Category Archives:Flood

27
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.27.13

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

IPCC REPORT 

IPCC: Global warming “extremely likely” man-made (via AP)

Climate panel’s fifth report clarifies humanity’s choices (via New York Times)

Six things we’ve learned from the IPCC climate report (via The Guardian)

Why has geoengineering been legitimized by the IPCC? (via The Guardian)

IPCC climate change report by the numbers (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

Merkel looks left to rescue Germany’s energy revolution (via Reuters)

Multiple factors push Western Europe to use less natural gas and more coal (via US EIA)

US energy independence by 2020 won’t mean isolationism (via Houston Chronicle)

National Parks will close to public but stay open to drilling if government shuts down (via Think Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Annual global solar installations to beat wind for first time (via Bloomberg)

South Africa “ideal” for wind turbine export hub (via Recharge)

UK renewable generation increases 56% since 2012 (via RTCC)

German researchers hit 44.7% solar cell efficiency record (via Climate Progress)

Largest US wind farm proposed for West Texas (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Making renewables connect to the military’s energy security framework (via Greentech Media)

Can solar be a differentiator in deregulated electricity markets? (via Greentech Media)

State renewable portfolio standards survive conservative attacks (via EarthTechling)

Analyst: SunShot goals unachievable even with new solar technology (via Renewable Energy World)

California renewables rise and the grid survives (via EarthTechling)

Report says California net metering costs all utility customers (via Reuters)

NREL releases roadmap to reducing solar PV “soft costs” by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canadian PM on Keystone XL fight: It’s over when we’ve won (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

China’s plan to clean up air pollution could be a climate disaster (via Washington Post)

White House, Kerry: UN report makes case for climate action (via The Hill)

First-ever bulk freighter to pass through Artic was carrying coal (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Interior gets ball rolling on new Arctic drilling auction (via The Hill)

After the floods in Colorado, a deluge of worry about leaking oil (via New York Times)

North Dakota regulators say oil production to double by 2017 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US backs market scheme for aviation emissions from 2020 (via Reuters)

Monthly EV sales shatter US records (via Energy.gov)

NATURAL GAS 

Boom in unregulated natural gas pipelines poses new risk (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

World’s carbon budget to be spent in three decades (via WRI Insights)

China and UK forge ties on carbon capture (via BusinessGreen)

State Department: Obama climate plan hits emissions reduction target (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Is Europe emerging as a major demand response market? (via Renew Grid)

Scotland sets energy efficiency building standards (via BusinessGreen)

POLITICS 

UN climate report to fuel political battles (via The Hill)

White House seeking replacement for faltering energy nominee Binz (via The Hill)

OPINION 

10 things to know about the IPCC climate panel (via AP)

The science of global warming has changed in 25 years – the basic conclusions haven’t (via Washington Post)

Poll: two-thirds want Keystone pipeline, carbon limits (via The Hill)

Climate scientists issue their report, now it’s our turn (via Time)

What happens if you add lots of wind and solar to the grid? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, Angela Merkel, arctic, Aviation emissions, barack obama, canada, Carbon budget, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Competitive electricity markets, Demand response, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, europe, ev, FERC, Flood, Geoengineering, germany, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, john kerry, Keystone XL, natural gas, Net metering, News, north dakota, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Pipelines, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, Renewables integration, Ron Binz, rps, Scotland, Shale oil, solar, Solar soft costs, South Africa, SunShot, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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24
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.24.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Cutting carbon emissions could save 3 million lives per year by 2100 (via Climate Progress)

New greenhouse gas accounting tool will help China’s cities pursue low-carbon development (via WRI Insights)

Carbon capture, sequestration may not be part of EPA rule for existing coal plants (via Washington Post)

Green groups strike back in social cost of carbon fight (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Beijing to invest $162.6 billion in 5 years to treat air pollution (via Xinhua)

China’s vanishing rivers (via Washington Post)

