20-year light bulb (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

Death by a thousand cuts: coal boom could destroy Great Barrier Reef (via Spiegel)

POLITICS 

The GOP’s green energy tent is slowly getting bigger (via National Journal)

Climate activists to protest at Obama group’s climate events (via Grist)

Q&A: Steven Chu on his time as US Energy Secretary (via Stanford News)

Green billionaire Steyer plans to get involved in Massachusetts Senate race (via The Hill)

Terry McAuliffe reverses course, backs bill to allow oil drilling off Virginia coast (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Europe, Australia, and the slow death of carbon trading (via Renew Economy)

Could a Chinese carbon cap pave the way for a global climate deal? (via Grist)

The impact of budget sequestration on DOD energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China agrees to impose carbon reduction targets by 2016 (via The Independent)

California carbon permits sell for record high price (via Reuters)

64 companies follow Wal-Mart’s effort to reduce supplier emissions (via ClimateWire)

Infographic: where are all our carbon emissions being stored? (via Inhabitat)

NAUTRAL GAS/FRACKING 

DOE Secretary Moniz vows review of natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Lawmakers press Interior Department to slow down fracking rules (via The Hill)

BNSF Railway launches rail loop for fracking sand (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

EU and US not coordinating on China solar dispute (via Reuters)

Global solar manufacturers poised to make come back (via Sustainable Business)

Goldman Sachs to invest $486 million in Japan renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds marine life unhindered by offshore wind farm (via Renewable Energy World)

Vertical axis wind turbines make a return (via Navigant Research)

Solar’s growing role in the US military (via Sustainable Business)

Federal government will build its largest wind farm to power nuclear assembly plant (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Businesses urge EU to adopt energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Moniz vows to advance efficiency bill, sees “real chance” (via The Hill)

30% energy efficiency gain would create $275 billion US tech market (via Energy Manager Today)

Hospitals can reduce energy consumption 62% (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

European coal’s record slump poised to end on output cuts (via Houston Chronicle)

The two faces of coal power (via EnergyBiz)

Southern Company’s coal gasification plant balloons over $4 billion to $7 per watt (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Widespread Greenland melting a sign of things to come (via Climate Central)

70% of Americans say global warming should be a priority (via Yale e360)

Tornado-proofing cities in the age of extreme weather (via Time)

GRID

Smart meter shipments for commercial and industrial markets will reach 12.7 million annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

US grid balancing could go further to increase renewables (via Reuters)

Report finds US grid vulnerable to cyber-attacks (via Politico)

The smart meter stimulus-cash-to-integration equation (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid program created 2,700 jobs in Q1 (via Renew Grid)

Some US utilities say they’re under constant cyber attack (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ban Ki-Moon: world on course to run out of water (via RTCC)

Corn-producing states face high water-shortage risk (via Environmental Leader)

Ogallala Aquifer in Texas panhandle suffers big drop (via Texas Tribune)

NOAA still planning to furlough storm forecasters (via Politico)

Wolves in US won’t lose protections, for now (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment campaign’s victory in Australia will be a moral one (via The Guardian)

Can local Chambers of Commerce be clean energy catalysts? (via GreenBiz)

Tesla repaying loan gives Obama a green win (via Bloomberg)

Oklahoma tornado: is climate change to blame? (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

On climate change, Obama faces an attack from his left flank (via Washington Post)

White House threatens veto of Keystone bill (via The Hill)

NJ Gov. Christie: no proof climate change caused Sandy (via The Hill)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea may launch world’s most ambitious cap and trade market (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon capture faces scale dilemma (via Reuters)

UK unwraps energy-intensive industry carbon price compensation package (via BusinessGreen)

CLIMATE 

World’s largest cities say time to adapt to climate change (via RTCC)

Glacier melt causes a third of all sea-level rise (via ABC Science)

Climate change pushes farmers in India to tipping point (via The Guardian)

Scientists agree on climate change, so why doesn’t everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Weatherproofing cities to face future Sandys (via Council on Foreign Relation)

RENEWABLES 

Solar has barely scratched the surface of a $2 trillion market (via Renew Economy)

2012 a record-breaking year for global wind power (via DW)

Solar industry groups urge US, EU, China to avert trade war (via Washington Post)

US and EU set to negotiate settlements in Chinese solar panel cases (via New York Times)

EU tariffs on Chinese solar imports “a grave mistake” says German minister (via BusinessGreen)

US military on track to reach 3GW of solar by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

95% of US energy executives predict more renewables investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Ethanol production stagnates as biofuel mandates grow (via Houston Chronicle)

