Category Archives:Extreme weather

22
May

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: arra, australia, Ban-Ki Moon, barack obama, BNSF Railway, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, ComEd, Cyberattack, Divestment, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, Goldman Sachs, green jobs, greenland, grid, Grid balancing, interior department, investment, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, noaa, offshore wind, Ogallala Aquifer, oklahoma, renewables, smart grid, smart meter, solar, Solar trade war, Southern Company, stimulus, Superstorm Sandy, Tesla, texas, vertical axis wind turbine, wal-mart, Water scarcity
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16
May

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: aerovironment, Arctic Council, battery, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, ConocoPhillips, Demand response, Divestment, DOE, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging system, Extreme weather, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, global warming, grid, Illinois, Jean Shaheen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, offshore wind, oil, PGE, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rob Portman, rooftop solar, SEC, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stephen Harper, Tesla, Transocean, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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16
May

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: aerovironment, Arctic Council, battery, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, ConocoPhillips, Demand response, Divestment, DOE, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging system, Extreme weather, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, global warming, grid, Illinois, Jean Shaheen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, offshore wind, oil, PGE, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rob Portman, rooftop solar, SEC, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stephen Harper, Tesla, Transocean, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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15
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.13

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

CLIMATE 

Sea levels may rise 27 inches through 2100 on ice melt (via Bloomberg)

UN says natural disasters cost $2.5 trillion since 2000 (via Phys.org)

Visiting Sweden, Kerry offers “regret” US hasn’t done more on climate (via The Hill)

Rockefeller Foundation launches $100 million resilient cities initiative (via BusinessGreen)

Sea levels rising so fast London faces significant flooding risk this century (via The Independent)

For insurers, no doubts on climate change (via New York Times)

GRID 

More than 1,300 demand response programs underway worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid efforts to thrive in Asia-Pacific (via Renew Grid)

RENEWABLES 

China gives environmental approval to country’s biggest hydro dam (via Reuters)

Greece announces drastic solar FIT cuts (via PV Magazine)

Fighting blackouts: Japan residential PV and energy storage market flourishing (via Renewable Energy World)

Morocco begins construction of world’s largest concentrating solar plant (via Sustainable Business)

China wants dialogue with EU in solar trade war (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Acting DOE chief: US not backing down on India solar trade war (via The Hill)

Clean tech incubators join forces across the Atlantic (via Sustainable Business)

Proposed bill would add natural gas-based ethanol to US biofuels mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Study: Arizona solar energy provides millions in ratepayer benefits (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL 

Oil majors under EU investigation over alleged oil and biofuel price fixing (via BusinessGreen)

Report: most nations lack safeguards in oil, mining oversight (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Will your next car join the “revolution” in information technology? (via ClimateWire)

Proposed law would stop Tesla electric car sales in North Carolina (via News & Observer)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate energy chairman seeks May floor action for efficiency bill (via The Hill)

California plans to force cuts in power use by computers, electronics, and appliances (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Industrialized fishing has forced seabirds to change what they eat (via Mongabay)

China granted observer seat on Arctic Council (via Reuters)

Amazon flood/drought cycle becoming more extreme, less predictable (via Mongabay)

POLITICS 

Merkel’s green challenger seeks CO2 price rise to ditch coal (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Clean energy learns to compete in Europe (via New York Times)

Christie’s broken climate promise (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, arizona, biofuel, Biofuel mandate, california, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, Concentrating solar power, csp, Demand response, DOE, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, EU, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Flooding, germany, Greece, grid, Hydropower, india, japan, john kerry, London, Morocco, News, North Carolina, oil, renewables, Resiliency, Rockefeller Foundation, Sea level rise, Severe weather, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Sweden, Tesla, Transportation, UN, united nations
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08
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

China and India’s energy resource rivalry extends to the Arctic (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government postpones oil, gas lease auctions in California (via Houston Chronicle)

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge breaks safety rules at 117 of 125 pipeline pump stations across Canada (via CBC)

EMISSIONS 

New emissions plan could energize global climate talks, says US envoy (via The Guardian)

Ministers urge long term fix for EU emissions system (via RTCC)