Property loss from Colorado flood damage estimated at $2 billion (via Huffington Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmentalists take hard line with Obama on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

RENEWABKES 

Merkel wins: New lease on life for renewables in German government (via Greentech Media)

Largest African PV project to begin construction early 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Loans challenge big money’s leasing model for US rooftop solar (via Reuters)

Texas Panhandle wind bursting at the seams (via EarthTechling)

Big Solar is having a banner year in US (via EarthTechling)

Ohio legislator releasing rollback of state’s clean energy rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

New York State streamlining solar permit process (via Solar Industry Magazine)

CLIMATE 

UN climate panel stresses solidity of new report on global warming (via Washington Post)

IPCC roundup: Early reports focus on warming “hiatus” (via Climate Central)

Study: Climate change pumps up risk of severe storms (via USA Today)

Coral reef destruction “accelerating” – half destroyed over past 30 years (via The Independent)

Climate change devastating ocean fishermen (via Climate Progress)

New US climate map shows temperature changes in HD (via Phys.org)

Cities leading the fight against climate change (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

COAL 

Current US coal plants excluded from new carbon capture rules – EPA chief (via Reuters)

Southern Company’s Kemper coal plant comes to fore with EPA’s CO2 proposal (via Bloomberg BNA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Airlines face carbon verdict on $708 billion industry (via Bloomberg)

Tesla’s vehicle buyback program could yield $368 million profit (via Autoblog Green)

ChargePoint’s new EV charging service borrows from solar leasing models (via Greentech Media)

California continues to dominate US electric car market (via Plugin Cars)

93 cities taking part in Sunday’s National Plug-In Day (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

More Colorado oil spills found after devastating flooding (via Huffington Post)

California governor’s signature on fracking bill comes with a twist (via EnergyWire)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Environmental disclosure tied to higher financial performance (via Environmental Leader)

North American steel industry has recycled more than 1 billion tons of steel since 1988 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

Smart meters deliver 1 billion data points daily (via Greentech Media)

Sandia National Laboratories release energy storage how-to guide (via Phys.org)

Silver Spring networks launches smart metering-as-a-service (via GreenBiz)

Skinny grids (via Huffington Post)

NUCLEAR 

First US nuclear power closures in 15 years signal wider industry problems (via InsideClimate News)

POLITICS 

German voters follow Merkel down bumpy path to clean energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Federal shutdown would shutter EPA, says agency chief (via The Hill)

Obama cabinet stumps for climate action (via Politico)

OPINION 

Global warming hasn’t stopped – it’s the hottest decade on record (via DeSmog Blog)

Cherry-pick climate facts all you like, Earth is still warming (via Renew Economy)

RGGI: Proof carbon trading can work in the US? (Via RTCC)

EPA emissions rules lighting the way on climate change (via Baltimore Sun)

How density makes us safer during natural disasters (via Mother Jones)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Angela Merkel, barack obama, california, cap and trade, carbon, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon trading, ChargePoint, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Coral reef, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Flood, fracking, germany, global warming, green business, IPCC, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, new york state, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Recycling, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Severe weather, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, Southern Company, Tesla, texas, Transportation, wind
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18
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China to publish monthly list of 10 worst polluted cities (via Reuters)

Human fingerprints visible in atmospheric changes (via Climate Central)

Latest RGGI auction: Time to reconsider “success” in carbon markets? (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to switch off last operational nuclear power plant (via Reuters)

COAL 

In Australia, an uphill battle to rein in the power of coal (via Yale e360)

US coal companies scale back export goals (via New York Times)

Mississippi coal plant overruns show risks of carbon rules (via Bloomberg)

Is the writing on the wall for US coal? (via Green Car Reports)

RENEWABLES 

China to slap anti-subsidy duties on US solar material (via Reuters)

Japan solar PV installations reach 10GW milestone (via CleanTechnica)

