Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.1.14

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

CLIMATE

What’s at stake in Lima climate talks (via Climate Central)

U.S.-China pact raises stakes for India in climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Spain lifts Green Climate Fund pledges to $9.7 billion (via Bloomberg)

Australia had hottest Spring and second-hottest November on record (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES

China solar project delays mean Japan could be largest market (via Bloomberg)

India plans 22GW of PV plants in 12 states (via Recharge)

France launches 400MW tender for PV projects over 250kW (via PV Tech)

Brazil contracts 926MW wind in auction (via Recharge News)

India’s solar power potential estimated at 750GW (via CleanTechnica)

Norway wealth fund targets $3 billion in green technology stakes (via Bloomberg)

World’s largest solar farm up and running in California (via Phys.org)

U.S planning largest wind-energy auction off Massachusetts (via Bloomberg)

ISO study finds Minnesota can accommodate up to 40% renewables penetration (via Renew Grid)

Wind farms a welcome boon for struggling rural U.S. communities (via Midwest Energy News)

Community solar prices at all-time low (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY POLICY

China nears peak coal as carbon and clean growth policies bite (via Reuters)

E.ON unveils “bold” plan to focus on renewables, ditch fossil fuels (via Business Green)

Mitigating natural gas use in the electricity sector (via Center for American Progress)

Energy and the new Congress: Beyond Keystone (via Energy Collective)

Pipeline crunch could keep Northeast’s heating bills high (via Climate Central)

OIL

Inside OPEC room, Naimi declares price war on U.S. shale oil (via Reuters)

Crude oil drops over $4 a barrel on OPEC not cutting output (via Reuters)

Oil companies produce more for less as crude prices fall (via Houston Chronicle)

OPEC inaction spurs survival of fittest as oil below $65 (via Bloomberg)

Exxon, Rosneft scrap Arctic deals as Russia sanctions bite (via Bloomberg)

Study: Offshore drilling has prompted surge in maritime conflicts around the world (via Washington Post)

A simple guide to the sudden collapse in oil prices (via Washington Post)

Almost all BP spill claims are correct, audit finds (via The Hill)

How oil companies fight California clean energy: Playbook leaked accidentally (via Green Car Reports)

TRANSPORTATION

Honda working on “power exporter” to go with fuel-cell vehicle (via Autoblog Green)

Aerodynamic upgrades to large trucks would cut fuel use by billions of gallons (via Yale e360)

Tesla is on the right track to double (via Forbes)

Return of $2 gas seen for some in U.S. as OPEC stands pat (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

China plans national carbon market by 2016 amid emission pledge (via Bloomberg)

New carbon market most important in climate deal, UK says (via Bloomberg)

EPA pushes to cut smog in new rule (via The Hill)

EPA hits homestretch on climate rule (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel-free fund “outperforms” Standard S&P 500 (via CleanTechnica)

GRID

Smart meter revenue expected to reach $6.6 billion annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid interest continues to spread among U.S. rural utilities (via Renew Grid)

Managing a constrained grid: A look at SCE’s procurement of “preferred resources” (via Greentech Media)

Illinois regulators approve 3.5GW wind energy transmission line (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LEDs to get bigger share of market even as revenue drops (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy efficiency may be key to saving trillions (via New York Times)

Florida goes backwards on energy efficiency targets (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Our planet may be on the verge of its sixth mass extinction (via Washington Post)

Animal extinctions from climate rival end of dinosaurs (via Bloomberg)

China takes “zero tolerance” approach to regional polluters (via Reuters)

Staples: Tech recycling stats are still in the dumps (via Triple Pundit)

OPINION

Will Lima climate talks pave way for a binding treaty in Paris 2015? (via The Guardian)

Can China get 40% of its electricity from renewables by 2040? (via Greentech Media)

Five threats to the EPA’s climate rule (via The Hill)

How to support clean energy, without going solar (via Treehugger)

Spending, immigration, and tax fights will dominate final days of Congress (via National Journal)

Levelized cost of electricity: Renewable’s ticking time bomb? (via Forbes)

There’s an opportunity for tech in EPA’s proposed smog rule (via GigaOm)

