Category Archives:ev

05
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.5.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN chief urges “bold” action to curb global warming (via The Nation/BBC)

Climate change warming up business in the Arctic (via NPR)

Australia risks “going backwards” on climate change, straining Pacific ties (via The Guardian)

Climate change is clear and present danger, says landmark US report (via The Guardian)

What happens when Washington State attempts major climate action? (via CleanTechnica)

Scientists race to develop farm animals to survive climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

“We don’t know what normal is anymore”: Confronting extreme weather on US farms (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

China’s thirsty coal industry guzzles precious water (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

US ethanol imports from Brazil down 40% in 2013 (via US EIA)

Dam it: Feds say US can double hydropower (via Climate Central)

New ad links US oil industry’s anti-biofuel campaign to Saudi Arabia (via InsideClimate News)

O’Malley to decided whether some wind turbine projects should be delayed until 2015 (via Washington Post)

Kansas state lawmakers to vote on ending renewable energy standard (via Kansas City Star)

Hawaii’s largest utility ordered to help customers install more rooftop solar (via Climate Progress)

Superfund site is latest conquest in solar’s brownfields campaign (via Solar Industry)

Renewables get vote of financial confidence in NextEra spinoff plans (via EnergyWire)

SunEdison may be too reliant on renewable tax credits, says Barron’s (via Reuters)

OIL 

US DOT says energy companies not sharing test data on Bakken oil (via Wall Street Journal)

Oil-by-rail shippers withholding important data, says DOT (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK electric vehicle sales speed up as UK plugs into global trend (via The Guardian)

China’s BYD electric bus factory comes online in California (via Autoblog)

Why European gas-mileage ratings are so high, and often wrong (via Green Car Reports)

DOE to establish gasoline stockpiles in Northeast (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Switch from gasoline to ethanol linked to higher ozone levels in Brazil (via Los Angeles Times)

Supreme Court cross-state ruling leaves much unsettled for EPA (via Greenwire)

Australian banks lose millions as customers divest (via RTCC)

Seven Washington University students arrested protesting Peabody Coal (via EcoWatch)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green stock index rejects natural gas, oil, and coal (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Democrats push Obama on LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking may induce quakes at greater distance than previously thought (via Yale e360)

Stronger “frackquakes” are on the way, scientists warn (via Climate Progress)

Sources and solutions for carbon pollution along the LNG supply chain (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

US national budget for fighting wildfires is $400 million short (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada finds China option no easy answer to Keystone snub (via Bloomberg)

Wooing of senators to force Keystone XL falling short of votes (via Bloomberg)

Keystone pipeline issue looms as Senate takes up energy efficiency bill (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICENCY 

Top 10 countries for LEED outside the US (via Environmental Leader)

Cree takes on $4 billion fluorescent lighting market with LEDs (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Introducing New York State’s energy storage testing center (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama re-nominates LaFleur as FERC commissioner (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Dissenting voices on climate change (via Washington Post)

A renewables club to change the world (via WRI Insights)

Will midterm elections move the needle on energy issues? (via National Journal)

For Obama, a renewed focus on climate (via Washington Post)

With hope and horror, climate fiction writers depict the future (via ClimateWire)

Divestment and Arctic development, between drilling and the deep blue sea (via EnergyCollective)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, Bakken Shale, Ban-Ki Moon, biofuel, Brazil, Brownfield, BYD, california, Cheryl LaFleur, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cree, Cross state air pollution rule, Divestment, DOE, DOT, earthquakes, Electric bus, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, ev, Extreme weather, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gasoline, global warming, green business, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, kansas, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, LNG, LNG exports, Martin O'Malley, natural gas, new york state, News, NextEra, oil, Oil train, Peabody Coal, Renewable energy standard, renewables, saudi arabia, Shaheen-Portman bill, solar, SunEdison, superfund, Supreme Court, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Washington University, wildfires, wind
0
30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, Gigafactory, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
0
25
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.25.14

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

OIL 

Shale boom sends US crude oil supply to highest level since 1930 (via Bloomberg)

US regulators to propose enhanced oil tank car standards (via Reuters)

US pipeline and oil-by-rail regulator making 9% staff cut, confounding experts (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

FTC officials back Tesla’s direct-to-consumer car sales model (via Reuters)

Consumer Reports finds plug-in retail experience underwhelming (via Autoblog Green)

Is Tesla planning another electric vehicle factory in California? (via Los Angeles Times)

Improving the performance of hybrid powertrains (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES 

