Category Archives:fracking

24
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.24.14

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

CLIMATE 

Rising seas may connect Cold War rivals U.S. and Cuba (via U.S. News & World Report)

These U.S. cities have already passed a climate change “tipping point” (via Vice)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas prices fall 29 percent in three months (via The Hill)

New Yorkers agree with fracking ban, finds survey (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Africa’s largest wind power project achieves full financial close (via AllAfrica)

Chile’s mines set a hot pace for renewables – Australia take note (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar panel maintenance poses unforeseen challenge in developing world electrification (via Energy Collective)

The rise and fall of wind power in America (via Vox)

2015 could be breakthrough year for U.S. renewable policy, says ACORE (via Recharge)

SunEdison and TerraForm yieldcos secure $75 million for 60MW of solar projects (via PV Tech)

A bit of good green energy news for your holidays, courtesy of New England (via Grist)

Connecticut Green Bank’s C-PACE program: Low-cost, long-term financing for clean energy upgrades (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon rises to two-year high as holidays cut supply (via Bloomberg)

EPA ordered to start enforcing rules to cut ozone in 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Here’s the state-based climate solution that doesn’t need Congress (via Climate Progress)

Virginia legislators proposes legislation to join RGGI carbon market (via Washington Post/AP)

OIL 

Oil firms’ predicament: Who should cut output? (via Wall Street Journal)

Oil prices likely to rebound in second half of 2015: Poll (via Reuters)

BP unit says big spill fines could cut deep (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China invests billions in electric cars & EV charging stations (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

Japan may spend 50 billion yen for energy storage, says Yomiuri (via Bloomberg)

Orix to start rental of home-use solar panels, storage batteries (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

The fossil fuel industry spent more than $721 million during 2014 midterm elections (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

Jigar Shah: Trade duties already harming U.S. solar companies (via PV Tech)

The eight best things that happened to renewable energy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

1603: A renewable energy subsidy, yes; just don’t call it a bailout (via Breaking Energy)

How solar power and EVs could make suburban living awesome again (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, australia, BP, Carbon market, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, Connecticut, Cuba, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, EU ETS, European Union, ev, ev charging, fracking, Green bank, grid, japan, natural gas, new york, News, oil, oil spill, Ozone, PACE, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, TerraForm, Transportation, virginia, wind, Yieldcos
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23
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Biggest Arctic gas project seeks route around U.S. sanctions (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas falls to two-year low with no cold in sight (via Reuters)

Groups urge administration to steer clear of gas exports bill (via The Hill)

New York and Maryland had the same information about fracking, and they made very different decisions (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany’s electricity mix: Solar capacity reigns, but coal generation sustains (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Canadian pension funds divert investment to solar (via PV Tech)

UK and US yieldcos on Christmas acquisition spree (via PV Tech)

Wind and solar = 77% of new U.S. electricity generating capacity in November (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy policy wins and losses of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

2014 renewable energy recap: Stepping backward, crawling forward (via IEEE Spectrum)

Apple, IKEA, Walmart: 12 leaders in on-site renewables (via GreenBiz)

Cloudy future for wind farms in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

As the weather turns frightful, keep placed in service deadlines delightful (via Renewable Energy World)

Did OPIC just finish a watershed beyond-the-grid solar deal? (via Energy Collective)

Austin’s balancing act: Solar policy and affordability (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

CLIMATE 

Pacific coral shows global warming’s tie to wind (via Bloomberg)

Wheat yields to fall more than expected in warmer world (via Reuters)

Atmospheric rivers to soak California as climate warms (via LiveScience)

New York’s fracking ban divides experts on climate impacts (via Climate Central)

Miami’s climate catch-22: Building waterfront condos to pay for protection against rising seas (via Washington Post)

Wyoming Republican fights ban on controversial climate-science standards (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

World’s top 500 firms’ emissions rise, despite call for cuts (via Reuters)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia vows not to cut output to prop up oil markets (via Reuters)

Shell collaborating with regulators over Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil crash wipes $11.7 billion from buyout firms’ holdings (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

AAA: Falling gas prices break record (via The Hill)

Congress lets $8,000 hydrogen vehicle tax credit expire (via Autoblog)

To challenge Tesla, Volkswagen will buy solid-state battery startup (via Inside EVs)

