Category Archives:Grid Parity

06
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.6.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Europe offers US a deal, hoping for global rules on airline emissions (via New York Times)

Carbon prices rise to 5-month high as EU crimps free-permit handout (via Bloomberg)

Coalition’s plans to remove Australian carbon price will cost more than $6 billion (via The Guardian)

A new divestment focus: Fossil fuels (via New York Times)

COAL 

China may get over its addition to coal sooner than anyone thought (via Quartz)

Coal, hit hard by natural gas, could see further US market erosion from regulations (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power will hit 12GW worldwide by end of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Deutsche Bank says solar is approaching grid parity (via Breaking Energy)

Chile adopts 20% renewables by 2025 target (via Recharge)

Biggest geothermal plant of its kind kicks into gear in New Zealand (via EarthTechling)

Renewables account for nearly 50% of US added capacity in 2012 (via Transmission & Distribution World)

White House reviewing 2014 biofuel targets (via Reuters)

Wildlife groups, wind industry meet on eagle permit rule (via The Hill)

A $1.6 million win in America’s second offshore wind lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Studies suggest combining renewables can fully cover energy needs by 2030 (via Energy Collective)

Is solar about to get squeezed or saved in California? (via Greentech Solar)

In unlikely alliance, Wisconsin Libertarians back solar plan (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

US oil production reaches highest level in 24 years (via Houston Chronicle)

Is there another big US shale oil play? (via Breaking Energy)

Analyst says rail will be a lasting competitor against oil pipelines (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling permit applications soar in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA fines Shell $1.1 million for Arctic air pollution during drilling (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

India will announce plans to cut fuel consumption (via Reuters)

Who’s all excited about quick EV charging? That’d be the US military (via Green Car Reports)

San Francisco, Los Angeles account for 35% of US EV sales (via Huffington Post)

Like Tesla, Nissan making money selling ZEC credits (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Exxon: Natural gas will soon overtake coal in global energy use (via Houston Chronicle)

US natgas via Panama frightens LNG exporters worldwide (via Reuters)

Study says new shale gas development boom unlikely in Michigan (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

EU says clock ticking on 2015 climate talks deal (via Phys.org)

Acidifying oceans add to list of CO2 dangers (via Reuters)

Caribbean faces water shortages from climate change (via Time)

Study links global warming to 2012 wild weather (via AP)

Risk of Sandy-level flood in New York City has doubled since 1950 (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Canada spent $120 million on research for Enbridge pipeline (via CBC News)

Enbridge moves ahead with Michigan river cleanup (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

First Keystone pipeline pumped little money into local economy (via Lincoln Journal-Start)

GRID 

German energy storage plan could trigger new market boom (via Renew Economy)

Is the smart meter market slowing down or just relocating? (via Renew Grid)

Why energy storage is cost-effective and in need of a clear market signal (via TriplePundit)

NUCLEAR

Nuclear trash men gain from record US reactor shutdowns (via Bloomberg)

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant closure in 2014 will challenge New England energy markets (via US EIA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Expect to see deep energy retrofits for federal buildings (via GreenBiz)

Survey: Building automation and data analytics are top efficiency priorities (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Significant gap exists between firms’ sustainability talk, actions (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

How climate change became the “killing fields” of Australian politics (via Mother Jones)

Obama trying to escape political fallout from natural gas fracking proposals (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon prices, Caribbean, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, Eagle take, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, EU ETS, europe, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Exxon, Flooding, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, fuel-efficiency, geothermal, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Grid Parity, india, Keystone, LNG, los angeles, michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York City, new zealand, News, Nissan, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Panama, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, san francisco, Severe weather, Shale oil, Shell, smart meter, solar, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, vermont, Vermont Yankee, Water scarcity, wind, Wisconsin
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16
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change may have ended late Bronze Age civilizations (via Los Angeles Times)

Apples losing their crunch to global warming (via Agence-France Presse)

Online map guides Great Lakes climate change adaptation planning (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change may be easing devastating 2012 drought (via Climate Central)

Plants in US Southwest moving higher as the climate warms (via Yale e360)

Researchers flying over Western wildfire sampling smoke to study role in climate change (via Washington Post/AP)

NUCLEAR 

US nuclear power plants vulnerable to 9/11-style attacks (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil plans for 9GW wind energy tender across 377 locations (via Recharge)

Canadian solar sees grid parity for big projects in 5 years (via Renew Economy)

A novel way to cut the cost of advanced biofuels (via MIT Technology Review)