2.7GW of solar PV up for grabs at upcoming Brazilian renewable auction (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s largest tidal power array surges forward (via BusinessGreen)

Blend wall closes in and lobbies spar over impact (via Breaking Energy)

Wall Street exploits ethanol credits and prices spike (via New York Times)

Refiners lobbying lawmakers to repeal renewable fuel law (via Houston Chronicle)

Case study: Wind lags responding to a power demand spike (via Breaking Energy)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program not owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California sets up $162 million annual clean energy research fund (via EarthTechling)

Maine’s offshore wind development becomes a bidding war (via Renewable Energy World)

Google now buying enough wind energy to power 170k homes (via GigaOm)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany plans $3.5 billion support for energy and climate fund (via Bloomberg)

Study: Clean energy best answer for US power costs (via United Press International)

America’s Power Plan: The crucial role of distributed resources (via RMI Outlet)

California bills shape new energy world (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Study: Methane leaks from gas drilling not as large as feared (via AP)

North Dakota officials say regulation needed to curb flaring (via Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE 

Antarctic ice sheet melting from below, scientists say (via Christian Science Monitor)

Australia ditches climate minister position in cabinet (via BusinessGreen)

South Africa set to be hit by climate-related migration (via RTCC)

California and China sign climate change pact (via RTCC)

Study: Majority of climate change news stories focus on uncertainty (via The Guardian)

Case for climate change is overwhelming, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Coastal communities in Virginia lead the way on local climate action (via WRI Insights)

KEYSTONE XL 

Obama’s ex-climate czar: Canadian CO2 offer would change debate on Keystone (via The Hill)

Keystone soon will carry crude through Texas, with or without Obama (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

UK’s smart meter plan kicks into high gear (via GigaOm)

Study: Battery energy storage benefits solar, not wind (via CleanTechnica)

USDA provides $136 million in grid improvement funding (via Renew Grid)

Microgrids: A new kind of power struggle in New York and Connecticut (via Greentech Media)

California ISO approves three-year grid plan (via Renew Grid)

Net metering grows some muscles in California (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Colorado and industry working to assess damage in flooded oil fields (via Denver Post)

Blood tests show elevated health risks for Gulf oil spill cleanup workers (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Scotland plans to go electric, ban gas-burners by 2050 (via Autoblog Green)

12 million carsharing users predicted by 2020, 2.3 million today (via Autoblog)

Report: Biofuel could cut CO2 cheaper than electric cars (via BusinessGreen)

Ford launches employee EV charging network (via Environmental Leader)

US to sell nonperforming Fisker Auto loans next month (via Reuters)

National Plug-In Day will hit 75+ US cities (via CleanTechnica)

GM triples size of its Michigan electric vehicle battery laboratory (via CleanTechnica)

Coastal states will lead plug-in vehicle adoption through 2022 (via Autoblog Green)

US gas prices set record: 1,000 straight days above $3 a gallon (via Christian Science Monitor)

POLITICS 

An unusual public battle over an energy nomination (via New York Times)

Senate Leader Reid offers path forward on stalled energy bill (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How science denial is going to affect today’s big climate hearing (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks vs. climate deniers: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt” (via Climate Progress)

The era of unlimited carbon pollution is over (via Politico)

5 stages of climate denial on display ahead of IPCC report (via The Guardian)

Four charts prove the future of clean energy is arriving (via Greentech Media)

Will Germany reject smart meters? (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, biofuels, Blend wall, Brazil, california, California ISO, CalISO, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carsharing, China, climate, coal, Coal export, colorado, Connecticut, distributed generation, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, ethanol, europe, ev, FERC, Fisker, Flaring, Flood, Ford, fracking, gas prices, germany, GM, google, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, IPCC, japan, Keystone XL, Maine, methane, Methane leakage, michigan, Microgrid, Mississippi, natural gas, Net metering, new york, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, rggi, Ron Binz, Scotland, Sea ice melt, Sea level rise, smart meter, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, texas, Tidal, Transportation, united kingdom, usda, virginia, wind
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10
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.10.13

