Category Archives:grid

16
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Extreme weather disasters have cost Earth $2.4 trillion since 1971 (via Climate Central)

Japan meteorological agency reports hottest March-June on record globally (via ClimateProgress)

Germany pledges $1 billion to UN climate change fund (via The Guardian)

White House unveils climate change initiatives (via New York Times)

Taking to the pulpit against climate change (via USA Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan readies atomic restarts as regulator signals approval (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China to smash target of 150GW installed wind by 2017 (via Recharge)

India targets 35% renewable energy share in installed capacity mix by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

World Trade Organization tells U.S. to reconsider solar panel tariffs (via Renewable Energy World)

Big EU banks pile into green bonds, China poised to follow (via Renew Economy)

Alternative-energy funds see renewed buying by investors (via Wall Street Journal)

United Kingdom approves EON offshore wind farm to power 450,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

German development bank issues €1.5 billion green bond (via BusinessGreen)

European wind industry warns of offshore slowdown (via BusinessGreen)

World’s biggest wave energy projects sinks without a trace (via Renew Economy)

4.9GW new offshore wind capacity under construction in Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Shinsei Bank plans $2 billion of clean energy loans in Japan (via Bloomberg)

DOE awards $6 million to advance drop-in biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

California keeps crushing America’s clean energy and tech rankings (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

Businesses say South Korea carbon market to cost $27 billion, should be delayed (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. oil export ban won’t be lifted this year, says Upton (via Bloomberg)

Older oil train tank cars to be phased out under industry proposal (via Bloomberg)

Enhanced oil recovery techniques limited in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell announces new 100 million barrel of oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

New pipeline would carry Bakken oil from North Dakota to Illinois through Iowa (via ClimateProgress)

Without fracking boom, U.S. would face oil crisis, says Yergin (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW doubles down on electric vehicles (via The Hill)

Elon Musk reveals details of new Tesla vehicle (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS 

Tar sands development threaten world’s largest boreal forest (via World Resources Institute)

ENVIRONMENT 

63% of paper consumed in U.S. is recycled, says report (via Environmental Leader)

Drought, drilling, and wildfires have cut mule deer population by two-thirds (via ClimateProgress)

Drought will cost California $2.2 billion in agriculture losses this year (via Wall Street Journal)

For first time, California gets ready for mandatory water restrictions (via ClimateProgress)

Groundwater is drought lifeline for California farmers (via Climate Central)

Battle lines form in California: Farms v. solar v. high-speed rail (via Greenwire)

As jellyfish come in waves off Maine coast, questions follow (via Portland Press-Herald)

NATURAL GAS 

Chile eyes use of U.S. shale gas by early 2016 (via Reuters)

Google project spotlights natural gas pipeline leaks under city streets (via Houston Chronicle)

Push to ban fracking in Colorado falls short (via The Hill)

GRID 

Revenue streams are key to cost-effective energy storage (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

California grid faces renewable energy “oversupply” (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

U.S. Senate confirms two FERC nominees (via The Hill)

Florida scientists press Gov. Rick Scott on climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

OPINION 

Companies don’t care anymore that you don’t care anymore about this sustainability thing (via Bloomberg)

New York’s utility reform plan will usher in a new era of consumer choice (via Greentech Media)

Cap and trade’s moment of truth (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bakken Shale, biofuels, BMW, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, drought, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, energy storage, environment, ev, Extreme weather, FERC, Florida, fracking, Fred Upton, germany, global warming, Green bonds, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, india, Iowa, japan, Maine, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, Pipeline, Recycling, renewables, Rick Scott, Shale gas, Shale oil, Shell, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, UN, united kingdom, united nations, Wave energy, Wildfire, wind, World Trade Organization, WTO
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15
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.14

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

CLIMATE 

Military bases face hurdles in climate change adaptation (via Climate Central)

The business cost of climate change: What the science says (via The Guardian)

Heat waves replacing drought as deadliest climate disaster (via Vox)

Corporate America steadily steering climate solutions despite Congressional stalemate (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS 

States with fracking see surge in earthquake activity (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Anti-dumping duty on solar gear unlikely to reduce India imports (via Panchabuta)

The Central American solar market is set to boom (via Greentech Media)

