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Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.10.13 share

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

CLIMATE

By 2047, coldest years may be warmer than hottest in past, say scientists (via New York Times)

Melting permafrost is creating “drunken forests” around Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Saudi efforts to weaken IPCC report in Stockholm exposed (via RTCC)

Can cities solve climate change? (via Scientific American)

Mining, fossil fuel firms talk about embracing climate change adaptation (via SNL Energy)

Florida considers creating alternative to federal flood insurance (via Miami Herald)

FEDERAL SHUTDOWN

90% of America’s nuclear regulators will be furloughed today (via Gizmodo)

Energy industry beginning to feel federal shutdown’s bite (via Anchorage Daily News)

RENEWABLES

World’s largest wealth fund may become green energy investor (via Renew Economy)

Q3 portfolio review: A bottom for clean energy developers? (via Renewable Energy World)

GE boosts wind turbine output up to 5% with industrial Internet technology (via CleanTechnica)

EPA drafts scaled-back renewable fuels goal (via National Journal)

Pennsylvania discourages renewable energy as climate solution (via Philadelphia Business Journal)

New York’s SUNY Cortland College using 100% renewable energy (via EarthTechling)

Will Oregon test project bring offshore wind to the West Coast? (via ClimateWire)

EMISSIONS

Carbon markets cut emissions 17x cheaper than subsidies (via CleanTechnica)

Study finds setbacks in carbon capture projects worldwide (via New York Times)

EU already close to meeting 2020 emissions goal (via Reuters)

Early repeal of carbon price system could cost Australia $2 billion (via Australian Financial Review)

Shell exec says oil companies might become carbon capture ones (via MIT Technology Review)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign growing, says study (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Europe votes to tighten rules on drilling method (via New York Times)

GRID

UK, Denmark advance grid link-study (via Recharge)

Canada unveils energy storage research program (via Renew Grid)

Less than 1% of residential electricity customers will adopt dynamic pricing by 2020 unless utilities act aggressively (via Navigant Research)

AB327 signed into law with net metering warning from Gov. Brown (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY

Citibank: Utilities are dinosaurs waiting to die (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Study: Efficiency leads to “amazingly good energy news” (via Midwest Energy News)

San Francisco publishes open data on energy use in city buildings (via Sustainable Industries)

KEYSTONE XL

Alberta’s current carbon strategy no match for Keystone’s emissions (via InsideClimate News)

Influence in America: TransCanada’s Keystone XL lobbying activities (via DeSmog Blog)

TRANSPORTATION

New vehicle fuel economy continues to increase (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT

Chicago’s investment in cleaner, greener water (via Huffington Post)

POLITICS

Germany’s Greens turn frosty toward any alliance with Merkel (via Reuters)

OPINION

Are there any major world financial institutions that don’t want to act on climate? (via Climate Progress)

Could weather forecasting be the secret to energy management? (via Greentech Media)

Are biofuels contributing to the dead zone? (via Treehugger)

Battle over Binz: An anomaly, or first shot in a drawn-out war? (via E&E Daily)

How to divest from fossil fuels, no matter the size of your piggy bank (via Grist)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, Angela Merkel, arctic, australia, Benchmarking, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon markets, Carbon pricing, chicago, climate, Climate Change, denmark, Divestment, Dynamic pricing, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, FERC, Floods, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, global warming, grid, investment, IPCC, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, natural gas, new york state, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oregon, pennsylvania, Permafrost melt, Renewable Fuels Standard, RFS, Ron Binz, san francisco, saudi arabia, Shale gas, Shell, solar, SUNY Cortland College, TransCanada, uk, united kingdom, wind, wind turbine

Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

When CO2 levels doubled 55 million years ago, Earth may have warmed 9 degrees F in 13 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon markets 16 times cheaper than renewable aid, OECD says (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

UK shale drillers offered water cheaper than residents (via Bloomberg)

EIA raises 2013 US natgas production, demand (via Reuters)

Some foes of fracking reach out to drillers on safety (via National Journal)

GRID

US smart grid could save each consumer $100 annually (via Energy Manager Today)

15 European national power markets set to link in search for best price (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

UK plans to increase solar power eight-fold by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy is taking a beating in Spain (via New York Times)

