Category Archives:grid

19
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.19.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Russia’s new 2020 carbon target could see emissions rise by 30% (via RTCC)

New Chinese premier vows to tackle pollution with “iron fist” (via Yale e360)

New EPA power plant rule running late, with major changes possible (via Greenwire)

Coal state Dems press Obama to scale back EPA emissions rules (via The Hill)

Why the EPA might delay carbon rules for power plants (via Washington Post)

California cap-and-trade funds proposed for green bank (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change could mean seven times as many Katrinas for US (via Mother Jones)

A dramatic greening of the Artic over past 30 years (via Weather Underground)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables contribute 12.5% of India’s total power generation (via Panchabuta)

China may cut subsidy for largest solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Masdar cuts ribbon on world’s largest concentrated solar power plant (via BusinessGreen)

France announces tender for 400MW of large solar PV plants (via CleanTechnica)

Global clean energy reserves could match fossil fuels (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy standards target of multi-pronged attack (via InsideClimate News)

$4.8 billion in loans weighed by US for post-Solyndra projects (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

Next-gen biofuels making slow progress in 2013 (GigaOm)

Eagle death prompts wind farm investigation (via AOL Energy)

Fourth-graders crowdfund their own solar-powered classroom (via Treehugger)

California Green Innovation Index released (via San Jose Mercury News)

Iowa bill would support farmer-owned wind installations (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Saudi Arabia to drill seven shale gas test wells (via Bloomberg)

Shale gas “no competitor” outside US (via Recharge)

Marcellus Shale now most productive in US (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

US natural gas prices rise as cold snap extends to April (via Reuters)

Chesapeake sued for fixing prices, underpaying landowners (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Grid integration of wind and solar is cheap (via Greentech Media)

Infrastructure boom drives wire and cable materials market (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Russia adopts fracking to revive Soviet oil fields (via Bloomberg)

California fracking fight has $24 billion in taxes at stake (via Bloomberg)

In Texas, recycling oilfield water has far to go (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

India launches a $15,000 EV with no government help (via Forbes)

European car-efficiency rule would cut fuel bill by 25% (via Bloomberg)

Two airlines may have to buy EU carbon to give back to UK (via Bloomberg)

Toyota targets 2020 for 600-mile solid state electric car battery (via Plugin Cars)

One-third of electric car buyers might not buy another (via Green Car Reports)

Ford COO: electrified vehicles could be up to 25% of sales by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Automakers tell EPA it’s highly unlikely they can hit California ZEV mandate (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS

German research institute pulls out of Canadian tar sands project (via EurActiv)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top ten US cities with the most Energy Star-certified buildings (via Renew Grid)

White roofs, green myth? (via Huffington Post)

The green in green building (via Sustainable Industries)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s top six environmental problems (via Live Science)

Wildfires rage in Colorado as fears grow over drought (via The Guardian/Reuters)

Scientists puzzled by manatee deaths off Florida’s coast (via Tampa Bay Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, barack obama, biofuels, california, cap and trade, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Start, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, Florida, Ford, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, green building, grid, india, Iowa, marcellus shale, masdar, natural gas, News, oil, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, solyndra, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, White roofs, Wildfire, wind
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18
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China to more than double air monitoring network (via Phys.org)

EPA likely to delay climate rules for new power plants (via Washington Post)

Dow Chemical to offset Olympic carbon emissions (via Environmental Leader)

RGGI auction raises $106 million for green reinvestment (via Environmental Leader)

Can a divestment campaign move the fossil fuel industry? (via Yale e360)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Natural gas export debate heats up over economic benefits (via Houston Chronicle)

Intrigue in Illinois after House Speaker calls for fracking moratorium (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

$1 trillion projected German fossil fuel import savings from Energiewende (via CleanTechnica)

Indian solar boom boosting materials market (via BusinessGreen)

DOE leaves $51 billion in loan funds unused, says GAO (via The Hill)

Using robots to drive down the cost of solar (via San Jose Mercury News)

Days of promise fade for ethanol (via New York Times)

Bipartisan bill aims to streamline hydropower development (via Renew Grid)

Ten states get 10% of electricity from wind (via Sustainable Business)

Finding happy ground between wind turbines and birds (via Earth Techling)

Arizona wins back its renewables standard (via Greentech Media)

Proposed bill looks to light up Wisconsin’s solar sector (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Offshore wind research takes a step forward in Virginia (via Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Ohio legislature re-examines renewable energy mandate (via Columbus Dispatch)

OIL 

Soaring oil prices fuels second North Sea boom (via Daily Express)

North Dakota oil production reaches new high in 2012 (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT 

Greening tundra shows impacts of spreading warmth (via Climate Central)

Record cesium level detected in fish caught near Fukushima (via Japan Times)

New Zealand suffering worst drought in 30 years (via Inhabitat)

In drought-ravaged plains, efforts to save a vital aquifer (via Stateline)

Recent storms highlight flaws in top US weather model (via Climate Central)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPA finds 2012 fuel economy was highest ever, 23.8 mpg (via Autoblog Green)

