Category Archives:Illinois

15
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.15.13

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

COP 19 

US, EU reject Brazil’s call for climate equity metric (via Bloomberg)

US envoys told to block climate compensation plans at UN (via RTCC)

COAL 

China’s smog threatens health of global coal projects (via Reuters)

Tennessee Valley Authority to close eight large coal-fired power plants (via Washington Post)

Coal-free power from Constellation will save Chicago $1.2 million over two years (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Global PV module pricing to stay flat in 2014, polysilicon pricing to increase 25% (via Greentech Media)

Bonds backed by solar power payments get nod (via New York Times)

US EPA to unveil biofuel rules as soon as Friday (via Reuters)

32 US senators urge administration to support US biodiesel (via National Journal)

Clean Energy Pipeline reports US clean tech project investment falloff (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Google to invest in six more large solar panel farms in the Southwest US (via GigaOm)

Arizona preserves net metering by charging a small fee to solar owners (via Greentech Media)

Clean energy adds jobs, growth to Michigan and New York (via EarthTechling)

Top 10 things you didn’t know about concentrating solar power (via Breaking Energy)

Are solar panels facing the wrong direction? (via Greentech media)

OIL 

Bakken oil production forecast to top 1 million barrels per day in December (via US EIA)

Exxon overlooked, masked safety threats in years before Pegasus pipeline burst (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Study: US drivers have fewer cars, drive them less, use less gas (via Green Car Reports)

Can California charge ahead to one million EVs within ten years? (via CleanTechnica)

EPA chief: Fuel mandate safe for cars (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gas exports could put nation in “danger zone,” trade group tells Moniz (via Houston Chronicle)

Colorado’s new fracking bans may be on shaky legal ground (via Denver Business Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Japan slashes climate reduction target amid nuclear shutdown (via BBC News)

California approves offsets to ease compliance with carbon rules (via Sacramento Bee)

California court upholds state’s right to sell carbon permits (via Reuters)

California marks first anniversary of cap-and-trade (via Energy Collective)

NUCLEAR 

Last shipment of nuclear fuel from Russian bombs heads to US (via New York Times)

In Illinois, nuclear industry sees no urgency on waste storage (via Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE 

Panel warns of “catastrophic” gap in weather satellite data (via Climate Central)

Want to piss off the White House? Talk about climate change (via Mother Jones)

Delaware governor links typhoon and climate change (via Politico)

GRID 

CEOs of 16 largest power grid operators call for greater investment in reliability and resilience (via Renew Grid)

Tennessee Valley Authority move demonstrates market for Clean Line project (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

These maps show where the Earth’s forests are vanishing (via Washington Post)

Amazon deforestation increases by nearly a third in one year (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

Obama filling out energy team (via The Hill)

Chief of Natural Resources Defense Council to retire in 2014 (via The Hill)

The four most frustrating moments from Thursday’s EPA hearing (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

Is nuclear power the answer? (via New York Times)

Five ways buildings have reached a “GREEN” tipping point (via GreenBiz)

Variety is critical to growing EV charging market (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, arizona, Arkansas, Bakken Shale, barack obama, biodiesel, biofuel, Brazil, california, cap and trade, chicago, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, Constellation, COP 19, csp, deforestation, Delaware, department of energy, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exxon, fracking, Frances Beineke, google, green building, green jobs, grid, Illinois, Jack Markell, japan, michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Natural Resources Defense Council, Net metering, new york state, News, nrdc, nuclear, nuclear waste, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, Smog, solar, solar pv, Tennessee Valley Authority, Transportation
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12
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.12.13

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

CLIMATE 

Countries look to lay foundation for global pact at climate change summit (via Washington Post)

IPCC corrects carbon figures in landmark UN climate report (via The Guardian)

Researchers find tie between global precipitation and global warming (via Phys.org)

A climate jolt to complacency on food supply (via New York Times)

UN climate deal must be “tailored” to fit US and China (via RTCC)

Climate change report depicts a planet in peril (via Los Angeles Times)

US Chamber urges support for bill to thwart EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Your city council may be a secret climate change hero (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Shale’s effect on oil supply is not expected to last (via New York Times)

IEA says US to surpass Saudi Arabia as top oil producer by 2016 (via Reuters)

For OPEC, don’t call it a comeback (via The Hill)

In North Atlantic, world’s largest oil platform is getting a twin (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

German wind industry says too early for panic on subsidy cuts (via Bloomberg)

IEA says China will lead renewable energy output boom (via Recharge)

India to invite bids for 1 gigawatt solar plant (via Bloomberg)

The secret, dirty cost of Obama’s green power push (via AP)

Tea Party’s green faction fights for solar in red states (via Bloomberg)

Ethanol producers nervously await EPA ruling on 2014 target (via National Journal)

