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Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.14 share

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

COAL

China coal demand to peak by 2020, says Standard & Poor (via RTCC)

German coal power plants are Europe’s most climate-damaging (via Bloomberg)

Labor officials promise to fix black program for coal miners with black lung (via ABC News)

EMISSIONS

Industry to EPA: Climate rule “not workable” (via The Hill)

U.S. poll finds support for carbon tax grows when revenue funds renewables (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES

Solar leasing market in Australia could reach $100 billion (via Renew Economy)

European wind industry slashes growth forecasts (via BusinessGreen)

Geothermal industry grows with help from oil and gas drilling (via New York Times)

Orix plans to build as many as 15 geothermal plants in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Iberdrola profit drops as Spain renewable subsidy cuts hit (via Bloomberg)

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer (via Energy Manager Today)

Google offers $1 million prize for anyone who can build a better power inverter (via Forbes)

“Pay-as-you-go” solar financing hits new milestone (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Earth’s hottest June follows hottest May – a new normal? (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. and China presidents to attend September UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Study: Natural variations explain the global warming “pause” (via Salon)

Poll: U.S. leads the world….in climate denial (via Climate Progress)

Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, says official (via The Hill)

Obama attributes wildfires to climate change (via Huffington Post/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

EU Commission agrees to 30% by 2030 energy savings goal (via Reuters)

In Minnesota, “behavior” programs show energy-saving results (via Midwest Energy News)

California calculates the value of time in energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

In New York, greening older buildings (via Navigant Research)

Energy efficiency finance in plain English: An intro to leases (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Industry pans DOE’s plan for natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale plays reduce political risk (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania Auditor General criticizes state oversight of shale gas industry (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GRID

Brazil to auction 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines (via Recharge)

Here’s what utilities really think about microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Keeping up with energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS

Alberta oil clout dominating Canada’s unbalanced economy (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge mulls Midwest rail terminal to ease pipeline congestion (via Reuters)

Maine port city bans oil loading as Canada seeks export options (via Reuters)

TransCanada spends big on K Street as pipeline fight heads to finish (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION

Lithium-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $24 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Electric cars equal gasoline cost of just 75 cents per gallon (via Green Car Reports)

Is this the site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada? (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Great Barrier Reef will be “pretty ugly” by 2050, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

Drier than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for relief in rural America (via Washington Post)

Unprecedented spate of wildfires incinerates homes in Pacific Northwest (via Scientific American)

POLITICS

Group tries to make climate change a winning wedge issue (via Huffington Post)

EPA chief in hot seat as lawmakers dissect carbon rule (via Reuters)

Obama announces nominations for Nuclear Regulator Commission (via The Hill)

OPINION

British Columbia’s climate plan is working, so why stop now? (via The Tyee)

Why Australia’s carbon tax repeal is an economic step back (via CleanTechnica)

The dangerous truth behind wildfires (via Huffington Post)

I crashed a climate change denial conference in Las Vegas (via Vice)

How the South Portland city council foiled Big Oil’s plan to sneak tar sands out of Canada (via Climate Progress)

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.14 share

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

CLIMATE

NOAA: June 2014 was the hottest in recorded history (via National Journal)

Climate change already having profound impacts on European lakes (via National Geographic)

Report: Higher seas mean extreme floods in South Carolina, North Carolina (via Miami Herald/AP)

Sunday TV shows cover climate change as much in 1H 2014 as in last four years combined (via Media Matters for America)

ENERGY POLICY

Mexican Senate approves bulk of pending energy legislation (via Reuters)

Energy issues playing greater role in foreign policy, says State Dept. envoy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Wind power will deliver more than seven percent of world’s electricity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

India seen adding wind capacity after tax credit revived (via Bloomberg)

Brazil gets $335 million wind power loan from German development bank (via Bloomberg)

Powering villages with solar instead of dirty fossil fuels (via EcoWatch)

Renewables make up over 50% of new U.S. power in First Half of 2014 (via Renew Grid)

Who finances residential solar in 2014? (via Greentech Media)

The solar industry’s tax credit conundrum (via Greentech Media)

Michigan legislators seek “energy freedom” for consumer through distributed renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

Offshore wind farms create “reef effect” perfect for marine wildlife – especially seals (via The Independent)

Renewables revolution could be in management, not technology (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS

Fracking opponents renew call for South African shale gas halt (via Bloomberg)

