Category Archives:fukushima

15
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.15

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

EMISSIONS 

EU power sector emissions drop a “staggering” eight percent (via BusinessGreen)

South Korea cap-and-trade market becomes world’s second-largest (via CleanTechnica)

Warm weather sinking EU emissions-market plans (via Bloomberg)

EPA air chief “confident” as rulemakings face legal, political fire (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Drillers say Obama plan to plug methane leaks imperils boom (via Bloomberg)

President Obama’s gas-drilling dance (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Germany passes 1GW offshore wind, set to triple this year (via Recharge)

Wind and bioenergy star in 2030 U.S. green energy mix, PV not so much (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. solar jobs climb 22% as clean power aids economic recovery (via Bloomberg)

Policy uncertainty drives 25 percent of wind industry suppliers out of business (via CleanTechnica)

SolarCity taps Credit Suisse for $200 million on “MyPower” financing (via PV Tech)

Net metering for rooftop solar: How to fix the problems (via The Energy Collective)

Xcel’s community solar program creates “bite-sized” utility projects (via Solar Industry)

Florida Tea Party helps launch ballot initiative for third-party solar (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to see market share drop even as oil slump slows shale boom (via Reuters)

Wells Fargo examines its energy loans after oil-price drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

The $2.4 billion plan to get Germans to buy EVs (via Autoblog)

Production and sales of plug-in EVs boomed in China in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla chief asks automakers to support electric cars (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

Rate of sea-level rise more significant than thought (via BBC)

Map reveals which countries will survive climate change (via Inhabitat)

Scientists reveal which coral reefs can survive global warming (via The Guardian)

Pope Francis says climate change is mostly man’s fault (via The Guardian)

Global Climate Fund on GOP’s budget hit list (via InsideClimate News)

For vulnerable barrier islands, a rush to rebuild on U.S. coast (via Yale e360)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada still expecting Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

GRID 

Clean Line scores key approval for Plains & Eastern transmission line (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima meltdowns pervade South Korea debate on reactor renewal (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

USDA to provide $370 million for environmental conservation projects (via The Hill)

State of the California drought: Still very bad (via ScienceBlogs)

OPINION 

Could China become the OPEC of solar manufacturing? (via Forbes)

Institutional investors are blowing it on renewable energy (via GreenBiz)

Cost-competitive clean energy well placed to rise out oil price slump (via Forbes)

Solar industry added jobs nearly 20 times faster than overall U.S. economy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, california, canada, cap and trade, China, Clean Line, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, community solar, Coral reefs, Credit Suisse, drought, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, Florida, fracking, fukushima, germany, Global Climate Fund, grid, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, OPEC, Pope Francis, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, SolarCity, South Korea, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, usda, Wells Fargo, xcel
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30
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.30.14

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

CLIMATE

U.S. cities face “blackouts” from climate-linked extreme weather (via RTCC)

NUCLEAR

Fukushima radiation: U.S. West Coast will likely see peak by end of 2015 (via Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLES

Enel Green connects two new solar farms to Chile grid (via Bloomberg)

UK businesses urged to weigh in on government’s rooftop solar plans (via BusinessGreen)

Poll: Americans prioritize alternative energy to fossil fuels by a 2-to-1 margin (via Houston Chronicle)

Graphene may double solar cell power, harvest hydrogen from air (via Green Car Reports)

U.S. places 2.5GW wind capacity in service through November (via Recharge)

Renewable energy review: The island markets (via Renewable Energy World)

Utah’s solar sector showing strong gains (via Solar Industry Magazine)

India’s railways plan 1GW solar power capacity (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Portman has hope for energy efficiency bill in next Congress (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS

Inhofe says fighting environmental regulations won’t be top priority (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION

Lamborghini plug-in hybrid SUV reportedly in the works (via Inside EVs)

OPINION

10 renewable energy questions for 2015 (via Breaking Energy)

Remember these energy numbers from 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Caribbean, Chile, climate, Climate Change, enel, Energy Efficiency, fukushima, Graphene, india, Jim Inhofe, Lamborghini, News, nuclear, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, solar, Transportation, united kingdom, utah, wind
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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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22
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.21.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China to let foreign investors trade in Shenzen carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Architects from 124 countries make “zero-carbon cities” pledge (via RTCC)

EPA report shows progress reducing urban air toxics across U.S.; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990 (via Green Car Congress)