Record-breaking offshore wind deal helps drive up Q2 clean energy investment (via Bloomberg)

U.S. clean tech leaders announced (via Environmental Leader)

Leased solar panels can cast a shadow over a home’s value (via NPR)

Without state regulation, Iowa counties get tougher on wind projects (via Iowa City Gazette)

June bloom: Ten clean energy stocks for 2014, Q2 update (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

Coal plant carbon pollution injects life in old oil wells (via Bloomberg)

NRG’s $1 billion bet to show how carbon capture could work for coal power plants (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon tax repeal set for final showdown (via Reuters)

In lead up to carbon price, South Africa preps carbon offset program (via Climate Progress)

Emitters in China’s largest carbon market meet targets amid falling prices (via Reuters)

Switzerland threatens 40% carbon tax rise if targets not met (via Reuters)

Study: States can handle EPA power plant rules (via The Hill)

Texas utilities preparing for new EPA emissions regulations (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

North Dakota expects “big surge” in summer crude output (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK auto industry is booming, largely thanks to clean technology (via BusinessGreen)

Low U.S. gasoline taxes may lead to waste, says IEA chief (via Reuters)

U.S. oil and rail sector agree on train tanker safety (via Reuters)

Which states have the worst roads in America? (via Washington Post)

White House says won’t help Tesla sell cars online (via The Hill)

Tesla wins approval to sell cars in Pennsylvania (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

Amidst extreme weather surge, distributed energy takes on new meaning for U.S. grid (via Greentech Media)

California ready to fund the next wave of microgrids paired with renewables and storage (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

Corporate cannibals: Electricity sector may have to kill gas to save itself (via Renew Economy)

Greatest growth opportunity for electric companies: Devour oil’s market (via Energy Trends Insider)

Colorado ranked least energy-expensive state (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nestle bottling water straight from heart of California’s drought (via Salon)

OPINION 

How climate change changed me (via Politico)

The decline of coal (via Charleston Gazette)

Global warming is coming, but climate hysteria doesn’t help anyone (via Time)

The point everyone’s missing about the Polar Vortex’s return (via Climate Progress)

Electric vehicles will change the way you power your home (via Time)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon offset, carbon tax, Central America, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, distributed generation, drought, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, gas prices, global warming, grid, IEA, india, Iowa, Microgrid, natural gas, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, Polar vortex, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, South Africa, switzerland, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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14
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

New climate models predict an Australian perma-drought (via Motherboard)

Southern Australia faces water crisis by 2100 due to climate change (via The Guardian)

Carbon import tariffs could torpedo climate deal, says EU official (via Reuters)

Obama to push climate resilience at state, local level (via The Hill)

Climate change has created a new literary genre (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Beijing to enforce use of clean coal in anti-pollution drive (via Reuters)

Coal mining ruling: Another legal win for Obama EPA (via Charleston Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar module prices just reached a record low (via Climate Progress)

Global biofuel output expansion to slow by 2023, says OECD (via Reuters)

Led by Chile, Latin America solar PV pipeline nears 20GW (via Greentech Media)

BNEF: Europe to invest $1 trillion in renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Indian PM Modi doubles down on country’s solar revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Russia’s state-supported renewable energy auction heavily favored solar (via Renewable Energy World)

$1 billion geothermal project brings Costa Rica closer to 100% renewables (via Renew Economy)

Zurich Insurance to double investment in green bonds (via Bloomberg)

PV industry sees a “second gold rush” coming in solar sector (via Solar Industry Magazine)

USDA plants seed funding for rural clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar vs. utility battles heating up in Iowa, Wisconsin (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

CPUC report highlights California’s continued solar success (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Is Texas souring on wind power? (via Forbes)

Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of third-party solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Huge North Carolina solar project could “move the needle” for solar possibilities (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside Yingli, the giant Chinese solar company sponsoring the World Cup (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

China could reveal carbon cap by first quarter 2015 (via RTCC)

EU pollution permits to gain 28% as regulators cut supply glut (via Bloomberg)

London projected to fail EU air quality limits until 2030 (via Bloomberg)

Group representing half a billion Christians says it will no longer support fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Texas, U.S. leader in emissions stands vulnerable to their effects (via New York Times)

The plan to get New Jersey back into RGGI that Chris Christie can’t veto (via Climate Progress)