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

GRID 

Uganda aims to double power grid in four years (via Reuters)

HVDC: Key to revolutionizing the renewable energy grid (via Renewable Energy World)

Microgrids: Sandy forced cities to rethink power supply (via Climate Central)

ENVIRONMENT 

Wastewater use to supplement world’s strained water supplies likely to increase (via ClimateWire)

Cost of battling massive Rim Wildfire hits $100 million (via Los Angeles Times)

New water plan could turn New Orleans into the next Amsterdam (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Barclays predicts another 13GW of wind will be built in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

Targeting ethanol mandates seen hurting cellulosic growth (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy firms’ stock market values increase 18% in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Community renewables “could soar in the UK” (via Recharge)

Army adds wind power to $7 billion renewable energy buy (via CleanTechnica)

US West’s rush to renewables moves to under-used states (via Reuters)

Renewable power falls as Texas wind underperforms (via Houston Chronicle)

Pattern Energy Group launches $320 million wind power IPO (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Meet the teams (via Energy.gov)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA has $45 million for all-of-the-above energy efficiency strategy (via Autoblog Green)

Three things driving energy efficiency in buildings today (via Breaking Energy)

TRANSPORTATION 

Carmakers bearing down on EU emissions goals (via BusinessGreen)

Volkswagen electrifying all vehicle classes; 14 EV or hybrid models by 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Virgin America falls below industry average on fuel performance standards (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS 

FIFA to offset 2014 World Cup’s 2.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions (via Environmental Leader)

Industry to EPA on climate regulations: Let’s talk (via The Hill)

RGGI Northeast carbon auction raises $102.5 million (via Environmental Leader)

CLIMATE 

A climate alarm, too muted for some (via New York Times)

As distant Pacific islands flood, a climate-driven exodus to US grows (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

IEA concerned about oil prices, rules out strategic stock release (via Reuters)

Global crude oil supply disruptions, strong demand support high oil prices (via US EIA)

OPEC sees well-supplied oil market, lower demand for its crude (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

European, Asian LNG buyers team to push cheaper prices (via Reuters)

Gulf of Mexico natural gas well secured several weeks after blow out (via Houston Chronicle)

Chesapeake terminates 13,000 acres of drilling leases in New York State (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

Shaking pennies and fists against utility rate increases (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Why the Dutch are leading the way on sustainable business (via The Guardian)

Efficiency offers a glimmer of hope on energy in Washington (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage: From research to market (via Breaking Energy)

How green is a Tesla, really? (via Mother Jones)

What Australia’s election result means for carbon pricing (via Renew Economy)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Barclays, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, cellulosic ethanol, Chesapeake, climate, Climate Change, Community renewables, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, FIFA, Flood, fracking, grid, Gulf of Mexico, HVDC, IEA, LNG, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Netherlands, New Orleans, new york state, News, oil, OPEC, Pattern Energy, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, solar, Solar Decathlon, Tesla, texas, Transportation, Uganda, uk, united kingdom, US Army, Wastewater, Wildfire, wind
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03
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.3.13

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

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon market has longest rally since 2008 before September supply boost (via Bloomberg)

EU said to plan carbon-market aviation adjustment in October (via Bloomberg)

US and Europe may face off over reducing airline emissions (via Los Angeles Times)

MIT: Vehicle emissions cause 53,000 extra deaths a year (via AutoblogGreen)

Polish CO2 permit sales to start September 16 (via Reuters Point Carbon)

A carbon tax that America could live with (via New York Times)

Mind the carbon gap (via Grist)

COAL 

EU coal demand starting decades-long slide (via Reuters Point Carbon)

RENEWABLES 

Solar energy world capacity tops 102GW (via EarthTechling)

