Category Archives:Gulf of Mexico

16
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Efforts to set global carbon market standards may begin next month (via The Age)

Capital markets ignoring risk of unburnable carbon: report (via Renew Economy)

All flights in EU airspace to face emissions levy by 2014 (via RTCC)

Abbott publishes draft legislation to abolish carbon pricing (via Bloomberg)

Supreme Court will review EPA’s authority to regulate power plant emissions (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Much ado about shale gas, but coal is still king (via Christian Science Monitor)

Shale gas and tight oil boom: US states’ economic gains and vulnerabilities (via Council on Foreign Relations)

RENEWABLES 

Report: US leads world in advanced biofuels ranking (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar means business: Top 25 US corporate solar energy users (via CleanTechnica)

NREL debunks 15% ethanol blend car damage claims (via Environmental Leader)

Big box solar and the clean energy revolution (via Washington Post)

Statoil pulls offshore wind project in Maine (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

OIL 

Behind Russia vs. Greenpeace, unreported oil pollution in the Arctic (via InsideClimate News)

Energy efficiency measures saved $420 billion of oil from 2005-2010 (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Saudi Aramco plans “massive” spending to extend field life (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rising output, energy efficiency to halve US oil imports by 2020 (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil output could hit 1 million barrels-per-day by 2014 (via Reuters)

Booming US oil towns prepare for inevitable bust (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota pipeline spill prompts calls for better oversight (via EnergyWire)

Halliburton manager pleads guilty to destroying Gulf spill evidence (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW mulls boosting electric car capacity on early demand (via Bloomberg)

Ford jumps EV battery gap with new $8 million research lab (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Climate change will affect almost every corner of ocean, study says (via Los Angeles Times)

Lloyd’s insurers mock climate skeptics over “global cooling” (via RTCC)

ENVIRONMENT 

Changes to federal flood insurance program mean higher costs (via Boston Globe)

All taxpayers are footing the rising cost of fighting wildfires (via Minneapolis Post)

California bans lead bullets for hunting (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

Smart grid’s real-world economic and environmental benefits (via Renew Grid)

OPINION 

Three ways to get rich off global warming (via Market Watch)

By repealing the carbon tax, Tony Abbott is failing to protect his people (via The Guardian)

Should newspapers ban letters from climate science deniers? (via The Guardian)

California’s big fracking mess (via National Journal)

US Supreme Court: EPA can tackle global warming, but we’ll review a few details (via Washington Post)

These maps show where the US is most vulnerable to oil shocks (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, battery, biofuels, BMW, california, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Climate Change, coal, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, Flood insurance, Floods, Ford, fracking, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, Lloyd's of London, Maine, News, north dakota, NREL, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Saudi Aramco, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, Tony Abbott, Transportation, wildfires
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11
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.11.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Fossil fuel divestment spreading faster than any previous campaign – even Apartheid (via CleanTechnica)

Could China’s carbon emissions peak sooner than expected? (via RTCC)

Number of new carbon capture and storage plants drops 10% (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Southern leg of Keystone XL pipeline nearly complete (via The Oklahoman)

North Dakota pipeline spills over 20,000 barrels of crude oil (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Citibank: Renewables will get bulk of world’s new power investment (via Houston Chronicle)

UK offshore wind industry calls for 14GW by 2022 (via Recharge)

This is how much and where algae fuel could be grown on the planet (via GigaOm)

Siemens seeks 30% cost cut in offshore wind (via Recharge)

Next-generation biofuels inching toward reality, gallon by gallon (via Time)

EPA may reduce ethanol blending volumes for 2014 (via Reuters)

Cracking the code of residential solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Quest for cheap, nonfood biofuel starts with a brewery (via ClimateWire)

California’s 600MW shared renewables law targets distributed solar in low-income areas (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Gulf Coast beckons wind farms when West Texas gusts fade (via Houston Chronicle)

Ohio business group opposes rollback of renewable energy rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

Google invests another $103 million in renewable power (via San Francisco Chronicle)

New York State’s Green Bank casts wide net over clean energy sector (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY 

Canadian spies met with energy firms, documents reveal (via The Guardian)