Reducing NYC’s carbon emissions one building at a time (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal gas boom in China holds climate change risks (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Canada’s largest port approves $15 million coal transfer project (via Reuters)

Oregon coal terminal decision highlights exports’ emissions (via Climate Central)

North Carolina lawmakers pass coal ash restrictions (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Africa to add more renewables in 2014 than in past 14 years (via Bloomberg)

South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya lead renewables spurt in Africa (via Bloomberg)

Solar power poses lower risk to birds than cats or cars (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy could hit 36% of global energy, but there’s a biomass catch (via The Energy Collective)

Solar PV helps eliminate kerosene lamps in Africa (via Navigant Research)

“World’s biggest” tidal array gets go ahead in Scotland (via BusinessGreen)

Japan to support PV on landfill sites (via Recharge)

Renewable energy accounts for 100% of all new U.S. power in July (via Renew Grid)

As small hydropower swells, so does caution over its impacts (via GreenBiz)

Are reverse auctions key to reforming solar energy subsidies? (via The Energy Collective)

How one wonky court decision could unlock our renewable energy future (via CleanTechnica)

ABB unveils cable innovation to increase offshore wind efficiency (via Reuters)

Vestas heads for 1st dividend in decade after turnaround (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco concedes failure of Fukushima ice wall (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Antarctica and Greenland losing ice at fastest rate ever recorded (via Yale e360)

Study says answer to global warming slowdown lies in depths of Atlantic Ocean (via The Guardian)

Food and drink companies respond to consumer pressure on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS 

China’s natural gas production falls short in China (via New York Times)

Study to explore economic potential of Mexican shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy industry looks to develop better methane monitors (via Houston Chronicle)

At least 10 percent of fracking fluid is toxic, says LBNL analysis (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Smart grid technology revenue will be $70.2 billion by 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

A comeback for community energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Where is distributed energy storage being deployed in the U.S.? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Russia said to be near oil tax plan that may cost state $6.6 billion (via Bloomberg)

Western Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling lease sale results in $110 million in bids on 400,000 acres (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Epic drought in U.S. West is literally moving mountains (via Climate Central)

63 trillion gallons of groundwater lost in Western U.S. drought (via Los Angeles Times)

California has given out rights to five times more water than it actually has (via Climate Progress)

Drought weighing you down? It’s lifting America up. (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands bitumen set to eclipse pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

Canada’s $24 million Keystone XL ad campaign falls flat (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Apple produces 134 out of 135 entries in EPEAT’s new green tablet registry (via Treehugger)

OPINION 

Could shale revive China’s flagging oil fields? (via Reuters)

Brace yourself for Solargeddon, Australia (via The Energy Collective)

Why EVs will make solar viable without subsidies (via Renew Economy)

Here’s why Solar City will move into Mexico (via Greentech Media)

Toyota could be wrong about the high cost of hydrogen (via CleanTechnica)

If you can’t take the heat, get off the island (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

McConnell promises spending standoff over Obama green agenda (via National Journal)

Meet the scientists who sat Rick Scott down and explained climate change to him (via Salon)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, africa, Antarctica, apple, australia, biomass, california, canada, Carbon market, China, climate, coal, coal ash, Coal export, Coal gas, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EPEAT, Ethiopia, EVs, fracking, fukushima, global warming, greenland, grid, hydrogen, Hydropower, japan, Kenya, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, New York City, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oregon, renewables, Reverse auction, Rick Scott, Russia, Scotland, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, Solar City, South Africa, Subsidies, tar sands, Tepco, tidal power, Toyota, vestas, Water rights, wind
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21
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate models accurately predicted global warming when reflecting natural ocean cycles (via The Guardian)

Climate models on the mark, finds Australian-led research (via Sydney Morning-Herald)

As Arctic ice melts, polar bears find a new menu (via Climate Central)

Boston may need canals to combat climate change (via WGBH)

Religious effort to halt climate change puts Rabbi Moti Reiber behind church pulpits (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Denmark declares wind “cheapest” form of power (via BusinessGreen)

Quebec seeks to strengthen its wind market (via Recharge)

Solar, wind account for over half of all new U.S. generation in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Wind turbines could rule Tornado Alley (via Forbes)

Maryland offshore wind auction date set, New Jersey auction proposed (via TriplePundit)