“Inconsistency” between British Columbia’s carbon tax and fossil fuel exports (via The Tyee)

US appeals court judges skeptical of states challenging EPA regulatory authority (via Greenwire)

RENEWABLES 

EU-China solar trade war entering endgame? (via Renewable Energy World)

Latin America sees $4.6 billion in 2012 clean energy investment (via EarthTechling)

UK proposes $170 billion in low-carbon energy investment (via Bloomberg)

UK renewable energy generation increases 20% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s dominance in PV solar market over, says industry lobby (via Recharge)

Army to spur geothermal with $7 billion contract (via Federal Times)

Experts back continued dominance of US wind supply chain (via Recharge)

NCAR powers up renewable energy forecasts (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

G8 set to discuss climate change at summit (via RTCC)

US defends plan for countries to set their own climate goals (via RTCC)

Study says media ignore climate context of Midwest floods (via Climate Progress)

NJ town, flood-soaked and weary, tries to back away from the water (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Ohio may open national forest to coal mining (via Columbus Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama on natural gas exports – “I’ve got to make a decision” (via EnergyWire)

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

US DOE to award up to $20 million for methane hydrate research (via Green Car Congress)

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

California urges record $2.5 billion fine for 2010 natural gas blast (via Christian Science Monitor)

Local governments in Pennsylvania fail to disclose millions in shale gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

As North Carolina weighs fracking, questions loom on wastewater (via Stateline)

New 250-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for Ohio (via Akron Beacon Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency lags in the US South (via Navigant Research)

How Nest and Opower quietly morphed into competitors (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Shell pushes innovation to stay in deepwater drilling game (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

US urban trees store 708 million tons of carbon, provide $50 billion economic value (via Phys.org)

Texas groundwater levels suffer sharp drop, study finds (via Texas Tribune)

GRID 

Energy harvesting the next big thing for the smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Berkeley lab tests utility-customer smart grid communication (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Australian fast charger slashes EV charging time (via Renew Economy)

US lowers forecast for summer 2013 gasoline prices (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

California faces another summer without San Onofre nuclear plant (via Los Angeles Times)

As price of nuclear energy drops, a Wisconsin plant is shut (via New York Times)

OPINION 

This isn’t the weather we grew up with (via The Guardian)

A carbon trading system worth saving (via New York Times)

Solyndra was this much of an outlier in DOE’s loan portfolio (via Atlantic)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, Energy harvesting, environment, EPA, ETS, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fast charging, Floods, fracking, Fracking wastewater, G8, geothermal, grid, india, investment, Latin America, Methane hydrates, natural gas, Natural gas exports, NCAR, Nest, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Opower, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PV solar, renewables, San Onofre, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, solyndra, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, Water scarcity, wind, Wisconsin
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06
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.6.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canadian minister takes fight for oil sands crude to Europe (via Retuers)

Oil sands growth will depend on Keystone: Canadian Natural Resources (via The Globe and Mail)

House to vote on Keystone XL bill in May (via The Hill)

Undercover at the tar sands (via Rolling Stone/Denver Post)

CLIMATE 

Nations seek flexible climate approach, but no breakthrough in Bonn (via Reuters)

Report: US pushing plan for individual climate goals at UN talks (via The Hill)

Poland and France cooperating on 2015 climate deal (via RTCC)

Study says climate change may bring drought to temperate areas (via Los Angeles Times)

The last time CO2 was this high, humans didn’t exist (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Germany’s offshore wind farm fed 278GWH into grid in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Japan to set “separate offshore FIT” for wind (via Recharge)

Plans to harness Chinese river’s power threaten a region (via New York Times)

Are Master Limited Partnerships a Trojan Horse for killing the PTC? (via Greentech Media)

MIT researchers working on energy storage for offshore wind (via Sustainable Business)

New eagle kill regulations for wind farms may have mixed consequences (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy portfolio back on chopping block in North Carolina (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION 

China not embracing electric cars (via USA Today)

New Jersey considering electric vehicle tax (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Ocean “acidifying rapidly” (via BBC News)

Scientists use salt marshes to analyze global sea-level rise (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Administration sets $600 million in Gulf oil spill restoration projects (via The Hill)