Fuel economy: small decline in 2011 and a probable climb in 2012 (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Market access issues weigh on oil sands developers (via AOL Energy)

Unions split on plans for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

House to vote before Memorial Day on Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

White House: Keystone XL pipeline not a climate change cure (via Time)

House bill would reroute Keystone pipeline around Obama (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge ordered to complete cleanup of massive Michigan oil spill (via CTV/AP)

Enbridge seeks approval to nearly double tar sands pipeline capacity (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

GRID 

Energy storage technology to surge worldwide (via Houston Chronicle)

Microgrids by mail can contribute to rural electrification in India (via Renewable Energy World)

Risky energy: cyber-security and the nation’s infrastructure (via National Journal)

Fast demand response helps balance the grid (via Navigant Research)

POLITICS 

Obama starts unveiling his plans for climate change, clean energy (via GigaOm)

Congress moves to close tax loopholes for fossil fuels (via Grist)

White House: green investments trump Keystone decision (via USA Today)

How the White House thinks about climate change, in 7 charts (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Why Obama’s Energy Security Trust is a bad idea (via Forbes)

Why we need more solar companies to fail (via MIT Technology Review)

Ten reasons why fracking for dirty oil in California is a stupid idea (via Grist)

What do young conservatives at CPAC think about climate change? (via Grist)

Rebuild vs. retreat: Christie and Cuomo offer contrasting plans in wake of Sandy (via Bergen Record)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, barack obama, california, carbon offsets, China, Climate Change, CPAC, Cybersecurity, Demand response, Divestment, DOE, Dow Chemical, drought, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Security Trust, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, fracking, Fuel Economy, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, Hydropower, Illinois, india, Keystone XL, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new zealand, News, north dakota, North Sea, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Olympics, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, rggi, Shale oil, solar, Subsidy, tar sands, Transportation, virginia, wind, Wisconsin
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15
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.15.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US natural gas exports to Mexico jump 24 percent (via Houston Chronicle)

US utilities to burn more coal as natgas prices climb (via Reuters)

Risky US-backed loans and a diplomatic blitz force debate over LNG costs (via EnergyWire)

University of Tennessee’s fracking research funded by gas profits raises ethics concerns (via Washington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Road funds on empty; more US states weigh gasoline tax hikes (via Reuters)

New internal combustion technology could improve range-extended electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

US House will get EV charging stations for plug-in driving Congressmen (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s fossil-fueled generation remains high because of continuing nuclear plant outages (via US EIA)

Exelon could boost its US nuclear output 1,100MW (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

RENEWABLES 

Japan adds 1,178Mw of mostly solar energy in nine months (via Bloomberg)

EU could save billions with cross-border renewables cooperation (via Reuters)

Biomass industry to more than triple globally by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

EU votes to extend renewables target to 2030 (via Recharge)

2012 was a record-breaking year for solar panels in the US (via GigaOm)

The trouble with turbines: an ill wind (via Nature)

California renewable power supply growing, costs falling (via Reuters)

Bill would end North Carolina’s renewable energy program (via Charlotte News Observer)

NJ regulators to decide in June on offshore wind project (via Recharge)

Massachusetts could be hub for offshore wind industry (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Cradle of mankind offers Kenya three centuries of oil (via Bloomberg)

US EIA projects OPEC oil decline in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior chief: Shell “screwed up,” must improve to resume Arctic effort (via The Hill)

Interior allows BP to bid on Gulf leases, with conditions (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

USAID launches Pacific climate change projects (via Australia Network News)

Lack of climate action risks developing world gains, says UN (via Phys.org)

World’s hotter days cooled by growth of grasslands (via Phys.org)

February keeps the planet’s warm streak alive: NOAA (via Climate Central)

Devastating East African drought made more likely by climate change (via Phys.org)

Glacial meltwater catastrophes are forming high in the Andes (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

US oil exports spur more questions about Keystone XL pipeline (via Wall Street Journal)

GEOENGINEERING 

Experts propose new structure for regulation of geoengineering research (via Phys.org)

Can giant umbrellas help protect polar ice caps? (via Good)

Rules needed for geoengineering research, say experts (via Climate Central)

EMISSIONS 

EU cancels carbon auction, prices drop (via Environmental Leader)

Shaping the next generation of carbon markets (via Huffington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

Spring rain, then foul algae in ailing Lake Erie (via New York Times)

GRID 

Maintaining grid “survivability” after blackouts (via Renew Grid)

Are municipal utilities more resilient during disasters? (via Grist)

Smart grid markets on the move (via AOL Energy)

POLITICS 

Obama revives green energy sales pitch (via The Hill)

Obama turns focus to research in first energy speech of second term (via Reuters)

Could Republicans ever support a carbon tax? Bob Inglis thinks so (via Washington Post)

Green groups flocking to Markey for Senate (via Politico)

OPINION 

There’s high trust in clean power despite the negative headlines (via GigaOm)

Immigration reform – for the climate (via Los Angeles Times)

