interior department | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2^nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, amazon, barack obama, biomass, BNSF, Brazil, canada, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, denmark, Duke, ecuador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, green building, grid, Illinois, interior department, japan, John Kaisich, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, los angeles, Marcia McNutt, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, NREL, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, tar sands, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, usda, Wildfire, wind, wind turbine

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.14 share

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

COAL

Washington State coal export project to get sweeping enviro review, including climate change impacts (via InsideClimate News/AP)

Columbia River coal export terminal gets key state permits, but a new hurdle is added (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina regulators seek delay on Duke Energy deal after coal ash spill (via Los Angeles Time)

North Carolina to create coal ash task force (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal (via Reuters)

Coral off Western Australia suffers shocking damage from marine heat waves (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES

China confirms 14GW of solar incentives for 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar storage from used EV batteries set for testing in Japan (via Renew Economy)

Interior Department releases first national interactive map of onshore wind turbines (via Anchorage Daily News)

Five incubators shaping the future of green business (via EcoBusiness)

Report: Ethanol’s role could diminish as biofuels grow (via Houston Chronicle)

Giant wind farm plan raises alarm about eagle deaths (via National Journal)

U.S. solar sector jobs rest on a foundation of low-cost solar panels (via Solar Industry)

The non-impact of wind turbines on property values (via EarthTechling)

Solar industry a winning bet for $1.3 billion Skagen Fund (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s interconnection nightmare and why it matters to the U.S. residential PV industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar Coin – a crypto currency designed to stimulate solar energy production (via Resilience)

NASCAR on a green roll with new ACORE partnership (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Keystone comments rushing into State Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline records sought in Sierra Club suit (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE

Church of England vows to fight “great demon” of climate change (via The Guardian)

Olympians speak out on climate change as Sochi warms up (via USA Today)

Are big banks fueling global warming? (via National Journal)

Despite costs, most Americans want action on climate change, says report (via Yale e360)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

EPA steps into fray over fracking with diesel (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS

Danish parties back 40% carbon reduction target (via RTCC)

New poll: Most Republicans want to regulate carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Chevrolet starts buying carbon credits from colleges if they lower emissions (via Climate Progress)

It’s lonely in the carbon tax trenches, but a warrior digs in (via ClimateWire)

OIL

North Dakota oil spill cleanup to last at least two more years (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

New York State rolls out energy efficiency innovation collaborative (via Breaking Energy)

Opower has quietly filed for its long-awaited IPO (via GigaOm)

POLITICS

New head of Senate Energy Committee has environmentalists seeing red (via Washington Post)

OPINION

The right risk partner makes the difference in renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Is Keystone worth the fight? (via New York Times)

Mapping the United States’ wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted: | Categories: ACORE, australia, biofuels, Brazil, Carbon credits, carbon tax, China, Church of England, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal export, denmark, diesel, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, fracking, global warming, Hawaii, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, Nascar, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, Olympics, Opower, renewables, sierra club, Skagen Fund, solar, Solar Coin, State Department, tar sands, Washington State, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.14 share

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

COAL

Washington State coal export project to get sweeping enviro review, including climate change impacts (via InsideClimate News/AP)

Columbia River coal export terminal gets key state permits, but a new hurdle is added (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina regulators seek delay on Duke Energy deal after coal ash spill (via Los Angeles Time)

North Carolina to create coal ash task force (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal (via Reuters)

Coral off Western Australia suffers shocking damage from marine heat waves (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES

China confirms 14GW of solar incentives for 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar storage from used EV batteries set for testing in Japan (via Renew Economy)

Interior Department releases first national interactive map of onshore wind turbines (via Anchorage Daily News)

Five incubators shaping the future of green business (via EcoBusiness)

Report: Ethanol’s role could diminish as biofuels grow (via Houston Chronicle)

Giant wind farm plan raises alarm about eagle deaths (via National Journal)

U.S. solar sector jobs rest on a foundation of low-cost solar panels (via Solar Industry)

The non-impact of wind turbines on property values (via EarthTechling)

Solar industry a winning bet for $1.3 billion Skagen Fund (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s interconnection nightmare and why it matters to the U.S. residential PV industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar Coin – a crypto currency designed to stimulate solar energy production (via Resilience)