Offshore rig operators seek clarity on regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

The case of the disappearing oil: how much was released in 2010 Michigan spill? (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS

European carbon market in trouble (via Washington Post)

Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead (via The Hill)

Environmental groups sue EPA over refinery emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

Cap-and-trade puttering along quite nicely in Northeast US (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS 

Obama says US natural gas exports could help Central America (via Reuters)

Think methane hydrates are the next big thing? Think again (via Grist)

Does shale gas production alter climate change equation? (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Bipartisan support for bill to encourage energy efficiency (via Energy Trends Insider)

How US schools united to save 2.5 million pounds of CO2 (via GreenBiz)

Next big thing for LEED planning? Sustainable neighborhoods (via Midwest Energy News)

Rhode Island gets the Opower treatment (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

OMB study finds economic benefits of EPA regulations far outweigh costs (via Climate Progress)

Drilling is new focus for clean energy investors (via Associated Press)

Is there a “dark side” to US energy independence? (via EnergyWire)

TVA prepares for Obama administration review (via Knoxville News Sentinel)

California’s Public Utilities Commission faces legislative heat (via Sacramento Bee)

GRID 

Report: global warming threatens Southwest’s power grid (via Arizona Daily Star)

Florida electric utility completes smart grid installations (via Phys.org)

COAL 

Patriot Coal, employees face grim future without agreement (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

OPINION 

What do technology innovations mean for Washington? (via National Journal)

Awesome energy innovations, courtesy of Uncle Sam (via Market Watch)

Why haven’t the big green groups divested from fossil fuels? (via Grist)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, ALEC, Arctic Ocean, ARPA-E, barack obama, BP, california, California Public Utilities Commission, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, CPUC, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, EU carbon market, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, France, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, investment, Investors, japan, Keystone XL, LEED, Master limited partnership, Methane hydrates, michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OMB, Opower, Patriot Coal, Poland, production tax credit, ptc, regional greenhouse gas initiative, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, rhode island, Sea level rise, Severe weather, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meter, tar sands, Tennessee Valley Authority, Transportation, TVA, UN climate talks, wind
0
03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon allowances, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate displacement, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO, World Meteorological Organization
0
03
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.3.13

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

EMISSIONS

Atmospheric carbon to hit five-million-year record (via Phys.org)

63% of firms don’t report GHG emissions, says report (via Environmental Leader)

EU companies submit 500 million UN carbon permits in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

EU leads new push to ban HFC greenhouse gases (via RTCC)

EU factories double use of UN carbon credits in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India targets minimum of 15-18GW new wind additions by 2017 (via Panchabuta)

EU to propose duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Spain tops 50% renewables for second month in a row (via Renew Economy)

Is Japan the next big solar PV market? (via Renewable Energy World)

Russia set to build its largest wind farm (via Windpower Monthly)

TVA approves more than 250 renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

Hawaiian electric companies hit 13.9% renewable energy record (via Renew Grid)

Farmer and family-owned wind rises in Iowa (via CleanTechnica)

Smart turbines with batteries will feed Texas grid (via EarthTechling)

Increased renewable energy mandate wins another vote in Colorado (via Renew Grid)

Shared renewables bills moving forward in California (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

UN agency: Arctic ice loss “disturbing” sign of climate change (via The Hill)

Atlantic coastal waters are hottest since measurements began (via Grist)

Australia joins climate displacement group (via World News Australia)

White House warned on imminent Arctic ice death spiral (via The Guardian)

Drought and heat may fuel early wildfire season in West (via Climate Central)

Southern California wildfire season off to sinister start (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Nearly half of US fracking sites overlap with water-stressed regions (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas vehicles haven’t caught on yet – could that ever change? (via Washington Post)

New York state court upholds town zoning laws to ban fracking (via Reuters)

GRID 

Will utilities embrace distributed energy? (via MIT Technology Review)

Distributed energy storage benefits on both sides of the meter (via Renewable Energy World)

A123 reborn as technology incubator A123 Venture Technologies (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Alpha Coal: Appalachian coal’s decline is “structural” (via Charleston Gazette)

Wisconsin wins coal battle, loses energy war (via CleanTechnica)

