grid | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.4.13 share

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

TRANSPORTATION

Germany could have a million plug-in vehicles by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota recycling old hybrid batteries into energy-storage systems for dealers (via Autoblog Green)

Secretary Chu says 1 million EVs by 2015 is “ambitious” (via Plugin Cars)

DOE launches workplace charging challenge (via Energy Manager Today)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,140 in January, Nissan Leaf falls to 650 (via Autoblog Green)

OIL

Land battles rise as US eyes 450,000 miles of new pipeline (via Bloomberg)

Vast California oil reserve may now be within reach, and battle heats up (via New York Times)

North Dakota weighs industrial water extraction tax for shale oil use (via Fargo-Mooread Forum)

RENEWABLES

Red tape trips up France’s green energy hopes for wind power (via Reuters)

China adds one-third of world’s onshore wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Solar power giving Haiti a hospital it can use (via EarthTechling)

Sabotage may have felled UK wind turbine (via United Press International)

First Solar may sell solar power cheaper than coal (via Bloomberg)

The top 10 wind energy states in 2012 (via AOL Energy)

Government’s plan to expand biofuel use runs into bumps on road (via Washington Post)

Wind now supplies 6% of US electricity (via Sustainable Business)

Texas grid operator says renewables competitive with natgas over next decade (via Facts of the Day)

Georgia Power planning 1.5GW of renewables by 2016, less coal-fired generation (via Renew Grid)

North Carolina governor boosts offshore wind (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Reshaping Panama Canal trade means boom in US gas to Asia (via Bloomberg)

US shale gas revolution throws down the gauntlet to Europe (via Reuters)

Legal loophole keeps fracking mixes murky (via Houston Chronicle)

US Senators propose making LNG exports automatic (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking for state dollars (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Ohio farmers divided on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

GRID

Pentagon promises massive response to increasing cyber attacks (via AOL Energy)

Energy companies and landowners are clashing over property rights (via Forbes)

SPP approves $751 million in transmission-expansion projects (via Renew Grid)

10-year low for electricity prices across ISO-New England in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Texas mega-battery aims to green up the grid (via New Scientist)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

White House delay on efficiency standards costs consumers $300 million per month (via Greentech Media)

Employee “green teams” deliver $76 million boost for US Postal Service (via BusinessGreen)

Minneapolis considers energy benchmarking for commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE

Outgoing Energy Secretary Chu’s parting warning on warming (via Time)

Research shows the Antarctic ozone hole has changed ocean circulation (via Inhabitat)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Why Canada’s oil sands industry wants a CO2 tax (via Bloomberg)

Rethinking opposition to Keystone XL (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS

For US and China, world’s biggest climate polluters, it’s still business as usual (via InsideClimate News)

Like everything else, carbon emissions are bigger in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL

Colorado communities take on fight against energy land leases (via New York Times)

Seattle’s coal training (via Seattle Weekly)

POLITICS

Obama’s climate team appears primed for action (via Politico)

Top EPA air quality official in line to replace outgoing administrator (via The Hill)

Murkowski launches push for expanded drilling, green energy policy revamp (via The Hill)

Gore presses Obama to “follow through” on climate change promises (via The Hill)

Kerry: climate bill failure among biggest Senate regrets (via The Hill)

OPINION

UK Green Power Auction Market a “win-win-win” for renewables, consumers, suppliers (via BusinessGreen)

How will energy productivity jumpstart the US economy? (via National Journal)

Steven Chu steps down as energy secretary – so how did he do? (via Washington Post)

Is wind power reaching a tipping point? (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted: | Categories: al gore, Antarctic, Asia, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, Cybersecurity, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, europe, ev, EV charger, First Solar, fracking, Fracking fluid, France, Georgia, Georgia Power, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Haiti, hybrid, ISO New England, john kerry, Keystone XL, Lisa Murkowski, LNG export, Minneapolis, natural gas, Natural gas export, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Panama Canal, Pipeline, renewables, seattle, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Southwest Power Pool, SPP, steven chu, tar sands, texas, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Postal Service, USPS, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.1.13 share

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

OIL

Mystery oil sheen grows near site of BP Gulf disaster (via NBC News)

EMISSIONS

US carbon emissions fall to lowest levels since 1994 (via The Guardian)

Guidelines issues to ensure captured carbon stays sequestered (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Keystone pipeline decision to languish until mid-June (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

Clean energy in Europe suffering from falling CO2 prices (via Energy Collective)

German solar FIT to decline 2.2% monthly through April (via Recharge)

Greece sees impressive solar PV growth despite banking crisis (via Renewable Energy World)

Italian town runs solely on wind, sells the rest (via Sustainable Business)

Biofuel-blending battle rages on as EPA releases new projections (via The Hill)

GE introduces wind turbine for low-wind sites (via Energy Manager Today)

Seven projects looking to use big data to cut the cost of solar power (via GigaOm)

