Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.13.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COP 19
China to participate in international climate pact, says official (via Xinhua)
Japan to provide $16 billion for climate efforts, reports Nikkei (via Bloomberg)
US fears climate talks will focus on compensation for extreme weather (via The Guardian)
Russia cools talk of separate loss and damage climate mechanism at COP 19 (via RTCC)
AP BIOFUELS STORY
Vilsack disputes AP ethanol report (via National Journal)
Ethanol industry takes aim at AP investigation (via Huffington Post/AP)
Breaking down the numbers on ethanol: Inside the AP biofuels report (via Climate Progress)
Green energy push replaces native prairie with corn as ethanol turns profitable (via Huffington Post)
RENEWABLES
China to build more renewables than EU, US combined says IEA (via Bloomberg)
10GW of wind and solar in Brazil’s next power auction (via Recharge)
Australia cuts $435 million in funding to renewables (via Renew Economy)
67% of consumers would pay more for clean energy (via Greentech Media)
Biofuels industry renews cellulosic ethanol push (via Kansas City Star)
Pennsylvania may double its renewable energy standard (via Climate Progress)
Amidst solar battle, Arizona’s largest utility renews ALEC membership (via Climate Progress)
Remotely controlled turbines help protect raptors (via Billings Gazette)
NASCAR reaches ethanol use milestone (via The Oklahoman)
EMISSIONS
Carbon pricing buoyed by China and the US (via Environmental Leader)
Australian prime minister starts carbon tax repeal push (via National Journal)
US hunts for cheaper ways to capture CO2 (via Reuters)
OIL
China, Norway may team up in search for Arctic oil (via Reuters)
Brazil set to become major global oil supplier by 2015 (via Reuters)
Top scientists call for California fracking ban in letter to Gov. Brown (via San Jose Mercury-News)
TRANSPORTATION
An EV recharging industry rises (via New York Times)
Need an alternative fuel station? Now there’s an app for that (via CleanTechnica)
NUCLEAR
Japan readies additional $30 billion for Fukushima cleanup (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
Haiti, Philippines, Pakistan hardest hit by extreme weather in 2012 (via Toronto Star)
Inland states most likely to ignore climate hazards, says study (via Climate Central)
IEA report says climate measures falling short of global target (via The Hill)
World will need 48% renewables by 2035 to address climate change (via Renew Economy)
Global warming since 1997 more than twice as fast as estimated (via The Guardian)
California headed for driest year on record (via Climate Progress)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Landowners to sue Cuomo, New York over “arbitrary” fracking delay (via Democrat & Chronicle)
GRID
Smart grid benefits set to surpass industry forecasts (via Renew Grid)
Half of consumers have never heard of the smart grid (via Energy Manager Today)
Smart grid success hinges on consumer education (via Renew Grid)
COAL
Five bad arguments from the coal industry (via Bloomberg)
Environmentalists challenge coal lease deal in Ohio national forest (via Columbus Dispatch)
GREEN BUILDING
LEED’s stunning growth, and what’s behind it (via EarthTechling)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL study warns of defective segments on pipeline’s southern leg (via InsideClimate News)
OPINION
What a deadly typhoon in the Philippines can tell us about climate adaptation (via Washington Post)
Is your state ready for climate disasters? (via Grist)
It doesn’t have to be so hard: Making renewable energy siting easier (via Renewable Energy World)
Work not done, Obama climate adviser moves on (via AP)
US charges 6 people, 3 firms with $100 million biofuels fraud