Renewable energy worth €17 billion to Germany in 2012 (via Recharge)

South Australia to reach 50% renewables within a decade (via CleanTechnica)

With rooftop solar on the rise, US utilities are striking back (via Yale e360)

California and Hawaii most attractive states for renewables (via Breaking Energy)

Nearly 40,000 new green jobs created across America during 2Q 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

AB 327: From California solar killer to net metering savior? (via Greentech Media)

25% of America’s residential solar is in one utility service territory (via Facts of the Day)

Mosiac bets on the environment (via New York Times)

How Xcel saved $22 million with weather and wind forecasting (via Renewable Energy World)

State agencies ponder changes to wind energy rules (via Post-Bulletin)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Caspian Sea could become natural gas hub (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama position on fracking leaves both sides grumbling (via The Tribune/McClatchy)

98 more Ohio earthquakes linked to fracking disposal well (via Columbus Dispatch)

CLIMATE 

FEMA flood maps raising cost of insurance (via Boston Globe)

Is climate change pushing pests into northern farms? (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Booming oil production boosted US GDP estimate (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Study: China could soon find itself in traffic jam hell (via Green Car Reports)

Aviation industry unlikely to agree to emissions reduction deal until 2016 (via RTCC)

Number of US bike sharing programs doubled in 2013 (via EarthTechling)

Will Tesla alone double global demand for its battery cells? (via Green Car Reports)

KEYSTONE XL 

Aerial photos show Keystone XL behind schedule (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone delays seen giving time for climate concessions (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Tres Amigas seeks to break US grids out of isolation (via Midwest Energy News)

The rural path to a smarter grid (via SmartPlanet)

Transmission upgrades compensate for coal retirements in Ohio (via US EIA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Argentina adopts US’s LEED-certified buildings program (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

$2 million fund boosts energy efficiency at Massachusetts colleges (via Energy Manager Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to fund $470 million ice wall to stop reactor leaks (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

How the Fukushima ice barrier will block radioactive groundwater (via MIT Technology Review)

Radiation near Japanese plant’s tanks suggest new leaks (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s meteorological authority launches air pollution forecasts (via Xinhua)

Montana Supreme Court decision could change how crews fight wildfires (via The Missoulian)

POLITICS 

German opposition to EU carbon market fix to wane after election (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Abbott warns of “trillion dollar” Australian carbon tax (via The Australian)

On Obama’s energy agenda, White House and OFA websites not always in sync (via Greenwire)

Judge refuses to toss climate scientist Mann’s defamation lawsuit (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Fukushima’s radioactive legacy is just beginning (via Climate Central)

The oceans are acidifying at the fastest rate in 300 million years – how worried should we be? (via Washington Post)

Can the World Bank’s green bonds become a scalable climate solution? (via Energy Collective)

Labor Day 2050: Global warming and the coming collapse of labor productivity (via Climate Progress)

Why the Energy Department hires industry advocates as regulators (via Climate Progress)

Don’t overlook sugarcane ethanol in America’s renewable fuels debate (via Energy Collective)

Why Ron Binz is a good choice to run FERC (via Breaking Energy)

Should you divest from coal and oil? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Why have so many venture capitalists flopped in clean tech? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Argentina, australia, battery, Bike sharing, biofuels, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate change. FEMA, coal, Divestment, DOE, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethanol. Brazil, EU, EU ETS, European Union, FERC, Flood, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, fukushima, germany, green building, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, japan, Keystone XL, LEED, massachusetts, Michael Mann, Montana, Mosiac, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, Ohio, oil, Poland, renewables, Ron Binz, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, Tesla, Transportation, Tres Amigas, Wildfire, wind, World Bank, xcel
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19
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.19.13

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel finds humans 95% likely cause of climate change (via The Hill)

More frequent heat waves by 2020 “almost certain” (via Climate Central)

Global flood damage could exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050 (via Mother Jones)

