Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court approves Keystone XL route through Nebraska (via The Hill)

Keystone foes cite foreign oil users to undercut Republican push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Prepare for rising migration driven by climate change, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

U.S. hot streak now old enough to vote (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Solar took half of all global renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF (via PV Tech)

Rebound in clean energy investment beats expectations in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar investment surged an incredible 175% in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Key solar PV market trends in 2015: IHS (via PV Tech)

Deutsche Bank lowers PV market demand forecast for 2014-2015 (via PV Tech)

FiT and net-metering charges confirmed for Italian solar PV installations (via PV Tech)

Japan funding $779 in million energy-saving battery storage installations (via Bloomberg)

China clarifies plans for cuts to onshore wind FiT (via Recharge)

Brazil minister sees no changes to auction system for wind and solar (via Recharge)

Korean researchers deliver record 18.4% efficient perovskite solar cell (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy rising across all spheres of U.S. society (via TriplePundit)

Industry says wind saved consumers $1 billion during 2014 Polar Vortex (via Breaking Energy)

Sunrun Investec deal completes bumper week for U.S. residential PV investment (via PV Tech)

Colorado utility leads the way for community solar (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

How OPEC weaponized the price of oil against U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry group to score lawmakers’ energy votes (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump taking a toll on U.S. alternative fuels (via Reuters)

Mexico proposes historic crude oil swap with U.S. (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China plug-in EV sales target 336,000 units by end of 2015 (via Inside EVs)

European Leaf owners drive 50% more per year on average than gas-powered owners (via Green Car Congress)

House Speaker Boehner signals he’s opposed to gas tax hike (via The Hill)

Boston Power aims to rival Tesla with gigawatt battery factories (via Greentech Media)

West Coast electric highway serves thousands of EV drivers (via Green Car Reports)

EMISSIONS 

DOE project captures and stores one million metric tons of carbon (via Green Car Congress)

Xcel Energy plans 40% carbon emissions cut (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking data sought by environmental groups in EPA lawsuit (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

California issues roadmap for grid-connected energy storage technology (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

On energy efficiency, easy money not always an easy sell (via Midwest Energy News)

Chicago’s first benchmarking report showcases energy savings opportunities (via NRDC Switchboard)

POLITICS 

The anti-science climate denier caucus: 114th Congress edition (via Climate Progress)

Boxer retirement a big loss for environmentalists (via The Hill)

Steyer ally says California Senate run a possibility (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How falling oil prices will impact the economy and the Keystone XL debate (via Forbes)

In Keystone fight and beyond, infrastructure is energy policy (via InsideClimate News)

Why California needs to think differently about how it supports energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The point of the Keystone XL fight (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.14

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

CLIMATE

Research says latest international climate pledges still fall short of 2C goal (via ClimateProgress)

Europe’s record-hot year made 35 times more likely by climate change (via The Guardian)

New York, other major cities face more power outages thanks to climate change (via ClimateProgress)

Rutgers research shows climate change driving fish north (via Newark Star-Ledger)

NUCLEAR

Japan approves two new nuclear reactors (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Duties set by U.S. on imports of China, Taiwan solar goods (via Bloomberg)

New tariffs on Chinese solar-panel makers split the U.S. solar industry (via Greentech Media)

Beijing urges U.S. to be reasonable in search for trade settlement (via PV Tech)

David Cameron declares UK has “enough” onshore wind farms (via BusinessGreen)

British Columbia approves $7.5 billion hydropower dam (via Reuters)

Central America’s biggest wind farm gets $300 million from IFC (via Bloomberg)

Chile’s mines set hot pace on renewables – Australia should take notice (via Renew Economy)

Where does solar make sense? New state study shows big differences and surprises (via Breaking Energy)

NREL demonstrates 45.7% efficiency for solar cell (via NREL)

California approves major revisions in its Renewable Auction Mechanism (via Greentech Media)

Rural co-ops promise net metering but don’t always deliver (via Midwest Energy News)

Cape Wind will miss 2014 goal to close project financing (via Recharge)

Power options: Comparing costs of rooftop solar to traditional electricity (via WRI Insights)

Think tank proposes 40 options to change ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Staples California announces green energy offering for small businesses (via Environmental Leader)

EMISSIONS

Beijing reveals bottom-up approach to national carbon market (via RTCC)

Australia quietly re-instates a carbon-trading scheme (via Renew Economy)

Industry’s mercury challenge could undermine attack on EPA climate rule (via Greenwire)