The advantages of developing solar on brownfields (via Greentech Media)

US ethanol production capacity little changed in past year (via US EIA)

Can state harvesting guidelines keep biomass sustainable? (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota is a governor’s signature away from 450MW of solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina creates legal framework to develop wind farms (via Recharge)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency could cut wireless data power demand 90% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

LEED remains top choice for government buildings (via Sustainable Business)

Senate energy efficiency bill could be “poison pill” for LEED standards (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU to investigate environmental impact of shale gas fracking (via Reuters)

What exporting US natural gas means for the climate (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas climbs to three-week high on LNG approval, hot weather (via Bloomberg)

The fight for North Dakota’s fracking water market (via Reuters)

California’s proposed fracking moratoriums might not apply to other drilling in Monterey Shale (via EnergyWire)

161 water wells impacted by Pennsylvania gas drilling from 2008-2012 (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

More US consumers now support smart grid (via Renew Grid)

ARRA update: almost two-thirds of US smart grid funds spent (via Renew Grid)

Underwater batteries make an energy storage splash (via GigaOm)

The military microgrid as smart grid asset (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage, meet energy markets (via Greentech Media)

Texas power grid poised to be put to test again (via Texas Tribune)

Revenue at Bloom Energy falls in Q1 (via Greentech Media)

New grid switches cut 80,000 outages for ComEd (via Greentech Media)

As Texas towns say no, signs of rising resistance to smart meters (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

Oman to use solar power to get oil from old wells (via New York Times)

With US awash in oil, national interest argument for Keystone weakens (via InsideClimate News)

A black mound of Canadian oil waste is rising over Detroit (via New York Times)

Alaska’s governor launches bid to measure oil in Arctic refuge (via Los Angeles Times)

Exxon: no plans yet to reopen ruptured Arkansas pipeline, and no answers why (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plugged in: US electric car sales hit 100,000 (via EarthTechling)

Tesla to pay off US DOE loan Wednesday (via Bloomberg)

United Airlines restarts 787 Dreamliner flights (via USA Today)

Tesla’s fight with American car dealers (via CNN Money)

COAL 

In the US West, Big Coal makes its stand (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean warming means new paradigm for world’s fisheries (via Climate Progress)

A plague of deforestation sweeps across Southeast Asia (via Yale e360)

Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat (via Phys.org)

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon pacing 88% higher than 2012 (via Mongabay)

USGS: drop in US aquifer levels has accelerated (via Reuters)

Wells dry, fertile US plains turn to dust (via New York Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Moniz era begins at Energy Department (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign escalates at Swarthmore (via Huffington Post)

Illinois renewable energy law fix faces opposition from utilities (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

What’s at stake with natural-gas exports? (via National Journal)

Wind and the myth of negative pricing (via Greentech Media)

“If people aren’t pissed off, it ain’t working”: a chat with Tom Steyer (via Grist)

Climate warnings, growing louder (via New York Times)

Fixing the economy may be the best way to pass a climate bill (via Washington Post)

Arizona clean energy = more jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Utilities for dummies: how they work and why that needs to change (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.17.13

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

CLIMATE 

Smaller glacier melt boost sea level rise as much as largest ones (via Climate Central)

USGS: warmer springs causing loss of snow cover throughout Rocky Mountains (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian government doubles advertising spend on tar sands (via The Guardian)

Canadian prime minister warns US against Keystone XL rejection (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Keystone XL oil pipeline bill moves to full US House (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

EU confirms two percent reduction in ETS emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Norwegian firm seeks way to trap cement factory CO2 (vie Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China PV prices “could rise 45%” in June (via Recharge)

Australia launches clean energy map (via Renew Economy)

Solar power costs closing in on wind (via Reuters)

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom (via GreenBiz)

US military’s renewable energy development at risk from Sequester (via Medill)

Goldman Sachs to finance $500 million for SolarCity roofs (via Bloomberg)

Report outlines US military’s 130MW solar power might (via CleanTechnica)

Are run-of-river hydropower systems ready for the US? (via Renewable Energy World)

800MW solar power plant goes online in California (via Sacramento Bee)

Renewable power generation grew 7 percent in Texas last year (via Houston Chronicle)

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plans (via Courier-Press/AP)

COAL 

NRG settles lawsuit with NJ & CT; will shut down coal units (via Renew Grid)

TRANSPORTATION 

Global capacity of lithium-ion batteries for EVs will grow 10-fold by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s market value soars but some see a bubble (via Washington Post)