Midwestern coal gasification plant and proposed CO2 pipeline appear near termination (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The $40 billion hiding in US buildings (via Renewable Energy World)

Demand response revenue for commercial buildings will surpass $712 million annually by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

Greening hospitals would cut health care costs (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Russia’s April oil output near post-Soviet record (via Bloomberg)

Gulf spill cases against former BP employees advance (via Houston Chronicle)

Time for California to tax oil extraction? (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Senate committee vote set for EPA nominee (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What would “wartime mobilization” to fight climate change look like? (via Grist)

All renewables, all the time (via Navigant Research)

Fatality rate for oil & gas workers 7 times national average rate (via Facts of the Day)

Climate change and the carbon bubble reality check (via The Energy Collective)

The giants of the green world that profit from the planet’s destruction (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, A123, Alpha Coal, arctic, australia, Batteries, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Emissions reporting, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, oil spill, PV solar, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Shared renewables, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TVA, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, WMO
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02
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.13

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

EMISSIONS

UN envoys consider 2050 carbon target in climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Was efficiency responsible for 75% of CO2 reductions in 2012? (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green building materials will reach $254 billion in annual market value by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

General Motors urges Obama and Congress to unite on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US predicted to be a top liquefied natural gas exporter by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Moody’s: modest amount of US natural gas exports will get approval (via The Hill)

Shell makes big bet on boom in natural gas (via New York Times)

Fracking spread could strain water resources in West, study finds (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

EU solar groups lobby against duties on Chinese solar products (via Recharge)

China wants to use curtailed wind power to replace coal-fired heating (via CleanTechnica)

Indonesia plans rural solar electrification push (via Recharge)

Is there hope for hydropower as the climate changes? (via EarthTechling)

US-designed no-emission ocean thermal energy power plant will debut off China’s coast (via ClimateWire)

Renewable energy groups spar over biofuel imports (via Politico)

Legislators fail to reform Hawaii solar tax credit (via Honolulu Star Advertiser)

Massachusetts crushes solar goals, aims much higher (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles urged to expand solar power to 20% of all energy by 2020 (via Los Angeles Daily News)

OIL 

Who’s in charge here? At US oil spills, it’s whoever made the mess (via OnEarth)

Fracking boom in North Dakota is here to stay (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION 

Survey shows strong US support for fuel efficiency standards (via New York Times)

Nissan Leaf has second-best sales month, Chevy Volt declines slightly (via Autoblog Green)

EV maker Coda files for bankruptcy, focuses on energy storage (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE 

Poll: majority see climate change affecting US weather (via The Hill)

Climate change: when rain, rain won’t go away (via USA Today)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Enbridge pipeline expansion could turn into Keystone-like fight (via Bloomberg)

Alaska watches as Canada considers shipping tar sands across Arctic (via Alaska Dispatch)

Elected officials in rural Nebraska pass anti-Keystone pipeline resolution (via Omaha World-Herald)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US banks reluctant to finance energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Internet of Things extends under your sink with new water and electricity sensors (via Treehugger)

GRID 

Who are the top utilities in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

NYSERDA awards $1.4 million to advanced energy storage projects (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Cash for doomed crops means US farmers avoid disaster cost (via Bloomberg)

42% of Americans live with dangerous pollution; check your zip code (via The Good Human)

ENERGY POLICY 

Report: EU facing €1 trillion energy investment black hole (via RTCC)

For Obama and Pena Nieto, a delicate “first dance” around energy (via Reuters)

Texas power supplies for summer peak season seen as tight but improving (via Fort-Worth Star Telegram)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, Arctic Ocean, barack obama, biofuel, canada, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, COda, Crop insurance, Curtailment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, environment, ERCOT, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, Fuel efficiency standards, General Motors, green building, green business, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, los angeles, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, NYSERDA, Ocean thermal energy, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Severe weather, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tax credit, texas, Transportation, UN, united nations, Water scarcity, wind
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29
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.29.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China makes strides to curb carbon emissions (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS 

San Francisco and Seattle lead US cities pulling funds from fossil fuel firms (via The Guardian)

Volkswagen sustainability report shows emissions, production progress (via Autoblog Green)