A carbon pollution policy with all the fixins’ (via Sightline Daily)

California pensions should divest coal assets, says state senate leader (via Reuters)

Washington Governor proposes carbon tax to fund pressing transportation needs (via Huffington Post)

OIL

OPEC net oil export revenues expected to fall in 2014-2015 (via U.S. EIA)

An OPEC of the West? North American nations eye stronger oil and gas ties (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. talking oil exports just when the world needs it least (via Bloomberg)

Investors in beat-up oil bonds lean on banks for rescue (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

ABB-led consortium launches $10.5 million project to install EV fast chargers along key European highways (via Green Car Congress)

4,700 all-electric cars sold in Europe during October (via Inside EVs)

U.S. households to spend $550 less on gasoline in 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

California, Washington lead all other states in EV ownership rates (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

Utility distribution microgrids are expected to reach $6 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Developing a reliable wind “super grid” for Europe (via Phys.org)

Cautiously, private utilities dip toes into microgrid pool (via Navigant Research)

Will states take over demand response markets in the U.S.? (via Renewable Energy World)

PG&E testing new grid-scale battery system at $160 per kWh (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Italy says it will oppose EU plans to scrap environmental law (via The Guardian)

Obama withdraws Alaska’s Bristol Bay from drilling (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Top 10 universities taking the lead on sustainability worldwide (via EcoWatch)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working on more regulations than EPA (via Greenwire)

Rocky Mountain Institute, Carbon War Room join forces (via BusinessGreen)

Cutting the cord without blowing your power bill (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

POLITICS

McConnell says Keystone first item on GOP Senate agenda (via The Hill)

Lobbying of Hillary begins (via The Hill)

Jeb Bush may be “the smart brother” but he’s as much a climate denier as any conservative (via The Guardian)

Renewable energy companies use new clout in statehouses (via Stateline)

OPINION

Is India’s grand solar vision becoming reality? (via Renewable Energy World)

Plunging oil prices are doing Obama’s foreign policy for him (via Washington Post)

Protecting Bristol Bay was an easy call for Obama – the hard ones come next (via National Journal)

Should the price of oil really impact renewable energy adoption? (via Greentech Media)

In defense of Massachusetts: Why the Bay State is leading in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The real reason Tesla’s stock is tanking (via Huffington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.17.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Russia’s Putin threatens to reduce European gas supplies (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Winter unlikely to see repeat of frigid polar vortex (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

France signs agreement to build nuclear reactors in South Africa (via Yahoo! News/AFP)

UK’s Hinkley nuclear deal to face National Audit Office probe (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

Europe’s biggest solar bonds downgraded on Italy’s policy (via Bloomberg)

As Japan eyes nuclear restarts, renewables get shut out of grid (via Reuters)

India announces 15GW solar power purchase program (via Renewable Energy World)

China to phase out financial support for solar sector by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

JinkoSolar adds 200MW to China PV project pipeline (via PV Tech)

GTM Research expects equivalent of 25GW new polysilicon production by 2016 (via PV Tech)

Minneapolis utility fight ends with unique clean-energy deal (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Pacific islanders blockade Australian coal port to protest rising sea levels (via The Guardian)

Britain’s battered coal industry sees glimmer of hope in carbon capture (via Reuters)

For $20 million, a coal utility bought an Ohio town and a clean conscience (via The Atlantic)

EMISSIONS 

Qingdao prepares China’s 8th regional carbon market (via RTCC)

Sweden calls on EU to agree to 50% carbon cuts for 2030 (via RTCC)

Texas plant to capture, then reuse carbon (via New York Times)

OIL 

Falling oil prices shake up global economies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices plummet, Saudi Arabia faces a test of strategy (via New York Times)

Oil-by-rail fuels record U.S. imports of Canadian oil (via DeSmogBlog)

Shale oil boom helping American consumers like never before (via Bloomberg)

U.S. moves ahead with central Gulf of Mexico offshore auction (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Americans could waste $2.8 trillion stuck in traffic by 2030 (via Autoblog)

Tesla says first battery-swapping site will go live in December (via Green Car Reports)

11 more GM facilities worldwide go landfill-free; total rises to 122 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC investigating polar vortex impact on grid (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sao Paulo running out of water unless reserve tapped now (via Bloomberg)

U.S. plastic bottle recycling increases for 24th year (via Environmental Leader)

Whole Foods launches environmental ratings for its produce (via BusinessGreen)