NASCAR on a green roll with new ACORE partnership (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Keystone comments rushing into State Department (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline records sought in Sierra Club suit (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE

Church of England vows to fight “great demon” of climate change (via The Guardian)

Olympians speak out on climate change as Sochi warms up (via USA Today)

Are big banks fueling global warming? (via National Journal)

Despite costs, most Americans want action on climate change, says report (via Yale e360)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

EPA steps into fray over fracking with diesel (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS

Danish parties back 40% carbon reduction target (via RTCC)

New poll: Most Republicans want to regulate carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Chevrolet starts buying carbon credits from colleges if they lower emissions (via Climate Progress)

It’s lonely in the carbon tax trenches, but a warrior digs in (via ClimateWire)

OIL

North Dakota oil spill cleanup to last at least two more years (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

New York State rolls out energy efficiency innovation collaborative (via Breaking Energy)

Opower has quietly filed for its long-awaited IPO (via GigaOm)

POLITICS

New head of Senate Energy Committee has environmentalists seeing red (via Washington Post)

OPINION

The right risk partner makes the difference in renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Is Keystone worth the fight? (via New York Times)

Mapping the United States’ wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted: | Categories: ACORE, australia, biofuels, Brazil, Carbon credits, carbon tax, chevrolet, China, Church of England, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal export, denmark, diesel, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, fracking, global warming, Hawaii, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, Mary Landrieu, Nascar, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, Olympics, Opower, renewables, sierra club, Skagen Fund, solar, State Department, tar sands, Washington State, wind

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.27.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

Worries in the path of China’s air (via New York Times)

Rethinking how to split the costs of carbon (via New York Times)

Bill McKibben’s graph of the year: We’re extracting more fossil fuels than ever (via Washington Post)

Appellate court to hear arguments on Christie’s removal of NJ from RGGI (via Bergen Record)

TAR SANDS

Alberta’s tar sands will now be regulated by fossil fuel-funded group (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES

Scotland hits 100MW solar PV milestone (via Recharge)

The $100 million green bond from Hannon Armstrong (via Greentech Media)

US solar panel manufacturers get a gift from US military (via Public Radio International)

Is the Interior Department’s eagle plan good for the birds? (via Greenwire)

How one Austin church could lead to more urban solar power (via StateImpact Texas)

Shady critics attack Cape Wind effort (via Providence Journal)

OIL

2013 US oil boom is biggest-ever one-year increase (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

American utilities face perfect storm (via Energy Manager Today)

Utilities feeling rooftop solar heat start fighting back (via Bloomberg)

California ISO, CPUC will jointly plan for a clean energy grid (via Renew Grid)

CLIMATE

German researchers calculate how climate change affects water scarcity and hunger (via Deutsche Welle)

FEMA knew flood maps left NYC unprepared for Sandy (via Climate Central)

GREEN BUILDING

Green infrastructure investments increase commercial property value (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Heliotrope: The world’s first energy positive solar home (via Inhabitat)

TRANSPORTATION

New gas tax can help pay for roads and transportation (via Washington Post)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, Austin, Bill McKibben, Cal-ISO, california, California ISO, California Public Utilities Commission, canada, cape wind, China, Chris Christie, climate, CPUC, emissions, FEMA, Flood, Gas tax, Gasoline, germany, green building, grid, interior department, new jersey, New York City, News, offshore wind, oil, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Scotland, Shale oil, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Water scarcity, wind

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.18.13 share

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

CLIMATE

EU needs international climate finance roadmap (via Reuters)

November temperatures set new global high, says NOAA (via CNN)

Water scarcity escalating due to climate change, says report (via The Hill)

2013 in review: A year of increasing extreme weather events (via The Guardian)

Obama and climate change: The real story (via Rolling Stone)

11 US cities tapped to spur “climate resiliency” action worldwide (via InsideClimate News)

OIL

Shale well depletion raises questions over US oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Report: Taxpayers not getting fair return from drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

Without exports, US could face oil supply glut in 2015 (via Breaking Energy)

Interior Department has stopped trying to raise drilling royalty rates (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES

Tony Abbott could scrap Australia’s renewables target (via RTCC)

Merkel rejects EU probe of Germany’s green energy incentives (via Bloomberg)

Canadian solar surging on sales of power projects (via Bloomberg)

Mexico will be hottest solar market in Latin America, despite huge Chile project pipeline (via Greentech Media)