U.K. shale regulation inadequate for safety, says report (via Bloomberg)

Researchers to test how Great Plains shale reacts to fracking (via Huffington Post/AP)

California halts fracking waste injection, warns it may be contaminating aquifers (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS

U.K. retains target to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

Legislative attempts to block EPA standards harmful to small businesses (via The Hill)

NHL outlines plan to cut emissions, fight climate change (via The Hill)

COAL

Dirty coal plants undermine EU climate leadership, says report (via RTCC)

China warns against “blind” rush to build coal-to-gas plants (via Reuters)

Germany, U.K., Poland top “dirty 30” list of EU coal-fired power stations (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Whirlpool wants Congress to ban class action lawsuits tied to Energy Star program (via New York Times)

Florida utilities move to slash energy conservation programs (via Climate Progress)

Third-party financing was solar’s catalyst – can energy efficiency find the same model? (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons why energy efficiency programs fail (via Energy Collective)

OIL

As U.S. leads world on oil production, East Coast opens to exploration (via Sustainable Business)

DOT Secretary: New oil train rules could have wide reach (via Houston Chronicle)

Wisconsin oil train derailment clean up underway, evacuation lifted (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Opel dropping Ampera, Europe’s Chevy Volt, because of weak sales (via Autoblog Green)

First six months of 2014 U.S. EV sales show 33% year-over-year gain (via Forbes)

ABB and Volvo partner on fast-charging system for hybrid and electric buses (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

Carbon repeal leaves Australia isolated and vulnerable (via Renew Economy)

Disney’s “Planes” sequel is an excuse to talk to your kids about climate change (via Grist)

Why has the response to California’s drought been so weak? (via Science Blogs)

Six reasons technology alone can’t solve water scarcity (via GreenBiz)

Utilities cry “fowl” over Duck Chart and distributed solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Why Tom Steyer’s millions won’t save the planet (via Forbes)

Posted: | Categories: ABB, australia, Brazil, california, chevy volt, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, EVs, Florida, fracking, Fracking wastewater, germany, global warming, india, investment tax credit, mexico, michigan, National Hockey League, natural gas, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil trains, Opel Ampera, Poland, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, South Africa, south carolina, Synthetic gas, Tesla, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, Volvo, wind, Wisconsin

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.14 share

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

CLIMATE

NOAA: June 2014 was the hottest in recorded history (via National Journal)

Climate change already having profound impacts on European lakes (via National Geographic)

Report: Higher seas mean extreme floods in South Carolina, North Carolina (via Miami Herald/AP)

Sunday TV shows cover climate change as much in 1H 2014 as in last four years combined (via Media Matters for America)

ENERGY POLICY

Mexican Senate approves bulk of pending energy legislation (via Reuters)

Energy issues playing greater role in foreign policy, says State Dept. envoy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Wind power will deliver more than seven percent of world’s electricity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

India seen adding wind capacity after tax credit revived (via Bloomberg)

Brazil gets $335 million wind power loan from German development bank (via Bloomberg)

Powering villages with solar instead of dirty fossil fuels (via EcoWatch)

Renewables make up over 50% of new U.S. power in First Half of 2014 (via Renew Grid)

Who finances residential solar in 2014? (via Greentech Media)

The solar industry’s tax credit conundrum (via Greentech Media)

Michigan legislators seek “energy freedom” for consumer through distributed renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

Offshore wind farms create “reef effect” perfect for marine wildlife – especially seals (via The Independent)

Renewables revolution could be in management, not technology (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS

Fracking opponents renew call for South African shale gas halt (via Bloomberg)

U.K. shale regulation inadequate for safety, says report (via Bloomberg)

Researchers to test how Great Plains shale reacts to fracking (via Huffington Post/AP)

California halts fracking waste injection, warns it may be contaminating aquifers (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS

U.K. retains target to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

Legislative attempts to block EPA standards harmful to small businesses (via The Hill)

NHL outlines plan to cut emissions, fight climate change (via The Hill)

COAL

Dirty coal plants undermine EU climate leadership, says report (via RTCC)

China warns against “blind” rush to build coal-to-gas plants (via Reuters)

Germany, U.K., Poland top “dirty 30” list of EU coal-fired power stations (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Whirlpool wants Congress to ban class action lawsuits tied to Energy Star program (via New York Times)

Florida utilities move to slash energy conservation programs (via Climate Progress)