Living the EV-PV dream: How I paired my solar system with an electric car (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Germany power demand plummets, renewables rise, fossil power at a 35-year low (via Renewables International)

Solar energy and storage helps Caribbean expats live the food life (via Renewable Energy World)

Can distributed generation replace $1 billion in substation upgrades? New York will soon find out (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

What was the biggest energy success story of 2014? (via National Journal)

Could flooding finally wake Americans up to the climate crisis? (via Grist)

The year ahead: 2015 trends in clean tech (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, apple, arctic, Austin, battery, california, canada, Caribbean, climate, coal, distributed generation, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, ev, ev charging, Flooding, fracking, gas prices, germany, grid, hydrogen, Ikea, maryland, Miami, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, OPIC, renewables, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, solar, Tesla, texas, Transportation, Volkswagen, Walmart, wind, wyoming, YieldCo
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22
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.22.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Regulators want to change fossil fuel pricing rules for federal land (via The Hill)

Oil price plunge and clean energy – the real impact (via Bloomberg)

Ohio Governor Kasich says more regulation needed on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

D.C. coalition emerges to oppose Exelon-Pepco merger (via Washington Post)

Portland considers energy benchmarking policy for large commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

India to fund $158 million for 1GW of new solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Germany to help finance Chile’s first solar-thermal power plant (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

Indian solar plant will equal almost all the solar capacity installed in the U.S in 2010 (via Treehugger)

Kyocera venture to build 13.4MW floating solar plant in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Solar-friendly rate for commercial customers adopted in California (via Energy Manager Today)

Arizona utilities get approval to own rooftop solar (via Greentech Media)

Maximizing the value of installed solar assets (via Forbes)

Upcoming auctions for solar PV: A legal perspective (via Renewables International)

Utilities and solar groups both claim victory in Arizona rooftop showdown (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Geopolitics key to South Africa’s $100 billion nuclear plan (via Bloomberg)

First of four Fukushima reactors cleared of nuclear fuel (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Four legal battles this year that were all about climate change (via Climate Progress)

The military, energy, and preparing for climate change (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Cuban oil may prove a boon for U.S. companies (via Climate Progress)

Saudi oil chief: No conspiracy behind oil prices (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Shale debt crunch could intensify in April (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone “not even nominal benefit” to U.S. consumers, says Obama (via The Hill)

Good times for Texas to North Dakota may turn bad on oil-price drop (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs hurt most in renewables industry from oil’s slump (via Bloomberg)

DOE report evaluates EV charging impacts on grid and charging behaviors (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla Model S drivers travel more miles than Nissan Leaf owners (via Autoblog)

Tesla battery swap now working in beta in California (via GigaOm)

COAL 

Is China’s demand for coal going to keep rising? Don’t count on it. (via Grist)

U.S. plans to shut royalty loophole on coal exports (via Reuters)

Environmentalists split with the Obama administration over coal ash rules (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Will EU emission trading remain a major source of low carbon finance? (via CleanTechnica)

Alberta extends climate change rules, including $15/tonne carbon levy (via Huffington Post/Canadian Press)

Study recommends Massachusetts carbon tax to fight climate change (via Boston Globe)

OPINION 

Why Russia should ally with China and India on carbon rules (via RTCC)

Obama sounds like he’s about to reject the Keystone pipeline (via Mother Jones)

Five questions to help us understand how commercial solar may grow in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Who will get caught when the oil debt bubble pops? (via Forbes)

How oil’s decline could spatter North Dakota (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Continuing Maryland’s energy boom (via Washington Post)

Who really has grassroots support? Wind energy (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arizona, california, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal exports, Cuba, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, EU ETS, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, fracking, fukushima, germany, india, japan, Keystone XL, Kyocera, maryland, massachusetts, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, OPEC, Pepco, portland, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, wind
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19
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.14

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

CLIMATE

Climate change could cut global food production 18% by 2050 (via BusinessGreen)

Major coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years (via The Guardian)

NASA satellite sends back most detailed view yet of CO2 (via Climate Central)

Much of coastal U.S. will see over 30 days of flooding due to sea level rise, projects NOAA (via Huffington Post)

White House floats new climate guidelines for energy, infrastructure development (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

China solar exports may face increase in EU duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new FiT rules draw criticism from Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (via PV Tech)

India’s biggest wind company plans to enter solar market (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