UK approves plans for major offshore wind hub project (via Recharge)

Study shows rooftop solar adds thousands to home resale values (via CleanTechnica)

US DOE invests $13 million into domestic solar manufacturing (via CleanTechnica)

Turbine noise can be heard from just 3% of wind farms (via The Guardian)

A struggle to balance wind energy with wildlife (via New York Times)

Wind power rivals coal with $1 billion order from Buffett (via Bloomberg)

Ohio and Michigan partner for clean energy manufacturing (via CBS News)

Construction begins on Cape Wind offshore wind farm (via Cape Cod Times)

Move over wind – solar energy market “exploding” in Iowa (via Midwest Energy News)

Kansas renewable energy target under fire again in state legislature (via Lawrence Journal-World)

US shifts offshore wind gaze to Maryland (via Renewable Energy World)

Pentagon report says market forces shifted rare earth availability (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL

TransCanada to start oil shipments on Keystone XL southern leg in January (via Houston Chronicle)

House budget chief looks to tie Keystone XL to debt-ceiling vote (via The Hill)

GRID

Utility-scale battery storage costs could be competitive with gas within 18 months (via Renew Economy)

US net metering set to grow, but effect on electric utilities uncertain (via Reuters)

USDA providing $1.8 billion in funding for rural electric utilities (via Renew Grid)

California ISO unveils roadmap to smarter, stronger grid (via BusinessWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Britain opens door to more shale gas drilling (via New York Times)

Outlook suggests green light for more gas exports (via EnergyWire)

USGS study: Methane common in southern New York State groundwater (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION

Will biofuels do better in aviation than anywhere else? (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla gets $34.7 million tax break to boost manufacturing in California (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Shaheen fights to recharge energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)

Infographic guide to buying energy-efficient light bulbs (via Inhabitat)

NUCLEAR

Right-sized reactors breathing new life into nuclear energy (via Forbes)

OPINION

Can the American wind energy industry survive without the PTC? (via Energy Collective)

It doesn’t take much global warming to drive water scarcity way up (via Climate Progress)

How wind power could beat out natural gas (via EarthTechling)

Could 2014 be the year of the battery? (via Renew Economy)

Are taxpayers getting their fair share of oil royalties? (via National Journal)

Four ways climate change is transforming our winters (via C2ES)

Posted: | Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, barack obama, battery, Bill McKibben, biofuels, CaISO, california, California ISO, canada, cape wind, CFL, Chile, climate, Climate Change, Climate resiliency, department of energy, DOE, Energy Efficiency, Extreme weather, fracking, Gas exports, germany, global warming, grid, interior department, Iowa, Jeanne Shaheen, kansas, Keystone XL, LED, maryland, massachusetts, methane, mexico, michigan, natural gas, Net metering, new york, News, noaa, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Paul Ryan, production tax credit, ptc, Rare earths, renewables, rooftop solar, Shaheen-Portmann, Shale oil, solar, Tesla, Tony Abbott, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, usda, usgs, warren buffett, Water scarcity, wind, Wind turbine noise

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13 share

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

OIL

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Posted: | Categories: Alps, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, Backloading, british columbia, california, california air resources board, cap and trade, CARB, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ethanol, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, fracking, global warming, google, grid, Hawaii, Hydropower, india, interior department, Kinder Morgan, LED, mexico, michigan, Missouri, natural gas, new york, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oregon, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, smart meters, solar, tar sands, Tar sands imports, Tesla, Tesla Model E, transmission, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wisconsin

Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13 share

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

OIL

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.21.13 share

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

COP 19

Turmoil at COP 19 as blame game heats up (via Yahoo! News/AP)

Deep division as climate talks enter final stretch (via Phys.org)

China clashes with US & EU on roles in new climate deal (via Bloomberg)

EU denies attempt to hide greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)

Poland, while hosting COP 19 conference, sacks environment chief (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL

Report tallies $35 billion in public funds for overseas coal plants since 2007 (via The Hill)

Coal seen as new tobacco, sparking investor backlash (via Bloomberg)

UK joins US pledge to stop funding foreign coal power plants (via Bloomberg)

Coal’s challenge to the EPA (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES

UK solar industry facing job losses as household panels taper off (via The Guardian)

EU imposes duties on biodiesel from Argentina, Indonesia (via Reuters)