After delays, Maine approves offshore wind farm (via CLF Scoop)

ENERGY INDUSTRY

The US has some of the lowest energy taxes in the developed world (via Washington Post)

Transformation in US power supply breeds emissions success, grid challenges (via Houston Chronicle)

US utilities expect more environmental regulations during 2^nd Obama term (via Environmental Leader)

Renewables in bed with natural gas? (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION

Nissan will triple number of EV fast chargers in US (via Autoblog Green)

EV Everywhere Blueprint outlines DOE EV goals for 2022 (via Green Car Congress)

69% of US voters support stricter auto emission standards (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla’s Musk calls Boeing 787 Dreamliner batteries “fundamentally unsafe” (via Autoblog Green)

More EV loans “remains to be seen,” Chu says (via Bloomberg)

Big price declines in 2013 EVs: price cuts put EVs on the road (via Facts of the Day)

Hertz adds Chevy Volt to car-sharing service, targets students (via Green Car Reports)

Dreamliner’s woes hearten foes (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT

Australian government pledges to protect Great Barrier Reef (via Reuters)

EU proposes to ban insecticides linked to bee decline (via BusinessGreen)

US drought hangs tough through January (via Climate Central)

Survey of nation’s largest cities finds water supplies not as threatened as believed (via Phys.org)

GRID

Smart grid sector sees $434M in VC funding, $17B in M&A transactions (via Renew Grid)

SDG&E strives to develop ‘self-healing’ grid (via Renew Grid)

The (wrong) report on Silver Spring’s IPO chances (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS

2013 policy priorities for sustainable and responsible investors (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE

Philippine government says climate change is top priority (via Sustainable Business)

Planting trees may not reverse climate change but it will help local cooling (via Phys.org)

Climate scientists erring on the side of least drama (via Skeptical Science)

Alaska natives try to flee climate impacts but find little help (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Sacramento launches $100-million energy retrofit fund (via Forbes)

Washington DC requires commercial buildings to track energy and water use (via CleanTechnica)

COAL

Why the US coal industry is so worried (via Sightline Daily)

Half of Washington State residents support coal export terminal (via Seattle Met)

POLITICS

Hagel vows DoD focus on alternative fuels, energy efficiency if confirmed (via The Hill)

Hagel’s other label: anti-green (via Politico)

Sen. Carper plans renewed push for offshore wind credit legislation (via The Hill)

Right place, wrong time for secretary candidate with gold-plated resume? (via Greenwire)

OPINION

Mr. President, there’s a major flaw in your solution to climate change (via Take Part)

Can Obama do for the grid what Eisenhower did for highways? (via New York Times)

Posted: | Categories: Afforestation, alaska, australia, Auto emissions, barack obama, battery, Bees, biofuels, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, california, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, Carbon pricing, ccs, chevy volt, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Climate scientists, coal, Coal exports, Department of Defense, DoD, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, Energy retrofits, energy tax, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, EV charger, feed-in tariff, FIT, GE, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Greece, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hertz, Insecticides, italy, Maine, natural gas, News, Nissan, NRG, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Philippines, renewables, Sacramento, solar, steven chu, Tesla, Tom Carper, Transportation, Washington DC, Washington State, Water, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.31.13 share

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

GRID

Transmission and distribution equipment market to more than double by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Utilities spent $14 billion worldwide on smart grid tech in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Honeywell and Opower team up on smart energy (via GreenBiz)

PG&E gears up for final push on smart meters (via Bakersfield Californian)

EMISSIONS

Oil and gas majors at risk from “unburnable” reserves if emissions targets enforced (via GreenBiz)

Fossil fuel divestment “virtually risk free” (via Environmental Leader)

Divesting from fossil-fuel companies unlikely to harm endowments (via Chronicle of Higher Education)

Three things to know about British Columbia’s carbon tax – in pictures (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES

Global offshore wind market “set for 55GW by 2020” (via Recharge)

Smoggy China to seek more solar power (via EarthTechling)

Spain’s monthly wind power tops 6 terawatt hours for first time (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia completes biggest solar power plant (via Bloomberg)

Facing expiring tax credit, US wind industry posts record 13GW year (via The Hill)

Renewable energy industries push for new financing opinions (via New York Times)

Wind, solar groups quit ALEC as group targets clean energy programs (via Greenwire)

Wind power to shave $1 million off Ohio State University electricity bill (via Triple Pundit)

OIL

Satellite analysis shows Gulf oil spills typically underestimated (via Yale e360)

CLIMATE

Humans have already set in motion 69 feet of sea level rise (via Mother Jones)

Growing palm oil for biofuels could speed up climate change (via Reuters)

Butterflies booking it north as climate warms (via Mother Jones)

Three states pushing ALEC bill to require teaching climate change denial in schools (via DeSmog Blog)