BNDES approves $222 million in loans for Brazil ethanol plant (via Bloomberg)

EBRD backs Polish wind farm with €23.8 million (via Bloomberg)

South Africa fights blackouts with concentrating solar power (via TriplePundit)

GE ships first Brazil wind turbine nacelle under tough local-content rules (via Recharge News)

U.S power sector employment declines, except for renewable electricity generators (via U.S EIA)

U.S. solar-plus-storage market to surpass $1 billion by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

EIA expects 2014 U.S. wind installations to total less than 5GW (via Recharge)

New money coming home: Investors likely to continue backing residential solar in 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power (via Treehugger)

Businesses get solar at no upfront cost, encourage customers and employees to invest (via Treehugger)

Duke prepares South Carolina distributed solar program (via Renewable Energy World)

Coalition plans push to expand Minnesota’s renewable energy standard in 2015 (via Star-Tribune)

Illinois solar gets closer to game time (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

U.S. EPA set to issue long-anticipated rules for coal ash disposal (via Reuters)

Coal ash waste about to be federally regulated for the first time (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

Polluting is getting expensive again in Europe: Carbon & climate (via Bloomberg)

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral (via National Journal)

OIL

Bankers see $1 trillion in investments stranded in the oil fields (via Bloomberg)

Oil price bloodbath to spark energy sector buying spree (via Reuters)

Nebraska Supreme Court decision on Keystone XL punted to 2015 (via The Hill)

Oil crunch could cost Texas 128,000 jobs, says Fed model (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. gasoline drops below $2.50 in U.S. for first time in 2009 (via Bloomberg)

Tax breaks for EV charging, natural gas cars back through end of 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Analyst slashes Tesla sales forecast 40% due to fuel prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt to add on-demand regenerative braking (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY

German energy use sinks to lowest level since reunification (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. power sector needs $2.1 trillion in investment by 2035, says EIA (via Greentech Media)

EBay just became the latest tech company to leave conservative group ALEC (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, Maryland (via Greentech Media)

Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS

The state of shale (via Phys.org)

Here's the grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

Companies pay $9.7 million in EPA enforcement actions (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION

The top five energy and climate stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

Global biofuels industry: A promising future (via Navigant Research)

Three ways renewables could benefit from low oil prices (via Forbes)

Will coal plant retirements and fracking threaten electric reliability? (via Navigant Research)

The surprising link between what makes us happy and what saves energy (via Washington Post)

Solyndra? Solyndra! The legacy of government loan guarantees beyond politics (via Greentech Media)

Six lessons learned from the front lines of the climate fight (via Huffington Post)

Solar tariffs: Throttling America’s biggest job creation machine (via Renewable Energy World)

How Denmark and Texas became wind energy kings (via StateImpact Texas)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, biofuels, BNDES, Brazil, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coral bleaching, denmark, duke energy, ebay, EBRD, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, European Union, ev, ev charging, feed-in tariff, Flooding, fracking, GE, germany, Illinois, india, japan, maryland, Microgrid, minnesota, National Hockey League, natural gas, new york state, News, noaa, oil, Poland, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Solar concentrating power, solyndra, South Africa, south carolina, suzlon, Tesla, texas, wind
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08
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.8.14

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

CLIMATE

Adapting to a warmer climate could cost almost three times as much as thought, says UN report (via The Guardian)

Peru climate change talks slowed by clashes of rich and poor nations (via Los Angeles Times)

Rift widens among greens over burying carbon as climate fix (via Reuters)

Five burning issues for Lima climate talks this week (via RTCC)

Morocco and Mexico biggest beneficiaries of climate funds (via The Guardian)

US Coast Guard proposes Bering Strait shipping route (via ABC News/AP)

How winters are changing throughout the U.S. (via Climate Central)

A fossil fuel scandal at Lima climate talks (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS

Ukraine expects Russian gas supplies to resume Monday (via Reuters)

West Virginia approves fracking under Ohio River; critics leery (via Columbus Dispatch)

Plans for shale gas “energy hub” draw investors and protestors to Philadelphia (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

RENEWABLES

India plans five-fold increase in clean energy (via ABC News/AP)

Peru lifts renewable energy target for 60% by 2025, aims for 100% long term (via Renew Economy)

Canada probes Chinese solar imports for possible dumping violations (via Forbes)

