Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.14.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Satellite data reveals major loss in volume of Arctic sea-ice since 2003 (via Green Car Congress)
60% of Americans agree with Obama on climate change action (via Greentech Media)
Major climate change bill coming to US Senate (via The Nation)
The most influential climate science paper today remains unknown to most people (via InsideClimate News)
The $188 billion price tag from US extreme weather from 2011 to 2012 (via Climate Progress)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Pressure builds on Keystone pipeline decision after Obama speech (via Reuters)
Keystone pipeline protesters arrested at White House (via The Hill)
GRID
India faces major energy shortfalls (The National)
CAISO and PacificCorp join forces to boost western grid reliability, integrate renewables (via Renew Grid)
California sets 50MW target for grid energy storage (via Greentech Media)
RENEWABLES
PwC: shale oil surge poses threat to renewables (via BusinessGreen)
White House outlines request for Congress to create $2 billion green energy fund (via Reuters)
Obama’s energy trust proposal doesn’t include expanded drilling (via Greenwire)
Yet another storm brewing over wind production tax credit (via CleanTechnica)
Net metering debate rages despite calls for calm (via Renewable Energy World)
ERCOT finds 10-13GW of solar PV competitive in Texas power market (via Solar Server)
Conflict of interest: California solar projects compete with prime farmland (via Sustainable Business)
Cape Wind hopes federal loan not blown (via Boston Herald)
In Indiana, seeking to ramp up wind without state mandates (via Midwest Energy News)
OIL
Exxon Mobil grows Arctic reach in Russia (via Houston Chronicle)
Crude oil and gasoline prices will drop through 2014, EIA projects (via Houston Chronicle)
US oil production forecast to increase 40% from 2011 to 2014 (via Facts of the Day)
Using federal oil revenues to cut America’s oil use (via New York Times)
TRANSPORTATION
Electric vehicle charging equipment market to surpass $3.8 billion by 2020 (via Pike Research)
Smart highways to be installed in Netherlands this year (via Triple Pundit)
DOE IG: grant money for battery company not “managed effectively” (via Washington Post)
Fisker Karma drivers averaging 150 mpg (via Autoblog Green)
EMISSIONS
European corporations demand EU carbon market action (via BusinessGreen)
Carbon Disclosure Project investors up 10% in 2013 (via Environmental Leader)
Nations seen going separate ways on carbon as EU efforts falter (via Reuters)
London mayor unveils ultra-low emission zone plan for city (via BusinessGreen)
NATURAL GAS
Natural gas glut leads to tough times for power generators (via Houston Chronicle)
ENVIRONMENT
Desalination seen booming at 15% a year as world’s water dries up (via Bloomberg)
South Americans face upheaval in deadly water battles (via Bloomberg)
OPINION
Obama faces clean energy constraints (via Recharge)
Obama’s threat to act unilaterally on climate change looking empty (via Grist)
Obama wants to double US energy efficiency by 2030 – is that possible? (via Washington Post)
Will Chuck Hagel keep DoD’s commitment to renewable energy? (via Sustainable Business)