15 must-haves for any modern residential solar website (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, barack obama, biomass, Blackout, Bob Inglis, BP, california, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, Ed Markey, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, EV charging infrastructure, Exelon, fracking, Gas tax, Geoengineering, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, interior department, japan, Kenya, Keystone XL, Lake Erie, LNG, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, noaa, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, OPEC, politics, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shell, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, Transportation, wind
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15
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.15.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US natural gas exports to Mexico jump 24 percent (via Houston Chronicle)

US utilities to burn more coal as natgas prices climb (via Reuters)

Risky US-backed loans and a diplomatic blitz force debate over LNG costs (via EnergyWire)

University of Tennessee’s fracking research funded by gas profits raises ethics concerns (via Washington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Road funds on empty; more US states weigh gasoline tax hikes (via Reuters)

New internal combustion technology could improve range-extended electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

US House will get EV charging stations for plug-in driving Congressmen (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s fossil-fueled generation remains high because of continuing nuclear plant outages (via US EIA)

Exelon could boost its US nuclear output 1,100MW (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

RENEWABLES 

Japan adds 1,178Mw of mostly solar energy in nine months (via Bloomberg)

EU could save billions with cross-border renewables cooperation (via Reuters)

Biomass industry to more than triple globally by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

EU votes to extend renewables target to 2030 (via Recharge)

2012 was a record-breaking year for solar panels in the US (via GigaOm)

The trouble with turbines: an ill wind (via Nature)

California renewable power supply growing, costs falling (via Reuters)

Bill would end North Carolina’s renewable energy program (via Charlotte News Observer)

NJ regulators to decide in June on offshore wind project (via Recharge)

Massachusetts could be hub for offshore wind industry (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Cradle of mankind offers Kenya three centuries of oil (via Bloomberg)

US EIA projects OPEC oil decline in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior chief: Shell “screwed up,” must improve to resume Arctic effort (via The Hill)

Interior allows BP to bid on Gulf leases, with conditions (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

USAID launches Pacific climate change projects (via Australia Network News)

Lack of climate action risks developing world gains, says UN (via Phys.org)

World’s hotter days cooled by growth of grasslands (via Phys.org)

February keeps the planet’s warm streak alive: NOAA (via Climate Central)

Devastating East African drought made more likely by climate change (via Phys.org)

Glacial meltwater catastrophes are forming high in the Andes (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

US oil exports spur more questions about Keystone XL pipeline (via Wall Street Journal)

GEOENGINEERING 

Experts propose new structure for regulation of geoengineering research (via Phys.org)

Can giant umbrellas help protect polar ice caps? (via Good)

Rules needed for geoengineering research, say experts (via Climate Central)

EMISSIONS 

EU cancels carbon auction, prices drop (via Environmental Leader)

Shaping the next generation of carbon markets (via Huffington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

Spring rain, then foul algae in ailing Lake Erie (via New York Times)

GRID 

Maintaining grid “survivability” after blackouts (via Renew Grid)

Are municipal utilities more resilient during disasters? (via Grist)

Smart grid markets on the move (via AOL Energy)

POLITICS 

Obama revives green energy sales pitch (via The Hill)

Obama turns focus to research in first energy speech of second term (via Reuters)

Could Republicans ever support a carbon tax? Bob Inglis thinks so (via Washington Post)

Green groups flocking to Markey for Senate (via Politico)

OPINION 

There’s high trust in clean power despite the negative headlines (via GigaOm)

Immigration reform – for the climate (via Los Angeles Times)

15 must-haves for any modern residential solar website (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, barack obama, biomass, Blackout, Bob Inglis, BP, california, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, Ed Markey, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, EV charging infrastructure, Exelon, fracking, Gas tax, Geoengineering, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, interior department, japan, Kenya, Keystone XL, Lake Erie, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, noaa, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, OPEC, politics, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shell, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, Transportation, wind
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14
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.14.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

US poised to become net energy exporter, Exxon Mobil forecasts (via Houston Chronicle)

Cities weigh taking electricity business from private utilities (via New York Times)

EPA reverses stance on polluting Texas water after a powerful lobbyist intervenes (via ProPublica)

West Virginia state legislation would prohibit heavy EPA fines (via Register-Herald)

GRID

Germany debates €10 billion grid network upgrade (via Recharge)

Silver Springs Networks’ stock jumps up close to 30% in debut (via GigaOm)

In wake of Sandy, Connecticut expands microgrid program (via Pike Research)

RENEWABLES

$71 trillion in institutional funds for wind, solar, and smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

US approves 1.1GW of solar and wind projects (via Recharge)

SEIA reports 76% surge in US solar installations (via New York Times)

FERC, US Coast Guard to coordinate development of hydrokinetic projects (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes reforms to speed interconnection of renewables, solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina offshore wind draws interest (via Recharge)

New York State could run on wind, water, and sunlight (via CleanTechnica)

PG&E solar billing named in California’s top utility “money wasters” (via PV Tech)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Three hurdles for Japan’s gas “discovery” (via GigaOm)

Saudi Arabia’s shale plans may be slowed by lack of water (via Bloomberg)

USC says fracking may boost California economy 14% (via Bloomberg)

New York State farmers learn fracking many mean drilling if neighbors agree (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House Speaker supports two-year fracking moratorium (via State Journal-Register/AP)