NUCLEAR

Report: Georgia nuclear power plant could be Solyndra redux (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION

EPA plan to cut sulfur in gasoline on track for March launch (via Houston Chronicle)

Hagel endorses ban on high-carbon fuel use for Department of Defense (via The Hill)

Boeing Dreamliner batteries said to fail 10 times before incident (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Pressure builds for Obama to link tar sands pipelines to climate change (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT

Five sobering realities about global water security (via WRI Insights)

Thousands evacuated as flooding hits Eastern Australia (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS

McCarthy not discussing EPA plans (via Politico)

OPINION

Obama talks climate change, California acts on it (via Time)

The cost of not using renewable energy (via Grist)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, australia, barack obama, battery, biofuels, boeing, Boeing Dreamliner, british columbia, california, carbon tax, China, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Department of Defense, Divestment, emissions, environment, EPA, Extreme weather, Gasoline, Georgia, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Honeywell, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, Ohio State University, oil, oil spill, Opower, palm oil, PGE, production tax credit, renewables, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solyndra, Spain, Sulfur, tar sands, Tax incentives, transmission, Transportation, Water security, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.30.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Report finds climate change a threat to wildlife (via USA Today)

Spring may come 17 days earlier for North American forests (via Phys.org)

Redrawn New York City FEMA flood zone map contains twice as many structures (via New York Times)

Why San Francisco can lead the way on resiliency planning (via GreenBiz)

COAL

China consumes nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined (via US EIA)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

EU maintains plan to label Canadian tar sands oil as highly polluting (via Reuters)

US State Department’s Keystone XL review will face EPA scrutiny a third time (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL decision may loom large for red state Democrats in 2014 midterms (via The Hill)

House GOP, citing North African turmoil, boosts Keystone pipeline pressure (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Germany adds 2.4GW of wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Denmark announces 1.5GW offshore wind tender (via Recharge)

German wind market may defy global slump to grow 43% this year (via Bloomberg)

9 in 10 French favor renewables but perceive high costs (via Renewable Energy World)

The rapid rise of UK offshore wind (via Greentech Media)

Chinese company sues to void blocked US wind farm purchase (via Bloomberg)

Top solar states vs top solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

Scaling solar and wind: a hard look at innovation priorities (via Energy Collective)

Oil-and-gas lobby might take ethanol fight to Supreme Court (via The Hill)

EPA reveals 100% green power users list (via Environmental Leader)

Can wind developers halt “the march of the buffer zones’? (via BusinessGreen)

Solar industry gets burned in Arizona (via Energy Manager Today)

Solar with energy storage coming to California, at a cost (via EarthTechling)

EMISSIONS

Russia exploring plans for domestic carbon market (via RTCC)

Scotland pledges to decarbonize power sector by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

Australian businesses counting carbon tax (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Missoula city council passes plan to be carbon neutral by 2025 (via Missoulian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Pipeline explosion rattles natural gas industry (via Forbes)

Can natural gas undo nuclear power? (via Wall Street Journal)

Chesapeake chief McClendon quits, cites “philosophical differences” (via Houston Chronicle)

McClendon out at Chesapeake – is a takeover next? (via Forbes)

Departure of Chesapeake CEO McClendon signals new era in natural gas (via Christian Science Monitor)

Congressmen supporting LNG exports received $11.5 million from Big Oil, electric utilities (via DeSmog Blog)

GRID

German grid operators coping with power supply swings (via Reuters)

Survey to utilities: stress smart grid benefits to win over consumers (via Energy Manager Today)

Silver Spring Networks could finally go public within a month (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION

Hybrids outsell many market segments in 2012 but still struggling (via Autoblog)

Wanxiang wins US approval to buy battery maker A123 (via Bloomberg)

Boeing Dreamliner battery was a concern before failure (via New York Times)

Nissan “almost” sold out of 2012 Leafs (via Autoblog Green)

OIL

Judge accepts BP’s $4 billion criminal settlement over Gulf oil spill (via New York Times)

Texas oil output hits highest level in two decades (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

Recapping a year of weather extremes (via C2ES)

Colorado wildfire air pollution rivaled worst days in Mexico City, Los Angeles (via Phys.org)

Stretches of upper Mississippi River near record-low levels (via US EIA)

POLITICS

Yale poll finds climate change action is a political winner (via Climate Progress)

John Kerry’s Secretary of State confirmation delights climate campaigners (via The Guardian)

Kerry likely to face great green expectations at State Department (via E&E Daily)

Al Gore faces “The Future” with optimism (via The Hill)

LaHood to step down as head of US Transportation Department (via The Hill)

Top Ohio utility regulator tied to group pushing repeal of state renewable energy targets (via Columbus Republic)