Investments in existing hydropower unlock more clean energy (via Energy.gov)

Proof that renewables can out-compete coal (via The Energy Collective)

White House solar panels being installed this week (via Washington Post)

Oklahoma wind developers say they’ll have enough projects for Clean Line transmission project (via The Oklahoman)

North Carolina coastal residents get glimpse of proposed offshore wind farm (via News Observer)

Four Texas wind projects will combine into world’s largest community-owned wind farm (via Plainview Daily Herald)

Clean Line “overwhelmed” by wind developer response to RFI (via Renew Grid)

Goodhue wind project foes ready to celebrate its defeat (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Wisconsin renewable energy firms, public urge state to rethink solar credit suspension (via Journal Sentinel)

OIL 

US and China oil consumption and imports: a tale of two very different countries (via Houston Chronicle)

Nicaragua to start exploring for oil in the Caribbean (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ecuador scraps forest protection plan to drill for oil (via Reuters Point Carbon)

As railroad tank cars roll through, Texas towns prepare for accidents (via StateImpact Texas)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to bring gas mileage rule to hybrid era (via New York Times)

Could electric cars threaten the grid? (via MIT Technology Review)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Work begins as oil sands pipeline gains fast-track approval (via Midwest Energy News)

ExxonMobil may retire pipeline that burst in Arkansas (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

EMISSIONS 

New Zealand scales back 2020 carbon reduction target (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark publishes 78 ideas to curb emissions (via RTCC)

Redwood trees store triple the carbon (via Sustainable Business)

Texas businesses back greenhouse gas emissions law (via New York Times)

GRID 

FERC revises energy storage regulations to improve market competition (via Energy Manager Today)

New flow battery could enable cheaper, more efficient energy storage (via Phys.org)

Microgrids get big test in Connecticut (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Foreseeing trouble in exporting natural gas (via New York Times)

Could local politics derail West Coast LNG export plans? (via Breaking Energy)

Fracking boom could lead to housing bust (via Grist)

Pennsylvania will pass Louisiana to be second top US gas producing state in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Smart windows could spark energy efficiency revolution (via RTCC)

Energy Saver 101: Home energy audits (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Climate policy’s twin challenges (via Los Angeles Times)

Renewable fuels make a difference (via USA Today)

Separating fact from fiction in accounts of Germany’s renewable revolution (via RMI Outlet)

Top 8 things you didn’t know about distributed wind (via Department of Energy)

Are utilities ready for the coming death spiral? (via Greentech Media)

How utilities can adapt when big box retailers go solar (via GreenBiz)

How carbon dioxide regulations could actually hurt renewables (via MIT Technology Review)

Posted:   |   Categories: Advanced biofuels, Arkansas, battery, biofuels, Brazil, canada, Caribbean, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, Climate change adaptation, coal, Community wind, Connecticut, denmark, Distributed wind, drought, ecuador, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, ExxonMobil, FERC, fracking, germany, global warming, Goodhue, Great Lakes, grid, Grid Parity, Home energy audit, Hydropower, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Louisiana, Microgrid, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new zealand, News, Nicaragua, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oklahoma, pennsylvania, Pipeline, Rainforest, renewables, solar, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, white house, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin
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07
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.7.13

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: 2012 shows climate change in record sea-level rise, Arctic melting, heated oceans (via Washington Post/AP)

Study questions nature’s ability to “self-correct” climate change (via Phys.org)

NOAA report says Arctic sea ice disappearing at unprecedented pace (via The Guardian)

2012 one of 10 warmest years on record, report says (via Los Angeles Times)

Investors see climate change as risk that influences decisions (via Bloomberg)

Climate change softens up already-vulnerable Louisiana (via USA Today)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon tops €4.50 on strong auction results (via Reuters Point Carbon)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese government to help stabilize nuclear plant after leaks (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Grid-parity era now underway for global solar markets (via Renewable Energy World)

EU won’t impose provisional duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Index shows global PV market upswing in June (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Europe explores floating wind turbines to expand offshore power (via ClimateWire)

Britain opens world’s second-largest offshore wind farm (via Reuters)

Rollercoaster policy threatens US wind energy’s record-setting pace (via CleanTechnica)

More homeowners going solar for electricity, but uncertainty and cost stops others (via Washington Post/AP)

GE abandons plans for largest US solar panel plant near Denver (via Denver Post)

East Bay cities announce streamlined process for solar permits (via San Jose Mercury News)

COAL 

China’s carbon goal shows coal growth has peaked (via Reuters)

Kosovo groups ask for US help to stop coal power project (via Reuters)