University of Dayton divests from fossil fuels (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

OPEC’s oil market share to shrink in 2015, despite growing demand (via Reuters)

Oil demand up fastest since 2010 on China growth, says IEA (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

China, U.S. to cooperate on strategic oil reserves (via Reuters)

Global oil exploration nears $1 trillion, but where are the finds? (via Reuters)

Crumbling roads in oil fields slow U.S. energy boom (via Bloomberg)

New York State won’t keep oil train details secret (via Huffington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

There are now more than 500,000 EVs on Earth (via Autoblog Green)

Report: Electric vehicle market to hit $500 billion by 2025 (via BusinessGreen)

China requires 30% of state vehicles use alternative energy (via Bloomberg)

Helsinki, Finland plans on making private car ownership obsolete in 10 years (via Time)

U.S. fuel economy improvements show diminishing fuel savings (via US EIA)

Tesla’s chargers now moving a gigawatt-hour of electricity per month (via GigaOm)

Bay Area governments make America’s biggest-yet EV purchase (via CleanTechnica)

Chicago wants more residents to drive electric vehicles (via Southern Illinoisan)

Audi preparing an entire lineup of PHEV models (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Seven earthquakes hit Oklahoma in less than a day – is fracking to blame? (via Time)

Ohio fracking water reuse questioned (via Columbus Dispatch)

Former Pennsylvania health secretary: State failed to address fracking concerns (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENVIRONMENT 

The soil pollution crisis in China: Cleanup presents daunting challenge (via Yale e360)

California braces as drought sparks early fire season (via Sacramento Bee)

Firefighters battling seven wildfires in Washington State (via Los Angeles Times)

New data says huge West Virginia chemical spill may have been more toxic than reported (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

India PM Modi accelerates solar revolution, doubles tax on coal (via Renew Economy)

Why were this company’s computers attacked millions of times this year? Algae. (via Washington Post)

Wells Fargo’s focus on energy shows growth strategy (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Lopsided lobbying on Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL backers want to keep pipeline in the public eye (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Data shows some energy retrofits actually increase energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

ACEEE urges EPA to add building codes to Clean Power Plan (via Environmental Leader)

NUCLEAR 

Russia signs nuclear energy deal with Argentina (via Reuters)

GRID 

Blackout-plagued India moves toward a smarter grid (via Navigant Research)

Stanford working on “reversible” fuel cells for energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

2014’s sleeper campaign issue: A bank nobody’s heard about (via Politico)

House GOP votes to thwart imaginary offshore drilling restriction (via National Journal)

Influence game: Shaping railroad safety rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Coal-reliant Pennsylvania faces election showdown over EPA, natural gas, carbon trading (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Six trends illustrating the US-China trade case’s impact on the solar market (via Greentech Media)

Here’s what the fossil fuel industry thinks of the carbon bubble (via Renew Economy)

What’s at stake with the Ex-Im Bank? (via National Journal)

Will Nissan’s free EV charging rival Tesla’s Supercharger network? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons U.S. solar installers are vertically integrating…for now (via RMI Outlet)

NY Times gets it wrong with attacks on Steyer and divestment (via EcoWatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACEEE, Algae biofuel, Argentina, audi, australia, Beijing, biofuel, BNEF, california, California Public Utilities Commission, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, chicago, Chile, China, Chris Christie, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Divestment, drought, earthquakes, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU ETS, europe, ev charging, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, Finland, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fuel Cells, Fuel Economy, geothermal, grid, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Latin America, London, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new jersey, new york state, News, Nissan, North Carolina, nuclear, OECD, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, Oil trains, oklahoma, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, Russia, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, University of Dayton, usda, Washington State, Wells Fargo, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yingli, Zurich Insurance
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10
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.10.14

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

CLIMATE 

From Sao Paulo to Hong Kong, cities report economic climate threat (via Bloomberg)

UK defense ministry details global security impacts of climate change (via ClimateWire)

Loss of snowpack and glaciers in Rockies poses water threat (via Yale e360)

Sea level rise cuts across political divide in Norfolk, Va (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

Why China’s energy consumption will keep rising (via Energy Collective)

U.S. public lands fading as fossil fuels source (via Climate Central)