FERC seeks order enforcing Barclays $488 million fine (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Floods could have catastrophic impact on Australia’s east coast (via The Guardian)

Tens of thousands flee vast cyclone bearing down on India (via Reuters)

Seven mostly awful climate change winners (via Weather Underground)

Texas compares to Midwest and West in climate attitudes (via EcoAffect)

Pennsylvania publishes climate change impacts report 18 months late (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency is one of the hottest clean tech sectors (via Greentech Media)

Could the US Navy lead the way on energy efficiency? (via Breaking Energy)

The “other” type of commercial financing: PACE (via Renewable Energy World)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

France’s fracking ban “absolute” after court upholds law (via Bloomberg)

Ohio considers rule for fracking wastewater sites (via Houston Chronicle

TRANSPORTATION 

California initiative will streamline permitting of new hydrogen and EV fueling stations (via Green Car Congress)

Fisker government loan heads to auction block today (via Reuters)

OPINION 

European electricity providers face an existential threat: How to lose half a trillion euros (via The Economist)

Time for governments to end energy subsidies (via Reuters)

Politics is poorly suited to address global warming (via Washington Post)

Media sowed doubt in coverage of IPCC climate report (via Media Matters)

Parks take center stage in shutdown fight (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, australia, biofuels, california, canada, carbon capture, ccs, China, Citibank, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, Extreme weather, FERC, Fisker, Flood, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, France, google, Gulf of Mexico, hydrogen, india, IPCC, Keystone XL, natural gas, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PACE, pennsylvania, Pipeline, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Severe weather, Shared renewables, Siemens, solar, Subsidies, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Navy, wind
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08
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.8.13

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

California highlights emissions reduction progress (via CleanTechnica)

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

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

COAL 

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

King Coal’s last stand (via Vice)

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

Nighttime solar power arriving in United States (via EarthTechling)

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

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

GRID 

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

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

ENERGY POLICY 

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

Quebec’s Keystone conundrum (via Politico)

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

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

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

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

NUCLEAR 

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

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

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

Cincinnati launches energy benchmarking toolkit (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

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

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

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

OPINION 

Solar power, in small doses (via The Economist)

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

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

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

America’s net metering war (via CleanTechnica)

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Beijing, Benchmarking, biomass, BP, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon budget, Carbon neutrality, China, Cincinnati, climate, Climate Change, coal, Concentrating solar power, denmark, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ESCO, ev, ev charging, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fukushima, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Heather Zichal, honda, hybrid, IPCC, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG exports, Microsoft, Net metering, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, nrdc, nuclear, Oakland, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, palo alto, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, renewables, Renewables integration, rggi, rooftop solar, solar, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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07
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

Government shutdown affects weather, climate programs (via Climate Central)

Federal shutdown vexes greens, pleases industry (via Politico)

Solar decathlon launches despite US government shutdown (via Renewable Energy World)

FRACKING 

US fracking industry has used 250 billion gallons of water since 2005 (via Oil Price)

ENERGY POLICY 

US surpasses Russia as world’s top oil and natural gas producer (via The Guardian)

94% of utilities say distributed generation is a “game changer” (via BusinessGreen)

Embattled DOE clean energy loan program restarts under new management (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

OECD-FAO projects global ethanol production to increase 67% over next 10 years to 44 billion gallons (via Green Car Congress)

Cost of PV cells drops 99% since 1977, bringing solar to grid parity (via Climate Progress)

Russia backs 504MW of wind and solar in first clean power auction (via CleanTechnica)

India invites national solar bids after 2-year gap (via Bloomberg)

South Pacific island nation becomes first to 100% renewables (via Facts of the Day)

As Sun shines on solar industry, power companies fret (via National Journal)

Wind turbine bird threat overstated, study suggests (via EarthTechling)

Florida utility offers $9 million in solar rebates (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Consumers Energy closing in on Michigan’s RPS (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Economist: US jobs climb along with oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

BP trial to focus on scientists’ spill estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

Court orders closer scrutiny of oil-spill claims against BP (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Putting all 20,000 electric car charging stations on the map (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

US gas prices drop 14 cents over past 2 weeks (via Houston Chronicle)

Volkswagen XL1, world’s most efficient car, makes its US debut (via CleanTechnica)