Third-party financing was solar’s catalyst – can energy efficiency find the same model? (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons why energy efficiency programs fail (via Energy Collective)

OIL

As U.S. leads world on oil production, East Coast opens to exploration (via Sustainable Business)

DOT Secretary: New oil train rules could have wide reach (via Houston Chronicle)

Wisconsin oil train derailment clean up underway, evacuation lifted (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Opel dropping Ampera, Europe’s Chevy Volt, because of weak sales (via Autoblog Green)

First six months of 2014 U.S. EV sales show 33% year-over-year gain (via Forbes)

ABB and Volvo partner on fast-charging system for hybrid and electric buses (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

Carbon repeal leaves Australia isolated and vulnerable (via Renew Economy)

Disney’s “Planes” sequel is an excuse to talk to your kids about climate change (via Grist)

Why has the response to California’s drought been so weak? (via Science Blogs)

Six reasons technology alone can’t solve water scarcity (via GreenBiz)

Utilities cry “fowl” over Duck Chart and distributed solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Why Tom Steyer’s millions won’t save the planet (via Forbes)

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.21.14 share

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

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.17.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Australian parliament repeals carbon tax, emissions trading scheme (via Reuters)

Global carbon market hopes fade as Australia dumps CO2 trading (via Reuters)

Britain urges deeper EU carbon market reforms than proposed (via Reuters)

EPA’s carbon plans asks the least from states that pollute the most (via Washington Post)

EPA’s McCarthy pushes states to adopt carbon-cutting “investment strategy” (via EnergyWire)

OIL

Oil train tanker phaseout could last years (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

China-US solar trade issue: WTO directive could impact India (via Panchabuta)

Green bonds market grows by 60% in a year (via BusinessGreen)

Jamaica unveils world’s largest wind-solar hybrid installation (via Inhabitat)

Oil lobby turns focus to EPA in ethanol fight (via The Hill)

North Carolina solar farms embark on a delicate dance with Duke (via Charlotte Observer)

Clean energy yieldcos: Growing pains (via Forbes)

Five things to know about the U.S. utility-scale PV market (via Greentech Media)

Three noteworthy solar implications in the new U.S. national electrical code (via Renewable Energy World)

Looking to fund a clean energy project? You need a green bank (via National Journal)

CLIMATE

China at work on climate protection plans (via United Press International)

Limiting temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius is still possible – and it pays to do so (via WRI Insights)

Obama: Climate change is “direct threat” to U.S. (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY

In Latin America, Putin wheels and deals on energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

President Obama announces new sanctions on Russia (via National Journal)

Energy Department predicts slowdown in annual U.S. power plant growth (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

Nothing small in the potential for nanogrids (via GreenBiz)

Here are 1.2 billion reasons why resiliency is a big deal for the power sector (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS

Effort to avoid vote on fracking falters in Colorado (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The U.S. has quietly made remarkable fuel-efficiency advances (via The Atlantic)

PACE creating energy efficiency opportunities in Minnesota (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL

Duke Energy completes Dan River ash cleanup (via Charlotte Business Journal)

ENVIRONMENT

First map to detail extent of plastic in five ocean gyres (via EcoWatch)

California drought idles huge swaths of farmland (via Sacramento Bee/AP)

California farms are sucking up enough groundwater to put Rhode Island 17 feet under (via Mother Jones)

POLITICS

Climate super PAC struggling to bring in money (via Huffington Post/AP)

Steyer struggles to find big-money donors (via Politico)

OPINION

Australia’s carbon tax is dead and there’s nothing to take its place (via The Guardian)

Obama’s sideways climate plan (via National Journal)

10 things to know about investment in renewable energy (via The Guardian)

Posted: | Categories: australia, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, DOE, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU ETS, fracking, fuel-efficiency, Gina McCarthy, global warming, Green bank, Green bonds, grid, india, Jamaica, Latin America, minnesota, Nanogrid, natural gas, News, NextGen, North Carolina, oil, Oil train, PACE, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rhode island, Russia, solar, Solar trade war, Tom Steyer, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, wind, World Trade Organization, Yieldcos

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Extreme weather disasters have cost Earth $2.4 trillion since 1971 (via Climate Central)

Japan meteorological agency reports hottest March-June on record globally (via ClimateProgress)

Germany pledges $1 billion to UN climate change fund (via The Guardian)

White House unveils climate change initiatives (via New York Times)