SandRidge strikes deal that could lead to CEO’s removal (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

Help Henry Waxman write a new carbon-tax bill (via Grist)

Second US carbon tax plan mooted (via RTCC)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Obama: pipeline decision coming soon (via The Hill)

State Department report OK’ing Keystone XL linked to oil industry (via Salon)

American pipeline will diminish energy security, prominent Canadian says (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL pipeline report studied British Columbia scenarios (via Huffington Post)

Obama says Keystone XL pipeline not major jobs creator (via CTV News)

Dilbit sinks in Enbridge oil spill, but floats in its lab study (via InsideClimate News)

OIL

US oil boom protects world from supply shocks (via Reuters)

OPEC: non-OPEC supply cutting into market share (via MarketWatch)

US refiners may boost gasoline exports on ethanol rule (via Reuters)

Study: shale oil contributed $30.4 billion to North Dakota’s economy in 2011 (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US energy efficiency league tables revealed (via RTCC)

LA tops US cities for Energy Star-certified buildings (via Sustainable Business)

SXSW: using Big Data to shrink energy waste (via Time)

Conservatives vs. liberals: who wastes more electricity? (via Grist)

Does daylight saving time save energy? (via Pike Research)

GREEN BUSINESS

Sustainability reporting slowly increases in China, report finds (via Environmental Leader)

Google incorporates green roofs into headquarters expansion (via GreenBiz)

COAL

Is there value in old coal-fired power plants? (via Midwest Energy News/ClimateWire)

Mountaintop removal coal mining poisoning Appalachia’s waterways (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Large fractures spotted in vulnerable Arctic sea ice (via Climate Central)

Climate change affects mountain forests (via Phys.org)

After 2012 drought, US farmers adapt for climate change (via Phys.org)

Inslee’s climate change bill passes Washington state senate (via Seattle Times)

TRANSPORTATION

EV project tells us how drivers use electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

FAA approves Boeing Dreamliner battery tests (via Environmental Leader)

Minnesota sales of electric, gas vehicles collide (via Star-Tribune)

NUCLEAR

Obama administration placing big bet on small reactors (via Greenwire)

Above-normal outage of US nuclear capacity persist at start of 2013 (via US EIA)

Savannah River site could store nuclear waste, says study (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

Dozens of species given new trade protections (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Obama to supporters: give lawmakers political cover on climate change (via The Hill)

Ryan budget pan calls two solar projects “ill-fated” – but they’re doing fine (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Renewable energy boom dependent on new energy infrastructure (via Renewable Energy World)

Obama and Keystone: reading the tea leaves (via Washington Post)

Can better solar loans slow the surge of third-party ownership? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons why a successful Silver Springs IPO is important (via GigaOm)

Posted:   |   Categories: Appalachia, arctic, barack obama, Boeing Dreamliner, british columbia, california, canada, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, deforestation, Dilbit, drought, Electric Vehicle, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy star, environment, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exxon Mobil, FAA, FERC, fracking, Gasoline, Georgia, germany, global warming, google, green business, green roof, grid, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, Interconnection, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, los angeles, Methane hydrates, Microgrid, minnesota, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Nuclear waste storage, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Paul Ryan, PGE, renewables, SandRidge, saudi arabia, Savannah River, Sea ice melt, seia, Shale gas, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, small modular reactor, smart grid, solar, tar sands, texas, Third party solar, transmission, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington State, Water, West Virginia, wind
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13
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.13.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

Brussels looks to reignite 2030 EU carbon target debate (via BusinessGreen)

Merkel may create new energy ministry in nuclear to renewables switch (via Bloomberg)

COAL

Report: coal killed 100,000 in India in 2012 (via Huffington Post)

Coal to gas moves are generating economic waves (via Forbes)

CLIMATE

China plans first commercial trip through Arctic shortcut in 2013 (via Reuters)

Obama: climate change threatens US shipping routes (via The Hill)

As CO2 emissions rise, so will pollen counts and asthma attacks (via Climate Progress)

Bloomberg announces mayor’s summit to fight climate change (via CBS News)

RENEWABLES

China to outpace Germany as leading solar PV consumer in 2013 (via San Jose Mercury News)

Chinese solar panel maker Suntech on financial brink (via New York Times)

Cellulosic ethanol “to be cost-competitive by 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

California’s Mount Diablo school district leads the world on solar (via Sustainable Business)

Cape Wind going overseas, snubs Massachusetts steel company (via Boston Globe)

OIL

Brazil says subsalt oil finds could triple total reserves (via Reuters)

The Gulf of Mexico oil leak we’re not supposed to know about (via Triple Pundit)

Halliburton official “surprised” by unauthorized tests before Gulf oil spill (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla Motors to expand European operations (via Plugin Cars)

New EPA gasoline rule could raise prices, fuel political fires (via National Journal)

US public charging stations increase by 180 a month, on track for 7,400 by end of year (via Autoblog Green)

Chevy Volt outsold Nissan Leaf for first time in 2012, says BNEF (via Bloomberg)