Hertz starts renting Tesla Model S electric cars (via Breaking Energy)

Ford doubles US electric drive market share from 2012 to 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS 

IPCC report contains “grave” carbon budget message (via Climate Central)

EU carbon advances as policy makers consider supply flexibility (via Bloomberg)

US Supreme Court today may decide whether to hear greenhouse gas case (via Bloomberg BNA)

World’s carbon budget to be spent in three decades (via CleanTechnica)

Harvard won’t divest from fossil fuels, Faust says (via Bloomberg)

“Cynical” market shrugs off latest climate warning on fossil fuels (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists call for more controlled burns in West’s forests (via Los Angeles Times)

Let it burn: Changing firefighting techniques for a warming world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Solar heating and cooling could save $61 billion in energy costs (via Energy Manager Today)

Popularity of federal energy efficiency program among farmers put it at risk (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Walmart sells LEDs for less than $10 (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

Q2 2013 coal export trends: Shipments fall nationally, rise in West (via Sightline Daily)

POLITICS 

German Greens mull new identity and coalition with Merkel (via Reuters)

Tony Abbott may have enough support to repeal Australian carbon tax (via ABC News)

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

Debt ceiling isn’t place for climate fight, says House Republican (via The Hill)

Decades in decline, issue of coal is in crosshairs for Virginia governors race (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

For insurers, climate risk is becoming a matter of policy (via GreenBiz)

When will we reach an electric vehicle tipping point? (via Greentech Media)

Hawaii’s smart grid a matter of necessity (via Navigant Research)

Is fossil fuel divestment a sound financial play? (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, BP, cap and trade, Carbon budget, coal, Coal exports, Consumers Energy, distributed generation, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, FERC, Florida, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gasoline, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Harvard, Hawaii, Hertz, hybrid, india, IPCC, LED, michigan, natural gas, News, oil, oil spill, renewable portfolio standard, Russia, solar, Solar cooling, Solar Decathlon, Solar heating, solar pv, Tesla Model S, Tony Abbott, Transportation, virginia, Volkswagen, Walmart, wildfires, wind
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02
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

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

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

COAL 

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

RENEWABLES 

France launches 80MW tidal power tender (via Recharge)

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

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

CLIMATE 

Poland pits itself against EU climate pledges (via Reuters)

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

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

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

Climate adaptation goes mainstream in Wisconsin (via Grist)

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

OIL 

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

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

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

GM intensifies military hydrogen fuel cell research (via BusinessGreen)

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

GRID 

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Asia, BP, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, chevy volt, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, community solar, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, fracking, France, fuel cell, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hydrogen, IEA, michigan, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, norway, oil, oil spill, Poland, production tax credit, Quebec, renewables, solar, tar sands, Tesla Model S, tidal power, Transportation, Washington DC, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yosemite
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01
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

COAL 

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

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

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

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

How farmworkers experience a warming climate (via EarthFix)

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

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

BMW to electrify its entire lineup (via CleanTechnica)

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

GRID 

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

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

TAR SANDS 

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

POLITICS 

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

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

FERC nominee Binz withdraws amid coal pushback (via Politico)

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Atmospheric River, biofuels, BMW, Bob Ingliis, BP, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon budget, carbon capture, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate refugees, coal, Coal exports, Deutsche Bank, Eagle Ford Shale, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Bank, ev, EV charger, FERC, Floods, Ford, Ford C-Max hybrid, fracking, geothermal, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Paulson, india, IPCC, Michael Bloomberg, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, Net metering, new zealand, News, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, renewables, Resilience, Resilient communities, Ron Binz, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, wind
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30
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.30.13

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pattern IPO raises $352 million (via Recharge)

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Gasoline pollution mandates delayed in US (via Houston Chronicle)

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

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

DC’s upcoming energy benchmarking regulation (via Good)

GRID 

The four layers of smart grid security (via SmartPlanet)

OPINION 

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

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

More good news on renewables integration (via EarthTechling)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuels, BP, california, canada, Carbon market, CFTC, China, climate, Climate Change, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, ethanol, EVs, Gasoline, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Ikea, IPCC, Jerry Brown, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, palo alto, Pattern Energy, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, smart grid, solar, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington DC, wind
0
25
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.25.13