Taking to the pulpit against climate change (via USA Today)

NUCLEAR

Japan readies atomic restarts as regulator signals approval (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

China to smash target of 150GW installed wind by 2017 (via Recharge)

India targets 35% renewable energy share in installed capacity mix by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

World Trade Organization tells U.S. to reconsider solar panel tariffs (via Renewable Energy World)

Big EU banks pile into green bonds, China poised to follow (via Renew Economy)

Alternative-energy funds see renewed buying by investors (via Wall Street Journal)

United Kingdom approves EON offshore wind farm to power 450,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

German development bank issues €1.5 billion green bond (via BusinessGreen)

European wind industry warns of offshore slowdown (via BusinessGreen)

World’s biggest wave energy projects sinks without a trace (via Renew Economy)

4.9GW new offshore wind capacity under construction in Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Shinsei Bank plans $2 billion of clean energy loans in Japan (via Bloomberg)

DOE awards $6 million to advance drop-in biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

California keeps crushing America’s clean energy and tech rankings (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS

Businesses say South Korea carbon market to cost $27 billion, should be delayed (via Reuters)

OIL

U.S. oil export ban won’t be lifted this year, says Upton (via Bloomberg)

Older oil train tank cars to be phased out under industry proposal (via Bloomberg)

Enhanced oil recovery techniques limited in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell announces new 100 million barrel of oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

New pipeline would carry Bakken oil from North Dakota to Illinois through Iowa (via ClimateProgress)

Without fracking boom, U.S. would face oil crisis, says Yergin (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION

BMW doubles down on electric vehicles (via The Hill)

Elon Musk reveals details of new Tesla vehicle (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS

Tar sands development threaten world’s largest boreal forest (via World Resources Institute)

ENVIRONMENT

63% of paper consumed in U.S. is recycled, says report (via Environmental Leader)

Drought, drilling, and wildfires have cut mule deer population by two-thirds (via ClimateProgress)

Drought will cost California $2.2 billion in agriculture losses this year (via Wall Street Journal)

For first time, California gets ready for mandatory water restrictions (via ClimateProgress)

Groundwater is drought lifeline for California farmers (via Climate Central)

Battle lines form in California: Farms v. solar v. high-speed rail (via Greenwire)

As jellyfish come in waves off Maine coast, questions follow (via Portland Press-Herald)

NATURAL GAS

Chile eyes use of U.S. shale gas by early 2016 (via Reuters)

Google project spotlights natural gas pipeline leaks under city streets (via Houston Chronicle)

Push to ban fracking in Colorado falls short (via The Hill)

GRID

Revenue streams are key to cost-effective energy storage (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

California grid faces renewable energy “oversupply” (via Recharge)

POLITICS

U.S. Senate confirms two FERC nominees (via The Hill)

Florida scientists press Gov. Rick Scott on climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

OPINION

Companies don’t care anymore that you don’t care anymore about this sustainability thing (via Bloomberg)

New York’s utility reform plan will usher in a new era of consumer choice (via Greentech Media)

Cap and trade’s moment of truth (via Energy Collective)

Posted: | Categories: Bakken Shale, biofuels, BMW, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, drought, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, energy storage, environment, ev, Extreme weather, FERC, Florida, fracking, Fred Upton, germany, global warming, Green bonds, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, india, Iowa, japan, Maine, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, Pipeline, Recycling, renewables, Rick Scott, Shale gas, Shale oil, Shell, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, UN, united kingdom, united nations, Wave energy, Wildfire, wind, World Trade Organization, WTO

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Extreme weather disasters have cost Earth $2.4 trillion since 1971 (via Climate Central)

Japan meteorological agency reports hottest March-June on record globally (via ClimateProgress)

Germany pledges $1 billion to UN climate change fund (via The Guardian)

White House unveils climate change initiatives (via New York Times)

Taking to the pulpit against climate change (via USA Today)

NUCLEAR

Japan readies atomic restarts as regulator signals approval (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

China to smash target of 150GW installed wind by 2017 (via Recharge)

India targets 35% renewable energy share in installed capacity mix by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

World Trade Organization tells U.S. to reconsider solar panel tariffs (via Renewable Energy World)

Big EU banks pile into green bonds, China poised to follow (via Renew Economy)

Alternative-energy funds see renewed buying by investors (via Wall Street Journal)

United Kingdom approves EON offshore wind farm to power 450,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