UK onshore wind power will lose subsidies, say conservatives (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Central Asian hydroelectric water wars heat up (via Huffington Post)

Solar PV set to surge 50% in Africa and Middle East in 2014 (via Recharge)

GE renewable investments exceed $10 billion (via BusinessWire)

US solar energy capacity grew an astounding 418% from 2010-2014 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA releases list of top 100 US organizations using renewable energy (via Solar Industry)

Financing lessons residential solar can teach the commercial and industrial sector (via Renewable Energy World)

Google and Apple announce new renewable energy investments (via RTCC)

New York State pledges $1 billion for solar through 2023 (via Bloomberg)

SunPower lands another strong quarter, launches new solar holding company (via Greentech Media)

Fisherman’s Energy to file legal appeal for New Jersey offshore wind rejection (via Recharge)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

GE said to be in talks to buy France’s Alstom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Why electric utilities have an image problem (via Navigant Research)

Battle between fossil fuels & solar intensifies (via Sustainable Business)

50,000 Pennsylvania electric customers switch suppliers on price swings (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CLIMATE 

Corals may withstand higher temperatures, says study (via RTCC)

Top 12 ways the world can eliminate agriculture’s climate footprint (via Phys.org)

UK supermarket: 95% of fresh produce already at risk from climate change (via The Guardian)

Study links polar vortex, California drought to climate change (via The Hill)

84,000 lives threatened by sea level rise in New England (via Climate Progress)

Lower Manhattan 20x more likely to flood than in 1844 (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Putin, Merkel call for gas talks over Ukraine (via Reuters)

Trade implication of US energy policy and LNG exports (via Center for American Progress)

Baker Hughes to reveal all hydraulic fracturing chemicals (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

USGBC launches real-time green building tool (via Environmental Leader)

Following pipeline delay, KXL politics may derail energy efficiency bill (via Greenwire)

Think you’re better at saving energy? Three charts suggest a reality check. (via Outlier)

KEYSTONE XL 

US support for Keystone hits 61% in new poll (via The Hill)

How Obama shocked Harper as Keystone Frustrator-in-Chief (via Bloomberg)

How Canada’s incoherence on climate is killing Keystone (via Rescuing the Frog)

GRID 

Britain installs first grid-scale battery (via Reuters)

Smart grid companies raise $101 million to kick off 2014 (via Renew Grid)

“LEED-like” standard launched for electric grids (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

China takes on pollution with biggest environmental law changes in 25 years (via Bloomberg)

Brazil’s coffee crop prayers for rain met with deluge threat (via Bloomberg)

Drought area expands in Plains and California (via Farm Futures)

For first time in 15 years, drought hits 100% of California (via Los Angeles Times)

Plastic bottle recycling increases 53% in 12 years (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

The new abolitionism (via The Nation)

Maddow: Will US energy companies disrupt Obama’s Russia policy? (via Washington Post)

The real story behind falling renewable energy investments (via World Resources Institute)

Solar power is booming but will never replace coal – here’s why (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Alstom, Angela Merkel, apple, battery, Brazil, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, Consumer Reports, drought, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, Federal Trade Commission, Fisherman's Energy, Flooding, fracking, France, FTC, GE, global warming, google, green building, grid, Hydropower, Keystone XL Stephen Harper, LEED, LNG, MENA, middle east, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, New York City, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, PHMSA, Polar vortex, Recycling, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, SunPower, Tesla, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, USGBC, Vladimir Putin, wind
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24
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.24.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted (via The Guardian)

China to impose tougher penalties on polluters under new law (via Reuters)

Up to a third of wild US seafood likely “illegal” (via Environmental Leader)

New map could refocus California’s pollution battles (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Poland pushes coal on Europe as Putin wields gas weapon (via Bloomberg)

Federal government lowers level of coal dust allowed in mines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Investment in aging coal plants a losing proposition (via Energy Manager Today)

CDC: West Virginia symptoms “consistent” with coal ash chemical health effects (via Charleston Daily Mail)

RENEWABLES 

Green bonds could cut India clean energy costs 25% (via Bloomberg)

UK approves five offshore wind projects with capacity to power three million homes (via Sustainable Business)

Biomass: The world’s biggest provider of renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Environmental groups ask US trade rep to drop complaint over India’s solar policy (via Huffington Post)

DOE Secretary: Federal loans possible for Cape Wind project (via Cape Cod Times)

Google and SunPower join forces to fund solar homes (via Forbes)

Unlocking solar energy’s value as an asset class (via Renewable Energy World)