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack: “I don’t know” if ethanol helps climate (via The Hill)

Turning point for renewable energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Veterans and the clean energy workforce: The opportunity of a century (via Greentech Media)

Vanderbilt proposes building energy storage into solar cells (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislative glitch means Illinois not meeting solar energy goals (via Chicago Tribune)

COAL 

Report: TVA coal plants polluting groundwater (via USA Today)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Estimating appliance and home electronic energy use (via Energy.gov)

Planning for home renewable energy systems (via Energy.gov)

Home Depot will trade in your energy-wasting Christmas lights for LEDs (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS 

US Northeast grows increasingly reliant on natural gas for power generation (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

IKEA promises rollout of EV chargers at all UK stores by end of 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

EMISSIONS 

Bay Area pledges to slash greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 (via Mongabay)

GRID 

Utilities, regulators seek truce in net metering fight (via Navigant Research)

Installed smart meter base will surpass 1 billion by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

OPINION 

Why Obama can’t fix climate change (via National Journal)

The next big renewable energy innovation won’t be technological – it will be financial (via The Atlantic)

The case for ARPA-E: Government’s role in bridging the Valley of Death (via Energy Collective)

Climate change didn’t cause Supertyphoon Haiyan – but the storm is still a reason to fight warming (via Time)

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

Posted:   |   Categories: ARPA-E, barack obama, Carbon budget, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EV charger, FERC, global warming, grid, Home Depot, IEA, Ikea, Illinois, india, IPCC, LED, natural gas, Net metering, News, offshore drilling, oil, OPEC, renewables, saudi arabia, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, Subsidy, tea party, Tom Vilsack, Transportation, TVA, Typhoon Haiyan, uk, united kingdom, wind
0
29
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.29.13

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

CLIMATE 

EU environment ministers call for “ambitious” 2030 climate goals (via The Guardian)

North American West Coast governments sign climate change pact (via CleanTechnica)

Bipartisan Congressional duo launch attack on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

A year after Sandy, living dangerously by the sea (via Time)

COAL 

China’s largest city Shanghai to ban coal by 2017 (via Mongabay)

The county council election that could make or break big coal (via Mother Jones)

Top 5 coal producing states – TX, OH, PA, IN, IL – will decide coal’s future (via Facts of the Day)

Consol to sell 5 West Virginia mines as coal regulations increase (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

20GW distributed solar by 2015 is new target for China (via CleanTechnica)

Germany hits 59% renewable peak, grid does not explode (via Greentech Media)

Startups compete to defeat the “soft costs” of solar power (via Business Green)

US homeowners want solar, find two new reports (via Renewable Energy World)

AAA applauds potential renewable fuel scale back (via National Journal)

Wind in Texas produces more electricity than natural gas does in 40 states (via Facts of the Day)

Energy innovation in the states: From energy storage to offshore wind (via Energy Collective)

NFL’s 49ers, Rams go solar (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Trains gain steam in race to transport crude oil in the US (via NPR)

Millions of Americans live within one mile of oil or gas wells (via InsideClimate News/Wall Street Journal)

State Department to determine how much oil would ship by rail in absence of Keystone XL (via National Journal)

California fracking study may take 18 months, Brown says (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China adapts its electric vehicle plans to challenging realities (via Plugin Cars)

Tesla Superchargers now allow San Diego-to-Vancouver EV trips (via Green Car Reports)

How EVs could drive changes in power grid management (via Forbes)

Coca-Cola reveals plans for electric and hybrid distribution fleet (via RTCC)

TAR SANDS 

People who live downwind of Alberta’s tar sands operations are getting blood cancer (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

China to monitor air pollution effects in cities (via Bloomberg)

Decarbonization target narrowly defeated in UK House of Lords vote (via Business Green)

Japan to set 3.8% emissions reduction by 2020 goal (via RTCC)

Voters in 2014 swing states favor EPA carbon rules (via The Hill)

New battle in “War on Coal” with bill to block power plant rules (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Fossil fuels divestment campaign is gathering momentum (via The Guardian)

Uncertainty and investment: The real danger to the coal industry (via Energy Collective)

States will need coordination, creativity to meet EV goals (via C2ES)

Weatherization helps millions of families save energy and money (via Energy.gov)

Deadbeat states on electric car policy (via Plugin Cars)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, Alberta, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Consol, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Hurricane Sandy, hybrid, Illinois, indiana, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, pennsylvania, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Shanghai, solar, Solar soft costs, State Department, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, War on Coal, Weatherization, West Virginia, wind
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13
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

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

COAL 

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

California passes 600MW shared renewables program (via CleanTechnica)

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

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

Global warming’s denier elite (via Rolling Stone)

KEYSTONE XL 

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

GRID 

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

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

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

GREEN BUSINESS 

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

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

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

ENERGY POLICY 

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

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

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

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

OPINION 

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

Global warming is very real (via Rolling Stone)

