Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.1.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
OIL
Mystery oil sheen grows near site of BP Gulf disaster (via NBC News)
EMISSIONS
US carbon emissions fall to lowest levels since 1994 (via The Guardian)
Guidelines issues to ensure captured carbon stays sequestered (via BusinessGreen)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Keystone pipeline decision to languish until mid-June (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Clean energy in Europe suffering from falling CO2 prices (via Energy Collective)
German solar FIT to decline 2.2% monthly through April (via Recharge)
Greece sees impressive solar PV growth despite banking crisis (via Renewable Energy World)
Italian town runs solely on wind, sells the rest (via Sustainable Business)
Biofuel-blending battle rages on as EPA releases new projections (via The Hill)
GE introduces wind turbine for low-wind sites (via Energy Manager Today)
Seven projects looking to use big data to cut the cost of solar power (via GigaOm)
After delays, Maine approves offshore wind farm (via CLF Scoop)
ENERGY INDUSTRY
The US has some of the lowest energy taxes in the developed world (via Washington Post)
Transformation in US power supply breeds emissions success, grid challenges (via Houston Chronicle)
US utilities expect more environmental regulations during 2nd Obama term (via Environmental Leader)
Renewables in bed with natural gas? (via Mother Jones)
TRANSPORTATION
Nissan will triple number of EV fast chargers in US (via Autoblog Green)
EV Everywhere Blueprint outlines DOE EV goals for 2022 (via Green Car Congress)
69% of US voters support stricter auto emission standards (via Environmental Leader)
Tesla’s Musk calls Boeing 787 Dreamliner batteries “fundamentally unsafe” (via Autoblog Green)
More EV loans “remains to be seen,” Chu says (via Bloomberg)
Big price declines in 2013 EVs: price cuts put EVs on the road (via Facts of the Day)
Hertz adds Chevy Volt to car-sharing service, targets students (via Green Car Reports)
Dreamliner’s woes hearten foes (via Politico)
ENVIRONMENT
Australian government pledges to protect Great Barrier Reef (via Reuters)
EU proposes to ban insecticides linked to bee decline (via BusinessGreen)
US drought hangs tough through January (via Climate Central)
Survey of nation’s largest cities finds water supplies not as threatened as believed (via Phys.org)
GRID
Smart grid sector sees $434M in VC funding, $17B in M&A transactions (via Renew Grid)
SDG&E strives to develop ‘self-healing’ grid (via Renew Grid)
The (wrong) report on Silver Spring’s IPO chances (via Greentech Media)
GREEN BUSINESS
2013 policy priorities for sustainable and responsible investors (via GreenBiz)
CLIMATE
Philippine government says climate change is top priority (via Sustainable Business)
Planting trees may not reverse climate change but it will help local cooling (via Phys.org)
Climate scientists erring on the side of least drama (via Skeptical Science)
Alaska natives try to flee climate impacts but find little help (via ClimateWire)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sacramento launches $100-million energy retrofit fund (via Forbes)
Washington DC requires commercial buildings to track energy and water use (via CleanTechnica)
COAL
Why the US coal industry is so worried (via Sightline Daily)
Half of Washington State residents support coal export terminal (via Seattle Met)
POLITICS
Hagel vows DoD focus on alternative fuels, energy efficiency if confirmed (via The Hill)
Hagel’s other label: anti-green (via Politico)
Sen. Carper plans renewed push for offshore wind credit legislation (via The Hill)
Right place, wrong time for secretary candidate with gold-plated resume? (via Greenwire)
OPINION
Mr. President, there’s a major flaw in your solution to climate change (via Take Part)
Can Obama do for the grid what Eisenhower did for highways? (via New York Times)
9 in 10 French favor renewables but perceive high costs