Net metering battle likely to shift to other fronts after Arizona clash (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Re-Powering America: Updated project tracking matrix and map (via US EPA)

Alstom unveils world’s largest offshore wind turbine (via BusinessGreen)

Solar fee defeated in Georgia Power rate case (via Renewable Energy World)

Key questions about the future for utility-scale solar industry (via Yale e360)

ENERGY POLICY

House passes bill to tighten onshore drilling permit deadlines (via National Journal)

Fossil fuel subsidies outstrip climate aid fivefold (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

Just 90 companies caused two-thirds of all manmade global emissions (via The Guardian)

Australia’s lower house votes to dump carbon tax after 18 months (via The Guardian)

Mexico to follow carbon tax with region’s first carbon offset market (via Triple Pundit)

States press EPA for flexibility in power plant emission rules (via The Hill)

University of Illinois students vote six to one for fossil fuel divestment (via Grist)

FRACKING

Fracking boom fractures the environmental movement (via National Journal)

House votes to block Interior Department from regulating fracking (via The Hill)

Fracking without freshwater at a West Texas oilfield (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Chevy Volt owners drive more electric miles than Nissan Leaf drivers (via Green Car Reports)

Just 10% of EV charging stations California promised in legal deal are ready (via Washington Post)

US launches investigation into Tesla Model S fires (via Reuters)

Toyota shows off fuel cell concept vehicle (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone won’t be finished until 2016 – here’s what that means (via National Journal)

Keystone foes seek to thwart oil sands exports by rail (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE

Report: Climate protection goal slipping away (via The Hill)

2015 is make-or-break year for UN process, says former climate czar (via ClimateWire)

Forests buffer the effects of climate change on plants (via Phys.org)

Members of Congress recruit pro sports leagues for climate push (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

More than 130 Members of Congress push Obama on energy efficiency extension (via The Hill)

Retailers save millions by curbing energy use (via Houston Chronicle)

A positive diagnosis: How hospitals are reducing their energy consumption (via GreenBiz)

Shaheen: Energy-efficiency bill could hit Senate floor soon (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT

US, Norway, UK pledge nearly $300 million to cut deforestation (via Bloomberg BNA)

Great Lakes recover substantial water levels (via New York Times)

OPINION

Why the UN climate talks keep breaking down in five simple charts (via Washington Post)

Explained in 90 seconds: Breaking the carbon budget (via Mother Jones)

Has demand response peaked in the Northeast US? (via Navigant Research)

Carbon capture and storage is coal’s pipe dream (via Energy Collective)

Posted: | Categories: Alstom, Argentina, arizona, australia, biodiesel, california, Carbon bubble, Carbon budget, Carbon market, carbon offsets, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, coal, COP 19, deforestation, Demand response, Divestment, DOI, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, EV chargers, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Georgia, Georgia Power, Great Lakes, Illinois, Indonesia, interior department, Jeanne Shaheen, Keystone XL, mexico, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, norway, offshore wind, Poland, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, solar, Subsidies, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, University of Illinois, wind

Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.20.13 share

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

COP 19

Poor countries walk out of UN climate talks as compensation row rumbles on (via The Guardian)

COP 19: Warsaw summit faces loss and damage deadlock (via BusinessGreen)

Four issues to watch as COP 19 wraps up (via World Resources Institute)

ENERGY POLICY

Interior Department announces $14.2 billion in energy revenue (via The Hill)

Colorado state regulator at the center of America’s fracking boom (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV dominates first year of Japan’s feed-in tariff (via Recharge)

Wind sets new generation records across US in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

Biofuels industry, allies push back against EPA decision (via The Hill)

Pecan Street study: West-facing solar panels better for summer’s peak power demand (via Austin Statesman)

Report: Stable policy key to Great Lakes offshore wind jobs (via Midwest Energy News)

$13 billion Ohio clean-energy bond submitted for ballot (via Columbus Dispatch)

Iowa utility plans state’s largest solar farm (via Daily Iowan)

Midwest transmission line developer seeks customers among wind-farm operators (via Wichita Eagle)

OIL

Saudi Arabia says welcomes us shale oil, sees no need to cut output (via Reuters)

BP builds its largest-ever drilling fleet in the Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

Global damage from extreme weather disasters set to break $200 billion a year (via Climate Progress)