Report: Plenty of growth for coal sector – in power plant decommissioning (via BusinessGreen)

The coal export bubble (via Sightline)

Wyoming dominates sales of coal produced from federal and Indian lands (via US EIA)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico’s energy debate approaches fever pitch (via Forbes)

BIOFUELS 

EPA gives refiners more time to meet renewable mandate (via Bloomberg)

EPA slashes this year’s cellulosic targets (via Greenwire)

Almost eight months late, EPA sets 2013 biofuel blend requirement (via The Hill)

EPA lowers target for cellulosic biofuels in gasoline (via Houston Chronicle)

US refiners, plagued by RINsanity, see “half step” on biofuels (via Reuters)

OIL 

Interior Secretary tours Bakken Shale (via Grand Forks Herald)

Interior Secretary commends efforts to cut pollution in booming Bakken (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Your car’s “big data” is worth $1,400 a year (via Autoblog)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Methane leaking in Utah suggests higher national rate (via Climate Central)

How much does a shale gas well cost? “It depends” (via Breaking Energy)

Controversial coal-to-gas plant shuts down six days after opening (via Indianapolis Star)

Chesapeake drops energy leases in fracking-shy New York State (via Reuters)

GRID 

Smart meters to save Pakistan 100MW of electricity (via The Nation)

Utility executives: Major cyberattack on power grid is inevitable (via Houston Chronicle)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone contractor probe energizes pipeline opponents (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Inquiry into State Department’s environmental contractor could jeopardize Keystone XL decision timeline (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Are investors confident enough to invest billions in efficiency projects? (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Will sustainability reporting standards change the way business does business? (via The Guardian)

Los Angeles gets first chief sustainability officer (via Sustainable Industries)

ENVIRONMENT 

California governor struggles to win support for water plan (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Trouble in fracking paradise (via SmartPlanet)

Bold leadership needed from US insurers to tackle climate change (via The Guardian)

Wind energy: curtailment by any other name would be ordinary (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Britain, Carbon market, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Coal-to-gas, colorado, Curtailment, CurtailmentClimate, Cyberattack, denver, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, fracking, fukushima, GE, global warming, green business, grid, Grid Parity, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, los angeles, Louisiana, methane, Methane leakage, mexico, natural gas, new york state, News, noaa, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, pakistan, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Sally Jewell, Sea ice melt, smart meters, solar, Solar permitting, Solar trade war, State Department, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, utah, wyoming
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16
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Sea levels set for continuing rise in warming world (via Climate Central)

Study: sand dunes, coral reefs protect coasts against climate change (via The Hill)

Colorado wildfire costs insurers $292.8 million (via Bloomberg)

UMass researchers study link between allergies and global warming (via CBS News)

Evangelical scientists issue faith-base call for climate action (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

BP looks to shave more money off Gulf oil spill fines tab (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell’s biggest oil platform heads for deep-water Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

Alaskan voters will weigh in on tax cut for oil industry (via Stateline)

Exxon won’t disclose inspection results of ruptured Arkansas pipeline’s condition (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

China becomes first country to hit 3GW solar milestone (via CleanTechnica)

No quick end to EU-China solar trade war, says EPIA (via Recharge)

India tells wind farms to forecast power or face fines (via Panchabuta)

What’s next for the EU’s renewable energy targets? (via Renewable Energy World)

These maps show the best places to put solar and wind – it’s not where you think (via Washington Post)

Forest biomass loses in US Appeals Court ruling (via EarthTechling)

How much backup does wind power need? (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Australian PM replaces fixed-price carbon tax with cap-and-trade ahead of elections (via Washington Post)

Rising coal, falling gas jump US emissions by 280 million tons (via Facts of the Day)

Change in social cost of carbon under scrutiny (via Politico)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US to begin exporting fracked gas (via BBC News)

Fracking research: what’s behind EPA’s abandoned studies? (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

A guide to every hybrid car on sale in the US (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline prices surge nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

All of a sudden, Nissan doesn’t have enough Leafs to go around (via Autoblog Green)

Midwest gas prices would rise if Keystone pipeline is built (via Kansas City Star)

California high-speed rail to have net zero emissions (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

India declares 5,748 missing in Himalayan floods (via New York Times)

Perry renews drought disaster for much of Texas (via ABC News)

25 years after Exxon Valdez oil spill, company still hasn’t paid for long-term environmental damages (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Plans to boost US grid hampered by fragmented ownership (via Energy Manager Today)

