Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Greenhouse gas rules will be enacted soon, says Obama aide (via The Hill)
California governor green lights carbon market link with Quebec (via BusinessGreen)
COAL
Which countries are planning the most coal-fired power plants? (via The Guardian)
Europe’s 2nd-biggest coal-fired power plant will turn to wood from North America (via ClimateWire)
Study: US coal industry is in far more trouble than anyone realizes (via Washington Post)
GRID
Vehicle-to-building technology rises with PEV sales (via Environmental Leader)
Making sense of the demand response market (via Energy Collective)
MISO wraps up its first annual capacity auction (via Renew Grid)
RENEWABLES
Over 1,000 firms demand end to EU-China solar PV trade war (via BusinessGreen)
Solar power has reached grid parity in India and Italy (via Treehugger)
China’s wind output grows 41% (via Recharge)
How cleantech is enhancing the US military’s “mission capability” (via Greentech Media)
Super algae could replace conventional biofuels (via RTCC)
New wind harvesting invention could bring cities to life (via Phys.org)
New York State renewable power plan would cost $382 billion by 2030 (via Bloomberg)
California wind power blows away production record (via Yahoo! Finance)
New York State expands NY-Sun Initiative with $13.5 million in new funding (via Solar Industry Mag)
Turbines near Lake Erie energize conservation, wind power debate (via Toledo Blade)
Wind farm suit against Xcel dismissed (via St. Paul Pioneer Press)
ENERGY POLICY
White House engaging lawmakers on energy tax code issues (via The Hill)
How much do health impacts from fossil fuel electricity cost the US economy? (via Forbes)
Indiana lawmakers advance plan to give utilities more power over rate increases (via Midwest Energy News)
KEYSTONE XL
Killing Keystone XL could risk more oil spills by rail (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Island countries facing watery demise confer on survival strategies (via ClimateWire)
Climate change will threaten wine production, study shows (via The Guardian)
Geoengineering could trigger disaster in parts of Africa (via Climate Central)
Poll: fears of global warming rising in US (via The Hill)
Summer temperatures expected to be far above average (via Greentech Media)
Rebuilding the shores, increasing the risks (via New York Times)
Getting serious about a Texas-sized drought (via Texas Tribune)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Captured carbon used for natural gas fracking (via Sustainable Business)
Judge rules administration overlooked fracking risks in California mineral leases (via Reuters)
GREEN BUSINESS
Manufacturing nearing energy efficiency ceiling (via Energy Manager Today)
Colby College achieves carbon neutrality (via Environmental Leader)
California office park secures three dozen LEED certifications (via EarthTechling)
NUCLEAR
Japan’s TEPCO may run out of space for radioactive water (via Reuters)
POLITICS
Obama’s DOE, EPA picks face Senate grilling this week (via Reuters)
DOE nominee Moniz seen as “dose of reality” (via Greenwire)
OPINION
How Margaret Thatcher made the conservative case for climate action (via Mother Jones)
For the price of the Iraq War, the US could have gotten halfway to a renewable power system (via Grist)
Climate fight should target coal, not Keystone (via Bloomberg)
Schwarzenegger: California’s silent disaster (via Los Angeles Times)
Fisker struggles mark blow to Obama’s electric car goal (via Bloomberg)