Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.9.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Japan ramps up deals in carbon credits within more emerging economies (via TriplePundit)
Ukraine to come under fire for $500 million carbon permit deal (via Reuters Point Carbon)
California’s cap and trade isn’t a game – except when it is (via CleanTechnica)
Cut emissions? Congress itself keeps burning dirtier fuel (via New York Times)
COAL
Global coal consumption up 50% in 10 years (via Facts of the Day)
Goldman Sachs: window for profitable investment in coal mining is closing (via Climate Progress)
US coal exports growing (via Huffington Post)
Coal lobbyists bend White House hear on carbon rule (via The Hill)
Coalition aims to get Nebraska utility off coal (via Midwest Energy News)
RENEWABLES
EPA maps renewable power potential on scarred land (via EarthTechling)
Using technology to get more renewable energy onto the grid (via Breaking Energy)
Western US utilities call for widespread adoption of smart solar inverters (via Renew Grid)
State renewable-energy laws turn out to be incredibly hard to repeal (via Washington Post)
Sewage-powered biofuels plant claims major breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)
Small wind turbines harnessing gusts of solar’s lease success (via Bloomberg)
Renewable diesels could score big thanks to renewable fuel standard fight (via Greentech Media)
Bill would let Kansas utilities buy renewable energy credits (via Wichita Eagle)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Leak at Alberta tar sands project heightens conservationists’ concerns (via New York Times)
How shoddy science almost led one agency to use flawed map in Keystone XL review (via Greenwire)
Industry report says Keystone XL won’t impact greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)
Enbridge asks EPA for extension to finish oil spill dredging (via Houston Chronicle)
CLIMATE
Climate change pace now fastest in 65 million years (via Facts of the Day)
Research suggests manmade emissions may have very long-term impacts (via ClimateWire)
Rebranding climate change as a public health issue (via Time)
The trouble with beekeeping in the Anthropocene (via Time)
OIL
China poised to become the world’s largest net oil importer this year (via US EIA)
North American oil boom eases OPEC supply problems (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Conventional hybrids better for climate than EVs in most states (via Yale e360)
Average US vehicle now 11.4 years old, oldest since WWII (via Green Car Reports)
Electric roads could make plugging in your EV a thing of the past (via Grist)
Tesla stock surges as company beats the odds (via Christian Science Monitor)
As GM cuts Volt price, EV bargains multiply (via Navigant Research)
GRID
Japanese battery trial seeks to transform how grids work (via Bloomberg)
Nearly 40 new advanced energy storage projects kicked off in first half 2013 (via Navigant Research)
Building public support for power cables (via Reuters)
Texas power use hits summer high, third-highest ever (via Houston Chronicle)
FOSSIL FUEL POLICY
Mexico energy reform to target deepwater oil and gas (via Reuters)
US EIA: oil and gas jobs up 40% since 2007 (via The Hill)
California lawmakers seek probe of hydraulic fracturing offshore (via Houston Chronicle)
Colorado fracking stresses regulators as permit bids soar (via Houston Chronicle)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Research says lack of energy efficiency holds back entire economy (via Energy Manager Today)
ENVIRONMENT
NOAA trims forecast for busy hurricane season (via New York Times)
Heavy rains unleash deadly flooding in Midwest (via USA Today)
New Mexico is the driest of the dry (via Los Angeles Times)
OPINION
Should the US have a natural gas sovereign wealth fund? (via Washington Post)
3 key initiatives from Australia’s climate change policy (via WRI Insights)
What will it take for airline emissions reductions to get off the ground? (via GreenBiz)