At what point will small-scale solar energy storage become viable? (via CleanTechnica)

Wind turbine blade maker ramps up in US (via Breaking Energy)

Oil industry sues EPA over Renewable Fuel Standard (via The Hill)

AWEA sees strong 2014 for US wind (via Recharge)

Boom and bust in New Jersey SREC market (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside DOE, one of world’s biggest clean energy finance shops is back in business (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE

OECD: “No bailout” for climate threat (via BBC News)

80% of ecosystems vulnerable to climate change, finds study (via Yale e360)

IMF director Lagarde sounds warning on climate action (via The Hill)

World Bank and IMF stress urgency of climate action (via RTCC)

Alaska sinks as climate change thaws permafrost (via Des Moines Register)

After Sandy, group calls for federal fund to deal with extreme weather (via Star-Ledger)

COAL

Peak coal in China, or a long and high plateau? (via Energy Collective)

150 plants retired: Another major milestone in moving beyond coal (via Grist)

New England’s largest coal-fired plant is shutting down (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY

Official says Mexican energy reform will require new laws (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of utilities predict “complete transformation” by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

Keystone XL’s not the only cross-border energy fight (via Greenwire)

The South’s new power push: Natural gas and tiny nukes (via Climate Central)

Eight practical local energy policies to boost the economy (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Sports beginning to see the energy-efficient light (via New York Times)

New York City apartment dwellers can compare energy, water use online (via Sustainable Business)

San Francisco public buildings’ energy use down 3.6% from 2011 (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL

Analyst predicts growing North American production unless oil falls to $60 (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

EVs find a growing market in China (via Navigant Research)

California backs hydrogen stations in a big way (via EarthTechling)

NUCLEAR

Report says a shortage of nuclear ingredient looms (via New York Times)

EU energy guidelines leave out nuclear in blow for Britain (via Reuters)

Nuclear plants vexed at prices that shift as demand does (via New York Times)

Small nuclear-fossil fuel reactors attracting attention but not capital (via Forbes)

POLITICS

Germany’s Greens elect new leaders before talks with Merkel (via Reuters)

Poll: Plurality of Virginians favor EPA climate rule (via Politico)

OPINION

Carbon emissions explained, with my son’s Legos (via Energy Collective)

US can still be the world’s solar manufacturing leader (via Sustainable Business)

Three models that could help utilities make money from solar (via Greentech Media)

The Model S fire was a good thing for Tesla (via Plugin Cars)

Posted: | Categories: alaska, Angela Merkel, awea, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Christina Lagarde, climate, Climate Change, coal, department of energy, DOE, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environmental protection agency, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, germany, grid, Hurricane Sandy, hydrogen, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Keystone XL, mexico, natural gas, New England, new jersey, New York City, News, nuclear, OECD, oil, Permafrost, PETM, Renewable energy credit, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, san francisco, Shale gas, Small modular nuclear reactor, smart grid, solar, Spain, SREC, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, virginia, Water scarcity, wind, World Bank

Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.8.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

How to slice a global carbon pie? (via New York Times)

US Supreme Court scheduled to consider climate change cases (via Reuters)

Divestment campaign against fossil fuels growing, says study (via The Guardian)

California highlights emissions reduction progress (via CleanTechnica)

New Jersey sets hearing on rejoining RGGI carbon trading program (via Bloomberg)

Microsoft achieves carbon neutrality, says NRDC (via Environmental Leader)

COAL

Beijing to close main coal plants by 2015 in smog crackdown (via BusinessGreen)

King Coal’s last stand (via Vice)

RENEWABLES

China set to lead 2014 solar energy boom (via RTCC)

Floating offshore wind power taking hold (via Renewable Energy World)

New British solar energy fund has chance to shine (via Daily Mail)

UK tests new method to balance renewables on the grid (via Greentech Media)

Nighttime solar power arriving in United States (via EarthTechling)

Will a new guide for regulators settle the debate over rooftop solar’s value? (via Greentech Media)

Oakland’s bid to become a solar power hub (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Cumulative Nissan Leaf sales in Japan pass 30,000 mark (via Green Car Congress)

Honda plots US hybrid resurgence starting with Accord (via Bloomberg)

EV sales for 2013 up over 440% from one year ago (via Climate Progress)