Grid resiliency doesn't come cheap in New Jersey (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

Oil industry launches new attack against ethanol mandate (via Reuters)

Canada’s train disaster could inspire new US regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

Low Great Lakes levels raise concerns for Midwest power plants (via Midwest Energy News)

Pennsylvania oil and gas industry caused 365 spills in 2012, but few fines levied (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

GREEN BUSINESS 

US universities commit to graduate majors in green chemistry (via Sustainable Business)

POLITICS 

White House, environmentalists met before renewable fuel program crop approval (via The Hill)

Conservative energy group launches anti-carbon tax campaign (via The Hill)

For McCarthy, it’s all over but the regulating (via The Hill)

Senate climate showdown takes shape (via The Hill)

OPINION 

From fixed price to ETS: the complications of reducing emissions (via Renew Economy)

10 ways wind power is beating fossil fuel in India (via GigaOm)

Is solar cheaper than grid electricity? Yes and no. (via Grist)

What we can learn from the electric vehicle shakeout (via GigaOm)

Solar power has gotten so good we can use it to power airplanes (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arkansas, australia, biomass, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, EVs, Exxon, Flood, fracking, Gasoline, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, high speed rail, india, kevin rudd, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, Rick Perry, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, Solar trade war, texas, Transportation, Wildfire, wind
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15
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia to scrap carbon tax for trading scheme (via Agence France-Presse)

California cap and trade could mean data center cost bumps (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE 

Ice sheets melting at rate of 300 billion tons a year, shows climate satellites (via The Independent)

Study shows climate change happening too quickly for species to adapt (via The Guardian)

After Sandy, New York aims to fortify itself against next big storm & climate change (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV to hit grid parity, $134 billion annual revenue by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Annual offshore wind investment to hit €18 billion by 2016 (via Renewable Energy World)

China vows to quadruple solar generating capacity by 2015 (via Reuters)

EU plans probe on German renewable energy law (via Reuters)

Europe installs 1GW offshore wind capacity in first half 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

The history of biofuels goes back 300 years (via Autoblog Green)

US court says biofuel producers must face carbon emissions rules (via Reuters)

Georgia PSC orders 525MW more solar power capacity by 2016 (via Atlanta Business Chronicle)

New York inches toward offshore wind energy (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS 

France’s president rules out shale gas exploration (via Reuters)

Sen. Wyden: natural gas proposal coming soon (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: world’s coral reefs face serious problems by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Sweeping parts of southern seas could become a nature preserve (via NPR)

Study says removing coastal habitat doubles flood impact (via Phys.org)

Canada’s second-largest fire on record spreads smoke to Europe (via Weather Underground)

Wind power and this bird get along fine (via EarthTechling)

OIL

Full extent of heavy metal contamination in Arkansas Exxon oil spill still unknown (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK aims for low-carbon vehicles with £1 billion R&D center (via BusinessGreen)

GM to double models with 40-mpg highway or better by 2017 (via Green Car Congress)

Battery-electric cars are outselling plug-in hybrids (via Green Car Reports)

Better Place bought out of bankruptcy for $12 million (via GigaOm)

Study projects Tesla Roadster packs will retain 80-85% capacity after 100k miles (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla trims Model S reservation price in half (via CleanTechnica)

One year with my Chevy Volt (via CleanTechnica)

Connecticut to fund $200,000 in public charging station incentives (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Federal building efficiency standard could cut energy use 18% (via Environmental Leader)

DOE set to order energy efficiency standards for US computers and servers (via The Hill)

GREEN BUSINESS

Recycling saved General Motors $1 billion in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Skanska quits US Chamber of Commerce over anti-LEED lobbying (via BusinessGreen)

NUCLEAR 

IAEA says aging nuclear reactors pose safety challenge (via Reuters)

GREEN BUILDING 

Re-imagined London tower would harvest pollution as fuel (via EarthTechling)

Munich building snags highest-ever LEED rating (via EarthTechling)

ENERGY POLICY 

Water scarcity from climate change could jack up Europe’s power prices (via Climate Progress)

World Bank abandons coal, green-lights clean micro-grids (via Renew Economy)

When space weather attacks the grid (via Washington Post)

Ideas to bolster US power grid run up against system’s many owners (via New York Times)

Flush with oil and gas cash, North Dakota’s economic growth tops in nation (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Rudd seeks to ditch carbon tax with eye on election campaign (via Bloomberg)

Tough job ahead as Obama puts climate talk into action, sells plan to public (via Washington Post)

Battle over EPA nominee draws to a close (via The Hill)

GOP “climate disconnect” would sacrifice climate research for weather forecasting (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, battery, better place, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, chamber of commerce, chevy volt, China, climate, coal, Connecticut, Coral reef, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging infrastructure, ExxonMobil, Flood, France, Francois Hollande, General Motors, Georgia, germany, Gina McCarthy, GM, green building, green business, grid, Grid Parity, IAEA, International Atomic Energy Association, kevin rudd, LEED, London, Microgrid, Munich, natural gas, New York City, new york state, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Recycling, renewables, Ron Wyden, Shale gas, Shale oil, Skanska, solar, solar pv, Tesla, Tesla Model S, tesla roadster, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, World Bank
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11
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.11.13

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

EMISSIONS 

US, China agree on climate steps to curb emissions (via Washington Post)

Australia carbon emissions fell 7% in first year of carbon tax (via Platts)

A new one-stop shop for greenhouse gas emissions data (via WRI Insights)

Use of coal to generate power rises; greenhouse gas emissions next? (via Los Angeles Times)

Nanomaterials could accelerate CO2 removal from coal power plants (via RTCC)

Two more financial institutions divest from fossil fuels (via Energy Collective)

NATURAL GAS 

China wants bigger share of US shale revolution (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment rises 22% led by US, China (via Bloomberg)

Wind to double and solar to triple in 6 years, says IEA (via Greentech Media)

Worldwide solar PV market will pass $134 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

HSBC: wind at parity with new coal in India, solar to join by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

Peru to use solar panels to provide electricity to 2 million people (via Latin American Herald Tribune)

EU parliament approve proposals to reduce biofuels emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Uncertainty over Australian Renewable Energy Target delays 1GW new wind (via Recharge)

State RPSs hold steady or expand in 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)

DoD, Interior inch closer to cooperation on renewable energy projects (via Federal Times)

Six Sioux tribes collaborate on biggest US wind farm (via Sustainable Business)

$1 billion cost to meet Colorado’s renewable-energy goal (via Denver Business Journal)

Rooftop solar takes off across California as costs come down (via San Jose Mercury News)

New York awards $54 million for 79 solar projects (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Texas A&M plans world’s largest solar testing center (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

IEA says US oil boom to erode OPEC market share in 2014 (via Reuters)

Russia to lift oil exports to Asia at expense of Europe (via Reuters)

Report says feds should expand damage assessment of BP oil spill (via Greenwire)

Canadian officials: death toll from train crash presumed at 50 (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

China widens car-purchase restrictions to fight pollution (via Bloomberg)

Upgraded urban travel could save $70 trillion by 2050 (via Phys.org)

European Commission launches $1.8 billion fuel cell and hydrogen research initiative (via Green Car Congress)

Ford refocuses, cuts price of 2014 electric car by 10% (via NBC News/Reuters)

GRID 

Climate change will cause more energy system breakdowns, warns US (via New York Times)

Power grids to spend $64 billion on new gear by 2020 (via Reuters)

Japan sets up hydrogen “task force” to advance fuel-cell infrastructure (via Autoblog Green)

Canada represents $7 billion in smart grid potential (via Renew Grid)

Continuous test operation begins for large-format Li-ion energy storage system (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

New report tracks decades of climate change (via Rolling Stone)

Study says some trees use less water amid rising carbon dioxide (via New York Times)

A scientific storm is brewing over the hurricane-climate connection (via Mother Jones)

Dangerous global warming could be reversed, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Chicago-sized iceberg calves off Antarctic glacier (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese nuclear plant may have been leaking for two years (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New EIA inventory tracks state energy efficiency programs (via US EIA)

House votes to block light bulb efficiency standards (via Climate Progress)

Nest and Opower talk strategy for residential demand response (via Greentech Media)

Curtailing energy during “peak power hour” reduces next year’s rates (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Carbon Trust unveils supplier directory for green businesses (via BusinessGreen)

Report: reducing emissions and increasing manufacturing can go hand in hand (via Greentech media)

Nike’s new “Making” app shows sustainability of clothing material (via Inhabitat)

Sustainability exchange for cities to collaborate on best practices (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Battle rages over Obama’s climate standards for Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post) 

What David Vitter got for blocking Gina McCarthy (via Politico)

Conservative climate hawks to GOP: wake the hell up (via Mother Jones)

GOP aide writing anonymously: party should “reclaim” climate debate (via The Hill)

House panel approves bill curtailing EPA power on climate regulations (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Bad news: fossil fuels are more than keeping up with clean energy (via Washington Post)

The money behind fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

Green energy policy matters in selling EVs (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, australia, barack obama, biofuels, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, canada, carbon capture, carbon tax, Carbon Trust, China, Climate Change, coal, colorado, David Vitter, Defense Department, Demand response, distributed generation, Divestment, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, HSBC, hydrogen, IEA, india, interior department, International Energy Agency, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Nanomaterials, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, new york state, News, nike, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Opower, Peru, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rooftop solar, rps, Russia, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Texas A&M, Transportation, wind
0
09
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China says it will not set carbon cap (via Renewable Energy World)

Blueprint for Russia’s carbon market should be ready by end of 2013 (via RTCC)

DOE fielding aircraft-based study of aerosols generated by wildfires in US (via Green Car Congress)

Colorado mulls oil and gas air pollution rules as residents erupt (via Denver Post)

Website tracks 20 Minnesota cities’ greenhouse gas emissions (via Star-Tribune)

COAL 

China’s reliance on coal reduces life expectancy 5.5 years (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Navigant: Solar price to reach grid parity worldwide in 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

Future of UK offshore wind power in “serious doubt” (via The Guardian)

Germany to pull plug on solar subsidies by 2018 (via Phys.org)

Renewables rise to 15% in Australia as power demand and emissions fall (via Renew Economy)

India risks Spain’s solar slump with move to cut tariff (via Bloomberg)

Los Angeles kicks off second round of solar feed-in tariff (via CleanTechnica)

Georgia Power to buy output from 38MW solar project (via Renew Grid)

NUCLEAR 

Nearly half of Japanese cities near nuclear plants would allow resumption (via United Press International)

Japan moves closer to restarting its nuclear reactors (via The Guardian)

World’s first floating nuclear power plant to begin operating in Russia in 2016 (via Russia Times)

CLIMATE 

Climate change to spawn more and stronger hurricanes (via USA Today)

Pacific Island nations meet in Fiji to discuss 2015 climate adaptation strategy (via RTCC)

Nigeria kickstarts adaptation efforts to head off climate disasters (via Thompson-Reuters)

Stressed native UK trees on the march as climate change collapses seasons (via ClimateWire)

Climate change could spark small mammal invasion (via Scientific American)

Climate change might be enabling beetles’ rise against pine trees (via MPR News)

OIL 

US well sites in 2012 discharged more oil than Valdez (via EnergyWire)

Quebec disaster highlights risk of moving crude oil by rail (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

ABB to build world’s largest network of EV fast-charging stations in Netherlands (via Green Car Congress)

Ethanol critics rev up efforts to repeal biofuel rules on gasoline (via Omaha World-Herald)

Tesla Motors to join Nasdaq 100 (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking ban halts first shale gas project in Spain (via Christian Science Monitor)

West Virginia natural gas well explosion kills at least five (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Insurance companies given severe weather warning (via Climate Central)

Southwest US forests may never recover from megafires (via The Atlantic)

Hundreds evacuated as wildfire threatens Alaskan towns (via Anchorage Daily News)

KEYSTONE XL 

Obama’s Keystone approval could hinge on Canada’s climate measures (via Houston Chronicle)

State Department admits it doesn’t know exact Keystone XL route (via DeSmog Blog)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency saves Scottish homeowners £1 billion (via BusinessGreen)

DOE to toughen energy efficiency standards for new federal buildings (via The Hill)

World’s largest LED retrofit saves 80% for GM (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Majority of EU citizens back green product labeling; 77% would pay premium (via BusinessGreen)

POLITICS 

Obama waves veto pen at House Energy Department spending bill (via The Hill)

Utility 2.0: Can political activism and microtargeting boost clean energy? (via Greentech Media)

“Nuclear option” decision arrives for Sen. Reid on Obama nominations (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Solar costs and grid prices on collision course (via CleanTechnica)

Google becomes a big energy player (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey: 76% of consumers don’t trust their utility (via Greentech Media)

Why France is the next big smart meter market (via Navigant Research)

Divestment: old tactic in new climate campaign (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, Air pollution, alaska, australia, barack obama, biofuel, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, colorado, deforestation, department of energy, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, Electric vehicle charging, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, Ethical Energy, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, France, Gasoline, General Motors, Georgia, Georgia Power, germany, GM, google, green business, Grid Parity, harry reid, india, japan, Keystone XL, LED, los angeles, minnesota, natural gas, Netherlands, News, nigeria, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Quebec, renewables, Russia, Scotland, Severe weather, smart meter, solar, Spain, State Department, Subsidy, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind
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18
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China takes cautious step toward carbon emissions trading (via Reuters)

