Category Archives:green business

05
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.5.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

German net power exports quadrupled in 2012 (via Recharge)

US Air Force releases strategic energy plan (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US proposal to move fracking wastewater by barge stirs debate (via Reuters)

GE to build $110 million fracking research center in Oklahoma (via Environmental Leader)

Frackers are losing $1.5 billion yearly to leaks (via Mother Jones)

RARE EARTHS 

Discovery of rare earth metals in ocean mud could help Japan (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

Germany’s offshore wind industry finally taking off (via Recharge)

Solar milestone: 1 million PV systems installed in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Merkel losing allies in $700 billion shift to renewables (via Bloomberg)

IRS and renewable energy finance: the waiting game (via Energy Trends Insider)

US renews funding for biofuels research centers (via Detroit News)

Are feed-in tariffs a “subsidy” for a small group of utility customers? (via Midwest Energy News)

PG&E cancels California solar power contracts with BrightSource (via Bloomberg)

ALEC-sponsored bill to repeal North Carolina’s renewable energy standard narrowly passes out of committee (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Feds add teeth to offshore drilling safety mandates (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf oil spill killed millions of microscopic creatures at base of food chain (via Tampa Bay Times)

Texas refinery is Saudi foothold in US market (via New York Times)

Arkansas AG sets deadline for Exxon to produce oil spill documents (via CTV/AP)

Arkansas oil spill sheds light on aging pipeline system (via NPR)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK fuel sales plummet as motorists embrace efficiency (via BusinessGreen)

Nearly 200,000 plug-in EVs equipped with vehicle-to-building technology will be sold through 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Placement of quick charge stations key to eliminating range anxiety (via Plugin Cars)

Proposed gasoline pollution rules fuel air quality debate (via Houston Chronicle)

US drivers could see “significantly lower” gas prices this summer (via NBC News)

Chevy Volt pounds another nail in the coffin of range anxiety (via CleanTechnica)

Chevy Volt fleet racks up 150 million electric-powered miles (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker, A123 settle $140 million supply claims for just $15 million (via Autoblog Green)

A new electric car with an old name (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta mulls tougher carbon rules on oil (via Reuters)

Groups ask State Department for 120-day comment period on Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Alberta premier heads to DC to press Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

Environmentalists hope spill will turn Americans against Keystone (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

New culprit in sea-level rise: Arctic clouds (via Grist)

Colombia blazes a trail for smaller nations to fight global warming (via ClimateWire)

1,600 years of glaciers in Andes melted in 25 years (via New York Times)

Federal study: global warming means stronger extreme rains (via The Hill)

In wake of Sandy, NOAA alters hurricane warning policy (via Climate Central)

Federal government projects climate change will double wildfire risk in forests (via Denver Post)

EMISSIONS 

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions declined in 2012 (via US EIA)

Mushrooms could be key to safe and natural carbon sequestration (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

GE energy storage system makes UK debut (via Recharge)

Solar decathlon homes form microgrid village in Missouri (via Phys.org)

COAL 

Coal exports: two weeks of good news (via Sightline Daily)

Nevada utility to shut out coal, embrace renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How Proctor & Gamble created $1 billion in value with waste (via Greentech Media)

Shell’s VC fund looks to green the fossil fuel business (via Greentech Media)

Employees take corporate sustainability efforts home, study says (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New technology could cut efficiency audit costs 75% (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

BrightSource’s cancelled projects highlight hurdles for desert solar thermal plants (via GigaOm)

Is China’s State Grid too big to work? (via Recharge)

RPS attacks go against the march of history (via Renewable Energy World)

More renewables for states (via Politico)

Methane leaks are undermining the shale-gas boom. Here’s how to fix that. (via Politico)

Keystone XL: the pipeline to disaster (via Los Angeles Times) 

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, Alberta, ALEC, Andes, Angela Merkel, arctic, Arkansas, australia, biofuels, brightsource, california, carbon dioxide, Carbon sequestration, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Colombia, Concentrating solar power, csp, csr, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, feed-in tariff, Fisker, Florida, fracking, Fracking wastewater, Fuel Economy, Gasoline, GE, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, IRS, japan, Keystone XL, Methane leakage, Microgrid, Missouri, natural gas, Nevada, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, PGE, Pipeline, Proctor & Gamble, Range anxiety, Rare earths, Renewable energy standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, solar pv, State Department, State Grid, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Air Force, V2G, Wildfire
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02
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.2.13

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

CLIMATE 

By 2050 much of the Arctic could be green (via Mongabay)

South East Asia food basket facing “shocking” future (via RTCC)

US dominated global disaster losses in 2012: Swiss Re (via Climate Central)

Climate hawks go on offense, but impact uncertain (via InsideClimate News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

European industry flocks to US to take advantage of cheaper natgas (via Washington Post)

Rumors of a cheap-energy jobs boom from natgas remain just that (via New York Times)

Federal government wants to track PA oil and gas production more closely (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Fracking wastewater disposal wells mapped in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois proposes fracking tax lower than most states (via Chicago Tribune)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV demand in emerging Asian countries expected to boom through 2017 (via Solar Industry)

Offshore wind power: huge potential goes largely untapped (via EarthTechling)

Shared renewables could supercharge California’s clean energy economy (via CleanTechnica)

What’s wrong with Pennsylvania solar? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Three years after Gulf spill, BP faces big week in court (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon developing evacuation plan for Pegasus oil pipeline spill (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hybrid sales up 32% this year, could hit 8% of market by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

A longer life for lithium-sulfur batteries (via Phys.org)

Tesla’s stock soars over 20% on profit, sales news (via GigaOm)

Tesla cancels lowest-range version of Model S (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Air pollution linked to 1.2 million premature deaths in China (via New York Times)

Poll: nearly half say US government too lax on environment (via The Hill)

Texas deploys “rainy day fund” to start long-term fight against drought (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japanese cabinet proposes energy sector overhauls (via New York Times)

Citigroup: renewables will triumph and natural gas will help (via Grist)

America gets a D+ in energy infrastructure (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

How Ontario is putting an end to coal-burning power plants (via Yale e360)

Coal opponents say Washington State terminal has derailed (via Seattle Weekly)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Could energy benchmarking rules be useless? (via Greentech Media)

Energy Trust of Oregon saves 71% of 2012 electricity target in Q4 (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

US book industry using 24% recycled paper on average (via Mongbay)

EMISSIONS 

“Global” carbon market goes truly global (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon emissions declined 1.4% in Europe in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Greenhouse gas emissions from farmland underestimated (via Phys.org)

Soils in newly forested areas store substantial carbon (via Phys.org)

Supreme Court rejects challenge to EPA air pollution rule from oil lobby (via Reuters)

GRID 

More than 400 microgrid projects under development worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Texas grid expansion to double wind capacity, deliver to major cities (via Sustainable Business)

POLITICS 

Bucking administration turnover trend, Sutley may stay at CEQ (via Greenwire)

NASA climate scientist James Hansen to leave government for advocacy work (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Germany’s solar-power success: too much of a good thing? (via Grist)

Seven things you learn driving the length of the Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, american petroleum institute, arctic, Arkansas, battery, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, CEQ, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, CREZ, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon Mobil, fracking, Fracking wastewater, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, James Hansen, japan, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, Microgrid, Nancy Sutley, NASA, natural gas, News, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, ontario, oregon, pennsylvania, Recycling, renewables, Shale gas, Shared renewables, solar, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, Washington State, wind
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29
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.29.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Long-delayed EPA gasoline pollution rules set for Friday debut (via The Hill)

Consumer concerns about range and economics still hinder interest in buying EVs (via Navigant Research)

Tesla Model S wins 2013 World Green Car of the Year (via Autoblog Green)

A little lesson in electric vehicles (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA and Department of Energy recognize 2013 Energy Star awardees (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles maps electricity use at the block level (via MIT Technology Review)

OIL 

OPEC oil output falls to lowest level since 2011 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

A record year for world wind power in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

India’s wind power base to rise 50% by 2015 (via Hindustan Times)

Asian giants embracing more clean energy (via EarthTechling) 

Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar capacity (via Renewable Energy World)

India’s off-grid renewables initiative changing lives (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar to gain from Cyprus crisis as investors seek safety (via Bloomberg)

Solar storage market set for rapid growth (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: some federal wind energy programs “duplicative” (via The Hill)

New process may make renewable energy reliable at last (via Climate Central)

Lured by savings and cash, many American schools are going solar (via ClimateWire)

New York State’s competitive solar program off to a bright start (via Greentech Media)

Maine introduces feed-in tariff legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

New bill could help Georgia reap solar energy cash crop (via Energy Collective)

The wind blows, the sun shines: the tax breaks (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

The new tech that could make methane leaks a thing of the past (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists find “missing heat” of global warming 700 meters below the sea (via Mongabay)

Study: climate worst-case scenario may backfire in activists’ campaign (via Huffington Post)

Survey: Americans believe in climate change risks but won’t pay to fix them (via The Guardian)

Survey explores how UK gardeners are adapting to climate change (via Phys.org)

Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit (via RTCC)

San Diego, bracing for climate change, studies its weaknesses (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada first country to pull out of UN drought convention (via The Globe and Mail)

GRID 

Lone Star Transmission lights up 330 miles of Texas CREZ power lines (via Renew Grid)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Accounting for environmental externalities is good for business and the planet (via BusinessGreen)

Ford reduces water use in vehicle assembly by 10.6 billion gallons (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK’s CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (via The Guardian)

Fungi drives carbon uptake by boreal forests (via Mongabay)

Hong Kong to raise air quality standards and cut emissions (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS 

Pentagon officials tour oilsands as part of effort to recruit veterans to jobs (via Calgary Herald)

Total sets sights on getting oil sands crude to Gulf coast (via Globe and Mail)

OPINION 

IMF says global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1.9 trillion a year…and that’s probably an underestimate (via Grist)

Brutal solar market benefits consumers (via Navigant Research)

Poll: Americans want energy focus on renewables, not oil (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bulgaria, canada, climate, Climate Change, CREZ, Cyprus, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, energy storage, EPA, ev, feed-in tariff, Ford, Gasoline, Georgia, germany, green business, grid, Hong Kong, IMF, india, los angeles, Maine, methane, Methane leak, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, OPEC, Range anxiety, renewables, San Diego, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Total, uk, united kingdom, wind
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29
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.29.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Long-delayed EPA gasoline pollution rules set for Friday debut (via The Hill)

Consumer concerns about range and economics still hinder interest in buying EVs (via Navigant Research)

Tesla Model S wins 2013 World Green Car of the Year (via Autoblog Green)

A little lesson in electric vehicles (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA and Department of Energy recognize 2013 Energy Star awardees (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles maps electricity use at the block level (via MIT Technology Review)

OIL 

OPEC oil output falls to lowest level since 2011 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

A record year for world wind power in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

India’s wind power base to rise 50% by 2015 (via Hindustan Times)

Asian giants embracing more clean energy (via EarthTechling) 

Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar capacity (via Renewable Energy World)

India’s off-grid renewables initiative changing lives (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar to gain from Cyprus crisis as investors seek safety (via Bloomberg)

Solar storage market set for rapid growth (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: some federal wind energy programs “duplicative” (via The Hill)

New process may make renewable energy reliable at last (via Climate Central)

Lured by savings and cash, many American schools are going solar (via ClimateWire)

New York State’s competitive solar program off to a bright start (via Greentech Media)

Maine introduces feed-in tariff legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

New bill could help Georgia reap solar energy cash crop (via Energy Collective)

The wind blows, the sun shines: the tax breaks (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

The new tech that could make methane leaks a thing of the past (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists find “missing heat” of global warming 700 meters below the sea (via Mongabay)

Study: climate worst-case scenario may backfire in activists’ campaign (via Huffington Post)

Survey: Americans believe in climate change risks but won’t pay to fix them (via The Guardian)

Survey explores how UK gardeners are adapting to climate change (via Phys.org)

Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit (via RTCC)

San Diego, bracing for climate change, studies its weaknesses (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada first country to pull out of UN drought convention (via The Globe and Mail)

GRID 

Lone Star Transmission lights up 330 miles of Texas CREZ power lines (via Renew Grid)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Accounting for environmental externalities is good for business and the planet (via BusinessGreen)

Ford reduces water use in vehicle assembly by 10.6 billion gallons (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK’s CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (via The Guardian)

Fungi drives carbon uptake by boreal forests (via Mongabay)

Hong Kong to raise air quality standards and cut emissions (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS 

Pentagon officials tour oilsands as part of effort to recruit veterans to jobs (via Calgary Herald)

Total sets sights on getting oil sands crude to Gulf coast (via Globe and Mail)

OPINION 

IMF says global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1.9 trillion a year…and that’s probably an underestimate (via Grist)

Brutal solar market benefits consumers (via Navigant Research)

Poll: Americans want energy focus on renewables, not oil (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bulgaria, canada, climate, Climate Change, CREZ, Cyprus, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, energy storage, EPA, ev, feed-in tariff, Ford, Gasoline, Georgia, germany, green business, grid, Hong Kong, IMF, india, los angeles, Maine, methane, natural gas, new york state, News, oil, OPEC, Range anxiety, renewables, San Diego, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Total, uk, united kingdom, wind
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28
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.28.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

IMF: Get rid of $1.9 trillion in energy subsidies to fight climate change (via Washington Post)

Oil and electricity: a compare-and-contrast tale of two regulators (via McClatchy)

Sequestration forces Interior to cut mineral revenue payments to states (via EnergyWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Battle widens over oil pipelines from Canada through Midwest (via Minnesota Star-Tribune)

Train derailment spills 30,000 gallons of Canadian crude in Minnesota (via Reuters)

Suncor Energy cancels troubled Alberta tar sands project (via Vancouver Sun)

US to hold Keystone pipeline hearing in Nebraska (via Phys.org)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind to push renewables to 36% of global cumulative installed capacity by 2020 (via EnergyNext)

Global solar PV installations to reach 200GW by 2015 (via EnergyNext)

China raising PV prices on European exports (via Recharge)

Japan to increase offshore wind capacity to 40x current level by 2020 (via EnergyNext)

UK boosts renewables share of power generation to 11.3% (via Recharge)

Rwanda to start $27 million geothermal development (via Renewable Energy World)

We’re number one: US installed most wind power in 2012, US company GE Wind is top supplier (via Climate Progress)

NREL study: securitization could cut solar LCOE 16% (via Greentech Media)

New organic solar cells process sunlight as plants do (via Mother Nature Network)

Study: Midwesterners open to wind farms, especially in rural areas (via Phys.org)

Lancaster, California becomes first US city to require solar (via Greentech Media)

OPT Oregon wave energy project delayed again (via EarthTechling)

COAL 

Japan coal use to jump 24% in 2013-2014 as energy costs rise (via Reuters)

More science on mountaintop removal’s health effects (via Charleston Gazette)

CLIMATE 

Security risks of climate change prompt military review by over 100 countries (via RTCC)

How to abuse statistics: claim global warming stopped in 1998 (via Weather Underground)

Global warming predictions prove accurate over past 15 years (via The Guardian)

Climate change is increasing seasonal allergies (via Climate Central)

Ocean acidification from climate change threatens the seas (via USA Today)

EMISSIONS 

EU eyes 40 percent carbon cuts by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

EU confident carbon market fix will win states’ support (via Bloomberg)

Auditor General’s carbon neutral report scalds British Columbia government (via Huffington Post/Canadian Press)

Disney, Microsoft, Shell opt for self-imposed CO2 emission taxes (via The Guardian)

Study: US biofuels policy pushes GHG emissions overseas (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking’s latest scandal – earthquake swarms (via Mother Jones)

Drilling boom spurs rush to harness brackish water (via StateImpact Texas)

Small towns find fracking brings boom, booming headaches (via Bloomberg)

Texas regulators ease rules to encourage frack water recycling (via Houston Chronicle)

Nearly 670 miles of wells drilled in Ohio in 2012 (via Akron Beacon Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

US “peak miles” may have happened five years ago, Americans still drive 3 trillion miles a year (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf sales will hit new record in March, around 1,900 units (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker puts US workforce on furlough this week (via Reuters)

GRID 

Seven simple strategies for smart grid engagement (via Renew Grid)

Solar activity can affect transmission grid, but 2013 activity less than anticipated (via US EIA)

You can’t have a smarter grid without smarter buildings (via Greentech Media)

Santa Clara, California launches free outdoor wi-fi on backs of smart meters (via GigaOm)

ENVIRONMENT 

With drought season off to a bad start, scientists forecast another bleak year (via InsideClimate News)

Gardeners plant strawberries and tomatoes in Arctic valleys of Greenland for first time (via Inhabitat)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How the Internet of Things will transform building management (via GreenBiz)

Tax time 2013: energy efficiency home tax credits (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

UK prime minister removes anti-wind energy minister from post (via Recharge)

Under fire, Senate Democrat trio says Keystone vote not endorsement (via The Hill)

Ethanol debate has glimpse of bipartisanship (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Low-carbon economies and smart grids: watch out for China (via Forbes)

Americans already pay a carbon tax, via extreme weather’s impact on GDP (via Sustainable Business)

Giant investment bank taken over by hippie alarmists (via Grist)

Is the sky the limit for wind power? (via NPR)

Cooling on warming (via New York Times)

How green is your university? (via New York Times)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, biofuels, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Disney, drought, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Fisker, fracking, GE Wind, geothermal, global warming, green business, greenland, grid, IMF, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, Microsoft, minnesota, mountaintop removal, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, NREL, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, Ohio, oil spill, oregon, Peak miles, Pipelines, renewables, Rwanda, Sequestration, Shell, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Subsidies, Suncor Energy, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wastewater, Wave energy, wind
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22
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.22.13

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

CLIMATE 

2010 Iceland eruption yields bad news for geoengineering schemes (via Mongabay)

Ancient extinction has ominous CO2 lessons for today: study (via Climate Central)

New blog series will answer questions on climate finance (via WRI Insights)

TRANSPORTATION 

China imposes tough new auto fuel standards as renewables boom speeds up (via BusinessGreen)

EU puts airline carbon tax on hold for a year (via Phys.org)

It’s official: traffic pollution can cause asthma in children (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

UK’s green investment bank provides first offshore wind backing (via BusinessGreen)

Integrating variable renewables as Germany expands its grid (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar glut survives Suntech as customers seek alternative (via Bloomberg)

(more…)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Allison Macfarlane, apple, barack obama, california, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Connecticut, Demand response, DOE, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, Extinction, fracking, Fracking fluid, Fuel Cells, Fuel standard, Geoengineering, germany, green business, Green Investment Bank, grid, Hydropower, Iceland, Illinois, interior department, investment, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, Nevada, new jersey, News, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Ocean acidification, OFA, offshore wind, oil, Organizing for America, PacifiCorp, Pecan Street, production tax credit, ptc, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Russia, Sally Jewell, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, Suntech, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, vestas, Washington DC, wind
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14
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.14.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

US poised to become net energy exporter, Exxon Mobil forecasts (via Houston Chronicle)

Cities weigh taking electricity business from private utilities (via New York Times)

EPA reverses stance on polluting Texas water after a powerful lobbyist intervenes (via ProPublica)

West Virginia state legislation would prohibit heavy EPA fines (via Register-Herald)

GRID

Germany debates €10 billion grid network upgrade (via Recharge)

Silver Springs Networks’ stock jumps up close to 30% in debut (via GigaOm)

In wake of Sandy, Connecticut expands microgrid program (via Pike Research)

RENEWABLES

$71 trillion in institutional funds for wind, solar, and smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

US approves 1.1GW of solar and wind projects (via Recharge)

SEIA reports 76% surge in US solar installations (via New York Times)

FERC, US Coast Guard to coordinate development of hydrokinetic projects (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes reforms to speed interconnection of renewables, solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina offshore wind draws interest (via Recharge)

New York State could run on wind, water, and sunlight (via CleanTechnica)

PG&E solar billing named in California’s top utility “money wasters” (via PV Tech)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Three hurdles for Japan’s gas “discovery” (via GigaOm)

Saudi Arabia’s shale plans may be slowed by lack of water (via Bloomberg)

USC says fracking may boost California economy 14% (via Bloomberg)

New York State farmers learn fracking many mean drilling if neighbors agree (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House Speaker supports two-year fracking moratorium (via State Journal-Register/AP)

SandRidge strikes deal that could lead to CEO’s removal (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

Help Henry Waxman write a new carbon-tax bill (via Grist)

Second US carbon tax plan mooted (via RTCC)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Obama: pipeline decision coming soon (via The Hill)

State Department report OK’ing Keystone XL linked to oil industry (via Salon)

American pipeline will diminish energy security, prominent Canadian says (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL pipeline report studied British Columbia scenarios (via Huffington Post)

Obama says Keystone XL pipeline not major jobs creator (via CTV News)

Dilbit sinks in Enbridge oil spill, but floats in its lab study (via InsideClimate News)

OIL

US oil boom protects world from supply shocks (via Reuters)

OPEC: non-OPEC supply cutting into market share (via MarketWatch)

US refiners may boost gasoline exports on ethanol rule (via Reuters)

Study: shale oil contributed $30.4 billion to North Dakota’s economy in 2011 (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US energy efficiency league tables revealed (via RTCC)

LA tops US cities for Energy Star-certified buildings (via Sustainable Business)

SXSW: using Big Data to shrink energy waste (via Time)

Conservatives vs. liberals: who wastes more electricity? (via Grist)

Does daylight saving time save energy? (via Pike Research)

GREEN BUSINESS

Sustainability reporting slowly increases in China, report finds (via Environmental Leader)

Google incorporates green roofs into headquarters expansion (via GreenBiz)

COAL

Is there value in old coal-fired power plants? (via Midwest Energy News/ClimateWire)

Mountaintop removal coal mining poisoning Appalachia’s waterways (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Large fractures spotted in vulnerable Arctic sea ice (via Climate Central)

Climate change affects mountain forests (via Phys.org)

After 2012 drought, US farmers adapt for climate change (via Phys.org)

Inslee’s climate change bill passes Washington state senate (via Seattle Times)

TRANSPORTATION

EV project tells us how drivers use electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

FAA approves Boeing Dreamliner battery tests (via Environmental Leader)

Minnesota sales of electric, gas vehicles collide (via Star-Tribune)

NUCLEAR

Obama administration placing big bet on small reactors (via Greenwire)

Above-normal outage of US nuclear capacity persist at start of 2013 (via US EIA)

Savannah River site could store nuclear waste, says study (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

Dozens of species given new trade protections (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Obama to supporters: give lawmakers political cover on climate change (via The Hill)

Ryan budget pan calls two solar projects “ill-fated” – but they’re doing fine (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Renewable energy boom dependent on new energy infrastructure (via Renewable Energy World)

Obama and Keystone: reading the tea leaves (via Washington Post)

Can better solar loans slow the surge of third-party ownership? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons why a successful Silver Springs IPO is important (via GigaOm)

Posted:   |   Categories: Appalachia, arctic, barack obama, Boeing Dreamliner, british columbia, california, canada, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, deforestation, Dilbit, drought, Electric Vehicle, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy star, environment, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exxon Mobil, FAA, FERC, fracking, Gasoline, Georgia, germany, global warming, google, green business, green roof, grid, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, Interconnection, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, los angeles, Methane hydrates, Microgrid, minnesota, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Nuclear waste storage, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Paul Ryan, PGE, renewables, SandRidge, saudi arabia, Savannah River, Sea ice melt, seia, Shale gas, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, small modular reactor, smart grid, solar, tar sands, texas, Third party solar, transmission, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington State, Water, West Virginia, wind
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08
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.8.13

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

CLIMATE 

Recent global heat spike unlike anything in 11,000 years (via Time/AP)

Report says insurers still ignoring climate change (via Mother Jones)

BusinessGreen guide to climate risk management (via BusinessGreen)

Canadian Arctic may lose 20% of glaciers by 2100, shows study (via Bloomberg)

US Forest Service may let more fires burn (via Time/AP)

COAL 

Burning coal costs the EU €43 billion a year in health costs (via RTCC)

As coal industry declines, what will happen to all those retired miners? (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

UN says governments falling short in drought fight (via Phys.org)

US drought intensifies in Texas and Florida (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

50 percent price gap between European and Chinese solar modules (via Greentech Media)

China drives record solar growth to become world’s biggest market (via Bloomberg)

London Array becomes world’s biggest offshore wind farm (via Recharge)

Energy project developers see solar as easier than wind (via Greentech Media)

Greece installed 300MW of solar PV in January 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol makers eye pros and cons of corn alternatives (via Reuters)

Radical wind concept promises energy storage (via EarthTechling)

Other people’s money: how crowdfunding lowers the cost of solar energy (via RMI Outlet)

Solar batteries could be utilities’ next headache (via Reuters)

Is South Dakota “open for business” for wind developers? (via Midwest Energy News)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Oil sands, Keystone XL, and the new politics of fossil fuel infrastructure (via Energy Collective)

US lawmakers draft bill to speed decision on Keystone pipeline (via Reuters)

Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans Keystone XL pipeline hearing (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Beijing to reveal plan for electric vehicle boost (via BusinessGreen)

Two largest global EV charging networks join forces (via Pike Research)

Rethinking the lead acid battery with chip and disk drive machines (via GigaOm)

Dreamliner battery fire more serious than first thought (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

US new vehicle fuel economy in February ties record high (via Green Car Congress)

EPA considers changes to plug-in hybrid testing process (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale gas exports will shake up global market (via CNBC)

US shale boom hurts Europe’s climate goals, says energy executive (via Houston Chronicle)

Illinois fracking deal could be the national model (via Huffington Post/AP)

In Texas, water use for fracking stirs concerns (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency presents UK industrial sector with £2.2 opportunity (via BusinessGreen)

How UC Irvine redefines efficiency in laboratories (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

The key decision that can make or break an energy project (via Greentech Media)

Interior Department nominee Jewell pledges “certainty” to oil, gas drillers (via Reuters)

OIL 

Five energy challenges for Venezuela’s oil after Chavez (via Christian Science Monitor)

Exxon to invest $190 billion in upstream oil projects over five years (via Wall Street Journal)

BP faces escalating spill payouts after court ruling (via Reuters)

BP, Transocean officials botched tests, testifies witness (via Bloomberg)

Republicans point to falling oil production on federal lands (via Wall Street Journal)

EMISSIONS 

40x35: a zero-carbon energy target for the world’s largest economies (via Climate Progress)

Developing nations must reduce emissions by half by 2020, study says (via WRI Insights)

EU court rejects Polish challenge to CO2 emissions system (via Phys.org)

GRID 

Demand response in the US electricity market (via Energy Collective)

What exactly are self-healing power grids? (via EarthTechling)

Summer demand may raise heat on Texas grid (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s economic troubles spur a return to nuclear power (via MIT Technology Review)

Two years after Fukushima, Japan’s nuclear lobby bounces back (via Reuters)

US nuclear plant inspections need to improve, says report (via Reuters)

Looming federal budget cuts add to problems at Hanford nuclear site (via New York Times)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Shareholders file first-ever “carbon-bubble” resolutions (via InsideClimate News)

How GM earns $1 billion recycling (via Treehugger)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Crowdfunding, Demand response, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ERCOT, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, externalities, Exxon, Florida, fracking, Fuel Economy, fukushima, global warming, GM, Greece, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hanford, Illinois, Insurance, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, plug-in hybrid, Poland, Recycling, renewables, Sally Jewell, Sea ice melt, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, South Dakota, tar sands, texas, Transocean, Transportation, UC Irvine, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, US Forest Service, Venezuela, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
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07
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.7.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale revolution hinges on exports, say executives (via Houston Chronicle)

Railway says fuel savings inspired LNG test (via Houston Chronicle)

Enbridge CEO interested in providing natural gas for trains (via Houston Chronicle)

New York State Assembly votes to block fracking until 2015 (via Reuters)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Clean energy, transportation posed to create 110,000 jobs (via Sustainable Business)

Wal-Mart beats 20% emissions reduction goal a year early (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Weak global coal market threatens low-margin mines (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Japan’s wind industry headed for boom after solar surge (via Bloomberg)

Green investing update (via AOL Energy)

Despite major growth, SolarCity shares drop on Q4 loss (via GigaOm)

Wind energy lessons from Illinois: Q&A with AWEA’s Rob Gramlich (via Midwest Energy News)

SMUD launches pilot to study the grid impacts of solar (via Renew Grid)

Clean energy coalition ups ante on renewable energy in Minnesota (via Pioneer Press)

Minnesota lawmakers consider rate-based solar power incentives (via Star-Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Fossil fuels still fastest-growing global energy source (via Energy Manager Today)

Dearth of skilled workers imperils $100 billion in US projects (via Bloomberg)

US oil and gas boom takes many by surprise (via NBC News)

California CEOs say current energy policies helpful but too complicated (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top 1% of US homes consume 4 times more electricity than average (via Outlier)

Energy efficiency cut 107TWh of US electricity demand in 2011 (via CleanTechnica)

The industrial sector: low-hanging fruit for demand response? (via Renew Grid)

Chicago buildings aggregate energy data to participate in better demand response (via Energy Manager Today)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian official: Keystone rejection wouldn’t harm US-Canada relationship (via The Hill)

Four factors that could turn Keystone’s fate (via Politico)

Canada pitches oil sands crude as greener choice for US (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL critics now hang hopes on delaying the pipeline (via Reuters)

GRID 

EEI expects $15 billion in transmission investment this year (via Renew Grid)

US smart meter market is far from saturated (via Greentech Media)

Heating and cooling no longer majority of US home energy use (via US EIA)

CLIMATE 

Misunderstanding seal-level rise and climate impacts (via Science Blogs)

How climate change worsened violence in Syria (via Mother Jones)

EPA, DOE can tackle climate change on several fronts (via Washington Post)

Climate change turns an already troubled ski industry on its head (via High Country News)

Washington governor, senators disagree on terms of climate-change bill (via Seattle Times)

OIL 

Saudi Aramco committed to US oil exports, says CEO (via Bloomberg)

German oil executive: country’s clean energy dream now a “nightmare” (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas oil production may hit record by 2020, says state regulator (via Bloomberg)

BP CEO: no retreat from Gulf of Mexico despite spill (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

EV efficiency should be ranked on miles/KWh, not MPGe (via Green Car Reports)

FedEx Express fleet beats 20% fuel economy improvement goal, sets new target of 30% improvement by 2020 compared to 2005 (via Green Car Congress)

GM targets lower car weight, long-range EVs (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Bangladesh, India, China at “high-risk” from natural disasters (via RTCC)

UK consumer consumption footprint more than 1½ times its land area (via BusinessGreen)

Endangered or not, species at least no longer waiting (via New York Times)

House votes to increase weather satellite funding (via Climate Central)

Texas shields free-market habitat program from federal scrutiny (via Greenwire)

NUCLEAR 

Feds look to ship Washington radioactive waste to New Mexico (via Post-Intelligencer)

Hanford nuclear leak: budget cuts threaten cleanup efforts (via Politico/AP)

POLITICS 

Harry Reid: the closet environmentalist (via National Journal)

Obama pick for Interior Department faces hearing; agency under fire (via Reuters)

Interior nominee Jewell championed outdoor jobs over oil (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why food riots are likely to become the new normal (via The Guardian)

Better Place was supposed to revolutionize electric cars – what went wrong? (via Washington Post)

BP CEO: “peak oil” talk quieted by abundance (via The Hill)

Are environmentalists wrong about Keystone XL? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted:   |   Categories: awea, Bangladesh, better place, BP, california, canada, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, endangered species, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ev, Extinction, FedEx, fracking, Fuel economy standard, germany, GM, green business, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hanford, harry reid, Illinois, india, interior department, investment, japan, Keystone XL, LNG, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas export, new york state, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, peak oil, renewables, Rob Gramlich, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Saudi Aramco, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, SMUD, solar, SolarCity, Subsidy, Syria, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wal-mart, Washington State, wind
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27
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.27.13

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

NATURAL GAS 

IEA recommends natural gas trading hub in Asia (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling leases now cover more land than California and Florida combined (via StateImpact Texas)

Natural gas share of electricity generation expected to keep expanding (via Kansas City Star)

GRID 

China’s grid woes set to worsen (via Recharge)

White House official: power grid upgrades needed to mitigate extreme weather (via The Hill)

Silver Spring Networks sets terms for $63 million IPO (via San Jose Mercury News)

GREEN BUSINESS 

New Dow Jones sustainability index targets emerging markets (via GreenBiz)

Ford targets 41% per-vehicle cut in waste to landfills (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Japan solar shipments double on FIT (via Recharge)

Analyst alert: solar PV pricing on the rise (via Greentech Media)

New modeling suggests wind farm power generation capacity has been significantly overestimated (via Green Car Congress)

(more…)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, ARPA-E, biofuel, BP, california, canada, cape wind, Cellulosic biofuel, China, climate, Climate Change, Connecticut, deforestation, eia, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, ev, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, Florida, Ford, fukushima, Geoengineering, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, IEA, International Energy Agency, japan, kansas, ken salazar, Keystone XL, massachusetts, Missouri, NASA, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Recycling, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, Sea level rise, seattle, Severe weather, Silver Spring Networks, solar, solar pv, south carolina, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transocean, Transportation, wind
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