Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.20.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Shell says fossil fuel reserves won’t be “stranded” by climate regulation (via Reuters)
Emissions from 10 food and drink companies “higher than Scandinavia” (via BusinessGreen)
EPA carbon curbs to reach beyond power plant “fence,” aiding cap-and-trade (via Reuters)
Pundits weigh risks, benefits of Obama himself rolling out power plant rule (via Greenwire)
IEA graphic shows how to radically reduce CO2 (via Climate Central)
RGGI carbon market monitor releases report (via Environmental Leader)
RENEWABLES
UK will be largest solar PV market in Europe in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
German lesson for renewable power policies (via Energy Collective)
GE has invested $10 billion in clean energy (via CleanTechnica)
8GW of new US solar PV expected in 2014-2015 (via Recharge)
EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
Maryland’s $200 million wind energy project will move forward thanks to governor’s veto (via Climate Progress)
When solar property taxes get personal (via Renewable Energy World)
COAL
Inslee wants to wean electric utilities off coal (via The Columbian)
The coal ash sludge in North Carolina’s Dan River is finally getting vacuumed up (via Climate Progress)
CLIMATE
Doubling of Antarctic ice loss revealed by European satellite (via The Guardian)
Greenland ice sheet melt could occur yearly by 2100 (via Climate Central)
Reports say collapse of West Antarctic Ice Sheet is unstoppable, may cause great flood (via Elite Daily)
North Korea: An unlikely champion in the fight against climate change (via The Guardian)
Vancouver wants review to examine economic effects of climate change (via Vancouver Sun)
Many U.S. landmarks threatened by climate change (via Gannett News)
Local leaders call for U.S. help to deal with climate change (via Bloomberg)
Study says cities depending on snowmelt for water could face problems (via Christian Science Monitor)
In landmark class action, Farmers Insurance sues local governments for ignoring climate change (via Climate Progress)
Kerry calls on U.S. college graduates to face down climate change (via Reuters)
ENERGY POLICY
Chile gets an energy agenda, Costa Rica saves electricity, Mexico wants more renewables (via NRDC Switchboard)
Integrated resources planning in India could help with electricity shortages (via World Resources Institute)
Read the secret trade memo calling for more fracking and offshore drilling (via Huffington Post)
Former Mexican President calls for global green growth push (via BusinessGreen)
ENVIRONMENT
Did scientists just solve the bee collapse mystery? (via Mother Jones)
Obama to declare largest national monument in his tenure in New Mexico (via Washington Post)
Drought could cost California Central Valley farms $1.7 billion and 14,500 jobs (via Los Angeles Times)
California governor on drought, wildfires: “Humanity is on a collision course with nature” (via Climate Progress)
TRANSPORTATION
IHS says EV sales are better than you think (via Autoblog Green)
FTC staff comes out in favor of Tesla, direct vehicle sales (via Autoblog Green)
GM reduced energy and carbon intensity 3.5% per vehicle in 2013 (via Green Car Congress)
New Fisker owner ready to go broke building EVs, challenging Tesla (via Autoblog Green)
GRID
Solar and storage are pushing the market for distributed resource management tools (via Greentech Media)
UC San Diego is building the “Motel 6” of microgrids (via Greentech Media)
Ohio looks to fuel cells as economic catalyst (via Midwest Energy News)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Opower expands behavioral demand response to one million customers (via Greentech Media)
Keep your cool: Top five myths of summer energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)
Freezing Ohio energy efficiency standards will mean higher bills for customers (via Columbus Business First)
POLITICS
Ontario election holds renewable energy impact (via Recharge)
The most interesting climate policy debate you haven’t heard of (via Climate Progress)
In Alaska senate race, fierce competition to prove who knows less about climate science (via Climate Progress)
Climate activist Members of Congress to “sound alarm” on Capitol Hill (via The Hill)
Biden to attend fundraiser with Keystone XL opponent Steyer (via Reuters)
OPINION
Climate change: Get ready or get sued (via Washington Post)
Carbon pricing vs. regulation (via Energy Collective)
Trains and crude oil are too often an accident waiting to happen (via Los Angeles Times)
What the Farmers Insurance suit tells us about climate change (via NRDC Switchboard)
Where should the investors divest? (via Resilience)