Wind farms powered 107% of Scotland’s homes in November (via BusinessGreen)

Global wind turbine manufacturing capacity far surpasses demand (via Navigant Research)

Enel Green Power starts $190 million wind farm in Chile (via Bloomberg)

Suzlon conducting study for offshore wind farm in India (via Financial Express)

Ethanol joins US fuels dominating global export market (via Houston Chronicle)

World record solar module efficiency of 40.4% from CPV startup RayGen (via Greentech Media)

Solar PV generation doubles – monthly US electricity generation report (via CleanTechnica)

Heco seeks Hawaii green light for 207MW solar PPAs (via Recharge)

Now’s the time to buy into community solar prices, at all-time low (via CleanTechnica)

New York launches “Community Solar NY” To support Solarize campaigns (via Solar Industry Magazine)

A “business” model for expanding renewable energy: The New Mexico Production Tax Credit (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

Global Divestment Day: Climate action vs carbon bubble risk (via CleanTechnica)

China blocks carbon review sought by US at UN talks (via Bloomberg)

IETA: Carbon markets need to matter more in Lima (via RTCC)

Oil companies at climate talks dismiss carbon bubble fears (via RTCC)

Renewable energy price declines can help states meet carbon targets under EPA’s Clean Power Plan (via NRDC Switchboard)

RGGI carbon auction raises more than $94 million (via Environmental Leader)

A California community shoots for the moon: Palo Alto considers carbon neutrality (via RMI Outlet)

OIL

Global shale ambitions wane as OPEC price war deepens oil plunge (via Bloomberg)

Don’t count on oil drop greasing global growth (via Bloomberg)

Oil price drops boost argument for crude exports (via Houston Chronicle)

US oil rig count rises as shale drillers face OPEC challenge (via Bloomberg)

US Supreme Court rejects BP challenge to Gulf spill settlement (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

US fuel economy average down for the first time in four years (via Autoblog)

Fuel to the fire? Fuel exports soar under Obama (via AP)

Quebec is first Canadian province to use carrot-and-stick tactics with car buyers (via Montreal Gazette)

US gasoline prices fall to four-year low (via Reuters)

US airlines will need to sharply increase fleet renewal to meet 2020 carbon neutral growth goal (via Green Car Congress)

Audi confirms it will release Tesla-rivaling electric sedan in 2017 (via Inhabitat)

Uber adds a billion dollars more to its coffers (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Latin American coalition to restore 20 million hectares of forest (via RTCC)

California’s drought is now the worst in 1,2000 years (via Time)

Trackable, biodegradable fishing nets could put an end to “ghost nets” (via Treehugger)

COAL

Big banks propping up dirty coal industry to tune of $89 billion (via Huffington Post)

Grassroots anti-coal movements to watch (via Treehugger)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK government to re-launch Green Deal energy efficiency scheme with £30 million fund (via BusinessGreen)

Are hotel energy and water savings programs really about the environment? (via Treehugger)

Freedom Tower was supposed to be the greenest building in America – so what went wrong? (via Mother Jones)

Green real estate trends (via Huffington Post)

NUCLEAR

Almost all US nuclear plants require life extension past 60 years to operate beyond 2050 (via US EIA)

GOP gain put nuclear power back on the table (via The Hill)

New math to help Exelon’s nuclear plants (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

GRID

Regional Japan grids can take less than half of renewables approved by government (via Bloomberg)

Smart meter power savings prove slow to materialize (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Energy firms secretly helped state attorneys general fight Obama (via The Hill)

Fossil-fuel lobbyists, bolstered by GOP wins, work to curb environmental rules (via Washington Post)

House Republican plans to introduce climate-science bill (via National Journal)

Black Friday shopper numbers twice as high as midterm election voter turnout (via Inhabitat)

OPINION

The end and beginning of the Arctic (via Climate Central)

India’s energy moment: Ready for a low-carbon future? (via National Geographic)

Will German wind market double? (via Renewables International)

Five reasons why Tesla’s stock is down (via GigaOm)

Why a Florida utility suddenly wants to serve Hawaii (via Christian Science Monitor)

Can solar companies really be called “high tech?” (via Renewable Energy World)

What’s really at stake in the Florida solar battle? (via Renewable Energy World)

Do gasoline prices affect home values? (via Houston Chronicle)