Climate change brings another flood onslaught in Pakistan (via Pakistan Daily Times)

Worst Colorado River drought in century prompts feds to cut Lake Powell releases (via Deseret News)

Many Floridians face rising tide of flood insurance costs (via Sun Sentinel)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Interior Department says Keystone XL could harm parks, wildlife (via The Hill)

TransCanada acknowledges tar sands crude could sink if spilled (via EnergyWire)

Steyer launches $1 million anti-Keystone XL ad push (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Despite slowdown, China to hold wind power market leadership to 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Czech lawmakers axe renewable energy support (via Recharge)

European climate policy drives wood pellet boom in North Carolina (via News Observer)

New hydropower laws could add 60GW of clean energy to US grid (via CleanTechnica)

Investors welcome new environmental standards for solar (via BusinessGreen)

Energy cane “could yield five times more ethanol than corn” (via Environmental Leader)

Texas claims cheapest solar installations as prices drop nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

California Solar Initiative aims to preserve project resources as funding ends (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon markets to survive federal election (via Bloomberg)

California to discuss additional compliance options for cap-and-trade program (via Bloomberg BNA)

Waste carbon dioxide could be used as energy (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shale gas company halts fracking at British site (via New York Times)

Shale grab in US stalls as falling values repel buyers (via Bloomberg)

Methane leakage from Utah gas rigs higher than EPA estimates (via RTCC)

Aubrey McClendon is back, with deals in the Utica (via Forbes)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sweden named “most sustainable country in the world” (via BusinessGreen)

Auto manufacturers aim to produce vehicles at sustainable facilities (via Energy Manager Today)

Investors slow to embrace sustainability, Accenture says (via Environmental Leader)

US rare earths mining rush enters its “survival moment” (via Greenwire)

OIL 

Shale gas and oil production soaring in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts clash on estimates of oil spilled into Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

America’s new vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever (via Greentech Media)

Electric car charging at work: The next big push (via Green Car Reports)

Is Tesla Model S the best way to sell politicians on EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

Hybrids take 7% of California market in 1H 2013; PHEVs 0.7%, EVs 1.1% (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUILDING 

USGBC report highlights growth in green building industry (via Bloomberg BNA)

Arizona hosts world’s largest net-zero energy building (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

UK’s first large-scale battery storage project goes live (via Renew Grid)

Designing grid batteries to live long and prosper (via Greentech Media)

Distributed generation grabs power from centralized utilities (via Forbes)

Trees vs. transmission: Utility arborist seeks better approach (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EIA publishes state fact sheets on residential energy consumption and characteristics (via US EIA)

Smart windows just got a lot smarter at saving energy (via Breaking Energy)

How much is a Nest thermostat worth? (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

We’ve covered the world in pesticides – is that a problem? (via Washington Post)

In West’s expanding tinderbox, questions about development (via Stateline)

10,000 homes threatened as Idaho wildfire spreads to 92,000 acres (via NBC News)

Bare trees are a lingering sign of Hurricane Sandy’s high toll (via New York Times)

OPINION 

The future China chooses will dictate the future of Earth (via The Guardian)

Can climate science be rendered conservative-friendly? (via Grist)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

Could suburbs become the future of renewable energy? (via ClimateWire)

Is Washington in a “post-policy era”? (via Washington Post)

Obama Administration rushes to expand fracking on public lands despite frightening evidence (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado river, Czech Republic, deforestation, distributed generation, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Flood, Florida, fracking, Geoengineering, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Heat waves, Hurricane Sandy, hybrid, Hydropower, Idaho, interior department, IPCC, Keystone XL, Lake Powell, LEED, natural gas, Nest, Net zero building, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Pesticides, Rare earths, renewables, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Sugarcane, Sweden, tar sands, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, Utica Shale, Wildfire, wind
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14
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.14.13

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

NUCLEAR 

Government must continue review of Yucca Mountain, court says (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS 