Cost of climate change adaptation could destabilize African countries, warns UN (via The Guardian)

Warming seen worse as nations fail to meet carbon goals (via Reuters)

Three countries that are bailing on climate action (via Mother Jones)

US ranks 43^rd on climate policy – and Canada is even worse (via Mother Jones)

Some states ignore climate change in disaster plans, but coastal states are on alert (via ClimateWire)

Sunday’s tornado outbreak could be costliest November weather event in US history (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Colorado proposes historic air pollution regulations (via Climate Progress)

In Oklahoma, water, fracking, and a swarm of quakes (via Reuters)

On Colorado’s Front Range, fracking questions loom large (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS

Scientists, UN official warn of “unabated” coal use (via Climate Central)

Tsunami-blocking mangroves lure carbon investors to Southeast Asia (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL

TransCanada boosts Keystone XL cost estimate by $100 million (via Reuters)

Upgrading existing pipelines would create more jobs than building Keystone XL, says report (via Climate Progress)

TransCanada pushes Keystone XL pipeline start to 2016 (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Consumers have favorable views of EVs, but awareness remains low (via Navigant Research)

Nissan to boost production of battery-powered LEAF (via Plugin Cars)

More evidence American may have reached “peak car” (via Greentech Media)

Many consumers still unaware of EV incentives (via Green Car Reports)

Posted: | Categories: biofuels, BP, canada, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, colorado, COP 19, Electric Vehicle, emissions, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, fracking, global warming, Green bond, Gulf of Mexico, interior department, Iowa, japan, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oklahoma, Peak car, Pipelines, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, solar pv, TransCanada, Transportation, wind

Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.1.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

China, emerging economies “account for 48% of carbon emissions” (via The Guardian/Reuters)

Smaller rise in global CO2 emissions may be sign of permanent slowing (via Yale e360)

Labor party to challenge Australian carbon tax repeal (via Financial Review)

Netherlands town becomes first in Europe to vow fossil fuel divestment (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT

Russia, Ukraine halt giant Antarctic marine sanctuary plan (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell lays out US conservation strategy (via Washington Post)

Officials search for plan as California reservoirs drop below half capacity (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES

Wind turbine placement study yields staggering results (via EarthTechling)

Two US senators propose national renewable electricity standard (via Renew Grid)

Ethanol, oil groups blitz White House as biofuel rule nears (via Reuters)

More than 160 House members ask EPA to relax renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar goes big: Launching the California Valley Solar Ranch (via Energy.gov)

How a speedy ship could cut the cost of offshore wind power (via BusinessGreen)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Mexico unlikely to tap its Eagle Ford Shale, expert says (via Houston Chronicle)

Marcellus Shale fracking wells use 5 million gallons of water apiece (via Grist)

Kentucky, where fracking is a curse (via National Journal)

Fracking faces judgment day Tuesday in four Colorado ballot initiatives (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE

Climate change impacts to poor countries go far beyond money – report (via ClimateWire)

Pacific Ocean now warming 15x faster than in past 10,000 years (via Washington Post)

White House will focus on climate shifts while trying to cut emissions (via New York Times)

COAL

Poland, wedded to coal, spurns Europe on clean energy targets (via New York Times)

Coal country’s decline has a long history (via National Journal)

NUCLEAR

DOE Secretary Moniz offers Japan aid with Fukushima cleanup (via ABC News/AP)

OIL

German spy agency says US shale will depress oil prices for decades (via Reuters)

North Dakota lawmakers want to make all oil spills public (via Climate Progress)

Montana, US to seek damages from 2011 Exxon Mobil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla wins victory in Virginia, gets go-ahead to open store (via CleanTechnica)

Brookings: Cash for Clunkers was a lemon (via Politico)

TAR SANDS

Shell joins energy rush, green lights new Alberta oil sands project (via Globe and Mail)

POLITICS

Climate activists outspending big coal in crucial Washington State election (via Climate Progress)

Australia’s Labor Party signals carbon standoff by demanding emissions trading (via The Guardian)

OPINION

Carbon emissions tied to stock valuations? (via BusinessGreen)

Almost anything would have been better stimulus than “Cash for Clunkers” (via Washington Post)

How much did the feds really help with fracking? (via Forbes)

What’s been going on with the US smart grid investment grant program (via Renew Grid)

Category Archives:interior department

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