ChargePoint installs first of 80 new EV charging stations in NY State (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Japan hopes methane hydrates are the next big energy source (via Washington Post)

Fracking fluid suppliers defend trade secrets on West Coast (via EnergyWire)

Fracking groundwater rules in Texas reflect legal ambiguities (via Texas Tribune)

How much water does it take to frack a well? (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

New York health commissioner says fracking recommendation may come soon (via Huffington Post/AP)

Ohio’s resurgent natural gas industry spends millions to set up shop (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT

Rains or not, India is falling short of drinkable water (via New York Times)

Bat-killing fungus reaches South Carolina; now found in 21 states and 5 provinces (via Scientific American)

Senate bill would boost funding for weather satellites (via Climate Central)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Canadian opposition leader: government playing US “for fools” on Keystone (via The Hill)

Keystone XL pipeline jobs vs. 100,000 green jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Michigan officials say water supplies along Kalamazoo River unharmed from tar sands oil spill (via Michigan Live/Kalamazoo Gazette)

29 Vermont communities say no to tar sands shipments, New England opposition grows (via DeSmogBlog)

GRID

Power grids in US, EU, third world face huge and varied challenges (via Greentech Media)

Nearly 56GW of long-duration energy storage to be installed from 2012 to 2022 (via Pike Research)

Hackers may breach US grid within two years (via Bloomberg)

Silver Spring raises $81 million in IPO (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR

Developing nations put nuclear on fast-forward (via MIT Technology Review)

Lawsuits filed against Tepco in Fukushima nuclear disaster (via United Press International)

NRC upholds ruling on Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant (via Baltimore Sun)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Computers and appliances: today’s home-based energy hogs (via National Geographic)

NREL unveils world’s most efficient data center, could cut operation costs by $1 million (via Inhabitat)

POLITICS

Draft bill released by Waxman and Whitehouse would price carbon and reduce emissions (via Climate Progress)

Ryan, Murray unveil dueling energy deficit plans (via Politico)

Dems launch series of climate change speeches to fight GOP “climate deniers” (via The Hill)

OPINION

What is the underlying value of EU carbon? (via Reuters)

Could Waxman’s new bill offer new hope for a carbon tax? (via Mother Jones)

Where innovation advocates go wrong (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, arctic, barack obama, biofuels, Brazil, california, Calvert Cliffs, cap and trade, cape wind, carbon tax, cellulosic ethanol, ChargePoint, chevy volt, China Climate change, climate, coal, data center, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV chargers, EV charging infrastructure, fracking, Fracking fluid, fukushima, Gasoline, germany, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, Henry Waxman, india, IPO, japan, Kalamazoo River, Keystone XL, massachusetts, Methane hydrates, michigan, Mike Bloomberg, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, NRC, NREL, nuclear, Offshore oil drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Patty Murray, Paul Ryan, politics, renewables, Sea ice melt, Sheldon Whitehouse, Silver Spring Networks, solar, solar pv, south carolina, Suntech, tar sands, Tepco, Tesla, texas, Transportation, vermont, Weather satellites, wind
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12
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.12.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

EU Commission wants carbon cuts, more renewables in 2030 goals (via Reuters)

Australia toughens environmental hurdles on coal, seam gas mining (via Reuters)

CLIMATE

Algae growth resulting from glacial melt could help curb climate change (via Inhabitat)

Study finds climate change making Arctic seasons more like southern regions (via Ottawa Citizen)

Canada losing its seasons to global warming (via IPS News)

Russia will soon switch to grow grapes and soybeans (via BSR Russia)

Climate change is biggest threat, says top Navy commander in Pacific (via Mother Jones)

Rising sea levels threaten historic Jamestown, marine geologist says island’s future is grim (via Washington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES

Global clean energy market values set to nearly double by 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

EU-China solar trade war promises order bonanza for Taiwan (via Reuters)

Iceland could end up at heart of Europe’s clean energy strategy (via BusinessGreen)

EWEA blasts EU states over wind policies (via Recharge)

Australia may have up to 10GW of solar PV by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Japan’s 10% cut for solar power FIT retains boom incentives (via Bloomberg)

Wind power emerges as long-term natural gas hedge (via Greentech Media)

What will the solar PV market look like in 2016? (via Greentech Media)

Second generation biofuels on verge of cost breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)

Clean power collateral damage: of bird, tortoises and the transition from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Solar PV demand to reach 31 gigawatts in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Barriers prevent institutional investment in renewable energy (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Japan achieves first gas extraction from offshore methane hydrate (via Reuters)

Qatar announces 2.8 tcf natural gas discovery (via AP)

GRID

Smart meter shipments are booming worldwide (via Renew Grid)

Residential demand response participation will hit 16% worldwide by 2018 (via Pike Research)

Merkel government seeks to speed up German power line expansion (via Bloomberg)

Top ten North American networked grid utilities (via Greentech Media)

Biggest power users provide gigawatts of smart grid flexibility (via Greentech Media)

Community-owned transmission? (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

In US, nuclear energy loses momentum amid economic headwinds, safety issues (via Washington Post)

Fukushima legacy could be costly US plant closures (via Greenwire)