Why the world missed the oil price crash (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, audi, BP, california, canada, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon neutrality, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, deforestation, Divestment, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, enel green power, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exelon, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Freedom Tower, germany, global warming, green building, green deal, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, japan, Latin America, mexico, Morocco, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, NextEra, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Peru, Quebec, renewables, rggi, Russia, Scotland, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, suzlon, Tesla, Transportation, Uber, Ukraine, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, West Virginia, wind
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05
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.5.14

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

CLIMATE

Australia says it won’t pay into UN Green Climate Fund (via Huffington Post)

Antarctic ice sheets threatened by warm water rising from below (via Bloomberg)

Africa rainfall may rise with greenhouse gas emissions (via Bloomberg)

White House announces initiative to improve climate education in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill rises from the dead (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Annual installed capacity of distributed generation is expected to double by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Indonesia’s new government announces a jump start for solar (via PV Tech)

Brazil starts-up more new wind as grid bottlenecks ease (via Recharge)

UK, Belgium research teams aim for offshore wind grid-boost (via Recharge)

Investors take pragmatic view as wind, solar deliver returns (via Recharge)

Solar stock selloff creates buying opportunity as sector caught in oil’s volatility (via MarketWatch)

$6 billion opportunity: Rural electric cooperatives could lead on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

As coal crashes, U.S. governors push wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

Survey: California boasts almost 73,000 workers in solar industry (via PV Tech)

CaliforniaFIRST offers new rates and terms for PACE financing (via Solar Industry)

Missouri’s largest investor-owned utility scale solar energy center goes live (via Energy Manager Today)

Michigan legislature passes bill to include burning tires as renewable energy (via Michigan Live)

COAL

BLM has not performed an environmental review of coal leasing program since 1979 (via Desmog Blog)

EMISSIONS

China broadens pollution pledge in call for climate funding (via Bloomberg)

India says its carbon emissions will keep rising (via The Hill)

Obama’s clean power plan getting dirtied but it has key business support (via Forbes)

OIL

More than $150 billion of oil projects face the axe in 2015 (via Reuters)

Plunging oil prices spell trouble for Alaska – America’s own petro state (via Washington Post)

U.S. oil reserves continue rising, surpass 36 billion barrels for first time since 1975 (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

DOE’s EV Everywhere workplace charging program is working (via Autoblog Green)

Questions bubble up about Tesla Model S sales numbers (via Autoblog Green)

Ford’s aluminum body F-150 makes its debut (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY

Rising power demand means $65 billion a year task for China’s grid (via Bloomberg)

Obama’s climate critique of Australia draws utility rebuttal (via Bloomberg)

Forecast of Brazil rain will halt expensive power plants (via Bloomberg)

U.S. energy policy taking dramatic shift to the right (via Breaking Energy)

Bird’s fate shaping energy development in U.S. West (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS

U.S. natural gas reserves hit all-time high (via The Hill)

Study: Fracking chemicals pose potential health threat to children and mothers (via Business Green)

POLITICS

White House official: Obama will use executive powers to meet climate goals (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

Will low oil prices derail renewable energy growth? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Why Tesla’s batteries scale the hell out of electric companies (via Bloomberg)

Can solar thermal desalination make sustainable agriculture possible? (via CleanTechnica)

The funny thing about Google’s decision to stop renewable energy research (via Climate Progress)

Why is a three-week Production Tax Credit extension worthless? (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Antarctic, australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bureau of Land Management, california, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal leasing, distributed generation, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, ev, ev charging, Ford, fracking, google, Green Climate Fund, green jobs, grid, india, Indonesia, michigan, Missouri, natural gas, News, PACE, production tax credit, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, solar, Solar Thermal, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, wind
0
04
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.4.14

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

ENERGY POLICY

U.S. House backs one-year renewal of “extender” tax breaks (via Reuters)

New study claims energy industry is “up for grabs” (via Renew Grid)

NextEra buys Hawaii’s biggest electric utility (via Forbes)

CLIMATE

Drought in U.S., Brazil linked to hottest year ever (via Bloomberg)

White House names 16 communities as climate “champions” (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Top ten PV module suppliers for 2014: Same group, different order (via Renewable Energy World)

One in five Australian households now using solar (via Renew Economy)

UK solar “competitive without subsidies” by 2020 (via RTCC)