Feds to announce South Carolina ocean wind tracts in North Myrtle Beach (via The Sun-News)

Washington State just cut up to $2,500 off the cost of solar panels (via Grist)

SunEdison announces IPO pricing for solar yieldco (via Solar Industry Magazine)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican energy sector reform takes step forward (via Wall Street Journal)

FERC tell utility industry group to beef up electric grid security proposal (via The Hill)

COAL 

India doubles coal tax to fund clean energy, environment projects (via CleanTechnica)

Minnesota governor calls for eliminating coal from state’s energy production (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Coal fuels brewpubs in Wyoming as Kentucky mines misery (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

World Bank sees “momentum” behind global carbon price (via RTCC)

Some Chinese carbon projects to exit UN offset market if allowed (via Reuters)

U.S. and China lead the way on carbon capture and storage (via Climate Central)

Some U.S. faith groups unload fossil-fuel investments (via Washington Post)

Drought hinders California’s emissions goals (via San Francisco Chronicle)

El Paso Electric to divest from coal and invest in solar (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

OIL 

Amid global turmoil, oil prices oddly stable (via Navigant Research)

Oil trains, born of U.S. energy boom, face test in new safety rules (via Reuters)

Did Obama just signal he’ll open the Atlantic Coast to drilling? (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

China now has more than 200 million EV drivers (via San Jose Mercury News)

Japan Prime Minister says country will offer $20,000 subsidy for fuel cell cars (via Reuters)

China to mandate one-third of government vehicles be plug-ins (via Green Car Report)

Fuel efficiencies drive down passenger vehicle energy demands (via Houston Chronicle)

How can the United States pay for road upkeep? (via Navigant Research)

Three things you may not know about EV maker Tesla Motors (via Motley Fool)

NUCLEAR 

“Empty and lonely” Fukushima towns struggle in catastrophe’s wake (via Greenwire)

Is EPA about to relax radiation protections from nuclear power? (via Forbes)

GRID 

India village claims first 100% solar, energy storage microgrid (via Renew Economy)

Microgrids: They’re kind of a big deal (via Renewable Energy World)

Behind the scenes at Aquion Energy’s battery factor and the future of solar storage (via GigaOm)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The ten most energy efficient states in America (via Business Cheat Sheet)

LEDs will slash energy use for lighting by 95% (via Renew Economy)

ENVIRONMENT 

The great American oyster collapse (via Al-Jazeera)

Experts say wildfire threat is already above normal in Western U.S. states (via Washington Post)

EPA moves to thwart Alaskan copper and gold mine (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Climate regulations back under the microscope in Congress (via The Hill)

Steyer cuts $2 million for climate, Mercer aids Tea Party (via Bloomberg)

A fracking problem for Colorado Democrats (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Australia’s decision to dump its carbon tax reveals more about politics than the environment (via Washington Post)

What if climate change triggers cooperation, not conflict? (via Huffington Post)

Combat global warming by taxing carbon (via The Oregonian)

Poll: Men and women think differently about energy, climate (via Time)

How should climate change be taught? (via National Journal)

Reflecting on climate change upon granddaughter’s birth (via Trenton Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, battery, Boston, california, carbon capture, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, denmark, Divestment, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ev, FERC, Fuel Cells, fukushima, global warming, grid, india, japan, Kentucky, LEDs, maryland, mexico, Microgrids, minnesota, new jersey, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil trains, Quebec, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, south carolina, SunEdison, Tesla, Transportation, united nations, Washington State, wildfires, wind, World Bank, wyoming, YieldCo
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10
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.10.14

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

CLIMATE 

From Sao Paulo to Hong Kong, cities report economic climate threat (via Bloomberg)

UK defense ministry details global security impacts of climate change (via ClimateWire)

Loss of snowpack and glaciers in Rockies poses water threat (via Yale e360)

Sea level rise cuts across political divide in Norfolk, Va (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

Why China’s energy consumption will keep rising (via Energy Collective)

U.S. public lands fading as fossil fuels source (via Climate Central)

Federal government still spending billions to subsidize fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind to beat coal on costs in China, India by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

One-third of Germany’s power came from renewables in first half 2014 (via Yale e360)

Upcoming auctions position Brazil for major solar growth (via Solar Industry Magazine)

EIA projections show hydropower growth limited by economics, not resources (via US EIA)