Three factors that could kill renewable energy tax extenders in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Why aren’t rural electric cooperatives champions of local clean power? (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

New study details alarming acceleration in sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Smart cities are driving change across the energy sector (via Navigant Research)

Evidence connects quakes to oil, natural gas boom (via Climate Central)

Lockheed claims breakthrough on fusion energy project (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

German clean-energy costs drop for first time (via Bloomberg)

U.S. residential solar demand could approach 1GW annually (via Renewable Energy World)

Refiners press Obama to lower renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

Retailers, seeking out bargains, continue to lead on solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Georgia the latest state to produce dirt-cheap power (via Greentech Media)

Hawaiian utility targets 92% renewable energy by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Wisconsin: America’s latest solar energy battleground (via The Energy Collective)

SolarCity offers bonds, wants everybody to invest in solar (via Forbes)

OIL 

Plummeting oil prices sting Russia, other “Petro States” (via U.S. News & World Report)

Report: Oil exports could drive manufacturing renaissance (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump could lead to production cuts, shakeouts at shale companies (via EnergyWire)

North Dakota oil formations produce 1 billion cumulative barrels (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen: Plug-in hybrids a “bridge” to pure electric cars in future (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline prices fall to lowest average since 2011 (via The Hill)

Automakers, utilities studying how to manage electric vehicles (via Houston Chronicle)

California high court clears way for more bullet train work (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla face possible sales prohibition in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

Battery storage breakthrough allows recharge in two minutes (via Renew Economy)

NATURAL GAS 

Long after fracking stops, the noise lives on (via NPR)

EMISSIONS 

Exxon, Shell carbon emissions rise even as output drops (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

In South Korea, an energy storage bonanza (via Navigant Research)

Giant energy storage project aims at renewable energy’s holy grail (via Renewable Energy World)

The opportunity of time-of-use pricing (via RMI Outlet)

OPINION 

Why natural gas won’t help save the planet (via National Journal)

Coal industry still in denial over prices, regulation (via Reuters)

Are Wal-Mart’s owners really a threat to distributed energy? (via Greentech Media)

Can a low-carbon fuels standard work in Washington? (via Washington State Wire)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA: Earth just experienced the warmest six-month stretch ever recorded (via Slate)

Wild weather forces climate adaptation on Europe’s political agenda (via The Guardian)

Climate change threatens national security, says Pentagon (via Washington Post)

Only 7% of energy companies prepared for climate risks, says study (via RTCC)

COAL 

Europe spends €10 billion a year on coal subsidies (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

U.S. duties prompt Chinese PV shipment surge (via PV Tech)

Wind power is cheapest energy source, finds EU analysis (via The Guardian)

UK and Norway will install subsea transmission to trade green power (via BusinessGreen)

Higher efficiency technologies to dominate PV industry by 2018 (via PV Tech)

Survey: Utilities could do a much better job at streamlining solar interconnection (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Saudis tell oil investors low prices might stay (via The Hill)

Nearly 3% of oil output vulnerable if prices fall to $80, says IEA (via Reuters)

Arctic offshore drilling a winner in tight Senate contests (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla talking to Slovakia about European EV plant (via Autoblog Green)

California reaffirms EV leadership (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Germany’s largest utility wants deep EU emissions cuts, early carbon trade reform (via Reuters)

EPA readies major ozone rule change (via The Hill)

Exxon blasts movement to divest from fossil fuels (via National Journal)

2014 Nobel Prize economist argues for binding emissions targets (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Israel sees natural gas as key to transforming Mideast relations (via Bloomberg)

UK to allow fracking companies to use “any substance” under homes (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Proctor & Gamble to cut water use an additional 20% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Koch Super PAC donors uncloaked (via Politico)

Paul Ryan doubts human role in climate change (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What’s the impact of falling oil prices? (via National Journal)

Three reasons solar will outshine fossil fuels in Mexico (via CleanTechnica)

The multibillion-dollar question: How to spend carbon revenue? (via The Energy Collective)

The great climate model (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Obama and Modi announce agreement on U.S.-India global warming efforts (via Washington Post)

Antarctic sea ice hits new max; continent still warming (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