Green Climate Fund to start funding projects in 2015 (via RTCC)

Renewable energy lowers consumer utility bills in Alberta (via Renewable Energy World)

U.S. House renews main wind tax incentive for one year (via Recharge)

Solar crosses 1% total U.S. supply threshold in 2014 (via Sustainable Business)

No health impacts from wind turbine noise, says MIT study (via Recharge)

SolarCity creating a social network through a new app (via Forbes)

Meet Generate Capital, a new way to fund energy projects (via GigaOm)

TAR SANDS

EU vote puts Canadian tar sands label back on the agenda (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

UN carbon market fights for its future at Lima talks (via RTCC)

CO2 takes just ten years to reach planet’s peak heat (via Climate Central)

Missing its own goals, Germany renews effort to cut carbon emissions (via New York Times)

India considers emissions peak 2035-2050 (via RTCC)

Norway to assess fossil fuel assets case-by-case (via CleanTechnica)

California-Quebec carbon auction raises $407 million (via Environmental Leader)

Behind their opposition, central states study EPA rule cooperation (via EnergyWire)

OIL

Saudi Arabia can’t stop the U.S. fracking boom (via National Journal)

Congress set to renew drilling permit program (via Houston Chronicle)

Production up but methane emissions down in Permian Basin (via Houston Chronicle)

Fed says U.S. economy expanding, shale production steady (via Reuters)

Sub-$50 oil surfaces in North Dakota amid regional discounts (via Bloomberg)

Britain promises oil industry tax cuts to rein in costs (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

China overtook the U.S. in monthly electric car sales two months ago (via Green Car Reports)

Germany ready to offer more incentives to reach one million EV goal (via Autoblog Green)

AAA: “Remarkable” drop in gas prices isn’t over (via The Hill)

As gas prices fall, auto buyers abandon greener cars (via National Journal)

Boeing completes test flight with “green diesel” (via Phys.org)

Ford “working very hard” on F-150 hybrid (via Autoblog Green)

Californians now buy a plug-in EV for every two hybrids (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

SCE, PGE issue first-ever energy storage requests to meet AB 2514 (via Greentech Media)

In Texas, a conflict over grid batteries (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

California deluge not yet El Nino, but it is a welcome respite (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

Giving climate pact legal teeth could make it toothless (via Climate Central)

Oil prices plunge – is a shale bubble bursting? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Yet again, partisan wrangling leaves Wind Tax Credit in legislative limbo (via Climate Progress)

Solar uniquely positioned to help states meet new regulations (via Renewable Energy World)

Divest now: Time for Universities to stand up to fossil fuel interests (via NRDC Switchboard)

The gas tax has been fixed at 18 cents for two decades – now would be a great time to raise it (via Washington Post)

What will happen when the ITC is reduced? (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, Alberta, australia, biofuel, boeing, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, drought, emissions, energy storage, EPA, European Union, ev, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, gas prices, Gas tax, germany, global warming, Green Climate Fund, grid, Hawaii, india, methane, MIT, News, NextEra, north dakota, norway, oil, PGE, production tax credit, Quebec, renewables, saudi arabia, SCE, solar, SolarCity, tar sands, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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12
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.12.14

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

CLIMATE 

U.S. and China reach climate accord after months of talks (via New York Times)

U.S., China agree to emissions limits, but experts see little new (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

G20 nations spend $88 billion a year on fossil-fuel exploration (via Bloomberg)

Germany plans tax relief to raise energy efficiency and cut emissions (via Reuters)

IEA pushes nuclear as carbon emissions set to reach limit (via Bloomberg)

The real story of U.S. coal: Inside the world’s biggest coalmine (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Fossil fuels with $550 billion subsidies hurt renewables (via Bloomberg)

China set for 20% clean energy target as part of U.S. climate pact (via PV Tech)

Renewable energy investment in Australia dropped 70% in the past year (via The Guardian)

India commercial solar rooftops “to reach grid parity next year” (via PV Tech)

Large solar selling cheaper than fossil fuels in Texas, Georgia, India, Brazil, and Chile (via TreeHugger)

Renewable energy “creates more jobs than fossil fuels” (via EcoWatch)

Watch solar grow across the top 30 U.S. markets (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Ex-Im Bank approves $200 million in renewable energy exports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. named global wind production leader as industry fights for tax credit extension (via Renewable Energy World)