Three new finance models for non-profits to go solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Report says ethanol generates $19.3 billion in economic activity, supports 73,000 jobs in Iowa (via The Gazette)

Illinois still in search of solution for “broken” renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

EMISSIONS 

Australia slashes emission penalties in new climate plan (via RTCC)

Ireland outlines low-carbon transition plans with new climate bill (via RTCC)

Two-thirds of mayors can quantify carbon emissions cuts (via Environmental Leader)

Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal enters third week (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Report says US not ready for Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

Oil price declines as US oil supplies rise (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to remain largest plug-in market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro lead spot from LA (via Green Car Congress)

Lufthansa says helping to test new aviation biofuel (via Reuters)

Tesla could build EVs in China as soon as 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House disputes report on Keystone XL (via National Journal)

Spirit camp embodies Sioux opposition to Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Greenland’s icecap losing stability (via Alaska Dispatch/Deutsche Welle)

African Development Bank launches new climate change fund (via RTCC)

Climate change threatens California’s air quality, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Storm surge could flood New York City one in every four years (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

In landmark ruling, jury says fracking company must pay $3 million to sickened family (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PSE&G frustrated by resistance to “Energy Strong” effort (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CalCharge: A model for California energy storage dominance (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU warned energy efficiency plans are slipping (via BusinessGreen)

Five million reasons for communities to lower their energy use (via Energy.gov)

Opower IPO signals growing market for energy management tools (via Navigant Research)

California schools get $381 million in first wave of energy efficiency upgrades (via Sustainable Business)

Advocates of Ohio’s green energy law say it saves $2 for every $1 spent (via Columbus Dispatch)

OPINION 

Obama’s last shot (via Rolling Stone)

The left’s secret club (via Politico)

Which US universities are the greenest? (via Climate Progress)

What a win-win on unburnable carbon looks like (via GreenBiz)

The green heroes of the Time 100 (via Time)

What’s climate change got to do with lung cancer? (via EcoAffect)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biomass, CalCharge, california, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal dust, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Flooding, fracking, google, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Illinois, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Lufthansa, natural gas, new jersey, New York City, News, offshore wind, Ohio, Opower, Poland, PSE&G, Renewable energy standard, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, SunPower, Tesla, uk, Vladimir Putin, West Virginia
0
24
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.24.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted (via The Guardian)

China to impose tougher penalties on polluters under new law (via Reuters)

Up to a third of wild US seafood likely “illegal” (via Environmental Leader)

New map could refocus California’s pollution battles (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Poland pushes coal on Europe as Putin wields gas weapon (via Bloomberg)

Federal government lowers level of coal dust allowed in mines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Investment in aging coal plants a losing proposition (via Energy Manager Today)

CDC: West Virginia symptoms “consistent” with coal ash chemical health effects (via Charleston Daily Mail)

RENEWABLES 

Green bonds could cut India clean energy costs 25% (via Bloomberg)

UK approves five offshore wind projects with capacity to power three million homes (via Sustainable Business)

Biomass: The world’s biggest provider of renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Environmental groups ask US trade rep to drop complaint over India’s solar policy (via Huffington Post)

DOE Secretary: Federal loans possible for Cape Wind project (via Cape Cod Times)

Google and SunPower join forces to fund solar homes (via Forbes)

Unlocking solar energy’s value as an asset class (via Renewable Energy World)

Three new finance models for non-profits to go solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Report says ethanol generates $19.3 billion in economic activity, supports 73,000 jobs in Iowa (via The Gazette)

Illinois still in search of solution for “broken” renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

EMISSIONS 

Australia slashes emission penalties in new climate plan (via RTCC)

Ireland outlines low-carbon transition plans with new climate bill (via RTCC)

Two-thirds of mayors can quantify carbon emissions cuts (via Environmental Leader)

Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal enters third week (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Report says US not ready for Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

Oil price declines as US oil supplies rise (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to remain largest plug-in market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro lead spot from LA (via Green Car Congress)

Lufthansa says helping to test new aviation biofuel (via Reuters)

Tesla could build EVs in China as soon as 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House disputes report on Keystone XL (via National Journal)

Spirit camp embodies Sioux opposition to Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Greenland’s icecap losing stability (via Alaska Dispatch/Deutsche Welle)

African Development Bank launches new climate change fund (via RTCC)

Climate change threatens California’s air quality, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Storm surge could flood New York City one in every four years (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