MIT: Global energy use, CO2 may double by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Ex-Im Bank to finance $1 billion Mexican oil and gas deal (via The Hill)

Finland’s “fickle” nuclear energy policy? (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

2014 clean energy spending at $175 billion so far on Chinese rise (via Bloomberg)

Global clean energy investment rallies, but UK market plummets (via BusinessGreen)

Latin America on pace to install 2.3GW of solar PV in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

World Bank approves $500 million for Morocco solar (via Bloomberg)

Trina drops as Japan outlook sinks Chinese solar makers (via Bloomberg)

Property tycoon reveals $20 billion solar-led portfolio (via Bloomberg)

Vivint Solar makes public market debut, shares up modestly (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Hilton Worldwide achieves ISO 50001 energy management certification (via Energy Manager Today)

Japan focuses on zero-energy buildings (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas slips on outlook for above-normal supply gain (via Bloomberg)

Baker Huges will officially disclose fracking chemicals (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon fracking report responds to shareholders (via ABC News/AP)

Ohio fracking waste issues go beyond chemical disclosure (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

DOE approves transmission line to deliver Quebec hydropower to New York (via Renewable Energy World)

New Jersey Transit becomes a leader in microgrids (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

U.S. crude oil exports headed to South Korea (via Energy Collective)

As U.S. debates oil train safety, local rules gather steam (via Christian Science Monitor)

Maze of federal oversight impedes North Dakota’s anti-flaring push (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil boom widens wage gap between the sexes (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla now has 200 Superchargers open around the world (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf makes 19 months in a row for record sales; Chevy Volt drops 21% (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s Musk outlines unveiling of “Model D and something else” (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Australian coal miners cutting costs not output as rebound seen (via Bloomberg)

Court upholds EPA veto in mountaintop removal mining case (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: Bark beetles not a wildfire bugaboo in Western U.S. (via USA Today)

POLITICS 

Republicans craft 2015 plan to force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via Reuters)

Energy trade group, environmental bosses rake in green (via Greenwire)

Report: McConnell opposed coal plant as county leader (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Global clean energy investment sustains its recovery (via Bloomberg)

Counting trees to save the woods: Using big data to map deforestation (via The Guardian)

Could the 2C climate target be completely wrong? (via The Guardian)

Expanding on the California Climate Credit (via Huffington Post)

Voters don’t really care about climate change, so why do Democrats keep talking about it? (via Washington Post)

The Wall Street Journal’s fresh face of climate inaction (via Slate)

The cult of Neil Degrasse Tyson (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

U.S.-China rifts on hacking, spying put aside for climate collaboration (via Bloomberg)

U.S. will not commit to climate aid for poor nations at UN summit (via The Guardian)

Three decades until carbon budget is eaten through (via Climate Central)

“Largest-ever” climate change march rolls through NYC (via USA Today)

Denying climate change “will cost us billions of dollars,” warns U.S. budget director (via Climate Progress)

Climate protesters pledge risking arrest during Wall Street sit-in (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

European nations increasing electricity generation from no-carbon sources (via U.S. EIA)

China named most attractive renewables market; U.S. falls to #2 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

India to raise solar power goal to 15GW by 2019 (via BusinessGreen)

Middle East and Africa pipeline swells to 12GW (via PV Tech)

Brazil state solar auction to impose domestic content restriction (via PV Tech)

Citigroup sees 2.2GW Australian solar market by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

Coal India said to plan $1.2 billion in solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Barclays pledges £1 billion Green Bond investment (via BusinessGreen)

Abengoa offers first green bond to raise $642 million (via Bloomberg)

New cost analysis shows unsubsidized renewables increasingly rival fossil fuels (via Greentech Media)

Solar capacity increases sharply at U.S. schools (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Big factories go to work on biofuels (via New York Times)

Five states leading the distributed energy revolution (via Greentech Media)

Every SolarCity customer will get battery backup within 5-10 years (via CleanTechnica)

CalSTRS to triple clean energy investments to $3.7 billion (via Reuters)

Charting solar’s spotty rise in the Sunshine State (via EnergyWire)

New York City to build 100MW of solar PV (via Recharge)

LA launches streamlined solar permitting system (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

