Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.31.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
IPCC preparing “most important” document on climate change (BBC)
Bangladesh leads 32 nations hit by extreme climate risk (via Bloomberg)
Brazil’s dangerous climate spiral (via National Journal)
Climate change a threat multiplier for farming-dependent states (via Reuters)
38 federal agencies reveal their climate change vulnerabilities – and what they’re doing about it (via Washington Post)
NATURAL GAS
Ukraine, Moscow clinch deal on Russian natural gas supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
Oil rout seen diluting price appeal of U.S. LNG exports (via Bloomberg)
Toxic chemicals, carcinogens skyrocket near fracking sites (via U.S. News and World Report)
RENEWABLES
U.K. Green Bank mobilizes $8 billion for clean energy since launch (via Bloomberg)
Why are solar’s largest players entering the Latin American market? (via Greentech Media)
China is top developing nation for clean energy investment, finds analysis (via Yale e360)
Brazil election opens solar growth (via Recharge Magazine)
India’s wind energy capacity to double in five years: GWEC (via CleanTechnica)
Politics dim Obama’s Africa power plan as lights go out (via Bloomberg)
U.S. trade policy in action: SolarWorld now adding jobs and solar module capacity (via Greentech Media)
SunEdison’s plan to go big in China (via Forbes)
OIL
Report: U.S. gas prices driven more by international crude (via The Hill)
TransCanada applies to build Energy East oil pipeline (via Bloomberg)
Scientists investigate link between newborn deaths and Utah oil drilling (via Inhabitat)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla looks to solar to power Australian supercharging network (via Renew Economy)
Volkswagen planning 20 new plug-in models for China (via Autoblog Green)
Toyota to test EV and PHV charging infrastructure expansion in Japan (via Green Car Congress)
Nissan Leaf breaks its own annual U.S. EV sales record (via Green Car Congress)
Startup borrows financing model from solar, efficiency sectors to launch EVs in fleets (via Greentech Media)
GRID
Southeast Asia to be the next hot spot for smart grid investment (via Breaking Energy)
Survey: Utilities expect strong competition in U.S. grid build-out (via Renew Grid)
The electricity grid gets a value chain (via RMI Outlet)
Two years after Superstorm Sandy, utilities highlight grid efforts (via Renew Grid)
NUCLEAR
Nuclear industry lobbies to preserve tax credit; opposes similar wind incentive (via Bloomberg BNA)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Green buildings market grows to $260 billion (via Environmental Leader)
Energy codes help drive green buildings, says Lux Research (via Energy Manager Today)
POLITICS
Race for top House Energy Committee seat brings windfall to Democrats (via National Journal)
Poll: Swing state voters back climate action (via The Hill)
California’s Brown pushes water bond as election nears (via Bloomberg)
OPINION
The world’s climate change watchdog may be underestimating global warming (via Washington Post)
Nine significant findings too recent to be included in the new IPCC report (via WRI Insights)
California’s carbon market is leaking (via Grist)