Mercom Capital charts top solar deals of second quarter (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Chicago to announce new rooftop solar discount program (via Chicago Tribune)

Food waste is so yesterday – think biogas instead (via GreenBiz)

What you need to know about how clean energy yielcos work (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal’s last gasp in Europe (via The Economist)

Most U.K. coal plants to shut by 2023 on climate rules (via Bloomberg)

Mountaintop removal coal mining decimates Appalachian fish populations (via EcoWatch)

Missouri governor signs law blocking coal-related ballot measures (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Zero carbon and economic growth can go together, says UN study (via The Guardian)

Australian Senate rejects carbon tax repeal (via Reuters)

Australian PM seeks carbon price repeal next week after losing vote (via Bloomberg)

EU Parliament to consider carbon price fix this fall (via The Hill)

China’s Tianjin carbon market extends permit deadline again (via Reuters)

The shocking truth about British Columbia’s carbon tax: It works (via The Globe and Mail)

OIL 

Swaps could be next way around oil export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China makes new electric vehicles tax-free (via The Guardian)

Nissan launches “no charge to charge” program for Leaf buyers (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

One-fifth of the Amazon may have been savannah before Europeans arrived (via Mongabay)

Freedom Industries fined $11,000 for historic West Virginia chemical spill (via Climate Progress)

The weird and wonderful world of indoor farming (via Think Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking could supply one-third of UK gas by 2035, says National Grid (via RTCC)

GRID 

Modi budget plans $250 million to boost solar, grid to end India blackouts (via Bloomberg)

Transmission issues plague power-starved southern India states (via Panchabuta)

Washington State grants $14.3 million for energy storage systems (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco says it has turned corner on Fukushima nuclear cleanup (via Bloomberg)

Wisconsin reactor’s demise shows plight of nuclear towns (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska court date pushes final Keystone XL decision past midterms (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

House Republicans threaten to subpoena EPA over carbon rules (via The Hill)

White House threatens to veto energy spending bill over environmental riders (via The Hill)

Forget LeBron, it’s free agency season for green groups (via National Journal)

Study says rich Republicans are the worst climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

Here’s what the world would look like if we took global warming seriously (via Vox)

Sixty years after birth, it’s time for solar cells to get serious (via GigaOm)

Why we need a carbon tax (via Huffington Post)

Fix the climate problem? Easy – cut U.S. emissions to 1901 levels (via Bloomberg)

How Silveo could succeed where Solyndra failed (via Greentech Media)

Why Washington State’s $14.3 million energy storage program is so different from others (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, Appalachia, australia, Biogas, Brazil, british columbia, cap and trade, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU ETS, europe, ev, ev charging, fracking, fukushima, germany, grid, Hong Kong, Hydropower, india, Keystone XL, LED, Mercom Capital, Missouri, mountaintop removal, national grid, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, Norfolk, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, renewables, Sao Paulo, Sea level rise, Silveo, solar, solyndra, Subsidies, Tepco, Tianjin, Tony Abbott, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, wind, Wisconsin, Yieldcos
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09
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL 

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL 

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID 

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Posted:   |   Categories: apple, arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuels, biomass, cap and trade, Chevron, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, CREZ, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enphase, environment, EU, European Union, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, fracking, France, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, india, japan, Joe Manchin, Kentucky, Keystone XL, Microgrid, Mosaic, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil shale, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Sugnevity, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Ukraine, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind
0
22
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.14

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

GRID 

Utility spending on smart grid as a service will total $57.6 billion from 2014 through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Will utilities heed the grid defection alarm? (via Energy Collective)

When will smart meters’ day come? (via EnergyWire)

Solar paired with energy storage scores a regulatory win in California (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

EPA is readying climate rule for existing power plants as deadline approaches (via Washington Post)

Obama divides power industry with emissions rule utilities accept (via Bloomberg)

States pressing EPA for energy efficiency credits in power plant regulations, says Moniz (via Greenwire)

IDIOCY 

Pat Sajak: Climate change tweet “parody” (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

China solar makers seek talks to resolve trade dispute with U.S. (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

European utility says wind now cheapest form of generation (via Renew Economy)

Biofuels for road transportation will reach $338 billion in annual revenue by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Connecticut agency closes on $30 million PACE financing deal (via New Haven Register)

Innovative farm methane energy projects clash with Wisconsin policy (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

China curbs capital’s coal consumption to combat smog (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