Nissan Leaf sales hit 25,000 in US (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Baltic LNG terminal deal likely for late 2013 (via Retuers)

Interior Department unveils fracking rules for federal lands (via The Hill)

Fracking risks to groundwater assessed by scientific review (via Phys.org)

Could we see three US LNG export projects approved by 2014? (via Breaking Energy)

Shale drilling nearly doubles Ohio output since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China’s State Grid to buy stake in Australian electricity network for $802 million (via Washington Post/AP)

California ISO market fix boosts renewables in state (via Reuters)

National Grid unveils plans for sustainability hub (via Daily Finance)

ENERGY POLICY 

What British Columbia election means for Northwest fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

EPA ranked most effective of all federal agencies (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE publishes protocols to determine energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)

Five technologies to make government buildings more efficient (via Greentech Media)

NREL teams up with US Navy to cut energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study finds world’s fish have been moving to colder waters for decades (via Washington Post)

Indonesia extends landmark ban on clearing rainforests and peatland (via New York Times)

State officials seek federal help fighting invasive species (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Senate approves Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy (via Greentech Media)

Senate committee advances EPA nominee McCarthy in party-line vote (via The Hill)

GOP says EPA’s FOIA decisions show “anti-conservative attitude” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Strengthening ownership and effectiveness of climate finance (via WRI Insights)

How low can utility emissions go? (via Greentech Media)

Proposed fracking rules anger environmentalists, annoy industry (via National Journal)

Spigot of money starting to open up for installing solar panels (via GigaOm)

A new model for valuing distributed energy (via Greentech Media)

 

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.17.13

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

CLIMATE 

Smaller glacier melt boost sea level rise as much as largest ones (via Climate Central)

USGS: warmer springs causing loss of snow cover throughout Rocky Mountains (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian government doubles advertising spend on tar sands (via The Guardian)

Canadian prime minister warns US against Keystone XL rejection (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Keystone XL oil pipeline bill moves to full US House (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

EU confirms two percent reduction in ETS emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Norwegian firm seeks way to trap cement factory CO2 (vie Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China PV prices “could rise 45%” in June (via Recharge)

Australia launches clean energy map (via Renew Economy)

Solar power costs closing in on wind (via Reuters)

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom (via GreenBiz)

US military’s renewable energy development at risk from Sequester (via Medill)

Goldman Sachs to finance $500 million for SolarCity roofs (via Bloomberg)

Report outlines US military’s 130MW solar power might (via CleanTechnica)

Are run-of-river hydropower systems ready for the US? (via Renewable Energy World)

800MW solar power plant goes online in California (via Sacramento Bee)

Renewable power generation grew 7 percent in Texas last year (via Houston Chronicle)

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plans (via Courier-Press/AP)

COAL 

NRG settles lawsuit with NJ & CT; will shut down coal units (via Renew Grid)

TRANSPORTATION 

Global capacity of lithium-ion batteries for EVs will grow 10-fold by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s market value soars but some see a bubble (via Washington Post)

Nissan Leaf sales hit 25,000 in US (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Baltic LNG terminal deal likely for late 2013 (via Retuers)

Interior Department unveils fracking rules for federal lands (via The Hill)

Fracking risks to groundwater assessed by scientific review (via Phys.org)

Could we see three US LNG export projects approved by 2014? (via Breaking Energy)

Shale drilling nearly doubles Ohio output since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China’s State Grid to buy stake in Australian electricity network for $802 million (via Washington Post/AP)

California ISO market fix boosts renewables in state (via Reuters)

National Grid unveils plans for sustainability hub (via Daily Finance)

ENERGY POLICY 

What British Columbia election means for Northwest fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

EPA ranked most effective of all federal agencies (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE publishes protocols to determine energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)

Five technologies to make government buildings more efficient (via Greentech Media)

NREL teams up with US Navy to cut energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study finds world’s fish have been moving to colder waters for decades (via Washington Post)

Indonesia extends landmark ban on clearing rainforests and peatland (via New York Times)

State officials seek federal help fighting invasive species (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Senate approves Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy (via Greentech Media)

Senate committee advances EPA nominee McCarthy in party-line vote (via The Hill)

GOP says EPA’s FOIA decisions show “anti-conservative attitude” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Strengthening ownership and effectiveness of climate finance (via WRI Insights)

How low can utility emissions go? (via Greentech Media)

Proposed fracking rules anger environmentalists, annoy industry (via National Journal)

Spigot of money starting to open up for installing solar panels (via GigaOm)

A new model for valuing distributed energy (via Greentech Media)

 

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)