German development bank issues €1.5 billion green bond (via BusinessGreen)

European wind industry warns of offshore slowdown (via BusinessGreen)

World’s biggest wave energy projects sinks without a trace (via Renew Economy)

4.9GW new offshore wind capacity under construction in Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Shinsei Bank plans $2 billion of clean energy loans in Japan (via Bloomberg)

DOE awards $6 million to advance drop-in biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

California keeps crushing America’s clean energy and tech rankings (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS

Businesses say South Korea carbon market to cost $27 billion, should be delayed (via Reuters)

OIL

U.S. oil export ban won’t be lifted this year, says Upton (via Bloomberg)

Older oil train tank cars to be phased out under industry proposal (via Bloomberg)

Enhanced oil recovery techniques limited in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell announces new 100 million barrel of oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

New pipeline would carry Bakken oil from North Dakota to Illinois through Iowa (via ClimateProgress)

Without fracking boom, U.S. would face oil crisis, says Yergin (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION

BMW doubles down on electric vehicles (via The Hill)

Elon Musk reveals details of new Tesla vehicle (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS

Tar sands development threaten world’s largest boreal forest (via World Resources Institute)

ENVIRONMENT

63% of paper consumed in U.S. is recycled, says report (via Environmental Leader)

Drought, drilling, and wildfires have cut mule deer population by two-thirds (via ClimateProgress)

Drought will cost California $2.2 billion in agriculture losses this year (via Wall Street Journal)

For first time, California gets ready for mandatory water restrictions (via ClimateProgress)

Groundwater is drought lifeline for California farmers (via Climate Central)

Battle lines form in California: Farms v. solar v. high-speed rail (via Greenwire)

As jellyfish come in waves off Maine coast, questions follow (via Portland Press-Herald)

NATURAL GAS

Chile eyes use of U.S. shale gas by early 2016 (via Reuters)

Google project spotlights natural gas pipeline leaks under city streets (via Houston Chronicle)

Push to ban fracking in Colorado falls short (via The Hill)

GRID

Revenue streams are key to cost-effective energy storage (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

California grid faces renewable energy “oversupply” (via Recharge)

POLITICS

U.S. Senate confirms two FERC nominees (via The Hill)

Florida scientists press Gov. Rick Scott on climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

OPINION

Companies don’t care anymore that you don’t care anymore about this sustainability thing (via Bloomberg)

New York’s utility reform plan will usher in a new era of consumer choice (via Greentech Media)

Cap and trade’s moment of truth (via Energy Collective)

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Military bases face hurdles in climate change adaptation (via Climate Central)

The business cost of climate change: What the science says (via The Guardian)

Heat waves replacing drought as deadliest climate disaster (via Vox)

Corporate America steadily steering climate solutions despite Congressional stalemate (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS

States with fracking see surge in earthquake activity (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES

Anti-dumping duty on solar gear unlikely to reduce India imports (via Panchabuta)

The Central American solar market is set to boom (via Greentech Media)

Record-breaking offshore wind deal helps drive up Q2 clean energy investment (via Bloomberg)

U.S. clean tech leaders announced (via Environmental Leader)

Leased solar panels can cast a shadow over a home’s value (via NPR)

Without state regulation, Iowa counties get tougher on wind projects (via Iowa City Gazette)

June bloom: Ten clean energy stocks for 2014, Q2 update (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

Coal plant carbon pollution injects life in old oil wells (via Bloomberg)

NRG’s $1 billion bet to show how carbon capture could work for coal power plants (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS

Australia’s carbon tax repeal set for final showdown (via Reuters)

In lead up to carbon price, South Africa preps carbon offset program (via Climate Progress)

Emitters in China’s largest carbon market meet targets amid falling prices (via Reuters)

Switzerland threatens 40% carbon tax rise if targets not met (via Reuters)

Study: States can handle EPA power plant rules (via The Hill)

Texas utilities preparing for new EPA emissions regulations (via Texas Tribune)

OIL

North Dakota expects “big surge” in summer crude output (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

UK auto industry is booming, largely thanks to clean technology (via BusinessGreen)

Low U.S. gasoline taxes may lead to waste, says IEA chief (via Reuters)

U.S. oil and rail sector agree on train tanker safety (via Reuters)

Which states have the worst roads in America? (via Washington Post)

White House says won’t help Tesla sell cars online (via The Hill)