Can fossil fuel divestment prevent the carbon bubble from bursting? (via CleanTechnica)

How the NFL became a champion of sustainability (via The Guardian)

How sustainability metrics help build trust in the financial sector (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Land-locked Alberta mulls tar sands pipeline to Arctic port (via Reuters)

TransCanada sees Keystone XL delayed until second half 2015 (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

100% renewables for Australia not so costly after all (via Renew Economy)

Solar PV module revenues to turn upward, but not until 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

European Commission launches Chinese solar glass subsidy inquiry (via Reuters)

Amonix claims 36.2% solar energy efficiency record (via Recharge)

DOE, Stanford unveil solar, wind battery (via Energy Manager Today)

Floating wind turbines with undersea energy storage (via EarthTechnling)

Geothermal saves $117 million per year for California and Nevada (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina notches a win against ALEC anti-renewables effort (via CleanTechnica)

Los Angeles launches largest municipal solar program in US (via Triple Pundit)

Community colleges help prepare students for a green job market (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

Massachusetts ski resort runs completely on solar and wind (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

In Montana, ranchers line up against coal (via Los Angeles Times)

Bankrupt Patriot Coal asks court to slash union pensions (via Reuters)

FutureGen 2.0 gets clean environmental impact statement (via Jacksonville Journal Courier)

CLIMATE 

UN climate talks kick off in Bonn (via The Guardian)

China leading in climate change fight, argues Australian government report (via BusinessGreen)

Ocean surface temperatures off Northeast US coast highest in 150 years (via Bangor Daily News)

Major pan-European study conducted on ocean acidification (via Phys.org)

Wild weather swings may be a sign of climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA lowers estimates of methane leaks during natural gas production (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ready (or not?) for a great coming Texas shale boom (via New York Times)

Ohio tries to avoid repeat of 2011 injection well quakes (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Rapid transition of climate zones could speed extinction (via RTCC)

US to remove gray wolves from endangered list (via The Hill)

Empty nets in Louisiana three years after the BP oil spill (via CNN)

EPA deals blow to Alaska mine project (via The Hill)

New Mexico grapples with tough choices as drought persists (via Yahoo! News/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Bike-sharing programs now in 49 countries, 500 cities (via Sustainable Business)

Tesla to offer loaners to customers with cars in the shop (via GigaOm)

Chicago car charging station feud goes to court (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

One month after Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill, still no answers to basic questions (via InsideClimate News)

Oil rig worker ranks among worst jobs of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Study: buyers of energy-efficient homes less likely to default (via Today Show)

NREL teams with US Navy to cut energy use (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY 

Europe bids to marry natural gas and renewable energy (via Recharge)

Colorado senate votes to strengthen state’s clean energy standard (via ClimateProgress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese nuclear reactors may come back online soon (via United Press International)

Thinking small, nuclear power enters distributed era (via Navigant Research)

FBI investigating weekend shootout at Watts Bar nuclear power plant (via Knoxville News)

POLITICS 

Germany’s Greens lurch left in bid to beat Merkel (via Reuters)

Charlotte Mayor Foxx to be named US Transportation Secretary (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How can Congress boost renewable-energy requirements? (via National Journal)

Everybody chill out a little, carbon trading will be fine (via Grist)

Would a carbon tax boost clean energy? (via Christian Science Monitor)

People who believe in free markets more likely to reject climate science (via Sustainable Business)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Alberta, ALEC, Amonix, Angela Merkel, Arkansas, australia, battery, Bike sharing, california, Carbon bubble, carbon tax, Charlotte, chicago, China, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Divestment, DOE, DOT, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev charging, Extinction, Extreme weather, Exxon, fracking, Fracking wastewater, FutureGen, geothermal, germany, global warming, green business, green jobs, Gulf of Mexico, japan, Keystone XL, los angeles, Louisiana, massachusetts, Methane emissions, Montana, natural gas, Nevada, New Mexico, News, NFL, North Carolina, NREL, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Patriot Coal, Pipeline, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, san francisco, seattle, Severe weather, Shale gas, SMR, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Stanford, tar sands, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, UN, US Navy, Volkswagen, Watts Bar, wind
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