Brokered EU carbon trade plunges as banks scale back (via Bloomberg)

Green investors push firms on emissions, supply chains (via GreenBiz)

Google’s footprint falls as users emit eight grams of CO2 per day (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China approves first floating terminal for LNG imports (via Reuters)

Energy independence in the age of natural gas exports (via Christian Science Monitor)

Pennsylvania residents ask EPA to reopen fracking probe (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

2/3 of global solar PV has been installed in the last 2.5 years (via Greentech Media)

EU countries to cut renewable support further (via Reuters)

Is Japan’s solar bubble about to burst? (via Renew Economy)

It keeps getting cheaper to install solar panels in the US (via Climate Progress)

President Obama signs legislation to promote small hydropower projects (via Renew Grid)

Small wind makes big gains in US (via EarthTechling)

Nevada tribe to build 1.5GW of new renewables (via Bloomberg)

New wind farms coming in five Iowa counties (via Des Moines Register)

Solar charger with tracking comes in a briefcase (via EarthTechling)

Solar PV installer among best jobs in energy industry (via Solar Industry Magazine)

COAL 

Huge China coal plant shelved over pollution concerns (via Renew Economy)

Coal mine fight embodies an economic struggle in rural Australia (via New York Times)

GRID 

Smart grid market to surpass $400 billion worldwide by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

A next-generation transmission line technology grows in China (via Greentech Media)

Nearly 100,000 Texans have selected a TXU time-of-use pricing plan (via TXU Energy)

OIL 

Mexico’s oil reforms may upend global markets (via New York Times)

Oil lobbying groups ask EPA for relief from biofuel mandate (via The Hill)

BP oil spill cleanup: US says coast is nearly clear, but is it? (via Christian Science Monitor)

North Dakota oil boom adding costs for rail safety (via Bloomberg)

A Texas tragedy: Ample oil, no water (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU to ban CHAdeMO EV chargers by 2018 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA: 10% of all US fuel now renewable, but that might be our limit (via Autoblog Green)

Strong sales, market traction, lower battery costs highlight new EV report (via CleanTechnica)

Electric cars clean today, even cleaner tomorrow (via Midwest Energy News)

Half of all American EV sales are in five cities (via Green Car Reports)

Maine utility offers $15,000 for EV purchases (via EarthTechling)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta rail oil terminal capacity to rise 700,000 bpd, rivaling Keystone XL (via Financial Post)

 Crunch time for Keystone XL (via The Hill)

TransCanada rejects Steyer’s debate challenge (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

This is what global warming looks like (via Climate Central)

Harry Reid: “Don’t be afraid to talk about climate change” (via The Hill)

Climate change in NJ: State report details what’s happened, what’s coming (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

Severe weather changing climate change perceptions in Iowa (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Global air conditioning needs could grow 50x greater than US demand (via Greentech Media)

The surprisingly large energy footprint of our digital economy (via Time)

California schools reap energy efficiency dollars from Prop 39 (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Why blackouts are becoming more common, in two charts (via Washington Post)

Reform flood and wind insurance programs to reduce risk and taxpayer costs (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

Unfair share: How oil and gas drillers avoid paying royalties (via ProPublica)

New EnergyStar rules raise the question of how to make energy efficiency accessible to all (via Climate Progress)

The elevator pitch for why electric cars are greener (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, american petroleum institute, australia, biofuels, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dimock, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, EPA, EU, EU ETS, EV battery, EV chargers, Flood, fracking, google, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, Hydropower, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, LNG imports, Maine, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nevada, new jersey, News, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, OPEC, pennsylvania, Prop 39. Blackout, Renewable fuels mandate, renewables, Severe weather, Shale oil, small wind, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Time of use pricing, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, TXU Energy, Water scarcity, wind, Yucca Mountain
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14
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.14.13

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

NUCLEAR 

Government must continue review of Yucca Mountain, court says (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS 