Tornadoes increasingly coming in swarms in U.S., study says (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Neves closing campaign cash gap thanks to banks and ethanol (via Reuters)

OPINION 

PJM’s capacity market: Model to copy or avoid? (via Breaking Energy)

Why you should question the value proposition of energy storage (via Greentech Media)

We don’t, and can’t know how much it will cost to tackle climate change (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.25.14

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

CLIMATE 

New extreme temperature data underscores planet’s warming trend, say scientists (via InsideClimate News)

Community control of forests could help combat climate change (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal company pain accelerates as bankruptcy cases rise (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

China’s plan to limit coal use could spur consumption for years (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Solar revenues set to double worldwide by 2020, say analysts (via BusinessGreen)

The five best and worst utilities at renewables and efficiency (via Forbes)

SolarCity’s new $210 million securitized solar portfolio keeps capital flowing (via Greentech Media)

Study finds California can be powered with wind, water, and sun (via Phys.org)

Fifteen clean energy yieldcos: Company structure (via Renewable Energy World)

New UK study confirms some biomass is dirtier than coal (via NRDC Switchboard)

Biofuels are included in latest U.S. Navy bulk fuel procurement (via US EIA)

GRID 

China to invest €2 billion in Italy’s power grid (via Financial Times)

German utilities bail out electric grid at wind’s mercy (via Bloomberg)

New Jersey launches $200 million energy resilience bank for microgrids, distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Sweeping oil-by-rail announcements set stage for Bakken battle (via EnergyWire)

Massive influx of oil trains may be headed for Seattle (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Canada regulators welcome U.S. oil-by-rail ideas, say danger remains (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Study shows EPA rules a boon for Texas (via Bloomberg)

Supreme Court’s handling of visa case may be harbinger for EPA rule (via Greenwire)

EPA climate rule economically feasible, says study (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Satellites show major Southwest U.S. groundwater loss (via Wall Street Journal)

NOAA considers bluefin tuna fishing ban as population dips 95% (via Climate Progress)

California tries to measure water use as drought worsens (via Bloomberg)

Kudzu that ate U.S. South heads north as climate changes (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Here’s how American scientists plan to prevent the next nuclear disaster (via National Journal)

OPINION 

If you think wildfires are bad this year, wait until you see the bill (via Bloomberg)

Is the U.S. about to raise the ethanol mandate? (via The Hill)

Why value-added-taxes on solar power hinder progress on energy poverty (via Huffington Post)

How leaving RGGI leaves New Jersey behind (via Center for American Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.23.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

France launches €5 financing plan for clean energy transition (via Reuters)

Utilities unsure of future as environmental regs loom (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Yieldco returns in high demand from energy sector (via Financial Times)

Beyond the bank: A new peer-to-peer financing model connects investors to projects (via Greentech Media)

California wrestles with emerging energy business models (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Abbott revives proposal to scrap carbon-price levy (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

European Union mulls cutting energy use 35% by 2030 (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Off-grid, clean energy access market valued at $12 billion (via Energy Collective)

India power ministry seeks to reverse solar dumping duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan domestic solar shipments more than doubled in fiscal 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Australians want renewable energy target retained by 72% majority (via The Guardian)

Italy’s planned solar subsidy cuts risk scaring off investors (via Reuters)

Solar tariffs to boost prices of Chinese solar panels 14% (via Bloomberg)

Drifting off the coast of Portugal, the frontrunner in the global race for floating wind farms (via The Guardian)

U.S. water stress may drive shift to renewable power (via RTCC)

Renewable power initiative is stalling in San Francisco (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Solar at grid parity in Utah, a coal state with no renewable standard (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity’s acquisition of Silveo spurs rise in solar stocks (via CleanTechnica)

Despite funding setback, Lake Erie offshore wind project pushes ahead (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Pressure builds against France’s fracking ban (via Los Angeles Times)

LNG rally fading on new supply as nukes set to restart (via Bloomberg)

Higher U.S. natgas price needed to boost shale growth, says economist (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania ordered its health workers to never discuss fracking (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

Waves in the atmosphere fueling extreme weather (via Climate Central)

U.S. summer temperatures have risen up to five degrees since 1970 (via Yale e360)

U.S. mayors to use nature in climate change fight (via AP/ABC News)

COAL 

Rising German coal use imperils European emissions deal (via Bloomberg)

North Carolina residents worry over coal ash ponds (via USA Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Fears of EPA land grab create groundswell against water rule (via The Hill)