Federal government still spending billions to subsidize fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind to beat coal on costs in China, India by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

One-third of Germany’s power came from renewables in first half 2014 (via Yale e360)

Upcoming auctions position Brazil for major solar growth (via Solar Industry Magazine)

EIA projections show hydropower growth limited by economics, not resources (via US EIA)

Mercom Capital charts top solar deals of second quarter (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Chicago to announce new rooftop solar discount program (via Chicago Tribune)

Food waste is so yesterday – think biogas instead (via GreenBiz)

What you need to know about how clean energy yielcos work (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal’s last gasp in Europe (via The Economist)

Most U.K. coal plants to shut by 2023 on climate rules (via Bloomberg)

Mountaintop removal coal mining decimates Appalachian fish populations (via EcoWatch)

Missouri governor signs law blocking coal-related ballot measures (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Zero carbon and economic growth can go together, says UN study (via The Guardian)

Australian Senate rejects carbon tax repeal (via Reuters)

Australian PM seeks carbon price repeal next week after losing vote (via Bloomberg)

EU Parliament to consider carbon price fix this fall (via The Hill)

China’s Tianjin carbon market extends permit deadline again (via Reuters)

The shocking truth about British Columbia’s carbon tax: It works (via The Globe and Mail)

OIL 

Swaps could be next way around oil export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China makes new electric vehicles tax-free (via The Guardian)

Nissan launches “no charge to charge” program for Leaf buyers (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

One-fifth of the Amazon may have been savannah before Europeans arrived (via Mongabay)

Freedom Industries fined $11,000 for historic West Virginia chemical spill (via Climate Progress)

The weird and wonderful world of indoor farming (via Think Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking could supply one-third of UK gas by 2035, says National Grid (via RTCC)

GRID 

Modi budget plans $250 million to boost solar, grid to end India blackouts (via Bloomberg)

Transmission issues plague power-starved southern India states (via Panchabuta)

Washington State grants $14.3 million for energy storage systems (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco says it has turned corner on Fukushima nuclear cleanup (via Bloomberg)

Wisconsin reactor’s demise shows plight of nuclear towns (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska court date pushes final Keystone XL decision past midterms (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

House Republicans threaten to subpoena EPA over carbon rules (via The Hill)

White House threatens to veto energy spending bill over environmental riders (via The Hill)

Forget LeBron, it’s free agency season for green groups (via National Journal)

Study says rich Republicans are the worst climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

Here’s what the world would look like if we took global warming seriously (via Vox)

Sixty years after birth, it’s time for solar cells to get serious (via GigaOm)

Why we need a carbon tax (via Huffington Post)

Fix the climate problem? Easy – cut U.S. emissions to 1901 levels (via Bloomberg)

How Silveo could succeed where Solyndra failed (via Greentech Media)

Why Washington State’s $14.3 million energy storage program is so different from others (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, Appalachia, australia, Biogas, Brazil, british columbia, cap and trade, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU ETS, europe, ev, ev charging, fracking, fukushima, germany, grid, Hong Kong, Hydropower, india, Keystone XL, LED, Mercom Capital, Missouri, mountaintop removal, national grid, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, Norfolk, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, renewables, Sao Paulo, Sea level rise, Silveo, solar, solyndra, Subsidies, Tepco, Tianjin, Tony Abbott, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, virginia, Washington State, West Virginia, wind, Wisconsin, Yieldcos
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09
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL 

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL 

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID 

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Posted:   |   Categories: apple, arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuels, biomass, cap and trade, Chevron, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, CREZ, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enphase, environment, EU, European Union, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, fracking, France, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, india, japan, Joe Manchin, Kentucky, Keystone XL, Microgrid, Mosaic, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil shale, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Sugnevity, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Ukraine, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind
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08
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN proposes building blocks of new climate deal (via Bloomberg)

U.S. and China set for latest climate change discussions (via RTCC)

France and India pledge cooperation at UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Lessons from a drowning nation (via Washington Post)

Climate change up close (via Ensia)

BBC cuts airtime for climate skeptics (via The Hill)

COAL 

Indian power plants running out of coal, imports to surge (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy’s share of China power generation to reach 20% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment rebounds to highest level since 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy share in UK electricity generation inches closer to 20% (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank lends $1 billion in Japan’s solar gold rush (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

India exploring desert-based renewable energy strategy (via BusinessGreen)

UK Crown Estate approves marine power sites, test zones (via Bloomberg)

Offshore wind energy traversing regulatory, financial currents (via Forbes)

Growing green bond market raises $20 billion in six months (via RTCC)

Four residential solar trends to watch in second half 2014 (via Greentech Media)

CitiBank official: ITC drop “beyond huge” (via Recharge)

Here’s a way to get utilities to embrace solar and batteries: Let them own the inverter (via Greentech Media)

Florida utilities working to crush nascent solar industry (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU’s united front on Russia falling amid gas needs (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ukraine-Europe gas link to run at full capacity this winter (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Aramco pulls the rug out from under U.S. natural gas industry (via CleanTechnica)

How are energy boom states dealing with fracking-related health complaints? (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Fracking fears grow as Oklahoma hit by more earthquakes than California (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canadians are eating tar sands pollution (via Grist)

Lake Mead, largest U.S. reservoir, to reach record low this week (via Climate Progress)

NRDC petitions EPA to cancel neonicotinoid pesticides (via NRDC Switchboard)

A California oil field yields another prized commodity – water (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

More Chargepoint chargers than McDonalds now in U.S. (via CleanTechnica)

Why cars remain so appealing even in cities with decent public transit (via Washington Post)

A designer fuel for the environmentally-conscious supercar enthusiast (via Breaking Energy)

EMISSIONS 

Emissions reduction efforts gather steam (via Navigant Research)

EPA refutes charge NRDC played key role in emissions rule (via The Hill)

GRID 

Big microgrid savings from replacing diesel with energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Researchers developing supercomputer to tackle grid challenges (via Renewable Energy World)

Maine utilities to strengthen grid, provide renewables access (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

Outside groups spent lavishly on top DOE officials’ global travels (via Greenwire)

Behind Harry Reid’s war against the Koch Brothers (via Politico)

OPINION 

Primer on Beijing’s slice-and-dice approach to energy and climate reform (via Center for American Progress)

Picking the lesser of two climate evils (via New York Times)

Ignore the climate change deniers (via Politico)

Should Wall Street care about global warming? (via National Journal)

Climate pricing and strange bedfellows (via Energy Collective)

Could California’s climate revolution change the national conversation? (via Huffington Post)

Jerry Brown on clean energy: The hard part is yet to come (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: Batteries, BBC, california, canada, ChargePoint, China, Citibank, climate, Climate Change, coal, Deutsche Bank, diesel, DOE, drought, earthquakes, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev charging, Florida, fracking, France, Green bonds, grid, harry reid, india, itc, japan, Jerry Brown, Kiribati, Koch Brothers, Lake Mead, Maine, Marine power, Microgrid, natural gas, News, nrdc, offshore wind, oklahoma, Public transit, renewables, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Sea level rise, solar, tar sands, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, united nations, wind
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02
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Caribbean coral reefs “will be lost within 20 years” (via The Guardian)

U.S. military bases threatened by climate change (via Fiscal Times)

What every governor really believes about climate change, in one handy map (via Climate Progress)

VA governor revives climate change panel, citing sea level rise threat (via Washington Post/AP)

Eight summer miseries made worse by global warming, from poison ivy to allergies (via National Geographic)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU utilities will suffer from low power prices until 2020, says Moody’s (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

BNEF: Renewable energy’s about to dominate global power investments (via CleanTechnica)

Research shows solar panels benefit crops (via Ashland Daily Tidings)

New EIA energy maps show four renewable energy trends (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Northeast added more than 800MW of new renewables capacity in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Cape Wind gets $150 million boost from U.S. Energy Department (via Boston Globe)

Will EPA carbon rules push Michigan harder on clean energy? (via Midwest Energy News)

NextEra yieldco IPO raises $442.7 million (via Recharge)

Barclays and MSCI launch green bond index (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Colorado coal mine rejection on global-warming grounds has major implications (via InsideClimate News)

Georgia coal-to-solar pivot shows the way on climate regulations (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

The amount of atmospheric CO2 just reached a new record, and scientists are worried (via Climate Progress)

Giving up fossil fuels to save the climate: The $28 trillion write-down (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Nine states join lawsuit against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

EPA looks to reduce emissions at landfills (via The Hill)

EPA’s CO2 rule and the back door to cap and trade (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic disappearing from oceans, scientists say, but why? (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Brazil made big environmental promises for its Rio Olympics – here’s why it won’t keep them (via National Journal)

California may step up water restrictions enforcement amid drought (via Reuters)

Water use fell 23% in March as LA reports driest two-year total (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Bakken Shale oil producers told to cut flaring or face punishment (via Houston Chronicle)

With North Dakota oil boom comes concern over spills (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

While you’re asleep, electric car owners are guzzling power (via Mashable)

Chevy Volt sales drop in June, Nissan Leaf inches upward (via Autoblog Green)

Gas prices at six-year high heading into July 4th holiday weekend (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North Dakota’s latest fracking problem: Burning off excess gas (via Wall Street Journal)

Russia says European Union requests natural gas talks (via Reuters)

GRID 

Hackers find open back door to power grid with renewables (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

IEA: $80 billion wasted on power for online devices in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

LED lighting will constitute 94% of annual global street lighting sales by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

GE opens a pricing war over the connected LED light bulb (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

How El Nino will change the world’s weather in 2014 (via The Guardian)

EPA’s carbon rule is both a tax and a subsidy (via Forbes)

If Jerry Brown is so green, why is he allowing fracking in California? (via The Nation)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bakken Shale, Barclays, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Brazil, california, cap and trade, cape wind, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, drought, eia, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, fracking, gas prices, GE, Georgia, global warming, Green bond, grid, IEA, Jerry Brown, LED, los angeles, methane, michigan, Moody's Renewables, natural gas, News, NextEra, nissan LEAF, north dakota, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Terry McAuliffe, Transportation, virginia, YieldCo
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01
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.1.14

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

CLIMATE 

India plans to overhaul approach to UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Besieged by rising tides of climate change, Kiribati buys land in Fiji (via The Guardian)

Pentagon to escalate global warming preparations for bases (via U.S. News & World Report)

Wall Street’s climate war intensifies with new weapons (via National Journal)

The fine line between sugarcoating and panic on climate change (via Washington Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands expansion cools down without Keystone XL (via NRDC Switchboard)

RENEWABLES 

EU states avoid green energy overhaul after court backs Swedish scheme (via Reuters)

Renewables to get most of $7.7 trillion new power plant investments by 2030 (via Bloomberg)

China becomes world’s largest solar PV market (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy saves Fortune 500 companies over $1 billion (via CleanTechnica)

Bangladesh to receive $78.4 million from World Bank for solar home systems (via Shanghai Daily)

The rise of Big Solar in Chile (via Forbes)

Solar companies sue to stop property taxes on leased rooftop panels (via Arizona Republic)

Six trailblazers banking on clean energy finance (via GreenBiz)

NRG Yield adds new solar assets (via Recharge)

Two-bladed wind turbines make a comeback (via MIT Technology Review)

Illinois putting $30 million into solar investments (via Southern Illinoisan)

Receding Lake Mead poses challenges to Hoover Dam’s power output (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China fuels new boom in natural gas (via ClimateWire)

New York’s top court says towns can ban fracking (via Financial Post/Reuters)

Fracking study finds new natural gas wells leak more than older ones (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

FERC approves second LNG export project (via Breaking Energy)

Shale’s junk debt at risk if Fed raises rates (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon has best quarter in six years amid EU permit-supply curbs (via Bloomberg)

Court blocks Arch Coal mine expansion for not counting costs of carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Basis for EPA Clean Power Plan cuts a “mystery” (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Here’s where solar, storage, and microgrids are taking hold in the U.S. (via Greentech Media)

Symantec warns of hacker threat against energy companies (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Capacity of U.S. petroleum refineries increases by 101,000 barrels per day (via Environmental Leader)

North Dakota and Texas now provide nearly half U.S. crude oil production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Supreme Court won’t hear dispute over California fuel standard (via Greenwire)

2015 Toyota Prius launch pushed back six months: Report (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic debris widespread on ocean surface, finds study (via Huffington Post)

Indonesia now has the highest rate of deforestation in the world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU leaders divided on 2030 energy efficiency target (via RTCC)

Energy efficiency investments create 17 jobs per one million dollars in U.S. Southeast (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Report: Voters more likely to back climate-friendly candidate (via The Hill)

All policy is local: 2014 Congressional races defined by energy issues (via Politico)

Coal fires up West Virginia House of Representatives race (via Politico)

Sen. Beigich talks climate change (via KCAW)

FERC Commissioner Norris expects not to seek another term (via SNL Energy)

OPINION 

U.S. steps toward more China solar tariffs – for the wrong reasons? (via Breaking Energy)

Happy birthday carbon tax….been god to know you (via Renew Economy)

Is climate change destabilizing Iraq? (via Mother Jones)

Closing the renewable energy investment gap (via WRI Insights)

What’s next for U.S. oil exports? (via National Journal)

Australia Institute director says Gore-Palmer ploy reset climate debate (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arch Coal, australia, Bangladesh, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, FERC, fracking, grid, Hoover Dam, Hydropower, Illinois, india, Indonesia, iraq, John Norris, Keystone XL, Lake Mead, LNG, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Mark Beigich, methane, Microgrids, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, oil, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, Solar trade war, Sweden, tar sands, texas, Toyota prius, Transportation, West Virginia, wind, World Bank, YieldCo
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30
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

World Bank: Tacking climate change will grow the economy (via Climate Central)

Leading insurer closing its climate change office, leaving industry “mute” (via ClimateWire)

Mexico eyes economic benefits of landmark climate law (via RTCC)

The high cost of climate change inaction in two new studies (via NRDC Switchboard)

Wheat breeders planning for climate change (via The Western Producer)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Scotland primed for shale gas exploration (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

IRENA says world needs $550 billion of renewables investment a year (via RTCC)

Last week, wind energy was the new baseload in Australia (via Renew Economy)

German lawmakers vote to reduce renewable energy subsidies (via Bloomberg)

SunEdison closes $190 million financing for Chile solar project (via Bloomberg)

Silver lining for China’s carbon-financed wind power boom (via Forbes)

Columbia River Basin provides more than 40% total U.S. hydroelectric generation (via U.S. EIA)

Michigan’s wind industry soaring (via Detroit Free-Press)

Growing number of solar panels a concern for Wisconsin utilities (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Boston trying out solar-powered “smart benches” in parks (via Boston Globe)

GM adds three acres of solar arrays at Michigan facilities (via Green Car Congress)

SunPower to add storage to solar in new homes (via Greentech Media)

NextEra Energy prices yieldco IPO (via Recharge)

EMISSIONS 

Australia carbon tax moves closer to repeal after vote in lower house (via Reuters)

Caribbean needs $30 billion investment to cut fossil-fuel use (via Bloomberg)

Shanghai firms meet carbon targets after last-day permit auction (via Reuters)

DOE-sponsored project captures one millionth metric ton of CO2 (via Breaking Energy)

NASA to launch CO2-tracking satellite (via The Guardian)

Los Angeles councilman to propose emissions reduction measure (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought has drillers running after shrinking California water supply (via NPR)

Map shows when summer heat will peak in your town (via Climate Central)

OIL 

The other battle for Canada’s oil sands (via Houston Chronicle)

Following long ban, U.S. could dominate global light oil supply (via Reuters)

Feds, lawmakers warn of fire risk from oil trains (via The Hill)

Oil boom meets bust in Texas: Above sea of oil, poverty digs in (via New York Times)

BP seeks return of millions in oil spill damage payments (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China only sold 7,000 electric automobiles in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Lukewarm automaker interest in open Tesla EV patents (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan prices replacement Leaf battery at $5,500 (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

MSHA issues 147 citations during coal mine inspections (via Washington Post)

GRID 

UK seeks to avoid “energy crunch” with 53GW capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

NREL supercomputer tackles grid challenges (via Intelligent Utility)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berg Insights predicts 36 million smart homes worldwide by 2017 (via GigaOm)

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance starts financing network (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

OPINION 

Australia risks G20 isolation by scrapping carbon tax (via Financial Times)

The American West’s water crisis (via New York Times)

How carbon pricing can boost the bottom line (via Environmental Leader)

Time to buy shares in a yieldco? (via Sustainable Business)