The move to peak coal in China by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

China’s appetite for coal has likely peaked (via Bangkok Post)

The biggest loser: Bleak outlook for thermal coal (via Renew Economy)

EMISSIONS 

China, US, India push world carbon emissions up (via AP)

China surpasses EU in per-capita pollution for first time (via Bloomberg)

Carbon output seen shrinking faster as EU mulls supply fix (via Bloomberg)

Half the globe backs World Bank carbon price movement (via RTCC) 

Philanthropies including Rockefellers, and investors pledge $50 billion fossil fuel divestment (via Reuters)

NJ Gov. Christie on regional cap-and-trade: It’s “a completely useless plan” (via Climate Progress)

DeBlasio promises to reduce NYC emissions by 80% (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Exxon, Rosneft said to halt Arctic well on Russian sanctions (via Chicago Tribune)

TransCanada: Keystone cost may rise 85% before U.S. decision (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla needs $6 billion through 2025, says Goldman Sachs (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla wins in Massachusetts, tries for more in New Jersey (via Autoblog Green)

Gov. Jerry Brown seeks more electric cars in California (via New York Times)

Business group’s gas tax increase opposition gets no traction (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Surging natural gas supply masks risk of winter price shock (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $529 billion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

Is PJM costing consumers $1.3 billion by ignoring energy efficiency? (via CleanTechnica)

Green roofs sprouting up globally (via Navigant Research)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s new trade minister says energy policy difficult without nuclear (via Reuters)

Congress props up Ex-Im Bank but leaves nuclear energy to dangle (via Forbes)

GRID 

Distributed generation leads microgrid investment opportunity (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought to continue across western U.S. (via Wall Street Journal)

EPA will wait until February to decide on Alaska mine (via The Hill)

Best Buy recycles 1 billion pounds of electronics, appliances (via Environmental Leader)

Does tarantula boom signal end of California drought? (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

Environmentalists fear loss of Senate firewall (via The Hill)

Why one senator wants to halt U.S. coal leases (via Christian Science Monitor)

Sanders demands carbon score from CBO for all bills (via The Hill)

Environmentalists question Hillary’s climate chops (via The Hill)

House bill would extend wind, other renewable energy tax breaks (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Will Germany join international community to restrict overseas coal finance? (via The Energy Collective)

The coming era of unlimited, free clean energy (via Washington Post)

Good news! There’s bad news for coal (via Grist)

Philanthropies are divesting from fossil fuels – but does it matter? (via National Journal)

Lord Stern: Global warming may create billions of climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.15.14

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

COAL 

Is China finally kicking its coal addiction? (via Huffington Post)

Coal-fired generation in U.S. to fall 25% by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

Obama’s mountaintop coal mining legacy still to be determined (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

The clean energy economy: 2.7 million green jobs, 40% fewer emissions (via CleanTechnica)

Sun and wind alter global landscape, leaving utilities behind (via New York Times)

Brazil plans 3.5GW new solar by 2023 (via PV Tech)

Central America solar capacity set to explode (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment at risk from Scottish referendum vote (via Bloomberg)

EPA faces 2014 election accusations on ethanol policy (via The Hill)

Study showcases effective state renewable energy policies to help meet pending EPA rules (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Groups do last-minute jockeying on RFS rule as election day nears (via E&E Daily)

North America’s largest biomass-fueled power plant opens (via Environmental Leader)

As Oklahoma wind industry matures, some call for greater regulation (via The Oklahoman)

Push to impose extra fees on solar customers draws outrage in Wisconsin (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

UN climate summit set for major carbon pricing announcement (via RTCC)

Big corporations brace for global carbon price rollout (via Reuters)

Major corporations leading charge for robust carbon price, says CDP (via BusinessGreen)

EU polluters to land €5 billion windfall under “carbon leakage” proposal (via The Guardian)

South Korea increases emissions cap in proposed carbon trading scheme (via Reuters)

Economists dig into problem of taxing carbon emissions or trading them (via ClimateWire)

California oil marketers want cap-and-trade investigated (via Bloomberg)

Economists call for Midwest carbon tax, emissions market (via MPR News)