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPA announces Green Power Leadership awards (via Environmental Leader)

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

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

OIL 

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

GRID 

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

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

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

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

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

OPINON 

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

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

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

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

Why sustainability indexes miss the mark (via BusinessGreen)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, australia, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon offsets, CFTC, China, Clean Water Act, climate, Climate Change, coal, concentrated solar power, Connecticut, deepwater horizon, emissions, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Ivanpah, Keystone XL, LED, Microgrid, natural gas, News, Ocean acidification, Offsets, oil, oil spill, OPEC, renewables, RIN, Russia, solar, Solar Decathlon, tar sands, uk, united kingdom, US Trade Representative, wind, wind turbines
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20
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.20.13

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

COAL 

Obama takes on coal with first-ever carbon limits (via Associated Press)

Coal’s future darkens around the world (via Associated Press)

Government’s latest coal auction attracts lowest bid in 15 years (via Climate Progress)

It’s not just Obama’s carbon rules that are killing coal – it’s cheap gas (via Time)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon markets set “to be oversupplied until 2027” (via BusinessGreen)

France to cut fossil fuels 30% by 2030, president says (via Phys.org)

EU carbon price forecast to hit €66 per ton by 2030 (via Recharge)

Administration presses ahead with limits on power plant emissions (via New York Times)

Study: Fracked shale formations could store carbon dioxide (via Yale e360)

How bad for the environment are gas-powered leaf blowers? (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Germany industry wants end of feed-in tariff on rising power cost (via Bloomberg)

Is Brazilian sugarcane the answer to US biofuel needs? (via Green Car Reports)

Algae biofuels cut CO2 emissions more than 50% compared to petroleum fuels (via Phys.org)

Siemens opens state-of-the-art wind service training center (via Energy Collective)

Solar Exchange launches with over $28 million in solar goods (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Top 10 challenges for the biofuels industry (via Renewable Energy World)

In Minnesota, looking for lessons from Goodhue wind fight (via Midwest Energy News)

Massachusetts racks up 11.8% growth in clean energy (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s future depends on stopping Fukushima leaks, PM tells workers (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Ozone treaty offers quicker fix for global warming (via Bloomberg)

Russia urges UN climate report to include geoengineering (via The Guardian)

Australia scraps national climate commission (via The Guardian)

India and China face significant flooding risk warns Swiss Re (via RTCC)

UN climate report set to establish “global carbon budget” (via RTCC)

Study says journalists should talk about climate change like a pension policy (via Climate Progress)

Clash over flood insurance rates sharpens days before hikes are enacted (via ClimateWire)

The many small ways Americans are adapting to climate change (via The Atlantic)

ENERGY POLICY 

US revives aid program for cleaner fossil fuels (via New York Times)

California’s strategic plan for renewables and efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Beacon Power starts up flywheel energy storage facility in Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Halliburton pleads guilty to destroying evidence after BP oil spill (via The Hill)

Legal, political battles await EPA’s power plant emissions limits (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

General Motors looks to cut battery prices and increase EV range (via New York Times)

Tesla shares hit yet another record high at $180 (via Autoblog Green)

Ecotality bankruptcy could give Nissan its own charger network (via Plugin Cars)

2014 Chevy Spark EV test drive (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senate support unravels for Obama’s FERC nominee (via The Hill)

US Senate GOP leader says he will work to defeat FERC nominee (via Reuters)

Government funding battle knocks stalled energy efficiency bill off Senate floor (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Sorry, Arctic sea ice isn’t really “recovering” (via Washington Post)

Time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Will coal survive the EPA’s new carbon rules? (via Washington Post)

Obama’s coming climate crackdown (via Politico)

A clean energy revolution – now (via Energy.gov)

These five things need to happen before electric cars really go mainstream (via Washington Post)

Are wind farm-related eagle deaths higher than we think? (via EarthTechling)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, arctic, australia, barack obama, battery, Beacon Power, biofuels, BP, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon sequestration, Chevy Spark EV, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ecotality, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, EV charger, feed-in tariff, FERC, Floods, Flywheel, France, fukushima, General Motors, Geoengineering, germany, green jobs, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, india, japan, massachusetts, minnesota, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, News, Nissan, nuclear, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, renewables, Ron Binz, Russia, Sea ice melt, Severe weather, Shaheen-Portman, Shale gas, Siemens, solar, Sugarcane ethanol, Tesla, Transportation, wind
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Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama looks to fill fall scorecard with regulations, going small-bore (via The Hill)