Palo Alto requires homes to be pre-wired for electric cars (via EarthTechling)

Is there any business model for public electric car charging? (via Green Car Reports)

OIL

Texas on track to be among world’s largest oil producers (via Houston Chronicle)

California Gov. Brown supports hydraulic fracturing (via Houston Chronicle)

BP spars with US government over size of Gulf of Mexico spill (via Reuters)

GRID

PJM board approves $1.2 billion in transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Why the hot money is chasing energy storage (via Renew Economy)

ENERGY POLICY

Proposed LNG exports spark controversy in British Columbia (via ClimateWire)

Quebec’s Keystone conundrum (via Politico)

Electricity utilities could lose half their market to solar and storage (via Renew Economy)

Grid Edge: How will utilities, vendors, and energy service providers adapt? (via Greentech Media)

ESCO market to reach $8.3 billion in 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

California law to change energy rates, aid renewable power (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NUCLEAR

Japanese prime minister seeks foreign help containing Fukushima water leak (via United Press International)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

How Denmark turned an efficiency obligation into opportunity (via Midwest Energy News)

Building energy benchmarking and window retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

An illustrated guide to the enormous power of energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Energy management saves Office Depot $2.2 million annually (via Energy Manager Today)

Cincinnati launches energy benchmarking toolkit (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS

Obama’s top climate and energy adviser to leave White House (via Washington Post)

Front-runner for FERC may be clean slate Obama’s looking for (via Greenwire)

The battle for FERC and the future of energy security (via Energy Trends Insider)

OPINION

Solar power, in small doses (via The Economist)

Who created the global warming “pause”? (via Mother Jones)

The future of the electricity system is called Grid Edge (via Greentech Media)

Burning question: Are Europe’s biomass imports sustainable? (via Renewable Energy World)

America’s net metering war (via CleanTechnica)

Can we fly more and still meet carbon targets? (via The Guardian)

We might blow our carbon budget sooner than we think (via Renew Economy)

Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.13 share

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Federal shutdown weakens weather and climate operations (via Washington Post)

What the shutdown means for energy and environment programs (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

California and Quebec take another step toward linking cap-and-trade programs (via Green Car Congress)

California’s cap and trade market still needs a price ceiling (via Energy Collective)

COAL

Coal to surpass gas in Southeast Asia power boom, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

France launches 80MW tidal power tender (via Recharge)

Analysis shows wind tax credit would cost billions (via The Hill)

Washington DC unanimously passes community solar legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE

Poland pits itself against EU climate pledges (via Reuters)

Fossil fuel interests ready to pump millions into climate change debate (via Forbes)

Three things we aren’t as sure of as climate change but accept as fact (via Climate Progress)

Wildfire season could be longer, more intense by 2050 due to climate change (via National Journal)

Climate adaptation goes mainstream in Wisconsin (via Grist)

Yosemite’s largest ice mass is melting fast (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL

Public health report released on 2010 Michigan oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

At trial, BP denies dithering during response to US Gulf spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Nearly 64,000 public EV charging stations installed worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Once you go electric, you don’t go back, finds study (via BusinessGreen)

Tesla Model S was best-selling car in Norway during September (via Green Car Congress)

Nissan Leaf outsells Chevy Volt 1,953 to 1,766 in September (via Autoblog Green)

GM intensifies military hydrogen fuel cell research (via BusinessGreen)

$2 billion for cleaner vehicles in California (via CleanTechnica)

GRID

40MW energy storage facility goes live in Ohio (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Chambers of Commerce want fracking oversight left to states (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted: | Categories: Asia, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, chevy volt, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, community solar, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, fracking, France, fuel cell, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hydrogen, IEA, michigan, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, norway, oil, oil spill, Poland, production tax credit, Quebec, renewables, solar, tar sands, Tesla Model S, tidal power, Transportation, Washington DC, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yosemite

Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

IPCC report recommends fossil fuels stay in the ground (via Huffington Post)

What the carbon budget means for business (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon market main hurdle to aviation deal, India says (via Bloomberg)

COAL

Europe whets appetite for coal as US eschews it (via Climate Central)

Stop funding coal, green groups tell European Bank (via BusinessGreen)