DOE to award $266 million to small modular nuclear reactor project (via Green Car Congress)

Safer nuclear power, at half the price (via MIT Technology Review)

ENVIRONMENT

Forests growing in thawed-out Arctic (via Grist)

China wrestles with cost of cleaner environment (via Phys.org)

State efforts to “reclaim” public lands traced to Koch-fueled ALEC (via Climate Progress)

Ground-level ozone falling faster than predicted, finds study (via Phys.org)

US winter was warmer and wetter than average (via USA Today)

TRANSPORTATION

CTO says GM “committed to electrification as a long-term journey” (via Autoblog Green)

105 billion public transportation trips taken in 2012 (via Mother Nature Network)

Spike in gas prices coming earlier every year (via Politico)

Tesla delays production of Model X electric car to end of 2014 (via GigaOm)

COAL

Coal plants out of style in Germany (via CleanTechnica)

What coal-train dust means for human health (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Green building movement gains traction worldwide (via Triple Pundit)

Energy efficiency push losing power in Congress (via The Hill)

OPINION

Inevitable 2014 headline: “Global CO2 level reaches 400 ppm for first time in human existence” (via Climate Progress)

Ending the stupid technology innovation vs. deployment fight once and for all (via Grist)

In search of energy miracles (via New York Times)

When to say no (to Keystone XL) (via New York Times)

Will California’s cap and trade stifle low-carbon innovation? (via GreenBiz)

Will China ever get its pollution problem under control? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, ALEC, Angela Merkel, arctic, australia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal seam gas, Demand response, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, europe, European Union, ev, feed-in tariff, FIT, fukushima, Gasoline, Geothermal Biofuel, global warming, GM, green building, grid, Iceland, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Methane hydrates, natural gas, News, NRC, nuclear, offshore wind, Ozone, public transportation, Qatar, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Sea level rise, Small modular reactors, smart grid, smart meter, SMR, solar, Solar trade war, Taiwan, Tesla, Tesla Model X, transmission, Transportation, virginia, wind
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11
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.11.13

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

GRID

PJM plans billions in transmission upgrades to meet massive generation shift (via Renew Grid)

Stanford scientists calculate carbon footprint of grid-scale batteries (via EurekAlert)

Bad news: the US power grid is getting pricier, less reliable (via Washington Post)

Why smart cities need smart grids (via Pike Research)

How battery storage will change the household energy market (via Renew Economy)

NUCLEAR

In Japan, work resume on new plant two years after Fukushima (via Washington Post)

NRC chief: US plants safer after Japan crisis (via ABC News/AP)

Report: a “ripped safety net” at Midwest nuclear plants (via Midwest Energy News)

Officials rejected some fixes to San Onofre plant, shows report (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES

Panel flags 11% cut to Japan solar FIT (via Recharge)

China calls for EU talks on panel “dumping” (via Recharge)

US nuclear industry withers as wind pummels prices (via Bloomberg)

Seven next-generation energy technologies showcased by ARPA-E (via MIT Technology Review)

BPA: smaller chance of wind energy curtailment in Pacific Northwest this spring (via Renew Grid)

Getting more renewables into the Texas energy mix (via Greentech Media)

Plug pulled on huge Minnesota wind project (via Post Bulletin)

Maryland passes landmark offshore wind legislation (via CleanTechnica)

Iowa sets wind-generated electricity high (via Iowa Business Record)

Austin Energy’s value of solar tariff – could it work anywhere else? (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Dwindling production has led to lesser role for Venezuela as major oil power (via New York Times)

ConocoPhillips set to begin Arctic oil drilling in 2014 (via Zacks)

TRANSPORTATION

PwC: electrified vehicle market share will climb to 6.3% by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

ExxonMobil: diesel will pass gasoline as top global transportation fuel by 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

UK government funds €37 million in new EV initiatives (via Pike Research)

Volkswagen Group planning to launch 6 or more plug-in hybrids in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

California adds $4.5 million in funds to clean vehicle rebate project (via Plugin Cars)

KEYSTONE XL

Canada’s First Nations lead battle against Alberta tar sands (via RTCC)

US Chamber, API go grassroots in Keystone pipeline battle (via The Hill)

Keystone fails Texas common-carrier test, court is told (via Bloomberg)

Keystone XL pipeline will create 35 permanent jobs, State Department says (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Understanding the world of consumer energy management (via Greentech Media)

Maine PUC approves plan to lower bills with increased efficiency (via CLF Scoop)

How to chose an LED light bulb (via MIT Technology Review)

CLIMATE

Poland aims to pave way for 2015 climate deal (via Yahoo! News/AP)

NYSE prepares extreme weather backup plan (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Maryland anti-fracking bills die (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking health study results likely years off (via USA Today/AP)

ENVIRONMENT

Pollution now top cause of social unrest in China (via Treehugger)

Floating tsunami trash to be decades-long headache (via Phys.org)

In China, public anger over secrecy on environment (via Reuters)

Warming means wetter weather – and drier weather (via Climate Central)

Largest US dam removal releases huge amount of sediment (via Yale e360)