The White House wants to save America’s bees (via Time)

As California drought worsens, water use dips slightly (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

IEA: Unconventional oil boom to spread beyond North America by 2019 (via Houston Chronicle)

Russia needs U.S. technology to unlock $8.2 trillion oil trove (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla is world’s most important automaker, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla prepping Supercharger network for big growth across Europe (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla looks to fuel a battery revolution (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

Texas turns into testing ground for energy storage (via Texas Tribune)

NERC’s Summer Reliability Assessment highlights regional electricity capacity margins (via U.S. EIA)

OPINION 

The United States of drought (via Washington Post)

The RFS is broken and E85 is no solution (via Breaking Energy)

What the SolarCity-Silveo acquisition could mean (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Inside the vast liberal conspiracy (via Politico)

Democrats use climate change as wedge issue on Republicans (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Julian Castro is Obama’s newest climate denizen (via National Journal)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.25.14

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

COAL 

Netherlands to stop funding overseas coal power plants (via RTCC)

EPA’s coal ash rule still not done (via Politico)

Supreme Court declines to hear Arch Coal mining permit case against EPA (via Reuters)

Coal ash pods: How power companies get a “bypass” on pollution regulations (via National Geographic)

EPA joins North Carolina in probe of coal ash spill (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Japan approves 2014-2015 renewable energy FiT rates (via Recharge)

Italy, Spain, Germany hit commercial solar grid parity in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

India may see slow growth in new solar capacity additions (via Panchabuta)

Developers register 12GW potential Brazil wind projects for June auction (via Recharge)

Kenya’s 300MW Lake Turkana wind farm to break ground in June (via Renewables Biz)

Solar PV industry targets 100GW annual deployment in 2018 (via Solar Industry)

Mercom Capital forecasts 46GW new solar in 2014 (via Solar Industry)

Greenwood Biosar completes Panama’s first utility-scale solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley: Going off grid nears tipping point (via Renew Economy)

FERC issues license for tidal energy pilot project in Pacific Northwest (via Renew Grid)

Feds clearing path for Pacific wave energy test (via Houston Chronicle)

Cape Wind update: A big legal victory and another legal challenge (via Greentech Media)

Maryland seeks global offshore wind role (via Recharge)

Koch-funded groups fuel assault on Kansas clean energy law (via Climate Progress)

New Jersey’s offshore wind goals up in the air after project rejection (Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL 

Southern leg of Keystone XL pipeline reaches capacity ahead of schedule (via The Oklahoman)

Not building Keystone XL will leave a billion barrels of bitumen in the ground (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

New study reveals workings of China’s pilot emissions cap-and-trade systems (via Triple Pundit)

China’s Hubei province to launch carbon market on April 2 (via Reuters)

China’s Shenzen says carbon market had 10% surplus in first year (via Reuters)

As listener and saleswoman, EPA chief takes to the road for climate rules (via New York Times)

States aren’t shying away from regulating carbon emissions from power plants (via Bloomberg BNA)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE approves natural gas export terminal (via The Hill)

North Dakota gas flaring doubles, pumping CO2 into air (via Climate Central)

CLIMATE 

UN official: Countries on track to reach 2015 global climate treaty (via The Hill)

EU delays 2030 climate package decision until October (via RTCC)

WMO: Global warming not stopped, will go on for centuries (via Reuters)

Climate change could leave another 50 million people facing hunger by 2050 (via The Guardian)

UN says 13 of 14 hottest years on record occurred since 2000 (via BusinessGreen)

Weather extremes “consistent” with manmade climate change, says UN (via Agence France-Presse)

OIL 

Houston Channel closed as 24 vessels skim 4,000-barrel oil spill (via Bloomberg)

Galveston Bay oil spill will take economic, ecological toll (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

VW chairman says component cost decreases keep him confident of EV success (via Autoblog Green)

How four states are trying to woo Tesla Motors’ gigafactory (via Autoblog Green)

Ford: Baby boomers leading trend to compact utility vehicles (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC Order 1000 has its day in court (via Renewable Energy World)

Southwest Power Pool launches wholesale energy marketplace (via Energy Manager Today)

Car companies take expertise in battery power beyond the garage (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

WHO links 7 million premature deaths annually to air pollution; 12.5% total global deaths (via Green Car Congress)

China says polluting industry still growing too fast (via Reuters)

China aims to launch national pollution permit market within three years (via Reuters)