In landmark ruling, jury says fracking company must pay $3 million to sickened family (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PSE&G frustrated by resistance to “Energy Strong” effort (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CalCharge: A model for California energy storage dominance (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU warned energy efficiency plans are slipping (via BusinessGreen)

Five million reasons for communities to lower their energy use (via Energy.gov)

Opower IPO signals growing market for energy management tools (via Navigant Research)

California schools get $381 million in first wave of energy efficiency upgrades (via Sustainable Business)

Advocates of Ohio’s green energy law say it saves $2 for every $1 spent (via Columbus Dispatch)

OPINION 

Obama’s last shot (via Rolling Stone)

The left’s secret club (via Politico)

Which US universities are the greenest? (via Climate Progress)

What a win-win on unburnable carbon looks like (via GreenBiz)

The green heroes of the Time 100 (via Time)

What’s climate change got to do with lung cancer? (via EcoAffect)

Posted:   |   Categories: African Development Bank, australia, biomass, CalCharge, california, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal dust, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Flooding, fracking, google, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Illinois, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Lufthansa, natural gas, new jersey, New York City, News, offshore wind, Ohio, Opower, Poland, PSE&G, Renewable energy standard, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, SunPower, Tesla, uk, Vladimir Putin, West Virginia
0
16
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Right wing threatens EU climate change goals (via RTCC)

Study ties epic California drought, “frigid east” to manmade climate change (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

The green case against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Jimmy Carter comes out against Keystone XL pipeline (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment rises 9%, led by solar power (via Bloomberg)

European Investment Bank promises €2 billion clean energy funding boost (via BusinessGreen)

India signs power contracts for 700MW of new solar capacity (via Bloomberg)

IFC backs 50MW Pakistan wind project (via Recharge)

Solar trends for Q1 of 2014 and beyond: View from Mercom Capital (via Forbes)

Department of Defense undertakes largest solar project to date (via Climate Progress)

Oil group says EPA may flip-flop on ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Dual turning point for biofuels (via New York Times)

Tiny portable wind turbine fits in your bag, charges your gadgets (via TreeHugger)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 0.8% in 2013 (via Reuters)

Plants are key to removing 63 million tons of CO2 a year (via The Guardian)

US greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.4% in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Federal appeals court says EPA can force power plans to cut mercury emissions (via Washington Post)

US EPA studies whether to regulate methane from oil and gas (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Pitzer College selling fossil fuel stocks in environmental move (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Identifying the global coal industry’s water risks (via World Resources Institute)

The Pacific Rim coal bubble (via Sightline Daily)

Washington University students continue Peabody protest (via St. Louis Business Journal)

ENERGY POLICY 

American penitentiaries emphasize the need for sustainability (via TreeHugger)

BOEM announces plan to auction 21 million Gulf acres (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors urge Duke Energy to vote out directors (via News Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

China poised to beef up national Environmental Protection Law (via BusinessGreen)

Congo deforestation could cause region to warm 3C by 2050 (via RTCC)

Pollution is substantially worse in minority neighborhoods across the US (via Washington Post)

GAO audit finds lack of data on environmental reviews (via The Hill)

A brutal allergy season is ahead – blame the polar vortex (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Radioactive waste booms with shale oil as new rules mulled by US (via Bloomberg)

BP, Coast Guard end spill cleanup on Gulf shoreline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to stay global first in vehicle miles drive, says futurist (via Green Car Reports)

BMW lifts i3 electric car production 43% on higher demand (via Bloomberg)

Where do US electric cars save money the quickest? (via Green Car Reports)

DOE announces $10 million to upgrade technology for renewable drop-in fuels production (via Green Car Congress) 

GRID 

How a small California county went grid positive (via RMI Outlet)

Home energy management grows in some mind-bending ways (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EIA: Natural gas will slash diesel’s dominance as rail fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania DEP “monitoring” Ohio earthquake situation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Is Pennsylvania wasting its fracking wealth? (via National Journal)

New York City hotel commissions combined heat and power plant (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

A backup plan for climate change (via Washington Post)

Felipe Calderon: Economic arguments needed to fight climate change (via Forbes)

The eight factors driving global industrial efficiency (via Greentech Media)

It’s okay to support nuclear power and still enjoy a movie now and then (via Bloomberg)

Why it’s a big deal that half of the Great Lakes are still covered in ice (via The Atlantic)

Energy companies need to remake their boards before activists force them to (via Forbes)

