Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.2.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Over 190 nations meet in Lima to talk climate (via The Hill)
At climate talks, UN calls fossil fuels “high risk” investment (via Reuters)
Lima climate talks: EU and U.S. at odds over legally binding emissions targets (via The Guardian)
Rich nations will make $100 billion climate goal, says U.S. (via Bloomberg)
China: Climate laggards must join in pre-2020 efforts (via RTCC)
As climate warms, more disease outbreaks for sea life (via Seattle Times)
RENEWABLES
China’s solar energy progress sputters (via Renewable Energy World)
European wind market to stabilize in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
Poll: 89% of Australians object to renewable energy cuts (via PV Tech)
E.ON split to fortify German green energy transformation (via Bloomberg)
E.ON shakeup could create new solar giant (via Recharge)
France to launch new offshore wind tender next year (via Reuters)
Argentina province schedules auction to build first solar farm (via Bloomberg)
New world record for solar cell efficiency set at 46% (via Renew Economy)
Solar power’s stunning growth: U.S. generation up 100% this year (via Breaking Energy)
Strategic or VC investors? Where clean tech startups are finding funding (via Greentech Media)
AWEA sees billions of dollars in savings within SPP from wind energy (via Recharge)
SunPower’s solar panel manufacturing capacity to triple in five years (via CleanTechnica)
Fuel manufacturer threatens to sue EPA over 2015 renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)
EMISSIONS
China’s carbon goal a tough sell in coal country (via Huffington Post/AP)
Australia power emissions continue to climb in absence of carbon price (via Renew Economy)
Bank of England to investigate carbon bubble risks (via Business Green)
Comment period for EPA’s climate rule closes after 1.6 million comments (via The Hill)
OIL
OPEC squeeze on oil spares renewables from energy turmoil (via Bloomberg)
Saudi-Venezuela OPEC split plays out behind closed doors (via Bloomberg)
Report: Falling prices could eliminate U.S. oil production growth (via Houston Chronicle)
What plunging oil prices mean for your pocketbook (via Washington Post)
Junk bonds funding shale boom face $8.5 billion of losses (via Bloomberg)
TRANSPORTATION
Merkel backs incentives in 1 million German EV push (via Bloomberg)
BMW unveiled three plug-in hybrids last week (via Green Car Reports)
Plug-in EV sales in November: Leaf grows, Volt wanes (via Green Car Reports)
Washington State to give EV cars tax breaks, carpool-lane access (via Green Car Reports)
GRID
New relay technology transforming the grid (via Navigant Research)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Property owners reduce financial risk, raise property value with energy upgrades (via Energy Manager Today)
Honolulu airport receives $150 million energy retrofit (via Energy Manager Today)
ENVIRONMENT
Commercial fisheries likely to collapse by 2048 (via EcoWatch)
How three inches of rain could cut GDP growth: Corporate Brazil (via Bloomberg)
2014 Atlantic Hurricane season ends with below-average activity (via Weather Underground)
POLITICS
Hillary Clinton wades into debate over fracking but avoids Keystone XL (via Climate Progress)
OPINION
A blueprint for an effective international climate agreement (via WRI Insights)
Five ideas for EPA’s Clean Power Plan (via C2ES)
The fight over EPA’s climate rule is just getting started (via Climate Progress)
Can shale withstand a drop in oil prices? (via National Journal)
Why do black and Latino Americans support climate action so much more than whites? (via Washington Post)
The perfect storm: Why now is the time to seize the 30% credit on commercial and industrial solar (via Renewable Energy World)