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

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, arizona, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Demand response, DOE, drought, Eagle take, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, FERC, fracking, global warming, Great Plains, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hydropower, IEA, Illinois, Kentucky, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, norway, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, PJM, renewables, Rural electric cooperative, Russia, Shared renewables, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, south carolina, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, Water scarcity
0
13
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

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

COAL 

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

California passes 600MW shared renewables program (via CleanTechnica)

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

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

Global warming’s denier elite (via Rolling Stone)

KEYSTONE XL 

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

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

OIL 

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

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

GRID 

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

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

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

GREEN BUSINESS 

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

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

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

ENERGY POLICY 

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

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

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

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

OPINION 

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

Global warming is very real (via Rolling Stone)

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

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

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

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, arizona, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Demand response, DOE, drought, Eagle take, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, FERC, fracking, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hydropower, IEA, Illinois, Kentucky, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, norway, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, PJM, renewables, Rural electric cooperative, Russia, Shared renewables, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, south carolina, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, Water scarcity
0
04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
0
04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
0
13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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13
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.13.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China will spend roughly the GDP of Hong Kong to fight air pollution (via Washington Post)

Dumping Australia’s carbon price would drive up power bills (via Renew Economy)

US 2013 carbon emissions up 4% - nearly double EIA projections (via Facts of the Day)

Electric co-ops come out swinging against Obama emissions plan (via The Hill)

Carbon offsets plan stirs up controversy in California (via Grist)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental, First Nations groups question safety of TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

College students, clergy denounce Keystone XL at State Department (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar module market looking up due to Japan (via Reuters)

India may decide on solar dumping case next week (via Bloomberg)

100% of new Australian power plants are wind or solar (via Renew Economy)

HyRef technology revolutionizes renewable energy forecasting (via CleanTechnica)

NanoTags used to site offshore wind turbines away from bird populations (via Sustainable Business)

Iowa approves MidAmerican 1.05GW wind energy plan (via Recharge)

Environmental attacks on wind power keep coming, with New England the eye of the storm (via Facts of the Day)

The intermittency of wind and solar: is it only intermittently a problem? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico president submits bill to end country’s oil monopoly (via Houston Chronicle)

China looks to further open crude oil import market (via Reuters)

BP sues US government over suspension from new federal contracts (via Houston Chronicle)

My week in oil boom country (via National Journal)

Water demand falls in North Dakota shale oil patch (via Dickinson Press)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE commits to unleashing delayed efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Columbia University saves $700,000 a year via energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

Tips to save power (and money) in the summer heat (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubles coal consumption in July after starting new units (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal and union reach a deal on cutbacks (via New York Times)

Do Illinois coal-fired plants have a future? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Push to form a Minneapolis public utility slows down (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

GRID 

UK government to announce new energy storage “catapult” (via BusinessGreen)

DoD spars with BLM over SunZia transmission route, possible impacts to New Mexico missile range (via Greenwire)

Everything you ever wanted to know about electricity storage (via Breaking Energy)

CLIMATE 

What the melting Arctic means for the world’s economy (via GreenBiz)

New map reveals how prepared UK cities are for climate change (via Phys.org)

Timing a rise in sea level (via New York Times)

Cutting soot and methane may not give hoped-for climate help (via Reuters)

Flood insurance prices surge (via Wall Street Journal)

Typhoon Utor swamps Philippines, heads for southern China (via Washington Post)

Meet the companies that are going to get rich from global warming (via The Verge)

UK farmers report increase in extreme weather (via RTCC)

OFA: “Gravity exists. The Earth is round. Climate change is happening.” (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Elon Musk unveils plans for hyperloop high-speed train (via New York Times)

Will 2040 see all non-hybrids banned from British roads? (via Green Car Reports)

EV charger manufacturer Ecototality says may file for bankruptcy (via Reuters)

What if everyone plugs in their cars at once? (via Seattle Times)

OPINION 

How bright is renewable energy’s future? (via National Journal)

Bureaucrats, not Big Oil, stand in the way of a solar future (via Quartz)

A hyperloop might be far more expensive than Elon Musk thinks (via Washington Post)

Hyperloop faces technical hurdles (via Navigant Research)

Why do Californians use less electricity than everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Cuomo: Look beyond fracking in New York State (via Albany Times-Union)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, blm, BP, Bureau of Land Management, california, cap and trade, carbon offsets, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, Defense Department, DoD, DOE, Ecototality, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy East, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enrique Pena Nieto, ev, Extreme weather, Flood, Flood insurance, fracking, grid, high speed rail, Hong Kong, hybrid, Hyperloop, Illinois, india, intermittency, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, MidAmerican, Minneapolis, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Patriot Coal, Philippines, Pipeline, renewables, Renewables forecasting, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Soot, tar sands, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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02
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.2.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