OIL 

New U.S. sanctions on Russia to stall Exxon’s Arctic oil plans (via New York Times)

Momentum builds to allow U.S. oil exports (via The Hill)

New petroleum technology revitalizes Powder River Basin oil production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Fuel cells will flop outside Japan, says Volkswagen (via Autoblog)

CLIMATE 

World’s six multilateral development banks promise to do more on climate (via The Hill)

Leading philanthropic foundations can create climate “tipping point” (via RTCC)

Criminal deforestation poses growing climate threat (via RTCC)

No rain for decades: Scientists warn to stand by for “megadroughts” (via The Independent)

Climate activists organize New York march ahead of UN summit (via ABC News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK Green Deal energy efficiency program called “disappointing failure” (via The Telegraph)

California delays energy disclosure program for smaller nonresidential buildings (via Breaking Energy)

GRID 

Solar storms add to growing list of issues for grid reliability monitor (via EnergyWire)

Michigan’s agriculture industry confronts aging grid infrastructure (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

What will survive in hot, acidic oceans? (via Climate Central)

Where the wildfires are: If there’s smoke, there are costly health problems (via The Guardian)

Yosemite wildfire crews also battling bears on fire lines (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Memo lays out value in anti-Koch attacks (via Politico)

OPINION 

Should the U.S. export oil to push down prices and hurt Putin? (via Quartz)

The climate change trap (via National Journal)

A new perspective on the net metering debate (via Renewable Energy World)

Central America’s heart set on solar with new government tenders (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Another record year for CO2 (via Energy Collective)

YieldCos don’t fit the bill for many renewable energy companies (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.12.14

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

EMISSIONS

UN climate summit set for major carbon pricing announcement (via RTCC)

Carbon market volatility to jump on EU overhaul talks (via Bloomberg)

China plans $65 billion carbon market at around $18/tonne (via Renew Economy)

$29 billion Australian super fund to quit thermal coal investments (via Renew Economy)

States suing to stop CO2 cuts prep for them anyway (via Climate Central)

Exxon accused of downplaying carbon bubble risks (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

China bid to curb coal output seen lifting prices 10% (via Bloomberg)

Disputing a study on coal exports and climate (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Hope for clean economy as $20 billion in green bonds issued in 2014 (via The Guardian)

World’s biggest development banks pledge to scale up climate finance (via Business Green)

Can REthinking power generation create a renewable energy future? (via CleanTechnica)

India offshore wind policy to target 1GW by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

IHS says Central America to see 1.5GW new solar PV by 2018 (via PV Tech)

Ontario grid hits 35% renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Be prepared for a lot more solar by 2025 (via The Energy Collective)

Oil group says EPA may raise ethanol quote based on E85 demand (via Bloomberg)

Is a solar development boom about to begin in Texas? (via Greentech Media)

California encourages West-facing solar panels (via Renewable Energy World)

Missouri Supreme Court to hear arguments in solar policy dispute (via EnergyWire)

Cleveland becomes clean tech leader as Ohio backtracks on renewables (via Climate Central)

Cellulosic ethanol: Firsts, failures, myths, and risks (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Warmer air caused ice shelf collapse off Antarctica (via Reuters)

Downed tropical forests exacerbate climate change (via Scientific American)

New EU climate chief must deal with global warming and energy, a difficult job (via ClimateWire)

The good and bad climate news from permafrost melt (via Climate Central)

Rising seas force landowners to embrace once-reviled “living shorelines” (via Greenwire)

Climate controversy pushing scientists to become better communicators (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Judge bars former EPA official from testifying in coal emissions enforcement suit (via Greenwire)

OIL 

IEA notes “remarkable” oil demand growth fall (via Financial Times)

Environmental groups sue DOT over oil trains (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cities cut emissions through car sharing (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla Model X reservations 20,000 strong and counting (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

East Europe stocks up on gas as Ukraine crisis drags on (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Morgan Stanley bullish on energy storage (via Breaking Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

More than half U.S. companies project increased energy efficiency investment in 2015 (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How sustainability improves shareholder value (via GreenBiz)

Green jobs on the rise: Will growth continue? (via NRDC Switchboard)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazilian Amazon deforestation jumps by 29%, says government (via Yale e360)