Why the great Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal matters (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Allergies, australia, biofuels, BMW, BOEM, BP, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Congo, Defense Department, deforestation, diesel, Divestment, DOE, drought, duke energy, earthquakes, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Investment Bank, European Union, ev, Felipe Calderon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, Great Lakes, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, IFC, india, Jimmy Carter, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear power, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Peabody, pennsylvania, Pitzer College, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Shale oil, small wind, solar, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington University, wind
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15
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.15.14

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

CLIMATE 

March was 4th warmest on record globally (via Climate Central)

Scientists say Greenland ice melt “accelerating” (via RTCC)

Canadian economy will lose billions to climate change (via Toronto Star)

Canada’s climate warms to corn as grain belt shifts north (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Emboldened Canada pipeline opponents push for referendum (via Reuters)

Keystone foes taught arrest tactics if project is cleared (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China’s wind energy capacity tops 92GW with 16GW additions in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

China’s 14GW solar target “challenged” by policy uncertainty (via Renew Economy)

Solar’s dramatic price plunge could trigger energy price deflation (via Greentech Media)

Desperately seeking stability: Wind industry looks ahead after topsy-turvy 2013 (via Breaking Energy)

GAO: Delay in issuing annual RFS hurt refiners (via The Hill)

When renewables meet the oil and gas industry, opposites attract (via Renewable Energy World)

Wisconsin snaps up community solar in record time (via Renewable Energy World)

Do you wash your solar modules often enough? (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Study: Methane emissions 100-1,000x EPA estimates at Pennsylvania fracking sites (via Washington Post)

GRID 

German demand response: Almost ready for prime time (via Greentech Media)

Lights would stay on with more flexible, distributed microgrids (via Sustainable Business)

Smart thermostats join “Internet of Things” to turn up heat on utilities (via EnergyWire)

OIL 

California to see surge in oil brought in by rail (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Is 120 miles just about perfect for EV range? (via Autoblog Green)

GM working on Chevy Volt with shorter range, lower cost (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

Asian air pollution linked to freak North American weather (via CNN/KTVZ)

The world’s cities are gobbling up land faster than they’re gaining people (via Washington Post)

Water stress magnifies impacts of US droughts (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS 

Inside Democrats’ plan to oust Pennsylvania’s governor (via National Journal)

OPINION 

An enormous question for “solar choice” (via CleanTechnica)

Can nuclear power and renewable energy learn to get along? (via Energy Collective)

How tackling China’s coal cap makes it a leader in tackling climate change (via Renew Economy)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, california, canada, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, drought, Electric Vehicle, environment, ev, fracking, germany, global warming, GM, greenland, grid, Keystone XL, methane, Microgrid, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, Pipeline, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, RFS, solar, tar sands, Transportation, Value of solar tariff, wind, Wisconsin
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14
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Act fast to curb global warming or extract CO2 from air, says UN (via Reuters)

IPCC report: World must urgently switch to clean energy sources (via The Guardian)

World Bank president says fighting climate change and poverty are linked (via ClimateWire)

Shippers and seabirds clash over Arctic territory (via Alaska Dispatch)

GRID 

Weather-related blackouts doubled since 2003 (via Climate Central)

FERC says steps underway to protect grid (via AP)

DOE Inspector General: Power grid threats should have remained classified (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Northern Gateway pipeline rejected by British Columbia First Nation (via Huffington Post)

Canadians turn up the heat against Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Opponents carve massive anti-Keystone XL message into field that could hold future pipeline (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Are we halfway to market dominance for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A rising tension: Value of solar tariff versus net metering (via Greentech Media)

How much are solar Facebook fans worth? About $403 each (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

UN says world’s greenhouse gas emissions growing rapidly (via The Hill)

IPCC says major greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2050 (via Climate Central)

IMF, World Bank push for price on carbon (via Business Standard/AFP)

Greenland ice sheet samples show impact of US Clean Air Act on climate (via Austrian Tribune)

Desmond Tutu calls for anti-apartheid style boycott of fossil fuel industry (via The Guardian)

EPA held over 100 meetings, met with over 200 groups to design carbon rules (via Climate Progress)

Harvard faculty members urge university to divest from fossil fuels (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gas carousel making Spain Europe’s biggest LNG exporter (via Bloomberg)

How many jobs does fracking really create? (via National Journal)

Geologists say fracking likely cause of Ohio earthquakes (via Time) 

Early speculators let drilling leases lapse as North Carolina fracking prospects remain uncertain (via Winston-Salem Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Entire marine food chain at risk from rising CO2 levels in water (via The Guardian)