Posted: | Categories: A123, al gore, ALEC, arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon neutral, carbon tax, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, denmark, drought, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Flooding, fracking, France, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, john kerry, Keystone XL, LNG, los angeles, Mexico City, Mississippi River, Missoula, Montana, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York City, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, Ray LaHood, renewables, Russia, san francisco, Scotland, Severe weather, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, smart grid, smart meters, Smog, solar, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wanxiang, Wildfire, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.13 share

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Settlement with TransCanada curtails protesters’ acts of civil disobedience (via Greenwire)

GRID

China tests a small smart electric grid (via MIT Technology Review)

Inspector General: DOE mismanaged ARRA smart grid funds (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS

EU carbon price drop deemed “wake-up call” (via United Press International)

“Off the scale” smog envelops Beijing again (via Phys.org)

Scotland sets 2030 power sector decarbonization goal (via Recharge)

RENEWABLES

PwC: renewables M&A activity falls in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Solar growth moves to China, Middle East, and India as Europe cuts subsidies (via ClimateWire)

UK solar boom predicted to double installations in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Taiwan starts offshore wind push (via Recharge)

Suzlon chief predicts “flat” wind turbine market in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Can fossil-fuel tax benefits boost the renewable energy industry? (via Midwest Energy News)

Solar net metering equals net benefits in California and Vermont (via CleanTechnica)

ERCOT report shows Texas wind and solar power hold their own against natural gas (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT

Over $8 billion invested in watersheds globally in 2011 (via Mongabay)

Projected US water use likely to increase as climate warms (via Phys.org)

Message from Mexico: US is polluting water it may someday need to drink (via ProPublica)

Species on the move present a conservation challenge (via Climate Change)

Drought worsening in Midwest and Plains states, despite Winter weather (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

OIL

OPEC sees oil markets well supplied, no price collapse in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

US review delays closing of big Chinese oil deal (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION

Has “peak car” already happened, making automakers mobility companies? (via Autoblog Green)

Three automakers combine forces on fuel-cell cars (via New York Times)

Electric cars and the power grid: how are they coming together? (via Forbes)

Lower EV prices will not blow up the market (via Pike Research)

EV drivers now have quick-charge coverage from Washington to California (via CleanTechnica)

Colorado county mandates plug-in vehicle wiring for new homes (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE

USGS-NOAA: climate change impacts to US coasts threaten public health, safety, economy (via Phys.org)

Cities lead over feds on climate change adaptation (via Sustainable Business)

Scientist publishes first climate change textbook for college students (via Phys.org)

Is it Spring or is it Winter? Wild rollercoaster of US temperatures (via Weather Underground)

An unusual weather turn even for the Midwest: 8 degrees quickly becomes 74 (via New York Times)

NASA retirees appeal to own lack of climate authority (via Skeptical Science)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Shell, Kinder Morgan to jointly export LNG from the US (via Reuters)

Gas royalty checks total $1.2 billion in Pennsylvania (via Facts of the Day)

RARE EARTHS

Rare earths mining boom poses toxic risks (via Treehugger)

COAL

Canadian carbon project aims to prove clean coal works (via Reuters)

US coal industry sees progress ahead in Congress, Courts (via Politico)

GREEN BUILDING

America’s most conservative green community (via The Atlantic)

Washington DC requires privately owned buildings measure energy, water use (via Sustainable Business)

GREEN BUSINESS

Unlocking sustainability’s hidden value (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS

What it looks like when Obama’s passion spurs him to defy political odds (via Grist)

Climate change action now helps win elections: poll (via Discovery News)

Moderate Dem Senator Heitkamp bucks party orthodoxy, aims to exemplify “all of the above” (via E&E Daily)

A chat with Sierra Club’s Michael Brune about civil disobedience (via Grist)

Posted: | Categories: adaptation, arra, barack obama, Beijing, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, Carbon price, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, CNOOC, coal, colorado, conservation, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, ev charging, fracking, fuel cell, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Heidi Heitkamp, india, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LNG, M&A, mexico, michael brune, NASA, natural gas, Natural gas export, Net metering, News, noaa, Offshore solar, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, Rare earths, renewables, Scotland, Shell, sierra club, smart grid, Smog, solar, Solar net metering, Subsidies, suzlon, Taiwan, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGA, utah, vermont, Washington DC, Washington State, Water, Watershed, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.28.13 share

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

GRID

Google spending millions to influence smart grid regulations (via AOL Energy)

Cisco unveils “connected grid” approach for power companies (via AOL Energy)

NYISO reports record-low prices, more wind integration in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Vermont study concludes smart meters are safe (via Renew Grid)

COAL

Vancouver port approves first of two controversial coal-export projects (via Vancouver Sun)

EMISSIONS

Russian row over Kyoto extension rumbles on (via BusinessGreen)

Obama rejects carbon tax, prefers focus on jobs (via Environmental Leader)

Experts outline how REDD+ credits could fit into California’s cap-and-trade program (via Mongabay)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV market set to rebound next year (via Recharge)