China emission trading experiment unlikely to ease cities’ smog (via Bloomberg)

China’s first carbon market faces “credit oversupply” dilemma (via RTCC)

Judge rejects lawsuit to curb Montana methane emissions from drilling (via Greenwire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Alberta’s oil sands raise flaring emissions as rules lag (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline shuns high-tech oil spill detectors (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL mapping project uncovers pipeline’s true impact (via EarthTechling)

22 arrested at Keystone XL protest in Chicago (via DNAinfo Chicago)

RENEWABLES 

EU trade chief to discuss solar dispute in Beijing (via Reuters)

Japan to start floating offshore wind trial (via Recharge)

Germany adds 1.2GW of solar PV from January-May 2013 (via Recharge)

Solar PV module costs to fall to 36 cents per watt by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

US solar to hit grid parity 2014-2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Six Sioux tribes propose massive wind project (via Recharge)

Solar-powered plane faces the human factor (via New York Times)

Solar likely on 20% of new homes in California in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

New England states move to import more Canadian hydropower (via Boston Globe)

How to put an offshore wind turbine in the Texas Gulf (via StateImpact Texas)

University of Wisconsin research designs solar panel that stores energy (via Journal-Sentinel)

AT&T introducing solar-powered charging stations in New York City (via New York Times)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear decommissioning surge is investor guessing game (via Bloomberg)

Xcel Energy investing $1.8 billion in two nuclear power plants (via Star-Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reef on the brink as politicians bicker (via The Guardian)

Jet stream changes triggered record 2012 Greenland ice melt (via Yale e360)

Poll: voters favor protecting public lands over drilling them (via Climate Progress)

Why does the US government encourage people to build homes in wildfire zones? (via Washington Post)

The Koch brothers take on environmental groups over Alaska mine (via Washington Post)

OIL 

As US oil production soars, oil companies eye far horizons (via Houston Chronicle)

End of BP oil spill cleaning crews leaves questions, concerns on Gulf Coast (via Washington Post/AP)

What sickens people in oil spills, and how badly, is anybody’s guess (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plug-in EVs will reach 3 million in annual sales by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Did America reach “peak car” in 2005? (via Greentech Media)

Ford cuts production emissions 37% per vehicle since 2000 (via Autoblog Green)

Rhode Island installing 50 electric car charging stations (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Companies may turn to courts on US natural gas export push (via Reuters)

First risk assessment of shale gas fracking to biodiversity released (via Phys.org)

Energy Department warns House of limits on natural gas testimony (via The Hill)

Illinois governor signs tough fracking regulations into law (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Global companies growing focus on energy use reductions (via Houston Chronicle)

New York: America’s most energy efficient city? (via GreenBiz)

DOE Buildings Performance Database includes 60,000 records (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

New Vikings stadium sheds light on sustainability (via EarthTechling)

Clean energy R&D hanging tough through tough times (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

US mayors announce climate resilience, energy efficiency measures (via Reuters)

GOP bill would cut renewable energy spending in half (via The Hill)

At least 1/3 of US senators hold energy industry investment (via E&E Daily)

Handicapping potential candidates to lead FERC (via Politico)

OPINION 

Carbon trading with Chinese characteristics (via Scientific American)

Utility solar is dead; long live distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

What carbon capture can’t do (via MIT Technology Review)

Global warming appears to have slowed lately, that’s no reason to celebrate (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Alberta, AT&T, australia, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, chicago, China, Climate adaptation, distributed generation, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EU, European Union, ev, EV chargers, federal energy regulatory commission, FERC, Ford, fracking, germany, Great Barrier Reef, green business, greenland, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, Ice melt, Illinois, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, methane, Montana, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New England, New York City, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, Peak car, Plug-in EV, Quebec, renewables, rhode island, rooftop solar, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, xcel energy
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30
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN says California and China in talks to link CO2 markets (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Where greenhouse gases come from, in one graph (via Grist)

US lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

The Chinese coal bubble (via Huffington Post)

China’s top utilities protest plan to ban low-grade coal imports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla CEO says company is tripling size of the Supercharger network (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than the grid in 102 countries (via Facts of the Day)

Australia on course to beat 2020 renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

Biomass to reach at least 82GW installed capacity worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030 (via Arab News)

India releases draft offshore wind energy policy (via Renewable Energy World)

Utilities weigh a turn to the sun (via Wall Street Journal)

As venture capital interest shrinks in clean tech, corporate investors swoop in (via San Jose Mercury News)

Feed-in tariff: policy tool encouraging deployment of renewable electricity technologies (via US EIA)

Minnesota solar could go from 13MW to 450MW with new solar bill (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind farm deal (via Minnesota Finance & Commerce)

GRID 

Utilities want a piece of the FCC’s $4.5 billion rural broadband push (via Greentech Media)

NYPA spending $31 million on transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Viridity’s software moves beyond traditional demand response (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Interior Department moves ahead on offshore drilling safety institute (via The Hill)

Shareholders slam Exxon on climate, discrimination concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Arkansas residents sue Exxon after oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Some in Europe are rethinking opposition to fracking (via New York Times)

Escalating water strains in fracking regions of US (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

US drought damage could top $200 billion (via AG Professional)

California plan to overhaul water system hub will cost $25 billion (via Los Angeles Times)

Over 100 ski resorts join BICEP climate declaration (via Triple Pundit)

US sued over policy on killing endangered wildlife (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Erratic US “weather whiplash” accounts for billions in global losses (via The Guardian)

Understanding local weather key to coping with climate change (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff announces he’ll step down (via The Hill)

Rallies in 12 US cities protest Koch Brothers Tribune Takeover bid (via Desmog Blog)

OPINION 

Here’s why 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electricity (via Washington Post)

Why Germany’s solar power is distributed (via Greentech Media)

Kerry’s misfire about US performance on Kyoto emissions targets (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, biomass, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, Elon Musk, emissions, environment, europe, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fracking, germany, grid, Grid Parity, india, interior department, investment, john kerry, Koch Brothers, Kyoto, minnesota, natural gas, News, NYPA, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, renewables, smart grid, solar, Supercharger, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, UAE, UN, united nations, Viridity, Water scarcity, xcel
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30
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN says California and China in talks to link CO2 markets (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Where greenhouse gases come from, in one graph (via Grist)

US lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

The Chinese coal bubble (via Huffington Post)

China’s top utilities protest plan to ban low-grade coal imports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla CEO says company is tripling size of the Supercharger network (via GigaOm)

RENEWABLES 

Solar cheaper than the grid in 102 countries (via Facts of the Day)

Australia on course to beat 2020 renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

Biomass to reach at least 82GW installed capacity worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

UAE solar power capacity to reach 20GW by 2030 (via Arab News)

India releases draft offshore wind energy policy (via Renewable Energy World)

Utilities weigh a turn to the sun (via Wall Street Journal)

As venture capital interest shrinks in clean tech, corporate investors swoop in (via San Jose Mercury News)

Feed-in tariff: policy tool encouraging deployment of renewable electricity technologies (via US EIA)

Minnesota solar could go from 13MW to 450MW with new solar bill (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel wants out of Goodhue wind farm deal (via Minnesota Finance & Commerce)

GRID 

Utilities want a piece of the FCC’s $4.5 billion rural broadband push (via Greentech Media)

NYPA spending $31 million on transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Viridity’s software moves beyond traditional demand response (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Interior Department moves ahead on offshore drilling safety institute (via The Hill)

Shareholders slam Exxon on climate, discrimination concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Arkansas residents sue Exxon after oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Some in Europe are rethinking opposition to fracking (via New York Times)

Escalating water strains in fracking regions of US (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

US drought damage could top $200 billion (via AG Professional)

California plan to overhaul water system hub will cost $25 billion (via Los Angeles Times)

Over 100 ski resorts join BICEP climate declaration (via Triple Pundit)

US sued over policy on killing endangered wildlife (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Erratic US “weather whiplash” accounts for billions in global losses (via The Guardian)

Understanding local weather key to coping with climate change (via RTCC)

POLITICS 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff announces he’ll step down (via The Hill)

Rallies in 12 US cities protest Koch Brothers Tribune Takeover bid (via Desmog Blog)

OPINION 

Here’s why 1.2 billion people still don’t have access to electricity (via Washington Post)

Why Germany’s solar power is distributed (via Greentech Media)

Kerry’s misfire about US performance on Kyoto emissions targets (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, BICEP, biomass, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, distributed generation, drought, Elon Musk, emissions, environment, europe, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fracking, germany, grid, Grid Parity, india, interior department, investment, john kerry, Koch Brothers, Kyoto, minnesota, natural gas, News, NYPA, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, renewables, smart grid, solar, Supercharger, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, UAE, UN, united nations, Viridity, Water scarcity, xcel
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