UN climate fund agrees to rules, paving way to raise capital (via Bloomberg)

Climate change is single most divisive issue, says poll (via Huffington Post)

North Carolina wants to nominate climate deniers to study sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

How South Florida is ignoring the state’s leading politicians to take on climate change (via Climate Progress)

Pope Francis on climate change: “If we destroy creation, creation will destroy us” (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

$400 billion gas deal shows Russia looking to China to replace western money (via Forbes)

Venezuela plans first shale gas exploration project (via Reuters)

Kerry says Russia-China gas deal not linked to Ukraine (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Will ads run on your Nest thermostat one day? (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Write-down on two-thirds of US shale oil explodes fracking myth (via The Guardian)

Oil climbs to $104 as U.S. supplies drop sharply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP lodges Supreme Court appeal to limit Gulf of Mexico oil spill settlement (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU aims to put brake on truck emissions with new regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Nissan’s electric vehicle free-charging program hits speed bump (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GM has installed 401 EV charge stations at US facilities, 5,900 at dealerships (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court to weigh Keystone XL by October (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought threatens US food supply; collapsing aquifer sinking the land (via Weather Channel)

373,000 Colorado homes at high wildfire risk (via Coloradoan)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima Daiichi begins pumping groundwater into Pacific (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

The House Science Committee has held more hearings on aliens than climate change (via National Journal)

Steyer’s PAC targets seven races for November (via Politico)

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate opposes anti-green energy bill (via Toledo Blade)

OPINION 

Crimea oil and gas will not come easy for Russia (via Christian Science Monitor)

Climate change and the American economy (via The Hill)

How green spaces could stop cities from overheating (via The Guardian)

Monterey Shale: Fracking’s great moment of derp (via CleanTechnica)

Meet me in New York, says Bill McKibben – it’s time to get arrested (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bill McKibben, biofuels, BP, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Connecticut, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, Florida, fracking, fukushima, GM, grid, Grid defection, Gulf of Mexico, john kerry, Keystone XL, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Nebraska, Nest, new york, News, Nissan, North Carolina, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PACE, Pat Sajack, Pope Francis, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meters, Smog, solar, Solar trade war, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Ukraine, UN, united nations, Venzuela, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin
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02
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Russia says 2C climate goal shouldn’t dictate carbon pledges (via Bloomberg)

UK and Japan pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)

“Voice mails from the future” elicit personal views on dealing with climate change (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US to map the risks of man-made earthquakes (via Wall Street Journal)

The seismic link between fracking and earthquakes (via Time)

RENEWABLES 

Demand for India renewable energy credits plunges to seven-month low (via Bloomberg)

US wind power’s problem will remain speed and direction forecasts (via Fitch Ratings)

Financing utility-scale solar in the years ahead (via Greentech Media)

Drones could be a boon for wind and solar industries (via SustainableBusiness)

ERCOT to add 8.6GW new wind capacity through 2016 (via Recharge News)

Xcel Energy sets wind power record with 46% of customer supply (via Post Bulletin)

SolarCity launches operations in Nevada (via Solar Industry)

In Michigan, debate over burning trees for biomass energy (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Clean coal to be put to the test at two plants this year (via Scientific American)

Durbin talks FutureGen with DOE secretary (via Washington Post/AP)

EMISSIONS 

Arctic methane emissions “certain to trigger warming” (via Climate Central)

Obama’s emissions plan comes under coordinated line of attack (via The Guardian)

Scalia gets his facts wrong in EPA dissent (via AP)

KEYSTONE XL 

Senators introduce pro-Keystone XL bill to bypass Obama (via The Guardian)

Clock ticks on Keystone XL vote (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Net-zero buildings an inexpensive next step from LEED-Platinum (via SustainableBusiness)

Energy benchmarking goes countrywide in Maryland (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Exxon says all activities in Russia proceeding as planned (via Reuters)

Virginia oil-train wreck brings demands for more regulation (via Washington Post/AP)

New “safer” tank cars were involved in Virginia oil train fire (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-rich North Dakota sees highest worker fatality rate (via The Hill)

California’s oil refiners double crude-by-rail import volumes (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Test loopholes take gloss off Europe’s cleaner cars (via Reuters)

Nissan Leaf keeps plug-in vehicle sales crown for 6th straight month (via Autoblog Green)

California to use one billion less gallons of gasoline in six years (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