El Nino could raise meteorological hell this year (via Grist)

US drought retreats 15% in one year (via Climate Central)

OIL 

IMF says North American boom to keep oil prices low (via Christian Science Monitor)

Crude oil leak in China taints water for millions (via New York Times)

Rail transport of crude oil increases as pipelines fall short (via New York Times)

Big Oil comes up short in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Houston fills with crude oil that can’t be shipped out (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Sales of electric and alternative fuel vehicles will reach 12.4 million annually by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Washington State’s governor signs pro-Tesla bill (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

China cuts in coal use may mean world emissions peak before 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Clean coal might work in China, but we won’t see much of it here (via Washington Post)

Chicago 30-hour ties up for Buffet’s trains slows coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency bill gaining momentum in US Senate (via Bloomberg BNA)

Cities collaborate and compete to improve energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR 

Japan supports nuclear power in national energy plan (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Unions or greens – which Keystone XL player is doing more to keep the Senate blue? (via E&E Daily)

NRDC, LCV create environmental political alliance (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Is protecting the grid a matter of national security? (via National Journal)

Three most sobering graphics from UN’s new climate report (via Climate Progress)

400ppm: The milestone that puts Earth in the “danger zone” (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, Blackout, british columbia, canada, China, clean air act, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, Desmond Tutu, Divestment, DOE, drought, earthquakes, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, europe, ev, Extreme weather, facebook, FERC, First Nations, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenland, grid, Harvard, Houston, IMF, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LCV, LNG exports, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, nrdc, nuclear, Ocean acidification, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, Pipeline, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Spain, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, UN, UN IPCC, Value of solar tariff, Washington State, World Bank
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09
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

US used more energy in 2013 than 2012, but efficiency is up too (via National Geographic)

Grandfather utilities threatened by spreading renewables (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Wyden aims for energy parity in overhaul to “rotting” tax code (via E&E Daily)

CLIMATE 

414 cities report over 4,000 climate actions (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

El Nino odds seen at more than 70% as Pacific warms (via Bloomberg)

Data shows low snowpack years will happen more frequently in Pacific Northwest (via EarthFix)

Virginia governor to revive climate change panel (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy installations to rise 37% by 2015, says BNEF (via Bloomberg)

Enel Green sees Africa as “next big place” for renewables (via Bloomberg)

India’s solar power capacity tops 2.6GW (via CleanTechnica)

Solar, wind no longer face high capital costs, says Shah (via Bloomberg)

Solar jumps to 22% of new US generation capacity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Crowdfunding seen topping $5 billion for rooftop solar (via Bloomberg)

Fishermen’s Energy appeals BPU offshore wind project rejection (via Recharge)

Clean energy victory bond could generate $150 billion in financing, 1 million jobs (via Business Journals)

COAL 

Duke Energy, North Carolina appeal coal ash ruling (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost “accelerating global warming” (via International Business Times)

Many nations wary of extracting carbon from air to fix climate (via Reuters)

Shell, Unilever, 68 others seek 1 trillion-ton limit on CO2 output (via Bloomberg)

Chile plans to enact the first carbon tax in South America (via Climate Progress)

Utilities disagree on how EPA should regulate emissions (via Climate Central)

Carbon divestment activists claim victory as Harvard adopts green code (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium proposal advances in California State Senate (via Los Angeles Times)

Scientists, oil industry still probing fracking-earthquake link (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

Debunked: Hybrid vehicle myths and truths (via Breaking Energy)

GM investing $449 million for advanced EV and battery manufacturing (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Toronto’s “Race to Reduce” garners 9% energy efficiency cut (via Energy Manager Today)

Indonesia gets world’s first net-zero energy skyscraper (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

5 market trends that will drive microgrids into the mainstream (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

The geopolitical potential of the US energy boom (via Council on Foreign Relations)

How the US power grid is like a big pile of sand (via National Journal)

What made Vermont’s net metering expansion process so unique? (via Greentech Media)

If “value of solar” is optional, will Minnesota utilities adopt it? (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, battery, california, carbon tax, Chile, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Divestment, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Enel Green, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, Fisherman's Energy, fracking, Geoengineering, global warming, GM, Green bond, grid, Harvard, hybrid vehicle, india, Indonesia, Jigar Shah, Microgrid, minnesota, Net metering, Net zero, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Pacific Ocean, Permafrost, renewables, Ron Wyden, Shell, solar, South America, Terry McAuliffe, Toronto, Transportation, Unilever, Value of Solar, vermont, virginia, wind
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