The local election that could determine the future of US coal (via Climate Progress)

Nebraska coal plant tests new pollution-control system (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

Offshore wind in Europe: Lessons for the US (via Huffington Post)

Deutsche Banks says China solar PV may reach 15GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil: Just not that into second-generation biofuels (via Energy Collective)

Movin’ and shakin’ – geothermal projects face a rocky road (via Renewable Energy World)

US renewables mid-year report: 10% energy consumption, 14% net electrical generation (via Renewable Energy World)

Tax credits to spur renewable energy seen set to end (via Bloomberg)

US Air Force trains for combat on wind power (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

China faces steep climb to exploit its shale riches (via New York Times)

US gears up to be a prime natural gas exporter (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects federal funds for fracking studies (via Grist)

CLIMATE

“Climate refugee” fighting to stay in New Zealand goes to court (via ABC News)

The hard math of flood insurance in a warming world (via Time)

How farmworkers experience a warming climate (via EarthFix)

Bloomberg, Steyer, Paulson team up to gauge global warming’s economic toll (via The Hill)

New climate assessment likely to spark action by companies; Congress, not so much (via ClimateWire)

Resilient communities are the incentive for businesses to focus on climate change (via Triple Pundit)

“Atmospheric River” smashes storm records in Pacific Northwest (via Climate Central)

OIL

An uphill climb for the oil giants (via New York Times)

Feds to release new rules for offshore emergency equipment this year (via Houston Chronicle)

Lawyers tell trial BP lied about size of US Gulf oil spill (via Reuters)

Texas regulators issue few fines for Eagle Ford pollution (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric vehicles speeding toward 7% of all global sales by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

EV-wary consumers still want utilities to develop charging infrastructure (via Renew Grid)

BMW to electrify its entire lineup (via CleanTechnica)

Ford C-Max hybrid owners get rebate for disappointing mileage (via New York Times)

GRID

Will energy storage save the grid? (via Energy Collective)

New California net metering study appears to be DOA (via Greentech Media)

TAR SANDS

Oil sands deals dive as foreign-state firms scrutinized by Canada (via Houston Chronicle)

British Columbia, Alberta move closer to tar sands pipeline agreement (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency drive yields $1 billion, 11 million metric tons CO2 cuts for US manufacturers (via Triple Pundit)

POLITICS

EIA can operate through October 11 under government shutdown (via Reuters)

EPA to be hit hard in shutdown, could delay renewable fuel standard (via Reuters)

FERC nominee Binz withdraws amid coal pushback (via Politico)

“No evidence” EPA used private emails to keep records secret (via The Hill)

Can Bob Inglis make the GOP relevant on climate and clean energy policy? (via Greentech Media)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, Atmospheric River, biofuels, BMW, Bob Ingliis, BP, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon budget, carbon capture, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate refugees, coal, Coal exports, Deutsche Bank, Eagle Ford Shale, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Bank, ev, EV charger, FERC, Floods, Ford, Ford C-Max hybrid, fracking, geothermal, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Paulson, india, IPCC, Michael Bloomberg, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, Net metering, new zealand, News, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, renewables, Resilience, Resilient communities, Ron Binz, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, wind

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.30.13 share

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

CLIMATE

The world’s climate scientists explain how to avoid drastic global warming – it’s not easy (via Washington Post)

History shows weather patterns may head north (via Climate Central)

Climate change study finds Australia suffers more than most G20 countries (via The Guardian)

Climate change pushing tropical trees upslope “exactly as predicted” (via Mongabay)

New climate action report: US can reach emissions reduction goal, but only with ambitious action (via WRI Insights)

OIL

In Canada’s North Atlantic, new oil frontier shows life beyond shale (via Reuters)

BP civil trial turns to how much oil reached Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

China to offer tax breaks to solar power manufacturers (via Reuters)

Citi analysts see $5.7 trillion renewables opportunity with no added grid costs (via Renew Economy)

Big solar now competing with wind energy on costs (via Renew Economy)

IKEA to sell solar panels at all UK stores (via Reuters)

NREL report: Savings from renewables would outweigh power plant cycling costs (via Renew Grid)

US tax credits to spur renewables seen set to end (via Bloomberg)

Renewable fuel mandate frees to be discussed in Congress (via Bloomberg)

Pattern IPO raises $352 million (via Recharge)

CFTC alleges $42 million ethanol futures fraud against bank (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

China still leads the world in emissions, with no end in sight (via Grist)

Wyndham Worldwide slashes carbon footprint in 2012 (via Triple Pundit)

TRANSPORTATION

Gasoline pollution mandates delayed in US (via Houston Chronicle)

Nissan celebrates National Plug-In Day by announcing 35,000 US Leaf sales (via Autoblog Green)

California’s governor signs six bills to promote EVs (via Green Car Report)

Palo Alto, California mandates all new homes come EV-ready (via Plugin Cars)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Do efficiency standards create manufacturing jobs? (via Midwest Energy News)

DC’s upcoming energy benchmarking regulation (via Good)

GRID

The four layers of smart grid security (via SmartPlanet)

OPINION

Is global warming the planet’s biggest problem? (via National Journal)

Carbon markets need global regulator to spur climate funding (via Bloomberg)

More good news on renewables integration (via EarthTechling)

Posted: | Categories: australia, biofuels, BP, california, canada, Carbon market, CFTC, China, climate, Climate Change, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, ethanol, EVs, Gasoline, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Ikea, IPCC, Jerry Brown, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, palo alto, Pattern Energy, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, smart grid, solar, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington DC, wind

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.25.13 share

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

CLIMATE

New map shows world’s most climate-vulnerable regions (via Climate Progress)

Major wind and rain belts could shift north as Earth warms (via Yale e360)

Stanford: Climate change occurring 10 times faster than any time in past 65 million years (via DeSmog Blog)

HSBC: Australian economy badly exposed to climate change (via Renew Economy)

EPA chief hits road for climate rule sales pitches (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Top US trade official lobbies for tar sands oil in EU negotiations (via Huffington Post)

Canadian company to drain Alberta lake due to oil sands leak (via Reuters)

Keystone XL: Five years later, a changed energy dynamic (via Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLES

500MW expected in first Russian renewable energy auction (via Recharge)

Sun begins to shine again on UK solar market (via EarthTechling)

Wind turbines quieter than a heartbeat, acoustical experts find (via Climate Progress)

Cost to add more solar, wind to US West power grid is small – study (via Reuters)

US Senator asks CFTC to look into biofuel credit pricing (via Reuters)

Ivanpah solar project “syncs” to grid for first time (via KCET)

EPA announces Green Power Leadership awards (via Environmental Leader)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Let the building begin (via Energy.gov)

270MW of new renewable energy coming to Connecticut’s grid (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Obama vows to protect “free flow” of Middle East oil (via The Hill)

High oil costs hitting nation’s wallet, too (via Houston Chronicle)

Research: Deep sea ecosystem may take decades to recover from Deepwater Horizon spill (via Phys.org)

TRANSPORTATION

High-speed rail transforms China (via New York Times)

RFS: Ethanol cuts gas prices by up to $1.50 a gallon (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS

EPA rules on emissions at existing coal plants may give states leeway (via New York Times)

Carbon offset market alive and well in California (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas generation lower than last year because of differences in relative fuel prices (via US EIA)

GRID

Remote microgrids will surpass $8.4 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Remote microgrid revenues will top $8 billion by 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

In China’s hinterland, microgrids emerge (via Navigant Research)

Skinny grids: LEDs harness more distributed energy for less (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Ocean acidification “refugees” move to Hawaii (via Seattle Times)

Battle lines form as EPA hints at revised Clean Water Act (via Greenwire)

OPINON

Is natural gas “clean”? (via New York Times)

EPA rules open new era for clean energy in US (via Navigant Research)

How a former EPA official became the “Michael Jordan of solar policy” (via Greenwire)

What are the impacts of high wind and solar penetration on the grid? (via Greentech Media)

Why sustainability indexes miss the mark (via BusinessGreen)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, australia, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon offsets, CFTC, China, Clean Water Act, climate, Climate Change, coal, concentrated solar power, Connecticut, deepwater horizon, emissions, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Ivanpah, Keystone XL, LED, Microgrid, natural gas, News, Ocean acidification, Offsets, oil, oil spill, OPEC, renewables, RIN, Russia, solar, Solar Decathlon, tar sands, uk, united kingdom, US Trade Representative, wind, wind turbines

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.23.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

French carbon tax to raise €4 billion for green energy by 2016 (via Reuters)

Norway cancels carbon capture plan it likened to “Moon landing” (via Reuters)

Everything you need to know about the EPA’s carbon limits for new power plants (via Washington Post)

Emissions regulations are central battle in Obama climate agenda (via The Hill)

Feds promise to work with businesses on meeting emissions goals (via The Hill)

COAL

EPA claims new power plan emission regulations offer coal lifeline (via InsideClimate News)

A changing market and dim future for coal in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

RENEWABLES

SEIA offers peace plan to avert US-China solar trade war (via Bloomberg)

India to build world’s largest power plant in Rajasthan (via India Economic Times)

Report: Old business models holding back clean energy shift (via Midwest Energy News)

Wind energy: Bigger isn't always better (via Breaking Energy)

Wicked green: Massachusetts clean economy grows 11.8% to 80,000 jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables provide a growing share of California’s electricity (via US EIA)

New Jersey offshore wind proposal still seeks answers (via Renewable Energy World)

Michigan can triple its renewable energy production by 2035, finds report (via Detroit Free Press)

Lake Erie wind turbines viable (via Plain Dealer)

CLIMATE

IPCC issues stark warning over global warming (via The Guardian/The Observer)

Global warming “hiatus” puts climate change scientists on the spot (via Los Angeles Times)

Big business funds effort to discredit climate science, warns UN official (via The Guardian)

Arctic alpine plants may survive in “micro refuges” as temperatures rise (via The Guardian)

Arctic on course for ice-free summer “within decades”, scientists say (via The Guardian)

Hunger to worsen as climate change heats up world (via Bloomberg)

Study says children will bear brunt of climate change impact (via The Guardian)

OIL

Not business as usual: China’s oil majors are no longer invincible (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal standards needed for safe Arctic drilling, Pew says (via Houston Chronicle)

Eagle Ford’s future might lie in Mexico’s oil demand (via Houston Chronicle)

California law to regulate fracking signed by governor (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

China to raise prices for clean fuel to boost production (via Reuters)

US gasoline prices fall 6.4 cents as crude declines (via Reuters)

Green parking: Not just a concept anymore (via New York Times)

Tesla’s feat of (financial) engineering (via Washington Post)

NUCLEAR

France to tax nuclear output to fund shift to renewables (via Bloomberg)

US DOE invests $60 million in nuclear technology research and training (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

Vehicle-to-grid charging coming of age (via EarthTechling)

Top 9 things you didn’t know about America’s power grid (via Energy.gov)

KEYSTONE XL

Hundreds of events “Draw the Line” against Keystone XL and tar sands (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Why are some airlines better at saving fuel than others? (via Washington Post)

Siemens installing energy saving measures for US Coast Guard (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Money flowing to build pipelines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sites sought for Marcellus Shale region’s fracking residue (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS

Merkel romps to victory but faces tough coalition choices (via Reuters)

Republicans pounce on Obama’s global warming regulations for political fodder (via National Journal)

White House “War on Coal” no slam dunk for GOP in 2014 (via Politico)

White House: No retreat on troubled FERC nominee Binz (via The Hill)

OPINION

What climate scientists should talk about: Their personal stories (via The Guardian)

Beleaguered CEOs say they can’t save the planet by themselves (via Bloomberg)

A reality check on offshore wind in Virginia (via Washington Post)

How big an impact will EVs have on the grid and your wallet? (via Greentech Media)

Will offshore wind finally take off on US East Coast? (via Yale e360)

Posted: | Categories: Angela Merkel, arctic, barack obama, california, carbon capture, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Eagle Ford Shale, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, FERC, fracking, France, Gasoline prices, global warming, green jobs, grid, india, IPCC, Keystone XL, Lake Erie, marcellus shale, massachusetts, mexico, michigan, natural gas, new jersey, News, norway, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Rajasthan, renewables, Ron Binz, Sea ice melt, seia, Shale oil, Siemens, solar, Solar Energy Industries Association, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, US Coast Guard, V2G, Vehicle to grid, virginia, War on Coal, wind

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.18.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

China to publish monthly list of 10 worst polluted cities (via Reuters)

Human fingerprints visible in atmospheric changes (via Climate Central)

Latest RGGI auction: Time to reconsider “success” in carbon markets? (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

Japan to switch off last operational nuclear power plant (via Reuters)

COAL

In Australia, an uphill battle to rein in the power of coal (via Yale e360)

US coal companies scale back export goals (via New York Times)

Mississippi coal plant overruns show risks of carbon rules (via Bloomberg)

Is the writing on the wall for US coal? (via Green Car Reports)

RENEWABLES

China to slap anti-subsidy duties on US solar material (via Reuters)

Japan solar PV installations reach 10GW milestone (via CleanTechnica)

2.7GW of solar PV up for grabs at upcoming Brazilian renewable auction (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s largest tidal power array surges forward (via BusinessGreen)

Blend wall closes in and lobbies spar over impact (via Breaking Energy)

Wall Street exploits ethanol credits and prices spike (via New York Times)

Refiners lobbying lawmakers to repeal renewable fuel law (via Houston Chronicle)

Case study: Wind lags responding to a power demand spike (via Breaking Energy)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program not owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California sets up $162 million annual clean energy research fund (via EarthTechling)

Maine’s offshore wind development becomes a bidding war (via Renewable Energy World)

Google now buying enough wind energy to power 170k homes (via GigaOm)

ENERGY POLICY

Germany plans $3.5 billion support for energy and climate fund (via Bloomberg)

Study: Clean energy best answer for US power costs (via United Press International)

America’s Power Plan: The crucial role of distributed resources (via RMI Outlet)

California bills shape new energy world (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Study: Methane leaks from gas drilling not as large as feared (via AP)

North Dakota officials say regulation needed to curb flaring (via Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE

Antarctic ice sheet melting from below, scientists say (via Christian Science Monitor)

Australia ditches climate minister position in cabinet (via BusinessGreen)

South Africa set to be hit by climate-related migration (via RTCC)

California and China sign climate change pact (via RTCC)

Study: Majority of climate change news stories focus on uncertainty (via The Guardian)

Case for climate change is overwhelming, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Coastal communities in Virginia lead the way on local climate action (via WRI Insights)

KEYSTONE XL

Obama’s ex-climate czar: Canadian CO2 offer would change debate on Keystone (via The Hill)

Keystone soon will carry crude through Texas, with or without Obama (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

UK’s smart meter plan kicks into high gear (via GigaOm)

Study: Battery energy storage benefits solar, not wind (via CleanTechnica)

USDA provides $136 million in grid improvement funding (via Renew Grid)

Microgrids: A new kind of power struggle in New York and Connecticut (via Greentech Media)

California ISO approves three-year grid plan (via Renew Grid)

Net metering grows some muscles in California (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Colorado and industry working to assess damage in flooded oil fields (via Denver Post)

Blood tests show elevated health risks for Gulf oil spill cleanup workers (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Scotland plans to go electric, ban gas-burners by 2050 (via Autoblog Green)

12 million carsharing users predicted by 2020, 2.3 million today (via Autoblog)

Report: Biofuel could cut CO2 cheaper than electric cars (via BusinessGreen)

Ford launches employee EV charging network (via Environmental Leader)

US to sell nonperforming Fisker Auto loans next month (via Reuters)

National Plug-In Day will hit 75+ US cities (via CleanTechnica)

GM triples size of its Michigan electric vehicle battery laboratory (via CleanTechnica)

Coastal states will lead plug-in vehicle adoption through 2022 (via Autoblog Green)

US gas prices set record: 1,000 straight days above $3 a gallon (via Christian Science Monitor)

POLITICS

An unusual public battle over an energy nomination (via New York Times)

Senate Leader Reid offers path forward on stalled energy bill (via The Hill)

OPINION

How science denial is going to affect today’s big climate hearing (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks vs. climate deniers: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt” (via Climate Progress)

The era of unlimited carbon pollution is over (via Politico)

5 stages of climate denial on display ahead of IPCC report (via The Guardian)

Four charts prove the future of clean energy is arriving (via Greentech Media)