COAL

US coal consumption falls to 1985 levels (via Facts of the Day)

POLITICS

Sizing up Obama’s new energy, environment team (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer calls for post-Fukushima safety report as anniversary approaches (via The Hill)

OPINION

Can the world fight climate change and energy poverty at the same time? (via Washington Post)

What will it take to boost the overall success of EVs? (via Renew Grid)

Is US energy independence realistic? (via Houston Chronicle)

Transition to low-carbon future will unfold slowly (via Houston Chronicle)

Activism and policy are not the same thing (via Grist)

How livestock can protect the land (via GreenBiz)

Washington DC wants to be the greenest city in the US (via Grist)

Nature’s prophet: Bill McKibben as journalist, public intellectual, and activist (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, alberta tar sands, american petroleum institute, arctic, ARPA-E, Austin Energy, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, Bill McKibben, BPA, california, canada, CARB, China, climate, coal, Curtailment, diesel, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy poverty, energy storage, environment, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, ExxonMobil, feed-in tariff, First Nations, FIT, fracking, fukushima, Gasoline, global warming, grid, hybrid, Hydropower, Incentives, japan, Keystone XL, LED, Maine, maryland, minnesota, natural gas, New York Stock Exchange, News, NRC, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, PJM Interconnection, plug-in hybrid, Poland, renewables, San Onofre, smart grid, Smog, solar, Solar trade war, Stanford, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Chamber of Commerce, Venezuela, Volkswagen, Washington DC, Washington State, wind
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11
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.11.13

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

GRID

PJM plans billions in transmission upgrades to meet massive generation shift (via Renew Grid)

Stanford scientists calculate carbon footprint of grid-scale batteries (via EurekAlert)

Bad news: the US power grid is getting pricier, less reliable (via Washington Post)

Why smart cities need smart grids (via Pike Research)

How battery storage will change the household energy market (via Renew Economy)

NUCLEAR

In Japan, work resume on new plant two years after Fukushima (via Washington Post)

NRC chief: US plants safer after Japan crisis (via ABC News/AP)

Report: a “ripped safety net” at Midwest nuclear plants (via Midwest Energy News)

Officials rejected some fixes to San Onofre plant, shows report (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES

Panel flags 11% cut to Japan solar FIT (via Recharge)

China calls for EU talks on panel “dumping” (via Recharge)

US nuclear industry withers as wind pummels prices (via Bloomberg)

Seven next-generation energy technologies showcased by ARPA-E (via MIT Technology Review)

BPA: smaller chance of wind energy curtailment in Pacific Northwest this spring (via Renew Grid)

Getting more renewables into the Texas energy mix (via Greentech Media)

Plug pulled on huge Minnesota wind project (via Post Bulletin)

Maryland passes landmark offshore wind legislation (via CleanTechnica)

Iowa sets wind-generated electricity high (via Iowa Business Record)

Austin Energy’s value of solar tariff – could it work anywhere else? (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Dwindling production has led to lesser role for Venezuela as major oil power (via New York Times)

ConocoPhillips set to begin Arctic oil drilling in 2014 (via Zacks)

TRANSPORTATION

PwC: electrified vehicle market share will climb to 6.3% by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

ExxonMobil: diesel will pass gasoline as top global transportation fuel by 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

UK government funds €37 million in new EV initiatives (via Pike Research)

Volkswagen Group planning to launch 6 or more plug-in hybrids in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

California adds $4.5 million in funds to clean vehicle rebate project (via Plugin Cars)

KEYSTONE XL

Canada’s First Nations lead battle against Alberta tar sands (via RTCC)

US Chamber, API go grassroots in Keystone pipeline battle (via The Hill)

Keystone fails Texas common-carrier test, court is told (via Bloomberg)

Keystone XL pipeline will create 35 permanent jobs, State Department says (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Understanding the world of consumer energy management (via Greentech Media)

Maine PUC approves plan to lower bills with increased efficiency (via CLF Scoop)

How to chose an LED light bulb (via MIT Technology Review)

CLIMATE

Poland aims to pave way for 2015 climate deal (via Yahoo! News/AP)

NYSE prepares extreme weather backup plan (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Maryland anti-fracking bills die (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking health study results likely years off (via USA Today/AP)

ENVIRONMENT

Pollution now top cause of social unrest in China (via Treehugger)

Floating tsunami trash to be decades-long headache (via Phys.org)

In China, public anger over secrecy on environment (via Reuters)

Warming means wetter weather – and drier weather (via Climate Central)

Largest US dam removal releases huge amount of sediment (via Yale e360)

COAL

US coal consumption falls to 1985 levels (via Facts of the Day)

POLITICS

Sizing up Obama’s new energy, environment team (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer calls for post-Fukushima safety report as anniversary approaches (via The Hill)

OPINION

Can the world fight climate change and energy poverty at the same time? (via Washington Post)

What will it take to boost the overall success of EVs? (via Renew Grid)

Is US energy independence realistic? (via Houston Chronicle)

Transition to low-carbon future will unfold slowly (via Houston Chronicle)

Activism and policy are not the same thing (via Grist)