New Chinese wind installations fall again in 2012 (via Recharge)

Europe installed over one offshore wind turbine a day in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Canada’s first offshore wind farm set for British Columbia (via CleanTechnica)

Solar costs to fall as REITs emerge as funding source (via Bloomberg)

Total capacity of US Defense Department renewable energy installations will quadruple by 2025 (via Pike Research)

Federal court overturns EPA’s biofuels mandate (via New York Times)

Falling costs power wind boom: down another 21% since 2010 (via Facts of the Day)

Net metering hits the wall in California (via Pike Research)

A sneak attack on commercial solar in Arizona (via Greentech Media)

Wyoming wind could be good fit for California (via EarthTechling)

Oregon sets wave energy development course (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Japanese energy, business groups urge US natgas export approvals (via The Hill)

Fracking’s other danger: radiation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Survey: consumers want centralized energy efficiency, demand response management (via Renew Grid)

Can smart buildings be catalysts for a second term White House agenda? (via GreenBiz)

Los Angeles saves millions with LED street light deployment (via Forbes)

DC finalizes regulations for benchmarking energy use in large buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

San Francisco 49ers dig for gold with NFL’s first LEED stadium (via CleanTechnica)

TAR SANDS

Fight intensifies over tar sands pipelines (via Sustainable Business)

Enbridge resisting final clean up of its Michigan oil spill (via InsideClimate News)

Protesters in Maine rally against tar sands oil (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek/AP)

CLIMATE

Davos strives to make climate talk more than hot air (via Reuters)

Could China and the BRICs nations lead on climate change? (via The Guardian)

NASA’s alarming map of the worst Australian heat wave on record (via The Atlantic)

OIL

Saudi Arabia: “rampaging domestic demand” threatens future as oil exporter (via AOL Energy)

Environmental groups say insurance cannot cover oil spills in Canada (via Business Insurance)

North Dakota oil boom takes a toll on health care (via New York Times)

Barge accident causes Mississippi River oil spill (via USA Today)

TRANSPORTATION

US to increase number of public EV charge stations 40% in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota Prius was California’s best-selling car in 2012 (via Autoblog Green)

California still hasn’t bought land for bullet train route (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT

Brazil plans Amazon tree census to assess deforestation (via The Guardian)

Waste heat from cities may be altering weather patterns (via Climate Central)

Measuring the consequence of forest fires on public health (via Phys.org)

Low snowfall raises concerns about drought recovery (via Climate Central)

Texas, New Mexico tangle over water (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS

Washington and business brace for an Obama wave of regulations (via The Hill)

Western candidates top list of prospects to head Interior Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Red state, green Republican: Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION

Can emerging wind markets compensate for stagnant European growth? (via Renewable Energy World)

6 technologies that could shape the future of energy (via GigaOm)

How should Washington address climate change? (via National Journal)

Is divestment an effective means of protest? (via New York Times)

Posted: | Categories: amazon, arizona, australia, barack obama, biofuels, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, China, Cisco, climate, coal, Coal export, Davos, Defense Department, deforestation, Demand response, Divestment, DoD, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, europe, ev, EV charging stations, fracking, google, grid, Heat wave, high speed rail, Incentives, japan, Kyoto Protocol, LED, LEED, los angeles, Maine, michigan, Mississippi River, natural gas, Natural gas export, Net metering, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, NYISO, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oregon, REDD, REIT, renewables, Russia, san francisco, saudi arabia, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Toyota prius, Transportation, Vancouver, vermont, Washington DC, Wave energy, Wildfire, wind, World economic forum, wyoming

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.25.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Billionaires secretly fund attacks on climate science (via The Independent)

Kerry says global climate change is threat to US (via Washington Post)

Obama’s inaugural speech rallies campus climate divestment campaign (via Buzzfeed)

How climate change could wipe out the Western Forests (via The Atlantic)

Explained in 90 seconds: it’s cold – that doesn’t mean global warming is fake (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS

Japan to announce lower greenhouse gas reduction targets by November (via Bloomberg)

Norwegian Sea can hold 100 years of Norway’s CO2 emissions (via Reuters)

EU carbon price crashes to record low (via The Guardian)

Tokyo’s cap-and-trade cuts CO2 23% in second year (via Environmental Leader)

Federal court won’t review decision that struck down EPA pollution rule (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

China “finalizing renewables quote” (via Recharge)

What the president’s focus on climate change means for cleantech (via GreenBiz)

Crowd-funded solar projects top $1 million in US (via Treehugger)

Wind tax credit has appeal for red states, too (via Politico)

Arizona regulators slash home solar incentive, kill commercial plan (via Arizona Daily Star)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

How much will tar sands oil add to global warming? (via Scientific American)

After Nebraska setback, greens regroup on Keystone XL (via Mother Jones)

From John Kerry, cautious words on Keystone XL (via The Hill)

