Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.27.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENERGY POLICY
EU to start debate on energy, climate rules amid crisis (via Bloomberg)
China’s utility giants vulnerable to water scarcity, report says (via Yale e360)
Report: Energy Department mismanaged stimulus-backed climate program (via The Hill)
ENVIRONMENT
EPA: most of nation’s waters in “poor condition for aquatic life” (via Stateline)
Open-source project explores “choke point” of water, food, & energy crises (via EarthTechling)
Teen invents device to clean giant ocean garbage patches (via Treehugger)
New Mexico farmers seek “priority call” as drought persists (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
China warns EU over solar panel spat (via Recharge)
China’s bailouts darken horizon for solar panel sector (via Reuters)
Report: Vestas blown off wind market top spot by GE (via BusinessGreen)
Bosch turns off light on money-losing solar power business (via Autoblog Green)
Rooftop solar could power all Australian households, slash electricity prices (via Renew Economy)
Angola “planning 100MW wind farm” (via Recharge)
Denmark hits 1,000MW of offshore wind, shows no sign of slowing down (via Forbes)
Study shows need to account for carbon sinks when siting clean energy projects (via Greentech Media)
US DOE launches new clean energy manufacturing initiative (via Energy Collective)
Federally funded R&D centers spent $17.8 billion on R&D in FY 2011 (via Green Car Congress)
Massive energy skyscraper proposed for US-Mexico border (via Forbes)
Another PACE setback: California court dismisses suit challenging curtailment (via Solar Industry)
Georgia set to increase solar energy with new legislation (via CleanTechnica)
Dominion to pay for solar power in Virginia, but is it enough? (via EarthTechling)
EMISSIONS
Discovery may allow scientists to make fuel from CO2 in the atmosphere (via Phys.org)
EU set to announce 30% by 2030 emissions reduction target (via RTCC)
US emissions decline, coal exports rise (via RTCC)
The price of carbon (via Huffington Post)
Washington State passes legislation to tackle greenhouse gas emissions (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Interior Department to release another draft of fracking rules (via Casper Star-Tribune)
US natural gas pipeline construction plummets in 2012 (via Houston Chronicle)
Wyoming judge rules fracking ingredients are trade secrets (via Casper Star-Tribune)
Waterless fracking makes headway in Texas, slowly (via Texas Tribune)
2011 Oklahoma earthquake tied to oil-drilling fracking wastewater (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Rising UK energy bills will be reduced with climate policies, says energy secretary (via The Guardian)
How to save the US $1 trillion: energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)
Army testing energy efficient tents (via Energy Manager Today)
OIL
Oil spill response group forming emergency strike team for Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)
Rising North Dakota oil production and demand spurs two new refineries (via US EIA)
Cleanup of 2010 Michigan dilbit spill aims to stop spread of submerged oil (via InsideClimate News)
TRANSPORTATION
Electric vehicle drive motor sales will reach 3.7 million units by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
China mandates strict fuel-economy increase to 47 mpg by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)
Enviros decry Virginia tax on hybrid cars (via The Hill)
COAL
Oregon, Washington governors ask Obama to weigh climate impact of coal ports (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Arctic ice hits annual maximum extent, 6th lowest on record (via Climate Central)
UK’s lead G8 negotiator blocks climate change from agenda (via The Guardian)
Federal plan aims to help wildlife adapt to climate change (via Los Angeles Times)
Seven surprising ways US cities are adapting to monster storms (via OnEarth)
Poll questions shift public views on global warming (via USA Today)
New York State tells investors that climate change may hurt its finances (via New York Times)
POLITICS
Five easy pieces of energy legislation for Congress (via National Journal)
Ernest Moniz should have an easy time with Senate confirmation (via Politico)
Carbon tax? No thanks, says US Senate (via Los Angeles Times)
OPINION
Will China’s new leaders clean up the environment? (via Energy Collective)
Do clean energy innovation clusters work? (via Greentech Media)
What climate hawks can (and can’t) learn from public-health campaigns (via Grist)
Why emerging economies are not cleantech cash machines (via Navigant Research)
The state of cleantech venture capital: what lies ahead (via GigaOm)
More effort needed to meet EU’s 2020 clean energy goals (via Reuters)
Can offshore wind make or break wave energy? (via Renewable Energy World)
Do high natural gas prices mean the shale boom is ending? (via Christian Science Monitor)
OTHER NEWS
An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress