Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Supreme Court to hear cases against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

Why size doesn’t matter: Divesting from fossil fuels with a small endowment (via Huffington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

NTSB finds “systemic problems” in gas pipeline oversight (via The Hill)

ENERGY POLICY 

Utility bosses see change coming, look to clean and distributed energy (via Grist)

How these energy geeks are reimagining an old school utility (via Reuters)

The University of California’s new retail energy supplier: Itself (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

USTDA to commit nearly $2 billion to renewable energy projects in India (via PV Tech)

German ground-mount solar to be limited to 1.2GW for 2015-2017 (via PV Tech)

Brazil’s Banco Itau Unibanco to finance $408 million in renewable energy projects (via Recharge)

Bangladesh looks to establish world’s “first solar nation” (via Telesur)

U.S. solar complaint against India set to reopen as Obama leaves town (via PV Tech)

UK study says solar panels made from perovskite far cheaper, more efficient (via Reuters)

U.S. approves Argentina proposal to qualify for biodiesel credits (via Reuters)

NextEra-HECO deal likely linked with Hawaiian utility’s about face on rooftop solar (via Forbes)

Every $1 of solar incentives puts $2.46 into the economy (via CleanTechnica)

West Virginia legislature repeals state renewable portfolio standard (via Charleston Daily Mail)

Cape Wind project faces new hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Can you turn your home into a hydroelectric plant? (via Forbes)

OIL 

Obama’s plan: Allow drilling in the Atlantic, but limit it in Arctic (via New York Times)

Green light for some would-be U.S. oil exporters, more questions for others (via Reuters)

Sen. Cruz won’t seek vote to end crude oil export ban (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

American Airlines expects to save $5 billion from tumbling oil prices (via Forbes)

Kansas City Power & Light to build 1,000 EV charging sites (via Green Car Reports)

After steadily falling, gas prices notch an increase (via New York Times)

Boston Power targets own battery gigafactory (via Inside EVs)

CLIMATE 

U.S. corporate supply chains vulnerable to climate risks (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Storage to follow solar’s path of falling costs, says Citigroup (via PV Tech)

Are carbon nanoballs the answer to renewable’s grid woes? (via BusinessGreen)

The case for long duration storage: Net electricity load in California is five years ahead of schedule (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Are stranded assets wearing down oil and coal industries? (via GreenBiz)

What utility executives think the future holds (via Utility Dive)

Solar Outlook 2015: Still growing, but no longer energy’s young kid (via Renewable Energy World)

10 Members of Congress who actually get sustainable business (via GreenBiz)

Another state fights war on solar and energy efficiency (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.26.15

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

U.S.-INDIA TALKS 

U.S. and India announce “cooperation” on climate change (via Climate Progress)

Obama backs India solar goals, seeks support for climate talks (via Reuters)

Obama says made a breakthrough in civil nuclear trade with India (via Retuers)

Obama-Modi nuclear “breakthrough” has CEOs wary of fine print (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

UK lawmakers urge fracking moratorium (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Obama proposes to declare ANWR a wilderness area (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

India plans 100GW wind energy capacity by 2022 (via CleanTechnica)

Japan to set renewable energy targets despite nuclear creeping back in (via PV Tech)

India to propose global collaboration in solar power R&D to cut costs (via CleanTechnica)

India clean energy investments rise 13% to $7.9 billion (via Bloomberg)

Qatar set to announce 200MW solar tender (via PV Tech)

Chinese tier-1 PV module suppliers have sold out (via CleanTechnica)

Worry for U.S. solar projects after end of tax credits (via New York Times)

A philosophical divide emerges in states considering the future of utilities (via Greentech Media)

Huge New England area to soon open for offshore wind power (via Climate Progress)

New York Governor Cuomo delivers a sunny 2015 State of the State (via Renewable Energy World)

Massachusetts closes out landmark solar rebate program (via Solar Industry)

North Carolina plunges deeper into offshore wind energy (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment plummets in Ohio (via Greentech Media)

New California partnership launches statewide PACE program (via Renewable Energy World)

New steps toward future production of solar fuels (via Phys.org)

Solar and water: Abengoa’s big bets (via Forbes)

Mahindra Group to expand renewables business amid India’s clean energy push (via Reuters)

Inside the coming showdown over rooftop solar in Indiana (via Utility Dive)

CLIMATE 

Cold nights are decreasing across the U.S. (via Climate Central)

Pope’s U.S. visit to stoke climate fight (via The Hill)

Hollande calls for global “solidarity” in fight against climate change (via RTCC)

Before sea level rises, Miami Beach officials want to raise street (via Miami Herald)

OIL 

Saudi oil minister Naimi to stay for now, policy steady (via Retuers)

Head west for best look at U.S. oil drillers’ pain (via Bloomberg)

Defeating Keystone XL might mean more oil by train (via The Stranger)

Illinois misses the fracking boom because of falling oil prices (via Chicago Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION

Plug-in EV sales could hit 1% market share this quarter (via Autoblog)

How low gas prices could spike Obama’s climate plan (via National Journal)

GRID 

Demand response will “win hands down if taken up by Supreme Court, says former FERC Chair (via Greentech Media)

Wind transmission beats Keystone XL pipeline in race for federal approval (via CleanTechnica)

OPINION 

On Obama’s India visit, climate change deal unlikely as Modi boosts coal production (via Washington Post)

Cheapest solar in the world (Michael Liebreich interview series) (via CleanTechnica)

Why you need to pay attention to solar energy legislation in Indiana (via Indianapolis Star)

What isn’t at stake in the Exelon-Pepco merger (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Fate of EU carbon market hangs in balance of reform vote (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading reforms in doubt after MEPs fail to agree on start date (via BusinessGreen)

European Parliament committee fails to agree on carbon reform date (via Reuters)

How the oil industry will try to kill carbon pricing (via Sightline Daily)

CLIMATE

Citing climate, Obama issues Arctic executive order (via USA Today)

The case of Greenland’s disappearing lakes (via CBS News)

How far Obama’s message on climate change has come (via Washington Post)

COAL 

U.S. coal declines, bucks global trend (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

EPIA: Germany’s solar tender plan “makes no sense” while PV prices fall (via PV Tech)

U.S. trade panel triggers duties on China, Taiwan solar gear (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar remains committed to supplying PV modules to U.S. after ITC ruling (via PV Tech)

Dubai ups renewable energy target to 15% by 2030 (via PV Tech)

Plans submitted for 205MW Chile solar project (via PV Tech)

Greenwood to build 80-megawatt solar power facility in Chile (via Bloomberg)

U.S. wind power installations rose six-fold in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s biggest utility wants to ditch solar net metering (via Greentech Media)

Moth eyes inspire scientists to cut reflection on solar panels (via GigaOm)

Solar as an energy equity solution (via Renewable Energy World)

Higher renewable energy standard could boost Minnesota’s economy (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS 

House passes bill to speed natural gas pipelines (via The Hill)

GRID 

Grid edge investments total $1.3 billion in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

FERC files Supreme Court challenge to demand response decision (via Greentech Media)

Clean Line solicits 3.5GW capacity for Grain Belt Express (via Recharge)

OIL 

OPEC chief says oil will rebound, defends decision not to cut (via Reuters)

Spain mulls fracking after offshore drilling comes up dry (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP head expects oil prices “low for up to three years” (via BBC)

U.S. drivers put oil market on road to recovery (via Reuters)

Nearly 3 million gallons of brine spill in North Dakota oil boom’s largest leak (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tokyo wants 6,000 fuel cell cars from Toyota and Honda for 2020 Olympics (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republican hints at Keystone XL backup plan (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

GOP knives come out against U.S.-China carbon pact, Paris climate talks (via National Journal)

Senate votes 98-1 that “climate change is real and not a hoax” (via Climate Progress)

How senators voted on whether climate change is real and “human activity significantly contributes” (via National Journal)

Republicans edit climate-denial mockery out of Obama’s State of the Union (via Grist)

Obama to Republicans: So long, and thanks for nothing (via Grist)

Tom Steyer’s green ambitions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

As Obama and Modi meet, 4 opportunities for U.S.-India action on clean energy and climate (via WRI Insights)

U.S.-India climate talks could pave way for billions in clean energy investment but not emissions goals (via International Business Times)

NRG’s grand ambition to dominate the solar market (via Forbes)

Five reasons why companies should invest in climate resilience now (via GreenBiz)

The most important solar trends in eight charts (via Greentech Media)

Climate action protects the middle class (via Huffington Post)

The Senate is pretty clearly a hoax (via Vox)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.20.15

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate chief Figueres says carbon bubble is now a reality (via RTCC)

Ten years of the European Union Emissions Trading System (via Energy Collective)

China cuts energy intensity by 4.8 percent in 2014 (via Reuters)

Investors’ new climate calculation: Engage or divest? (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

India’s Modi calls for “paradigm shift” on climate (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment jumps 12 percent in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

China “on course to miss distributed solar PV target” (via PV Tech)

Saudi Arabia delays $109 billion solar plant by 8 years (via Bloomberg)

Defective panels threatening profit at China solar farms (via Bloomberg)

Draft of Germany PV auction rules leaked (via Renewables International)

Chile now home to world’s largest merchant solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

France celebrates 1GW surge in wind farm capacity (via BusinessGreen)

France proposes increasing feed-in tariff for residential solar projects (via PV Tech)

America installed 22 times more solar in 2014 than in 2008 (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Norway redefines Arctic ice edge in potential oil exploration boost (via Reuters)

50,000 gallons of crude oil spills into partially frozen Yellowstone River (via Climate Progress)

BP oil spill penalty trial begins in New Orleans (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Light-duty EV sales expected to reach 6.4 million annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Plug-in EV sales in China increase 350 percent (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf enjoys 33 percent European sales boost (via BusinessGreen)

Usage rises at DC fast chargers along West Coast EV highway (via Inside EVs)

NATURAL GAS 

Kansas official links earthquakes to fracking wastewater disposal (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Japan plans to pump $700 million into energy storage (via Greentech Media)

New York town tries to “island” itself with microgrid to avoid storm-driven power outages (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. Senate tees up votes on Keystone XL, oil exports, climate (via Houston Chronicle)

Spiking energy prices drive interest in Massachusetts competitive power market (via Energy Manager Today)

Proposal would void new North Dakota methane flaring, oil shipment rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

POLITICS 

GOP finds secret weapon against Obama’s regulatory agenda (via The Hill)

OPINION 

First Solar moves into silicon: Why efficiency is back (via Forbes)

Why solar costs will fall another 40 percent in just two years (via Renew Economy)

Lower oil prices will blunt fuel efficiency drive (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.16.15

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

CLIMATE 

EU plans diplomatic offensive ahead of Paris climate summit (via RTCC)

New Pew survey shows Americans may finally be serious about global warming (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Michigan governor wants to wean state off coal as an energy source (via Lansing News)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind power to become cheapest energy source in Asia (via Business Standard)

Brazil wind financing deals surged 83% last year to $2.5 billion (via Bloomberg)

Wind farms could save UK £7.4 billion in gas import costs, says report (via BusinessGreen)

2015 will see first solar equipment produced in Brazil, says BNDES (via Recharge)

Merkel says Germany needs “a respite from solar” (via PV Magazine)

Dubai doubles capacity of “lowest cost” PV plant to 200MW (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green kick-starts China PV project pipeline in 2015 (via PV Tech)

Queensland businesses turn to solar to offset soaring bills (via Renew Economy)

Australian households installed a rooftop solar system every 2.8 minutes in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

U.S. solar industry adds 31,000 jobs in 2014 (via The Hill)

California regulators consider west-facing incentives for solar (via Solar Industry)

Missouri net metering bills could aid battered solar industry (via Midwest Energy News)

In Wisconsin, solar “new math” could equal big impacts (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota group wants state energy assistance to fund solar for low-income families (via Sustainable Business)

Solar cell efficiency jumps 50% with hand-build Perovskite layer (via CleanTechnica)

Small-scale hybrid energy device harvests both sun and wind (via Treehugger)

Solar Decathlon 2015 kicks off with Irvine workshop (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico considers delaying some oil exploration bidding (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Canada postpones North American summit amid Keystone XL tension (via Reuters)

Lifting U.S. crude export ban could boost production, cut gas prices, says study (via Reuters)

Judge puts BP’s top fine at $13.7 billion for Gulf oil spill; U.S. sought $18 billion (via Bloomberg)

U.S. oil train safety proposal due in May (via Reuters)

Gravy train derails for oil patch workers laid off in downturn (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Korea’s target: 200,000 EVs by 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Nissan to have longer-range EVs “relatively quickly,” says executive (via Green Car Reports)

Elon Musk: Hyperloop test track may be built in Texas (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

India’s power sector moves into the 21st century (via Navigant Research)

PJM files “stop-gap” proposal with FERC to allow demand response in capacity auctions (via SNL Energy)

Opower says 95 utility partners have saved 6TWh energy (via Energy Manager Today)

California takes lead in developing energy storage (via GreenBiz)

Solar and utilities can co-exist through EVs, says Elon Musk (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Poll: GOP clashes with voters on oil industry priorities (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar alliance in Sunshine State may be bad news for Jeb Bush (via Forbes)

OPINION 

How beyond-the-grid solar firms and lenders can make better use of capital (via Greentech Media)

A reminder to investors dumping solar stocks: PV and oil rarely mix (via Greentech Media)

Center for Public Integrity reveals how PR firms manufacture consent for oil firms (via DeSmogBlog)

Wind must cut costs in face of cheap crude (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.15

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

EMISSIONS 

EU power sector emissions drop a “staggering” eight percent (via BusinessGreen)

South Korea cap-and-trade market becomes world’s second-largest (via CleanTechnica)

Warm weather sinking EU emissions-market plans (via Bloomberg)

EPA air chief “confident” as rulemakings face legal, political fire (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Drillers say Obama plan to plug methane leaks imperils boom (via Bloomberg)

President Obama’s gas-drilling dance (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Germany passes 1GW offshore wind, set to triple this year (via Recharge)

Wind and bioenergy star in 2030 U.S. green energy mix, PV not so much (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. solar jobs climb 22% as clean power aids economic recovery (via Bloomberg)

Policy uncertainty drives 25 percent of wind industry suppliers out of business (via CleanTechnica)

SolarCity taps Credit Suisse for $200 million on “MyPower” financing (via PV Tech)

Net metering for rooftop solar: How to fix the problems (via The Energy Collective)

Xcel’s community solar program creates “bite-sized” utility projects (via Solar Industry)

Florida Tea Party helps launch ballot initiative for third-party solar (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to see market share drop even as oil slump slows shale boom (via Reuters)

Wells Fargo examines its energy loans after oil-price drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

The $2.4 billion plan to get Germans to buy EVs (via Autoblog)

Production and sales of plug-in EVs boomed in China in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla chief asks automakers to support electric cars (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

Rate of sea-level rise more significant than thought (via BBC)

Map reveals which countries will survive climate change (via Inhabitat)

Scientists reveal which coral reefs can survive global warming (via The Guardian)

Pope Francis says climate change is mostly man’s fault (via The Guardian)

Global Climate Fund on GOP’s budget hit list (via InsideClimate News)

For vulnerable barrier islands, a rush to rebuild on U.S. coast (via Yale e360)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada still expecting Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

GRID 

Clean Line scores key approval for Plains & Eastern transmission line (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima meltdowns pervade South Korea debate on reactor renewal (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

USDA to provide $370 million for environmental conservation projects (via The Hill)

State of the California drought: Still very bad (via ScienceBlogs)

OPINION 

Could China become the OPEC of solar manufacturing? (via Forbes)

Institutional investors are blowing it on renewable energy (via GreenBiz)

Cost-competitive clean energy well placed to rise out oil price slump (via Forbes)

Solar industry added jobs nearly 20 times faster than overall U.S. economy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China calls for local targets to curb coal use, cut pollution (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing set to cover 80 percent of Canada’s economy (via RTCC)

White House methane plan takes aim at oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)

Goddard College becomes fourth Vermont school to divest from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Harvard invests tens of millions in fossil fuels despite divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Top 10 carbon market predictions for 2015 (via TriplePundit)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank predicts solar grid parity in 80% of global market by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to build 2.3GW wind capacity by 2019 (via Recharge)

Green bond market hits record $36.6 billion in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Utilities push back as solar industry booms in Japan (via Forbes)

Google’s clean energy capacity passes 2.5GW with latest solar investment (via BusinessGreen)

Report: Solar is cheaper than the grid in 42 of 50 largest U.S. cities (via Greentech Media)

U.S. homes fitted with PV attract higher prices, says report (via PV Tech)

As North Carolina solar industry booms the region takes notes (via Environmental Leader)

Ohio renewable energy policies spurred growth, now driving away business, says report (via Cleveland.com)

NREL enzyme could help offset fossil fuel dependence (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

India’s faulty grid presents a transmission opportunity (via Navigant Research)

Moody’s and Navigant offer conflicting views on economics of solar-plus storage (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE 

Developing cities hold big key to climate action (via Climate Central)

Melting glaciers imperil Kathmandu, perched high above rising seas (via Bloomberg)

Moisture shortfall, heat threaten Southwestern forests (via Climate Central)

Climate change is laying waste to water supplies, warns Farm Bureau (via Grist)

OIL 

Record oil imports take China closest ever to passing U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Commodity traders exploit crude crash to make oil storage king (via Bloomberg)

Poll: Majority of voters oppose more oil exports (via The Hill)

EIA forecasts temporary peak in U.S. oil output in May (via Reuters)

Some on Wall Street see oil plunging to $40 and below (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone-oil export ban sought by Senator backing pipeline bill (via Bloomberg)

Tool shows how taxpayer money could be spent instead of subsidizing Big Oil (via EcoWatch)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to cut subsidies for non-electric vehicles (via Bloomberg)

United Kingdom emergency services in front line of government EV rollout (via BusinessGreen)

Honda announces all-electric and PHEV model while debuting FCV concept (via Inside EVs)

Musk: Tesla can make a few million cars a year by 2025 (via GigaOm)

Nissan CEO: Chevy Bolt “not a surprise”  - Nissan has competing, long-range EV in development (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Annual revenue from fuel cell systems is expected to reach nearly $57.8 billion by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reverse net metering? California penalizes certain types of energy efficiency (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

Worries about consumers cutting utility ties are overblown, say Moody’s analysts (via Greentech Media)

Top 50 green American schools, as Stanford faculty calls for fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

The 25 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2014 (via WeatherUnderground)

POLITICS 

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening (via The Hill)

Two ways Obama can win on Keystone even if Republicans triumph (via Slate)

Ted Cruz oil export amendment difficult vote for some GOP senators (via National Journal)

The greenest governor in America tells Grist about his big climate plan (via Grist)

Massachusetts’s governor appoints controversial new energy team (via Boston Globe)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.12.15

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama’s India visit could yield progress on climate change and solar power (via The Guardian)

Solar plus batteries unlikely to threaten utilities anytime soon, says study (via Forbes)

Wholesale power prices increase across the U.S. in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea launches carbon cap-and-trade system (via The Hill)

Stanford professors urge withdrawal from fossil fuel investments (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

India plans five separate $5 billion green energy funds (via Panchabuta)

Solar at grid parity in most of world by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Renewable energy investment surges, nearly surpasses 2011 mark (via Climate Progess)

Solar accounted for nearly half of all global clean energy investment in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

5GW wind-solar energy park planned in Gujarat, India (via CleanTechnica)

Indian oil corporation targets 10,000 solar-powered gas stations (via CleanTechnica)

SunEdison plans $4 billion India solar factory as demand climbs (via Bloomberg)

Morocco solar agency awards 350MW of concentrating solar power contracts (via PV Tech)

Chile will be home to latest challenger for world’s largest merchant solar plant (via PV Tech)

Wind developers seen bidding to build Brazil transmission lines (via Bloomberg)

Steady wave power could be cheaper than wind and solar (via BusinessGreen)

Wind forecasting receives $2.5 million boost from U.S. DOE (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley deal nudges 2015 U.S. residential solar investment toward $800 million (via PV Tech)

Net metering fight comes to New Mexico (via Navigant Research)

Utility commission order bolsters North Carolina’s status as a rising solar power (via Solar Industry Magazine)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: State Department studying Nebraska ruling on Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Not enough votes to override Keystone veto, says Sen. Coons (via The Hill)

TransCanada CEO: “We need Keystone” (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Countries could leave UN climate body if Paris fails, says Todd Stern (via RTCC)

Most physicians already seeing health effects of climate change in patients (via Yale e360)

72 percent of Republican Senators are climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Oil tumbles to 5-½ year low as OPEC reaffirms stance (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Venezuela, Saudi leaders meet to talk oil prices in Riyadh (via Houston Chronicle)

As oil plummets, how much pain still looms for U.S. energy firms? (via Reuters)

Oil drillers bail on U.S. boom, idle most rigs since 1991 (via Bloomberg)

Shell to cut five to ten percent of oil sands jobs (via Houston Chronicle)

Bakken oil producers need $55 a barrel to keep production steady (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Inflexible ethanol costs stopping further decrease in gas prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt arrives with 50-mile EV range, 41 mpg (via Autoblog)

Official Chevrolet Bolt details: 200-mile range, $30,000 starting price (via Inside EVs)

University of Tennessee to head $250M advanced composites manufacturing institute (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS 

Idea for gas terminal off East Coast rankles fracking foes (via Houston Chronicle)

New York fracking ban seen as having little impact on supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

A next-gen battery to land in Hawaii, courtesy of Aquion Energy (via GigaOm)

Massachusetts awards $18 million for microgrids, energy resiliency (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $235 billion in value by 2019 (via Environmental Leader)

New U.S. DOE lighting standards could save $15 billion (via CleanTechnica)

What’s unique about the Texas PACE-in-a-box toolkit? (via Renewable Energy World)

ENVIRONMENT 

We can fix the Gulf dead zone, for $2.7 billion a year (via Grist)

New York is biggest city to ban foam packaging (via Grist)

California’s almonds use as much water annually as Los Angeles uses in three years (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

How EVs could impact the grid in four charts (via Greentech Media)

How innovative solar business models can benefit all (via GreenBiz)

Bakken oil wells and the Red Queen’s revenge (via Reuters)

U.S. car travel has been on the decline for a decade – will cheap gas change that? (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court approves Keystone XL route through Nebraska (via The Hill)

Keystone foes cite foreign oil users to undercut Republican push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Prepare for rising migration driven by climate change, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

U.S. hot streak now old enough to vote (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Solar took half of all global renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF (via PV Tech)

Rebound in clean energy investment beats expectations in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar investment surged an incredible 175% in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Key solar PV market trends in 2015: IHS (via PV Tech)

Deutsche Bank lowers PV market demand forecast for 2014-2015 (via PV Tech)

FiT and net-metering charges confirmed for Italian solar PV installations (via PV Tech)

Japan funding $779 in million energy-saving battery storage installations (via Bloomberg)

China clarifies plans for cuts to onshore wind FiT (via Recharge)

Brazil minister sees no changes to auction system for wind and solar (via Recharge)

Korean researchers deliver record 18.4% efficient perovskite solar cell (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy rising across all spheres of U.S. society (via TriplePundit)

Industry says wind saved consumers $1 billion during 2014 Polar Vortex (via Breaking Energy)

Sunrun Investec deal completes bumper week for U.S. residential PV investment (via PV Tech)

Colorado utility leads the way for community solar (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

How OPEC weaponized the price of oil against U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry group to score lawmakers’ energy votes (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump taking a toll on U.S. alternative fuels (via Reuters)

Mexico proposes historic crude oil swap with U.S. (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China plug-in EV sales target 336,000 units by end of 2015 (via Inside EVs)

European Leaf owners drive 50% more per year on average than gas-powered owners (via Green Car Congress)

House Speaker Boehner signals he’s opposed to gas tax hike (via The Hill)

Boston Power aims to rival Tesla with gigawatt battery factories (via Greentech Media)

West Coast electric highway serves thousands of EV drivers (via Green Car Reports)

EMISSIONS 

DOE project captures and stores one million metric tons of carbon (via Green Car Congress)

Xcel Energy plans 40% carbon emissions cut (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking data sought by environmental groups in EPA lawsuit (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

California issues roadmap for grid-connected energy storage technology (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

On energy efficiency, easy money not always an easy sell (via Midwest Energy News)

Chicago’s first benchmarking report showcases energy savings opportunities (via NRDC Switchboard)

POLITICS 

The anti-science climate denier caucus: 114th Congress edition (via Climate Progress)

Boxer retirement a big loss for environmentalists (via The Hill)

Steyer ally says California Senate run a possibility (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How falling oil prices will impact the economy and the Keystone XL debate (via Forbes)

In Keystone fight and beyond, infrastructure is energy policy (via InsideClimate News)

Why California needs to think differently about how it supports energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The point of the Keystone XL fight (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.8.15

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

CLIMATE 

Much of the world’s fossil fuel reserves must stay buried to prevent climate change, says study (via The Guardian)

Hot, unfriendly skies could alter future flights (via Climate Central)

EPA to delay U.S. carbon rule for power plants until summer (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Study: 80% of coal reserves need to stay in the ground (via BusinessGreen)

More than 90% of U.S. coal should stay underground: Climate study (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

IHS remains cautious on PV market demand growth (via PV Tech)

India issues draft guidelines for 3 gigawatts of solar projects (via Bloomberg)

China pushing harder for PV manufacturing consolidation; 10 companies to dominate (via PV Tech)

Dubai utility DEWA produces the world’s cheapest solar energy ever (via Renewable Energy World)

Pace of Japan’s renewable development is slowing (via CleanTechnica)

A Caribbean island says goodbye diesel, hello 100% renewable electricity (via RMI Outlet)

Solar patents reach a record high (via Energy Manager Today)

Almost 4,000 U.S. schools are now running on solar (via Sustainable Business)

California on its way to meeting clean energy goals, say officials (via Huffington Post/AP)

Poll: 82% of Oregonians support renewable energy (via Portland Business Journal)

National Grid “officially” cuts ties with Cape Wind (via Recharge)

Department of Energy opens up $125 million fund for energy innovation (via GigaOm)

SunEdison buys 1.6GW of “PTC-eligible” wind turbines (via Recharge)

Tea Party is pushing for solar power in Florida (via Washington Post)

Perovskite solar cell reaches record efficiency (via Phys.org)

EMISSIONS 

Oil plunge seen eroding emissions ambition on carbon and climate (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing in 2014 (via Energy Collective)

EPA to create CO2-slashing plan for states that won’t (via Climate Central)

71% of Washington State voters support proposed cap-and-trade system (via Seattle Times)

OIL 

No chance of OPEC output cut, even after oil dips below $50, say Gulf delegates (via Reuters)

Shrinking foreign oil bill sends U.S. trade deficit lower (via Houston Chronicle)

Renowned trader sees $40 oil as “absolute price floor” (via Houston Chronicle)

White House not under pressure to expand U.S. oil exports, says Podesta (via Reuters)

White House issues formal Keystone XL veto threat (via The Hill)

Oil taxes tempt recession-scarred U.S. states as prices plummet (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry joins hands with solar in latest annual report (via Greentech Media)

DOE Secretary: Strategic Petroleum Reserve needs “modernization” (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Green vehicle demand revs up as UK electric car sales quadruple (via The Guardian)

Key GOP senator says gas hike is on the table (via The Hill)

New Oregon rules require 10% cleaner fuels (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

GRID 

Even in the off-season, utilities must prepare the smart grid with storage for natural disasters (via Renewable Energy World)

Why big energy companies want to invest in energy storage startups (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

New U.S. generating capacity in 2014 was overwhelmingly natural gas, wind, solar (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Can nuclear energy compete in today’s energy markets? (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

EU banned pesticides to help bees, but now other bugs are invading (via Bloomberg)

NOAA reduces odds of El Nino conditions this winter (via Weather Underground)

OPINION 

Why leaving fossil fuels in the ground is good for everyone (via The Guardian)

Smart money is on storing energy, not carbon, says economist (via Phys.org)

A tumultuous year for demand response (via Navigant Research)

Bold clean tech investing predictions for 2015 (via Greentech Media)

SMUD’s community renewable energy development program: Partnering for results in clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

How to get famous in the solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Understanding the oil price drop: What does $50-per-barrel oil mean? (via Greentech Media)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Cape Wind loses power contracts, becomes victim of class warfare (via Greentech Media)