John Kerry says he’ll control Keystone XL review as Secretary of State (via InsideClimate News)

Enbridge says Eastern US Gulf Coast next big market for Canadian oil (via InsideClimate News/Reuters)

GRID

Global smart grid spending rose to $13.9 billion driven by China (via Bloomberg)

Nearly 70 percent of electric meters in Europe will be smart by 2020 (via Pike Research)

Oak Park, Illinois test drives a blackout-proof, solar-powered smart grid (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Ukraine signs landmark $10 billion shale gas deal with Shell (via Reuters)

110 lawmakers urge exports of US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Do we have enough water to frack our way to energy independence? (via Huffington Post)

California sued for allegedly failing to regulate fracking (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Number of ChAdeMO EV charging stations in US jumped tenfold in 2012 (via Autoblog Green)

UK could roll out 122,000 EV chargers under EU plan (via BusinessGreen)

Are vehicle miles travelled (VMT) fees the key to federal transportation woes? (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Will Texas be next to tax electric vehicles? (via Autoblog Green)

With new battery hub, Chicago seeks to lead nation on electric vehicles (via Midwest Energy News)

GREEN BUSINESS

McDonald’s, Unilever, Pepsi, Adidas make sustainability news at Davos (via GreenBiz)

Should oil firms make a list of the world’s most sustainable companies? (via GreenBiz)

Unilever reveals half of its factories send ‘zero waste’ to landfills (via BusinessGreen)

Oregon tops US in new clean jobs index (via Sustainable Business Oregon)

COAL

Governors at odds over Northwest export terminal proposals (via Greenwire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Does increased energy efficiency just spark us to use more? (via Scientific American)

Washington DC once again leads America in LEED certifications (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency in the Northeast US: Massachusetts leads, New Jersey lags (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY INDUSTRY

Energy industry fueled by strong M&A activity (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas regulatory commission that oversees drilling is being overhauled, even in name (via New York Times/Texas Tribune)

OPINION

How the “Kochtopus” stifled green debate (via The Independent)

Obama’s second chance on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

From words to deeds: how to push Obama toward climate action (via Grist)

Memo to DC: think long-term on clean energy (via Earth Techling)

The Keystone XL objections wither away (via Wall Street Journal)

US Northeast faces stark choice on climate pollution (via New York Times)

An economic tale of two shale booms: Pennsylvania is not North Dakota (via Facts of the Day)

POLITICS

Would a White House green team help on climate? (via Politico)

Democrats form Congressional task force to fight climate change (via Bloomberg)

White House official details Obama plans for climate change, clean energy (via SNL Energy)

White House official: corporate tax reform should boost green energy (via The Hill)

Obama climate push to tie environment, jobs (via Reuters)

Posted: | Categories: Adidas, arizona, barack obama, battery, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon price, Carbon sequestration, ccs, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Crowd funding, Davos, deforestation, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, EV charger, fracking, global warming, green building, green business, green jobs, grid, Illinois, Incentives, japan, jay inslee, john kerry, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Kochtopus, LEED, M&A, massachusetts, mcdonald's, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, new jersey, News, north dakota, norway, oregon, pennsylvania, Pepsi, production tax credit, ptc, Rebound effect, Recycling, renewables, Shell, smart grid, smart meters, solar, tar sands, texas, Tokyo, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, Unilever, united kingdom, VMT, Washington DC, World economic forum, Zero waste

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.24.13 share

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Japan’s 2012 LNG imports at record high on nuclear woes (via Reuters)

White House starts review of revised gas “fracking” rule (via The Hill)

GAO says regulators need to improve natural gas pipeline incident response data (via Washington Post/AP)

Dow Chemical fights ally Exxon’s natural gas export push (via Bloomberg)

Pennsylvania fracking wastewater might overwhelm Ohio injection wells (via Akron Beacon Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Electrifying auto fleets could cut company fuel costs by 75% (via BusinessGreen)

Plug-in readiness reports show wide difference between California regions (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Majority of US senators back Keystone XL pipeline (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

Sting operations reveal mafia involvement in Italian renewable energy (via Washington Post)

Expensive loans dim prospects for renewable energy in India (via Forbes)

Big funders bought wind in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

Mitsubishi Heavy seeks 10% share of global offshore wind market (via Bloomberg)

Latin American solar markets poised for 66% growth through 2017 (via Greentech Media)

Report: lack of consistent policy holding back clean energy industry (via Midwest Energy News)

North America’s largest wind energy storage facility goes online in Texas (via CleanTechnica)

VW starts up largest solar park at US auto factory in Tennessee (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS

Japan ready to ditch emissions reduction target (via Phys.org)

Beijing to scrap old cars and swap coal-burners in clean air bid (via Bloomberg)

Greenhouse gas emissions dip in Minnesota, but future is uncertain (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

ENERGY INDUSTRY

Deutsche Bank pays $1.6 million to end US energy market trading probe (via Bloomberg)