This year’s wildfires could incinerate America’s fire budget (via Mother Jones)

Wildfire threatens homes in drought-parched Southern California (via Chicago Tribune/Reuters)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Stand-alone power becomes growing reality for utilities (via Renew Economy)

Exelon doubles down on regulated assets with Pepco buy (via EnergyWire)

Exelon touts customer benefits in buying Pepco, but regulators will scrutinize claims (via Forbes)

Shareholders, protesters, speak out at Duke board meeting (via Washington Post)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima frozen wall needs risk assessment, says Tepco adviser (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

It’s time to look beyond the UN’s $100 billion climate finance target (via RTCC)

How does Vivint Solar compare to SolarCity? (via Huffington Post)

Inside New York’s historic move to remake the utility business model (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antonin Scalia, arctic, biomass, california, chevy volt, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, Climate finance, coal, Cross-State Air Pollution, Dick Durbin, DOE, Drones, duke energy, earthquakes, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, europe, Exelon, Exxon, fracking, fukushima, FutureGen, Gasoline, global warming, india, japan, Keystone XL, LEED, maryland, methane, michigan, natural gas, Net zero buildings, Nevada, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Oil train, Pepco, Renewable energy credit, Renewable forecasting, renewables, Russia, solar, SolarCity, Tepco, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, virginia, Vivint Solar, wildfires, wind, xcel
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04
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change will “lead to battles for food,” says World Bank president (via The Guardian)

Global warming study casts doubt on “missing heat” hypothesis (via Washington Post)

Climate change is already altering the Australian landscape (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU concludes French feed-in tariffs for wind energy permissible (via Renewable Energy World)

Japan moves closer to approving post-Fukushima energy policy (via Bloomberg)

US used more energy, put out more CO2, in 2013 (via Greenbang)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than LNG in Asia for power, says report (via Bloomberg)

Costa Rica opens the door to more renewable energy generation (via Tico Times)

US lags behind China in renewables investments (via Climate Central)

Senate Finance Committee votes to restore wind tax credit (via The Hill)

Consortium aims to bring solar to US schools (via Solar Industry)

Vermont boosts solar by nearly quadrupling net metering cap (via CleanTechnica)

Low-income rooftop solar program helping hundreds of California families (via Renewable Energy World)

SolarCity’s new $70 million securitized rooftop solar portfolio (via Greentech Media)

Robots find a job in the emerging world of solar energy (via Washington Post)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2014: Patience rewarded (via Renewable Energy World)

South Dakota senators confident in wind energy tax credit extension (via Prairie Business)

OIL 

UN panel to weigh dangers of oil-by-rail cargo (via Reuters)

Bakken Shale oil output to soar as spending hits $15 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

High gas prices not fueling decline in driving (via The Hill)

Average fuel economy of new US vehicles was 25.4 mpg in March; best mark yet (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Exxon agrees to disclose fracking risk, quells shareholder action (via Dallas Morning News)

Mind the fracking data gap, says study (via Climate Central)

Toxic emission spikes at fracking sites are rarely monitored, finds study (via InsideClimate News)

Interior IG says agency’s injection wells “a threat to the nation’s drinking water” (via Greenwire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

$13.2 billion derived from sales of energy efficiency services by end of 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

Studies show efficiency still the cheapest energy resources (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy-saving company Opower set for public offering (via New York Times)

Opower prices IPO at high end of $19 per share (via GigaOm)

GRID 

Millions of smart meters are coming to Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

Texas grid upgrade spurs wind records (via Recharge)

COAL 

China to close nearly two thousand small coal mines (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

El Nino probably won’t quench California’s thirst (via FiveThirtyEight)

OPINION 

Earth has a fever, but the heat is sloshing into the oceans (via The Guardian)

“Big green bucket” needed for development bank loans (via Bloomberg)

Three “next steps” for California climate action (via National Geographic)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bakken Shale, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, CREZ, drought, El Nino, Energy Efficiency, EU, European Union, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fracking, France, Fuel Economy, fukushima, gas prices, global warming, grid, Heidi Hietkamp, interior department, japan, Jim Yong Kim, John Thune, LNG, natural gas, Net metering, News, nuclear, Oil train, Opower, pennsylvania, production tax credit, renewables, smart meters, solar, SolarCity, South Dakota, texas, Transportation, vermont, wind, World Bank
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