The rise of retail clean energy investing (via Renewable Energy World)

Rural co-ops taking lead on community solar in Midwest (via Midwest Energy News)

Study: California solar boom makes state a national leader, prepares new generation of workers (via Phys.org)

Illinois: Can the Land of Lincoln become the land of solar? (via Greentech Media)

Ford to debut wind and solar powered dealers (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

IEA: Shale boom masks multiple threats to world oil supply (via Bloomberg)

OPEC sees lower 2015 oil demand, Saudi output still high (via Reuters)

OPEC delegates start whispering about potential oil cut (via Reuters)

China seen overtaking U.S. as world’s biggest oil user (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Some utilities are making it cheaper to drive electric cars (via Huffington Post)

Inside Tesla – A rare glimpse of electric carmaker’s culture (via Forbes)

GRID 

Move over World Bank: Bilateral institutions lead investment beyond the grid (via Energy Collective)

Cross-state power flows complicate the Clean Power Plan (via Energy Collective)

Texas utility Oncor wants to invest $5.2 billion in storage: Can it get approval? (via Greentech Media)

Can buildings help regulate the power grid and integrate renewables? (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT

Drought is taking California back to the wild, Wild West (via National Journal)

Pennsylvania now has more than 500 frack water ponds (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

POLITICS 

Senate GOP steeling for battle against EPA (via The Hill)

Senate Democrats said to consider Keystone XL vote soon to aid Landrieu (via Bloomberg)

Awkward: Watch a video of Republicans using China as an excuse to do nothing on climate change (via Mother Jones)

The Democrats’ favorite denier: Why enviros are cheering Chairman Inhofe (via Politico)

OPINION 

Seven key lessons from the U.S.-China climate pact (via BusinessGreen)

Experts are skeptical over the U.S.-China emissions deal (via Time)

The U.S. and China just shook up global climate talks with major pollution pledges (via National Journal)

Why oil prices are a serious problem for Russia (via CNBC)

What a Republican Senate means for the environment (via The Hill)

Which do you like better: Clean energy and your money, or PJM’s proposed capacity market reforms? (via NRDC Switchboard)

New study says green jobs debate should be looking forward (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Brazil, california, Capacity market, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Export-Import bank, Ford, fracking, Georgia, germany, green jobs, grid, IEA, Illinois, india, Jim Inhofe, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, News, nuclear, oil, Oncor, OPEC, pennsylvania, PJM, production tax credit, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, Subsidies, Tesla, texas, Transportation, wind, World Bank
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07
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate talks grapple with regional carbon market integration: IEA (via Bloomberg)

China plans to cap carbon emissions from steel, cement producers by 2020 (via ClimateWire)

Election shifts Oregon closer to carbon tax, not so much for Washington (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

COAL 

Coal’s defender-in-chief tries to shift debate about fuel (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables now cheaper than fossil fuels in developing countries (via Energy Collective)

UK utility-scale solar boom on tap for 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar doesn’t pay right now in Germany (via Renewables International)

UK solar companies lose legal battle over subsidy cuts (via BusinessGreen)

Republicans urged to reject wind tax credit in lame duck (via Houston Chronicle)

First Wind closes $254 million financing for Texas wind farm (via Bloomberg)

40% renewable energy integration no trouble for Midwest (via CleanTechnica)

UC-Irvine adding 3.2MW of solar canopies (via Energy Manager Today)

Vestas upgrades sales, margins forecast as profit surges (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows (via The Guardian)

Brazil wants richer countries to step up on climate (via The Hill)

New global warming remedy: Turn rangelands into carbon vacuums (via California Magazine)

Shrimp depletion in Gulf of Maine part of a global pattern (via Portland Press-Herald)

Republican gains in Washington state legislature spoil plans for West Coast bloc of climate action states (via ClimateWire)

Tech company SAP severs ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS 

DOJ subpoenas Chesapeake Energy over royalty complaints (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois lawmakers approve fracking rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

EU’s bank to loan Britain’s power grid $2.4 billion (via Reuters)

Battery storage will replace many peaker spinning reserve plants (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Testing U.S. oil export ban carries some risks (via Reuters)

Federal Appeals Court reaffirms BP is liable in Gulf oil spill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