Tesla wins approval to sell cars in Pennsylvania (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID

Amidst extreme weather surge, distributed energy takes on new meaning for U.S. grid (via Greentech Media)

California ready to fund the next wave of microgrids paired with renewables and storage (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY

Corporate cannibals: Electricity sector may have to kill gas to save itself (via Renew Economy)

Greatest growth opportunity for electric companies: Devour oil’s market (via Energy Trends Insider)

Colorado ranked least energy-expensive state (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Nestle bottling water straight from heart of California’s drought (via Salon)

OPINION

How climate change changed me (via Politico)

The decline of coal (via Charleston Gazette)

Global warming is coming, but climate hysteria doesn’t help anyone (via Time)

The point everyone’s missing about the Polar Vortex’s return (via Climate Progress)

Electric vehicles will change the way you power your home (via Time)

Posted: | Categories: australia, california, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon offset, carbon tax, Central America, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, distributed generation, drought, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, gas prices, global warming, grid, IEA, india, Iowa, Microgrid, natural gas, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, Polar vortex, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, South Africa, switzerland, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14 share

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

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Caribbean coral reefs “will be lost within 20 years” (via The Guardian)

U.S. military bases threatened by climate change (via Fiscal Times)

What every governor really believes about climate change, in one handy map (via Climate Progress)

VA governor revives climate change panel, citing sea level rise threat (via Washington Post/AP)

Eight summer miseries made worse by global warming, from poison ivy to allergies (via National Geographic)

ENERGY POLICY

EU utilities will suffer from low power prices until 2020, says Moody’s (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES

BNEF: Renewable energy’s about to dominate global power investments (via CleanTechnica)

Research shows solar panels benefit crops (via Ashland Daily Tidings)

New EIA energy maps show four renewable energy trends (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Northeast added more than 800MW of new renewables capacity in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Cape Wind gets $150 million boost from U.S. Energy Department (via Boston Globe)

Will EPA carbon rules push Michigan harder on clean energy? (via Midwest Energy News)

NextEra yieldco IPO raises $442.7 million (via Recharge)

Barclays and MSCI launch green bond index (via BusinessGreen)

COAL

Colorado coal mine rejection on global-warming grounds has major implications (via InsideClimate News)

Georgia coal-to-solar pivot shows the way on climate regulations (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

The amount of atmospheric CO2 just reached a new record, and scientists are worried (via Climate Progress)

Giving up fossil fuels to save the climate: The $28 trillion write-down (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Nine states join lawsuit against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

EPA looks to reduce emissions at landfills (via The Hill)

EPA’s CO2 rule and the back door to cap and trade (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT

Plastic disappearing from oceans, scientists say, but why? (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Brazil made big environmental promises for its Rio Olympics – here’s why it won’t keep them (via National Journal)

California may step up water restrictions enforcement amid drought (via Reuters)

Water use fell 23% in March as LA reports driest two-year total (via Bloomberg)

OIL

Bakken Shale oil producers told to cut flaring or face punishment (via Houston Chronicle)

With North Dakota oil boom comes concern over spills (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION

While you’re asleep, electric car owners are guzzling power (via Mashable)

Chevy Volt sales drop in June, Nissan Leaf inches upward (via Autoblog Green)

Gas prices at six-year high heading into July 4^th holiday weekend (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

North Dakota’s latest fracking problem: Burning off excess gas (via Wall Street Journal)

Russia says European Union requests natural gas talks (via Reuters)

GRID

Hackers find open back door to power grid with renewables (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

IEA: $80 billion wasted on power for online devices in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

LED lighting will constitute 94% of annual global street lighting sales by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

GE opens a pricing war over the connected LED light bulb (via Greentech Media)

OPINION

How El Nino will change the world’s weather in 2014 (via The Guardian)

EPA’s carbon rule is both a tax and a subsidy (via Forbes)

If Jerry Brown is so green, why is he allowing fracking in California? (via The Nation)

Posted: | Categories: Bakken Shale, Barclays, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Brazil, california, cap and trade, cape wind, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, drought, eia, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, fracking, gas prices, GE, Georgia, global warming, Green bond, grid, IEA, Jerry Brown, LED, los angeles, methane, michigan, Moody's Renewables, natural gas, News, NextEra, nissan LEAF, north dakota, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Terry McAuliffe, Transportation, virginia, YieldCo

Category Archives:global warming

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