As Keystone stalls, TransCanada OKs bigger East Coast line (via Reuters)

TransCanada to build $300 million New Brunswick tar sands export terminal (via Reuters)

Enviros target Keystone in new pipeline spill video (via Politico)

CLIMATE 

Study: hotter temperatures lead to hotter tempers, more conflict (via AP)

Heat-related deaths in Australia set to quadruple by 2050 (via Climate Progress)

Greenland hits highest temperature ever, almost 80 degrees (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

EU approves China solar deal, no state votes against (via Reuters)

Solar PV about to enter “third growth phase” – Deutsche Bank (via CleanTechnica)

Cuba’s first solar farm a step toward renewables (via Phys.org)

UK bets on offshore wind boom (via Recharge)

Azerbaijan aims to boost renewable energy output to 9.7% total demand (via Renewable Energy World)

ARPA-E announces different path for solar innovation (via Innovation Files)

Matching renewable power, worth billions, to load (via Navigant Research)

Solar energy could supply one-third of power in US West (via Phys.org)

2.8 acres of land generate 1GWh of solar energy per year, says NREL (via Energy Manager Today)

Utility Xcel wants to grow wind portfolio by 30% (via Renew Grid)

Deepwater Wind wins America’s first offshore wind competitive lease sale (via CleanTechnica)

Arizona mulls solar tax (via Sustainable Business)

COAL 

Moniz: coal commitment is part of US national energy strategy (via Huffington Post/AP)

Lummi Nation’s stance could stop proposed Washington coal terminal (via Bellingham Herald)

Scope of Gateway Pacific analysis is bad news for coal industry (via Sightline Daily)

Southern Company vows to continue Mississippi “clean coal” plant despite mounting losses (via ClimateWire)

Will another Illinois coal plant bite the dust? (via Midwest Energy News)

EFFICIENCY 

Japan’s appetite for demand response awakens (via Energy Collective)

America’s most unpopular way of saving energy is one of Europe’s favorites (via Outlier)

EPA to publish companies’ water data (via Environmental Leader)

Washington DC wants to lead the nation in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Washington DC launches real-time building energy data project (via GigaOm)

NUCLEAR 

Duke Energy shelves major nuclear project in Florida (via Reuters)

Exelon not yet bailing on any of its nuclear reactors (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

Two Missouri universities set to research small modular nuclear reactors (via AP)

GRID 

Companies launch Europe’s largest energy storage trial (via Renew Grid)

Germany rejects EU smart meter recommendations on cost concerns (via Bloomberg)

Connecticut funds statewide microgrid pilot program (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

US oil reserves rise to highest level since 1985 (via Washington Post)

Interior Department meets with oil execs about Gulf accidents (via Houston Chronicle)

Decades-old defect caused Exxon’s Arkansas oil spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

During domestic drilling boom, why are gas prices still high? (via StateImpact Texas)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,788, Nissan Leaf up to 1,864 in July (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Ernest Moniz: natural gas helps battle climate change – for now (via The Hill)

Insurance issues loom over shale gas development (via EnergyWire)

Scientists, industry, regulators struggle with suspect math of natural gas leaks (via ClimateWire)

Natural gas price increase jumps wholesale electricity prices up to 101% (via Facts of the Day)

EMISSIONS 

Australian emissions target should be 15% by 2020, says Climate Change Authority (via The Guardian)

Japan’s power companies miss their CO2 pledge (via Reuters Point Carbon)

How data centers make high returns from low carbon (via GreenBiz)

Climate Catch-22: how a carbon tax could save coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico president to present energy reform next week (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

70% of Nebraska now in considerable drought (via Omaha World-Herald)

To avoid killing birds with wind turbines, researchers track flight patterns off Maine coast (via Bangor Daily News)

POLITICS 

Right’s new attack on clean energy detailed (via EarthTechnling)

Carbon tax vote looms in House of Representatives (via The Hill)

US lawmakers vote to thwart EPA move on social cost of carbon (via The Hill)

Sally Jewell doesn’t want any climate deniers at Interior (via Grist)

OPINION 

A Republican case for climate action (via New York Times)

How clean energy victory bonds can power our future (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, Arkansas, ARPA-E, australia, Azerbaijan, canada, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Connecticut, Cuba, data center, deepwater wind, Demand response, Deutsche Bank, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, Exelon, Exxon, Florida, fracking, germany, global warming, greenland, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, Maine, Methane leakage, mexico, Microgrid, Mississippi, Missouri, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, natural gas, Nebraska, New Brunswick, News, nissan LEAF, NREL, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Small modular nuclear reactor, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Southern Company, tar sands, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington DC, Washington State, wind, xcel
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