Study: college endowments triple returns on fossil fuel stocks (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China to cap electricity growth at 8% through 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Smart grid may be shortest route to Obama’s green energy goals (via Forbes)

The importance, challenge, and future of smart grid data analytics (via Renew Grid)

Duke completes battery storage project at Texas wind farm (via Renew Grid)

New aggregation programs drive consumer participation in Illinois energy choice (via US EIA)

NUCLEAR

Japan faces nuclear shutdown for second time since Fukushima (via Reuters)

Funding no problem for German shift from nuclear energy (via Reuters)

Fracking for uranium (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Companies call on EU to deliver 2030 energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Surge expected for utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Does your state lead in LEED? (via Greentech Media)

How energy literate are you? (via Mapawatt)

CLIMATE

Why Greenland’s melting could be the biggest climate disaster of all (via Mother Jones)

Andes glaciers melting at record rates (via Christian Science Monitor/Reuters)

Analysis: Obama’s next climate steps apt to be temperate (via Reuters)

Derek Jeter steps to the plate for climate change (via Politico)

Climate change bill readied for 2013 Utah state legislative session (via Salt Lake Tribune)

OIL

Alaskans want role in US Arctic offshore drilling probe (via Houston Chronicle)

POLITICS

Obama’s covert plans for climate (via Politico)

Tracking the changes at EPA in Obama’s second term (via AOL Energy)

Ashton Carter said to be leading contender for US Energy Secretary (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Kerry to divest financial holdings to avoid conflicts of interest (via Boston Globe)

Sen. Murkowski to release “comprehensive” energy blueprint next week (via The Hill)

OPINION

Why are greens so defensive about the rebound effect? (via Grist)

Uncertainty about climate change is reason for more aggressive action (via Grist)

Breaking down the Federal clean energy innovation budget: demonstration projects (via Innovation Files)

OTHER NEWS

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted: | Categories: alaska, Ashton Carter, barack obama, Beijing, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Derek Jeter, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, Dow Chemical, Duke, Electric Vehicle, Electricity aggregation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy industry, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Exxon, fracking, Fracking wastewater, fukushima, GAO, germany, glaciers, greenland, grid, Illinois, india, Injection wells, italy, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, Latin America, LEED, Lisa Murkowski, LNG imports, minnesota, mitsubishi, Municipal aggregation, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, Pipelines, Rebound effect, renewables, Sea level rise, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, texas, Transportation, uranium, utah, Volkswagen, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.13 share

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Nebraska governor approves new Keystone XL route (via New York Times)

Nebraska approval puts Keystone pipeline decision squarely on Obama (via Globe and Mail)

US State Department: no Keystone decision before end of Q1 2013 (via Reuters)

Obama’s own words turn up heat on Keystone decision (via Politico)

Sierra Club to engage in civil disobedience for first time in opposition to Keystone XL (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Four of five British have not heard of government’s energy efficiency Green Deal (via BusinessGreen)

Senate bill targets energy efficiency for climate strategy (via Politico)

DC, Virginia, Colorado top US in 2012 LEED certifications (via Energy Manager Today)

Berkeley Lab predicts more energy efficiency incentives in South, Midwest (via Energy Manager Today)

California to invest $2.5 billion retrofitting energy-wasting schools (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES

China’s solar market boomed in Q4, accounting for third of global demand (via Forbes)

Japan’s solar tariff may drop 12% as costs sink, BNEF estimates (via Bloomberg)

Global insurers see opportunity in renewable energy (via Recharge)

EU proposes duties on US bioethanol imports (via Reuters)

Chinese solar panel imports drop amid new US tariffs (via Houston Chronicle)

Total solar scenario for Earth: plenty, with room to spare (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to double spending on renewable energy to $4 billion (via Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg)

Taller wind turbines boost state energy self-reliance (via CleanTechnica)

New bill proposed for Maryland offshore wind (via Recharge)

Wind farm towers: taller and slower with more power (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Wind energy company could be required to track, protect condors (via Bakersfield Californian)

EMISSIONS

Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to EPA pollution rule (via The Hill)

Court ruling casts doubt on future of EPA monitoring program (via Greenwire)

California greenhouse gas emissions drop for 3^rd year (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION

A123 expects Wanxiang sale to be finished by Feb 1 (via Autoblog Green)

Lux Research: Boeing “should have used a safer battery” (via Environmental Leader)

More electric car charging stations open in Atlanta (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

COAL

Sen. Rockefeller reshaping his federal mine safety legislation (via Register-Herald)

Coal trains: what is the impact? (via Skagit Valley Herald)

The people and process behind Bellingham’s coal port decision (via Crosscut)

Iowa utility agrees to stop using coal at five generators (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Betting on Indiana coal: Duke wants ratepayers to fund retrofits, enviros cry foul (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID

Australian utilities reluctant to invest in smart grid (via Renew Grid)

How much electric supply capacity is needed to keep US electricity grids reliable? (via US EIA)

In fuel cells, the US plays catch-up (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE

Poll shows country split on climate change (via The Hill)

In inaugural address, Obama makes a moral case for action on climate change (via Washington Post)

Obama signals new executive authority focus on climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

Obama could bypass Congress to fulfill climate pledge (via Bloomberg)

Death from above: Chicago’s bird casualties offer clues on climate change (via Grist)

GREEN BUSINESS

Shareholders challenge Exxon, Chevron over climate risks (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas vehicles remain less prevalent in US than elsewhere (via Houston Chronicle)

Huntsman Corp. joins campaign against US natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR

An early nuclear warning: was it for naught? (via New York Times)

Fish caught near Fukushima shows radiation level 2,500 above safety standards (via Daily Mail)

OPINION

A quick, awesome must-read on climate change (via Mother Jones)

Will Germany banish fossil fuels before the US? (via Grist)

Enough with our cult of the presidency – the climate’s fate rests with Congress (via Grist)

The climate change endgame (via New York Times)

The 14 fossil-fuel projects poised to f*ck up the climate (via Grist)

Posted: | Categories: A123, Atlanta, australia, barack obama, battery, Berkeley Lab, biofuel, boeing, Boeing Dreamliner, california, Chevron, chicago, China, climate, coal, Coal export, Coal train, colorado, Congress, Dave Heineman, duke energy, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fuel cell, fukushima, germany, green business, grid, Ikea, indiana, japan, Jay Rockefeller, Keystone XL, LEED, maryland, Mine safety, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Reliability, renewables, retrofit, sierra club, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tariff, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, virginia, Wanxiang, Washington DC, Washington State, wind

Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.13 share

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

CLIMATE

Interview: UN Chief wants action on climate change (via Time/AP)

World Economic Forum: efforts to curb climate change could cost $700 billion a year (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Survey: 70 percent of firms fear climate threat to revenues (via BusinessGreen)

Seeking clues about sea level rise from fossil beaches (via New York Times)

EMISSIONS

EU carbon price dips below €5 mark for first time (via BusinessGreen)

China and Australia top list of “carbon bomb” projects (via The Guardian)

EU carbon market in need of an auction monitor (via Reuters)

GRID

EU energy chief appeals to Germany to drop energy isolation (via Reuters)

Smart city technology market to hit $20.2 billion annually in 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Germany plans support for energy storage on small PV installations (via Recharge)

In energy storage, the numbers don’t add up – yet (via Pike Research)

RENEWABLES

France considers third offshore wind power tender for 6GW (via Reuters)

South Korea to change renewable subsidies to boost program efficiency (via Bloomberg)

Unlikely companies bring clout and cash to clean energy lobbying effort (via InsideClimate News)

New thin-film solar cell efficiency record set at 20.4% (via CleanTechnica)

Vermont study demonstrates net metering benefit for ratepayers (via Renewable Energy World)

Willow trees grown for biofuel produce more if grown diagonally (via R&D)

COAL

Record China imports unlikely to excite Asian coal markets (via Reuters)

Carbon capture & sequestration emissions savings may be lower than predicted (via BusinessGreen)

Visit the tiny town where Big Coal will meet its fate (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION

Report: airlines could make €1.3 billion from EU carbon regulations (via BusinessGreen)

What does the Boeing Dreamliner battery fire mean for EVs? (via Plugin Cars)

Toyota leads green tech patent growth for third consecutive quarter (via CleanTechnica)

Major price drops coming for electric vehicles (via CleanTechnica)

Bumpy road ahead for EV charging market? (via Renew Grid)

Avis’ Zipcar buy likely to be approved by antitrust legislators (via Autoblog Green)

Virginia governor’s road-funding plan: penalize hybrids, EVs (via Green Car Reports)

OBAMA INAUGURATION

Obama’s speech gives climate goals center stage (via New York Times)

Climate change moves to forefront in Obama’s inaugural address (via The Guardian)

Can Obama make defeating climate change his legacy? (via The Guardian)

After Obama’s speech, a hunt for details (via The Hill)

Obama’s climate change pledge tested by Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post/AP)

Can Obama tackle climate change in his second term? (via Washington Post)

OIL

Arctic drilling can be done safely, federal adviser says (via Houston Chronicle)

Friendly business environment fuels US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

800 scientists gather for Gulf of Mexico oil spill conference (via Times-Picayune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LEDs emerge as popular efficient lighting (via New York Times)

In Chicago, seeking the next bright idea in energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR

End to Yucca Mountain “within reach,” Nevada commissions says (via Las Vegas Sun)

Endgame close in legal tussles over Vermont Yankee (via Greenwire)

ENVIRONMENT

Crop production boosted 145% in drought conditions with water-saving membranes (via TreeHugger)

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