Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
When CO2 levels doubled 55 million years ago, Earth may have warmed 9 degrees F in 13 years (via Climate Progress)
Carbon markets 16 times cheaper than renewable aid, OECD says (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
UK shale drillers offered water cheaper than residents (via Bloomberg)
EIA raises 2013 US natgas production, demand (via Reuters)
Some foes of fracking reach out to drillers on safety (via National Journal)
GRID
US smart grid could save each consumer $100 annually (via Energy Manager Today)
15 European national power markets set to link in search for best price (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
UK plans to increase solar power eight-fold by 2020 (via Bloomberg)
Renewable energy is taking a beating in Spain (via New York Times)
At what point will small-scale solar energy storage become viable? (via CleanTechnica)
Wind turbine blade maker ramps up in US (via Breaking Energy)
Oil industry sues EPA over Renewable Fuel Standard (via The Hill)
AWEA sees strong 2014 for US wind (via Recharge)
Boom and bust in New Jersey SREC market (via Renewable Energy World)
Inside DOE, one of world’s biggest clean energy finance shops is back in business (via InsideClimate News)
CLIMATE
OECD: “No bailout” for climate threat (via BBC News)
80% of ecosystems vulnerable to climate change, finds study (via Yale e360)
IMF director Lagarde sounds warning on climate action (via The Hill)
World Bank and IMF stress urgency of climate action (via RTCC)
Alaska sinks as climate change thaws permafrost (via Des Moines Register)
After Sandy, group calls for federal fund to deal with extreme weather (via Star-Ledger)
COAL
Peak coal in China, or a long and high plateau? (via Energy Collective)
150 plants retired: Another major milestone in moving beyond coal (via Grist)
New England’s largest coal-fired plant is shutting down (via Climate Progress)
ENERGY POLICY
Official says Mexican energy reform will require new laws (via Houston Chronicle)
40% of utilities predict “complete transformation” by 2030 (via Greentech Media)
Keystone XL’s not the only cross-border energy fight (via Greenwire)
The South’s new power push: Natural gas and tiny nukes (via Climate Central)
Eight practical local energy policies to boost the economy (via CleanTechnica)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sports beginning to see the energy-efficient light (via New York Times)
New York City apartment dwellers can compare energy, water use online (via Sustainable Business)
San Francisco public buildings’ energy use down 3.6% from 2011 (via Energy Manager Today)
OIL
Analyst predicts growing North American production unless oil falls to $60 (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
EVs find a growing market in China (via Navigant Research)
California backs hydrogen stations in a big way (via EarthTechling)
NUCLEAR
Report says a shortage of nuclear ingredient looms (via New York Times)
EU energy guidelines leave out nuclear in blow for Britain (via Reuters)
Nuclear plants vexed at prices that shift as demand does (via New York Times)
Small nuclear-fossil fuel reactors attracting attention but not capital (via Forbes)
POLITICS
Germany’s Greens elect new leaders before talks with Merkel (via Reuters)
Poll: Plurality of Virginians favor EPA climate rule (via Politico)
OPINION
Carbon emissions explained, with my son’s Legos (via Energy Collective)
US can still be the world’s solar manufacturing leader (via Sustainable Business)
Three models that could help utilities make money from solar (via Greentech Media)
The Model S fire was a good thing for Tesla (via Plugin Cars)