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)