How livestock can protect the land (via GreenBiz)

Washington DC wants to be the greenest city in the US (via Grist)

Nature’s prophet: Bill McKibben as journalist, public intellectual, and activist (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, alberta tar sands, american petroleum institute, arctic, ARPA-E, Austin Energy, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, Bill McKibben, BPA, california, canada, CARB, China, climate, coal, ConocoPhillips, Curtailment, diesel, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy poverty, energy storage, environment, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, ExxonMobil, feed-in tariff, First Nations, FIT, fracking, fukushima, Gasoline, global warming, grid, hybrid, Hydropower, Incentives, japan, Keystone XL, LED, Maine, maryland, minnesota, natural gas, New York Stock Exchange, News, NRC, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, PJM Interconnection, plug-in hybrid, Poland, renewables, San Onofre, smart grid, Smog, solar, Solar trade war, Stanford, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Chamber of Commerce, Venezuela, Volkswagen, Washington DC, Washington State, wind
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08
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.8.13

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

CLIMATE 

Recent global heat spike unlike anything in 11,000 years (via Time/AP)

Report says insurers still ignoring climate change (via Mother Jones)

BusinessGreen guide to climate risk management (via BusinessGreen)

Canadian Arctic may lose 20% of glaciers by 2100, shows study (via Bloomberg)

US Forest Service may let more fires burn (via Time/AP)

COAL 

Burning coal costs the EU €43 billion a year in health costs (via RTCC)

As coal industry declines, what will happen to all those retired miners? (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

UN says governments falling short in drought fight (via Phys.org)

US drought intensifies in Texas and Florida (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

50 percent price gap between European and Chinese solar modules (via Greentech Media)

China drives record solar growth to become world’s biggest market (via Bloomberg)

London Array becomes world’s biggest offshore wind farm (via Recharge)

Energy project developers see solar as easier than wind (via Greentech Media)

Greece installed 300MW of solar PV in January 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol makers eye pros and cons of corn alternatives (via Reuters)

Radical wind concept promises energy storage (via EarthTechling)

Other people’s money: how crowdfunding lowers the cost of solar energy (via RMI Outlet)

Solar batteries could be utilities’ next headache (via Reuters)

Is South Dakota “open for business” for wind developers? (via Midwest Energy News)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Oil sands, Keystone XL, and the new politics of fossil fuel infrastructure (via Energy Collective)

US lawmakers draft bill to speed decision on Keystone pipeline (via Reuters)

Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans Keystone XL pipeline hearing (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Beijing to reveal plan for electric vehicle boost (via BusinessGreen)

Two largest global EV charging networks join forces (via Pike Research)

Rethinking the lead acid battery with chip and disk drive machines (via GigaOm)

Dreamliner battery fire more serious than first thought (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

US new vehicle fuel economy in February ties record high (via Green Car Congress)

EPA considers changes to plug-in hybrid testing process (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US shale gas exports will shake up global market (via CNBC)

US shale boom hurts Europe’s climate goals, says energy executive (via Houston Chronicle)

Illinois fracking deal could be the national model (via Huffington Post/AP)

In Texas, water use for fracking stirs concerns (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency presents UK industrial sector with £2.2 opportunity (via BusinessGreen)

How UC Irvine redefines efficiency in laboratories (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

The key decision that can make or break an energy project (via Greentech Media)

Interior Department nominee Jewell pledges “certainty” to oil, gas drillers (via Reuters)

OIL 

Five energy challenges for Venezuela’s oil after Chavez (via Christian Science Monitor)

Exxon to invest $190 billion in upstream oil projects over five years (via Wall Street Journal)

BP faces escalating spill payouts after court ruling (via Reuters)

BP, Transocean officials botched tests, testifies witness (via Bloomberg)

Republicans point to falling oil production on federal lands (via Wall Street Journal)

EMISSIONS 

40x35: a zero-carbon energy target for the world’s largest economies (via Climate Progress)

Developing nations must reduce emissions by half by 2020, study says (via WRI Insights)

EU court rejects Polish challenge to CO2 emissions system (via Phys.org)

GRID 

Demand response in the US electricity market (via Energy Collective)

What exactly are self-healing power grids? (via EarthTechling)

Summer demand may raise heat on Texas grid (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s economic troubles spur a return to nuclear power (via MIT Technology Review)

Two years after Fukushima, Japan’s nuclear lobby bounces back (via Reuters)

US nuclear plant inspections need to improve, says report (via Reuters)

Looming federal budget cuts add to problems at Hanford nuclear site (via New York Times)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Shareholders file first-ever “carbon-bubble” resolutions (via InsideClimate News)

How GM earns $1 billion recycling (via Treehugger)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Crowdfunding, Demand response, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ERCOT, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, externalities, Exxon, Florida, fracking, Fuel Economy, fukushima, global warming, GM, Greece, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hanford, Illinois, Insurance, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, plug-in hybrid, Poland, Recycling, renewables, Sally Jewell, Sea ice melt, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, South Dakota, tar sands, texas, Transocean, Transportation, UC Irvine, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, US Forest Service, Venezuela, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
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