White House would “consider” Keystone bill (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Which EV makers are serious? U.S. sales show top three (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla projecting years of 50% growth sparks share rise (via Bloomberg)

EPA says more fuel-efficient cars available in 2015 (via The Hill)

Tesla Model X delayed thanks to Model S production lessons (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. weather forecaster slightly reduces El Nino outlook (via Reuters)

No recovery, but a sliver of drought gain for California (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial and industrial demand response poised for major growth (via Renew Grid)

Arizona energy efficiency programs in jeopardy (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Republican wave unlikely to wash away Obama’s major rules (via Greenwire)

House to vote on EPA “secret science” bills (via The Hill)

Republican sweep highlights climate change politics in Alaska (via NPR)

National Democrats yanking Louisiana ad buy as Landrieu faces runoff (via Bloomberg)

Meager returns for the Democrats’ biggest donor (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Six renewable energy trends to watch for in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Do Americans really want a hard right turn on climate and renewables? (via The Hill)

Can SolarCity crack the code of boosting business beyond solar homes? (via Forbes)

Election special: What the Republican takeover means for clean energy (via Greentech Media)

President Obama has stalled on Keystone for years. Now he has to make a decision. (via Slate)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, battery, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chesapeake Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, First Wind, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mary Landrieu, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, production tax credit, renewables, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, UC Irvine, united kingdom, vestas, Washington State, wind
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06
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.6.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Split decision by voters on local fracking bans (via New York Times)

Spending on wastewater treatment for fracking may triple by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

First lawsuits filed over Denton, Texas fracking ban (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LED lighting efficiency jumps roughly 50% since 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Army net zero initiative soldiers on (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Germany plans trio of 200MW solar PV tenders for 2015 (via Recharge)

October delivers another record-breaking month for UK wind power (via BusinessGreen)

Largest solar PV plant in Europe planned for France (via PV Tech)

Germany consortium evaluating major solar PV manufacturing hub in Brazil (via PV Tech)

World’s largest merchant solar project goes online in Chile (via Renew Economy)

Post-election report: Clean energy jobs grow in Republican (and Democratic) districts (via Huffington Post)

Utility unveils plan to clear Hawaii solar PV backlog within five months (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar PV operations and maintenance versus asset management: What’s the difference? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase stock punished despite record-setting quarter (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity reports “fiery” Q3 growth (via Recharge)

NRG’s David Crane begins to “pull back the curtain” on retail solar strategy (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC’s weak links feeling pain that shale producers seek (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla reports loss, but beats Wall Street expectations (via New York Times)

Tesla shares surge after record Model S sales (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republicans plan quick move on Keystone XL in 2015 (via Reuters)

How a Republican Senate could force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Delay urged in Obama carbon rules to shield electric grid (via Bloomberg)

Meet the climate sleuths keeping carbon reporting honest (via RTCC)

Climate quietly wins midterm victory in Pennsylvania and RGGI (via National Journal)

How to manage carbon prices: Lessons from the Northeast U.S. (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Counting the varied costs of China’s dependence on coal (via New York Times)

U.S. water use drops to lowest level in 40 years (via Science Blogs)

Study: Environmental groups are relatively oblivious to economics (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Battery market to double in 10 years, says Navigant (via Energy Manager Today)

Real-time energy markets bring millions in cost savings to Western U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

SCE announces winners of energy storage contracts worth 250MW (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Geoengineering: The ethical problems with cleaning the air (via The Guardian)

Five environmental challenges for Dilma Rousseff’s second term (via RTCC)

10 lessons for the green economy from the U.S. midterms (via BusinessGreen)

The greenest companies consistently outperform markets (via Environmental Leader)

Tom Steyer spent $74 million on the election. He didn’t get much to show for it. (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Energy seen getting biggest boost from Republican Senate (via Reuters)

Meet the U.S. Senate’s new climate denial caucus (via Mother Jones)

GOP to fight on Keystone, climate rules, says McConnell (via The Hill)

GOP Congress may steamroll Obama on Keystone, energy exports (via Forbes)

The possibility of post-election bipartisan deals (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, Brazil, california, Carbon market, Carbon prices, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, coal, David Crane, Dilma Rousseff, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy imbalance market, energy storage, Enphase, fracking, Fracking ban, France, Geoengineering, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, LED, Mitch McMconnell, natural gas, Net zero, News, NRG, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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