Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14
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)