Will Governor Christie re-embrace cap-and-trade in wake of EPA rule? (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Boston, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Capacity auction, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, Caribbean, Chile, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, germany, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, IRENA, los angeles, mexico, michigan, NASA, natural gas, News, NextEra Energy, Nissan, nissan LEAF, NREL, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Scotland, SEEA, Shale gas, Shanghai, Smart home Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, solar, Subsidy, SunEdison, SunPower, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, Wisconsin, World Bank, YieldCo
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26
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.26.14

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

CLIMATE 

EU global warming damages are seen reaching $259 billion (via Bloomberg)

UK infrastructure neglected, at risk from climate change, warn engineers (via The Guardian)

Five graphics showing U.S. climate change costs (via Climate Central)

White House boasts progress on climate agenda (via The Hill)

Rhode Island signs off on new climate change law (via RTCC)

Obama calls climate-change skeptics “fringe” element (via Bloomberg)

The millions behind Bjorn Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center think tank (via DeSmogBlog)

NUCLEAR 

France’s proposed “cap” on nuclear electricity capacity (via Energy Collective)

Tepco faces down protest to press ahead with atomic restarts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable electricity nears 20% of UK mix (via BusinessGreen)

German utilities struggle in a renewable world (via Navigant Research)

Yieldcos could cut renewable costs by 20%, says study (via Greentech Media)

Securitized solar PV “set for breakthrough” in US (via Recharge)

US investors fear yieldco buying frenzy (via Recharge)

California continues to set daily records for utility-scale solar energy (via U.S. EIA)

Post-2020 RPS “unlikely” for California (via Recharge)

As renewables grow in Texas, battles over fees and subsidies emerge (via StateImpact Texas)

COAL 

North Carolina lawmakers order coal ash pond cleanup after Duke spill (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon capture and storage enters the twilight zone (via Renew Economy)

California earmarks quarter of its cap-and-trade revenue for environmental justice (via InsideClimate News)

OIL 

How a U.S. decision to allow oil exports could change the world’s energy balance (via Quartz)

Is U.S. oil production becoming a potential foreign policy tool? (via Christian Science Monitor)

White House says no change to U.S. ban on crude oil exports (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China reviews rules to help Tesla-like carmakers sprout (via Bloomberg)

Tesla looking to create pan-European supercharger network by end of 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Plug-in America estimates 250,000 EV sales by September (via CleanTechnica)

Opponents of California renewable fuel law ask for U.S. Supreme Court hearing (via Reuters)

EV advocates urge New Jersey to develop charging stations, incentives (via Bergen Record)

KEYSTONE XL 

Political leader says carbon incentives in Canada would help Keystone bid (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

WMO: 80% chance of El Nino by December 2014 (via RTCC)

One quarter of India is turning into desert (via Climate Progress)

Fruit and vegetable prices rise as California drought continues (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

House votes to speed up natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Colorado city rejects fracking moratorium (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

U.S. microgrid capacity will exceed 1.8GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

America’s largest university pursues a microgrid (via RMI Outlet)

Crumbling U.S. grid gets jolt in Houston smart power system (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICENCY 

Is LED lighting the next solar war with China? (via Sustainable Business)

DOE unveils efficiency standards for furnace fans (via The Hill)

Is LEED becoming the new normal? (via TriplePundit)

POLITICS 

Barack Obama becomes mocker-in-chief on climate change skeptics (via Politico)

Congress the butt of Obama’s climate science jokes (via Reuters)

John Boehner wants to sue President Obama (via Washington Post)

Issa threatens EPA with contempt as Team Obama celebrates climate anniversary (via National Journal)

Harry Reid says FERC nominees to get vote when Senate returns from July 4 recess (via Bloomberg BNA)

OPINION 

A carbon tax and climate change (via New York Times)

Why the U.S. needs business to save it from Congress (via Bloomberg)

With “Risky Business,” a bid to shift the climate debate (via Breaking Energy)

What does Clive Palmer’s carbon tax decision mean for Australia? (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bjorn lomborg, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, Daryl Issa, Desertification, DOE, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, France, germany, grid, harry reid, Houston, india, japan, John Boehner, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, plug-in America, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rhode island, solar, Solar trade war, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Superchargers, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Yieldcos
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