Will Germany reject smart meters? (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted: | Categories: australia, battery, biofuels, Blend wall, Brazil, california, California ISO, CalISO, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carsharing, China, climate, coal, Coal export, colorado, Connecticut, distributed generation, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, ethanol, europe, ev, FERC, Fisker, Flaring, Flood, Ford, fracking, gas prices, germany, GM, google, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, IPCC, japan, Keystone XL, Maine, methane, Methane leakage, michigan, Microgrid, Mississippi, natural gas, Net metering, new york, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, rggi, Ron Binz, Scotland, Sea ice melt, Sea level rise, smart meter, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, texas, Tidal, Transportation, united kingdom, usda, virginia, wind

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.13.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

EU carbon hits 8 month high on jump in energy prices (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Will Costa Rica’s new voluntary carbon trading system work? (via Climate Progress)

Big business fights Obama Administration’s calculations on carbon costs (via Grist)

California carbon allowances retreat to $12.30 as bearish sentiment grows (via Reuters Point Carbon)

COAL

China bans new coal-fired plants in 3 regions (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Air pollution waiver may decide fate of Illinois coal plants (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

RENEWABLES

Solar-Energy Storage market to reach $2.8 billion by 2018 (via Energy Manager Today)

UK hits 1GW of installed offshore wind capacity (via RTCC)

Hydroelectric power makes big comeback at US dams (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Report: $603 million in DOE biofuels funding fails to meet goals (via The Hill)

60GW of new hydropower projects pending approval by FERC (via Facts of the Day)

US solar PV grows 15% in second quarter (via EarthTechling)

California passes 600MW shared renewables program (via CleanTechnica)

South Carolina rural electrical cooperatives back solar farm (via The State)

California regulators say proposed large-scale solar project could harm eagles (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE

Progress at UN climate cash talks sets stage for ministers (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Unprecedented rate and scale of ocean acidification found in Arctic (via Phys.org)

Never-released DOE report predicts increasing domestic conflicts over water, energy (via DeSmog Blog)

US tree migration is not keeping pace with warming (via Yale e360)

Kentucky governor stands up to climate deniers, defends teaching science (via Climate Progress)

Global warming’s denier elite (via Rolling Stone)

KEYSTONE XL

Canada touts carbon pollution cuts as Keystone XL pressure builds (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US federal buildings brace for deep energy retrofits (via EarthTechling)

A bid to “shame” building owners into energy efficiency (via National Journal)

While one Ohio utility fights efficiency, another embraces it (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL

Norway’s new government may bar oil firms from Arctic islands (via Reuters)

BP starts drilling at “giant” Gulf of Mexico oil field after spill setback (via Reuters)

Environmental groups bail on California fracking bill (via Huffington Post)

California fracking oversight bill nears final passage even as greens cancel support (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION

Can DOE build a better EV battery? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Bumps in the road as Hawaii plugs into EVs (via Plugin Cars)

GRID

Demand response hits a new record in PJM (via Greentech Media)

California proposes framework for energy storage procurement program (via Breaking Energy)

Texas shows transmission upgrade benefits for wind power (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS

US LNG exports will be higher than expected (via Reuters)

GREEN BUSINESS

BG Group, Nestle, SAP named among world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

Millennials may not be as green as you think (via GreenBiz)

Why colleges should add green to their school colors (via BusinessGreen)

ENERGY POLICY

Senate panel explores US-Mexico offshore drilling deal (via The Hill)

US to pass Russia in liquid fuels production, says IEA (via Wall Street Journal)

California lawmakers move to reform state’s electricity rate structure (via Reuters)

Arizona regulators drop retail electricity deregulation push (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

OPINION

Canada’s climate actions sharply diverge from government promises (via Energy Collective)

Global warming is very real (via Rolling Stone)

Don’t believe the coal industry’s warnings (via Bloomberg)

How solar remains attractive without key incentives in California (via Forbes)

How long before the Great Plains runs out of water? (via Washington Post)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, arizona, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Demand response, DOE, drought, Eagle take, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, FERC, fracking, global warming, Great Plains, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hydropower, IEA, Illinois, Kentucky, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, norway, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, PJM, renewables, Rural electric cooperative, Russia, Shared renewables, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, south carolina, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, Water scarcity

Category Archives:grid

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