German industry group seeks green energy overhaul after election (via Reuters)

COAL 

Three times more people working in green jobs than coal (via BusinessGreen)

On cost, new clean energy is beating coal (via EarthTechling)

Wyoming coal sale canceled by US on bid at 15-year low (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

China faces tough fight against air pollution (via Xinhua)

Business groups, GOP attack social cost of carbon on multiple fronts (via The Hill)

California clears way for use of offsets in carbon market (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

2.8GW solar PV capacity expected to be added in India in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Study flags UK’s offshore green jobs surge (via Recharge)

5 market innovations revolutionizing solar in the developing world (via Sustainable Industries)

Cost of US solar power 60% lower than in early 2011 (via CleanTechnica)

US charges 6 people, 3 firms with $100 million biofuels fraud (via Reuters)

Ten myths about geothermal heating and cooling (via National Geographic)

Google goes greener with 240MW wind power purchase (via Houston Chronicle)

New Era Wind will no longer pursue Goodhue wind farm in Minnesota (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Big solar comes to Utah with 300MW project (via SustainableBusiness)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s Abe orders surviving Fukushima reactors scrapped (via Reuters)

DOE still seeks beneficiary for small modular reactor funding (via Aiken Standard)

CLIMATE 

Delaying climate action will triple costs (via Grist)

Study identifies 10 regions to target climate adaptation funding (via RTCC)

Global temperature trends and the IPCC (via Energy Collective)

Nation-to-nation peer pressure may be best hope for global climate deal (via NBC News)

Poland partners with coal and oil corporate sponsors for COP19 climate conference (via DeSmog Blog)

Obama climate change plan gets first airing in front of House skeptics (via The Guardian)

17 states accuse EPA of exceeding its authority with climate change plan (via The Hill)

Most US companies ignoring SEC rule to disclose climate risks (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ranking reveals top US cities on energy efficiency (via USA Today)

A quest to prove the business case for installing big batteries at buildings (via GigaOm)

GM’s LEED Gold data center slashes electric bill by 70% (via EarthTechling)

Chicago passes energy benchmarking rules (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

The $1.5 trillion oil find in the Gulf of Mexico (via Christian Science Monitor)

Eagle Ford oil expected to surpass 1 million barrels per day (via Houston Chronicle)

One downside to more oil drilling? Wasted gas (via StateImpact Texas)

China finds resistance to oil deals in Africa (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

DOE advanced vehicle loan portfolio remains strong (via EarthTechling)

Ford adding 200 charging stations in next 15 months (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Environmental groups set for new fight over drilling on US-managed Utah land (via New York Times)

POLITICS 

Obama energy officials defend climate plan to Republicans (via Bloomberg)

Democrat Manchin’s opposition imperils Obama FERC nominee (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Time for Angela Merkel to fill the climate leadership vacuum? (via RTCC)

Carbon pricing levels playing field, reduces energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

Fracking may not be as bad for the climate as we thought (via Washington Post)

Clearing up a few myths about Brazilian biofuels trade (via Energy Collective)

Whether approved or not, Keystone XL has been a victory for lobbyists (via DeSmog Blog)

Naomi Klein “waging ideological war” instead of tacking climate change (via The Guardian)

What’s the climate change context behind Colorado’s floods? (via ClimateWire)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Air pollution, Angela Merkel, barack obama, battery, biofuels, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, chicago, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, colorado, COP19, Eagle Ford Shale, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Extreme weather, FERC, Flooding, fracking, fukushima, geothermal, germany, global warming, GM, google, green jobs, Gulf of Mexico, india, IPCC, japan, Joe Manchin, Keystone XL, LEED, minnesota, Naomi Klein, New Era Wind, News, nuclear, Offsets, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Poland, renewables, Ron Binz, SEC, Shale oil, Small modular reactors, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, uk, united kingdom, utah, wind, wyoming
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