Brokered EU carbon trade plunges as banks scale back (via Bloomberg)

Green investors push firms on emissions, supply chains (via GreenBiz)

Google’s footprint falls as users emit eight grams of CO2 per day (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China approves first floating terminal for LNG imports (via Reuters)

Energy independence in the age of natural gas exports (via Christian Science Monitor)

Pennsylvania residents ask EPA to reopen fracking probe (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

2/3 of global solar PV has been installed in the last 2.5 years (via Greentech Media)

EU countries to cut renewable support further (via Reuters)

Is Japan’s solar bubble about to burst? (via Renew Economy)

It keeps getting cheaper to install solar panels in the US (via Climate Progress)

President Obama signs legislation to promote small hydropower projects (via Renew Grid)

Small wind makes big gains in US (via EarthTechling)

Nevada tribe to build 1.5GW of new renewables (via Bloomberg)

New wind farms coming in five Iowa counties (via Des Moines Register)

Solar charger with tracking comes in a briefcase (via EarthTechling)

Solar PV installer among best jobs in energy industry (via Solar Industry Magazine)

COAL 

Huge China coal plant shelved over pollution concerns (via Renew Economy)

Coal mine fight embodies an economic struggle in rural Australia (via New York Times)

GRID 

Smart grid market to surpass $400 billion worldwide by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

A next-generation transmission line technology grows in China (via Greentech Media)

Nearly 100,000 Texans have selected a TXU time-of-use pricing plan (via TXU Energy)

OIL 

Mexico’s oil reforms may upend global markets (via New York Times)

Oil lobbying groups ask EPA for relief from biofuel mandate (via The Hill)

BP oil spill cleanup: US says coast is nearly clear, but is it? (via Christian Science Monitor)

North Dakota oil boom adding costs for rail safety (via Bloomberg)

A Texas tragedy: Ample oil, no water (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU to ban CHAdeMO EV chargers by 2018 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA: 10% of all US fuel now renewable, but that might be our limit (via Autoblog Green)

Strong sales, market traction, lower battery costs highlight new EV report (via CleanTechnica)

Electric cars clean today, even cleaner tomorrow (via Midwest Energy News)

Half of all American EV sales are in five cities (via Green Car Reports)

Maine utility offers $15,000 for EV purchases (via EarthTechling)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta rail oil terminal capacity to rise 700,000 bpd, rivaling Keystone XL (via Financial Post)

 Crunch time for Keystone XL (via The Hill)

TransCanada rejects Steyer’s debate challenge (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

This is what global warming looks like (via Climate Central)

Harry Reid: “Don’t be afraid to talk about climate change” (via The Hill)

Climate change in NJ: State report details what’s happened, what’s coming (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

Severe weather changing climate change perceptions in Iowa (via Cedar Rapids Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Global air conditioning needs could grow 50x greater than US demand (via Greentech Media)

The surprisingly large energy footprint of our digital economy (via Time)

California schools reap energy efficiency dollars from Prop 39 (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Why blackouts are becoming more common, in two charts (via Washington Post)

Reform flood and wind insurance programs to reduce risk and taxpayer costs (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

Unfair share: How oil and gas drillers avoid paying royalties (via ProPublica)

New EnergyStar rules raise the question of how to make energy efficiency accessible to all (via Climate Progress)

The elevator pitch for why electric cars are greener (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, american petroleum institute, australia, biofuels, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dimock, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, EPA, EU, EU ETS, EV battery, EV chargers, Flood, fracking, google, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, Hydropower, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, LNG imports, Maine, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nevada, new jersey, News, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, OPEC, pennsylvania, Prop 39. Blackout, Renewable fuels mandate, renewables, Severe weather, Shale oil, small wind, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Time of use pricing, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, TXU Energy, Water scarcity, wind, Yucca Mountain
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13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Ecototality, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Renewables forecasting, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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