Western governors form drought study forum (via Review-Journal/AP)

POLITICS 

Will GOP control of the Senate affect energy policy? (via The Hill)

Oil industry accuses administration of political motive in ethanol rules (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

2030 outlook: A trillion dollar taxpayer bailout for electrical utilities (via Renewable Energy World)

China shows there’s more to renewable energy than fighting climate change (via Renew Economy)

Will U.S. oil exports grease the path to economic growth? (via Forbes)

What can small cities do to fight climate change? (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.4.14

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

EMISSIONS 

U.S. presses India for greater carbon cuts (via BusinessGreen)

California and Mexico sign agreement to reduce emissions (via Green Car Congress)

A dozen states file suit against new EPA coal rules (via New York Times)

EPA hearings put Pittsburgh in crosshairs of climate war (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

COAL 

Shipping rates drop as China hydropower cuts coal demand (via Bloomberg)

New coal dust rules take effect (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

U.S.-China solar fight lurches forward (via National Geographic)

Global biodiesel market to grow 8.1% annually from 2013-2018 (via Environmental Leader)

SunPower sees energy storage commercial market in Australia in 2015 (via Renew Economy)

Non-hydro renewables now routinely surpass U.S. hydropower generation (via US EIA)

Obama’s delay on renewable fuel puts producers in bind (via Bloomberg)

As small hydropower expands, so does caution on its impacts (via Yale e360)

SunPower plans new factory to gain share as demand surges (via Bloomberg)

NYSERDA opens data on thousands of solar projects (via Environmental leader)

New York utility proposes community solar, microgrids-as-a-service (via Greentech Media)

How much money will California solar customers save with net metering? (via Greentech Media)

Solar City achieves $201.5 million securitization (via CleanTechnica)

Ohio utilities take net metering fight to state Supreme Court (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco set to miss target for Fukushima radioactive water cleanup (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires, “biomass burning” bigger climate threats than previously thought (via International Business Times)

As oysters die in Pacific Northwest, climate policy goes on the stump (via New York Times)

Idaho shifts policy behavior in response to climate change (via Idaho Statesman)

Sen. Murray tells Dems to push fiscal impacts of climate change (via The Hill)

World’s top PR companies rule out working with climate deniers (via The Guardian)

Will fiction influence how we react to climate change? (via New York Times)

OIL 

Mexico lower house passes final oil bills, sends them to Senate (via Houston Chronicle)

Nigeria, Shell not cleaning oil pollution, report charges (via Houston Chronicle)

Big Oil companies pay just an 11.7% tax rate, finds report (via Climate Progress)

Comment period starts for oil-train rules (via The Hill)

Oil industry works on blowout preventers for deeper depths (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla selling like gangbusters in China (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf hits 3,000 sales in July, Chevy Volt climbs over 2,000 (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla announces plan to boost production in 2015 (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla breaks ground near Reno for battery Gigafactory (via Bloomberg)

Tesla, Panasonic reach Gigafactory investment deal (via Energy Manager Today)

Tesla says it plans to have Model X prototypes next week (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Pennsylvania AG looking into claims state willfully ignores fracking-related health complaints (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Setting rivers free: As dams are torn down, nature quickly recovers (via Christian Science Monitor)

Bee-killing neonictinoids found in Midwest rivers (via Wired Science)

Gov. Brown declares state of emergency over California wildfires (via Los Angeles Times)

California drought watering restrictions may leave trees high and dry (via Sacramento Bee)

14 big wildfires scorching California (via Los Angeles Times)

Farming practices and climate change at root of Lake Erie water pollution (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

What do U.S. sanctions mean for Exxon’s close friendship with Russia in the Arctic? (via National Journal)

Six eye-catchers in 2030 picture of world energy (via Bloomberg)

EPA’s climate change plan fills void as Congress does nothing (via Washington Post)

Replant after wildfire or let nature take over? (via Bloomberg/AP)

The really scary thing about those Siberian craters (via Climate Progress)

Is Illinois becoming the third coast of clean tech? (via Midwest Energy News)

How yieldcos are changing renewables investment paradigm (via Renew Economy)