Brazil desperately seeking solutions to worst drought in decades (via The Guardian)

Water scarcity drives US communities toward smarter use, recycling (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

By 2020, LEDs may rival incandescent bulbs in cost without rebates (via Greentech Media)

LBNL calculates “cost of saved energy” from efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower sets IPO price range at $17-19, could raise $110 million (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

Green groups spend $5 million to defend three Democrats (via Wall Street Journal)

Mary Landrieu is paying – and getting paid big – for her global warming stance (via National Journal)

OPINION 

“War on coal” isn’t the real reason your utility rates will rise (via Triple Pundit)

Why you shouldn’t applaud Exxon’s decision to disclose climate risks (via Climate Progress)

Galveston oil spill: Does US oil boom mean more spills? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Steven Chu solves utility companies’ death spiral (via Forbes)

Maybe transit isn’t surging after all (via Atlantic Cities)

Watts the mystery? The energy units that power our lives. (via Smart Planet)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.12.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA warns global warming could be 20% higher than previous estimates (via RTCC)

Climate change not a top US worry, finds poll (via The Hill)

Keeling Curve in danger of budget cuts (via Weather Underground)

COAL 

Italian judge blames coal plant for hundreds of deaths, forces it to close (via Huffington Post)

Duke CEO: Customers should pay to empty coal ash ponds (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

100GW solar PV market in 2018, forecasts NPD Solarbuzz (via Recharge)

IEA: High renewable energy market penetration is feasible in any country (via CleanTechnica)

Latin America is emerging as a force in solar: Here’s what early developers have learned (via Greentech Media)

4.58GW of solar PV added in Japan (via CleanTechnica)

GE to supply 213MW of turbines for European wind farms (via Bloomberg)

Wind Production Tax Credit “dead” in Congress this year (via Bloomberg)

US homeowners, especially Republicans, want to be able to choose clean energy (via Climate Progress)

Minnesota regulators set to decide on solar tariff formula (via EnergyWire)

Automatic self-optimization of wind turbines (via Phys.org)

Cincinnati City Council debates buying green energy (via Cincinnati Business Courier)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL southern leg having major effect on US oil hub (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts: Keystone XL may create fewer jobs than most expect (via US News & World Report)

Unions: Keystone review “reeks of politics” (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Nine Chinese cities suffered more severe smog days than Beijing (via The Guardian)

Poor nations need financing to cut carbon emissions, says China (via Bloomberg)

For EPA’s global warming rules, will “next year” mean “never”? (via National Journal)

OIL 

US oil boom fuels rail industry resurgence (via Christian Science Monitor)

US refiners form lobby against easing crude export limits (via Reuters)

Moody’s: Many US oil companies on investors’ hit list (via Houston Chronicle)

North Dakota oil boom puts pressure on Great Plains farmers (via Huffington Post/Stateline)

GRID 

California drought dries up hydro but power stays on (via National Geographic)

NY regulator, ConEd embrace plan to climate-proof power grid (via InsideClimate News)

After failing in EVs, Coda Energy pursues no-money-down energy storage (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

16 countries’ regulatory bodies have changed policy in response to Fukushima (via US GAO)

Three years after Fukushima, Japan makes U-turn on nuclear (via Christian Science Monitor)

US nuclear agency hid concerns, hailed safety record as Fukushima melted (via NBC News)

FRACKING 

Ohio looks at whether fracking led to two quakes (via New York Times)

POLITICS

How talking about climate change might actually help Democrats win elections (via Washington Post)

Clinton Keystone dodge prompts donors to rethink support (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Four reasons why the fight against climate change is likely to fail (via Washington Post)

Japan’s energy dilemma, in one chart (via Washington Post)

All you need to know about BC’s carbon tax shift in five charts (via Sightline)

China builds bridges to US EV market (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.3.13

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank finds 60 carbon pricing systems in place or in development (via CleanTechnica)

Beijing adding pollution tax to gas prices by next year (via Autoblog Green)

Higher CO2 levels cause “greening” from plant fertilization effect (via Mongabay)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

British Columbia says no to Northern Gateway pipeline on oil spill concerns (via The Globe and Mail)

Another major tar sands pipeline seeking US permit (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone builder “extremely confident” Obama will approve it (via The Hill)

All sides pressing John Kerry on Keystone XL (via Boston Globe)

RENEWABLES 

US now most attractive market for renewables, says Ernst & Young (via Renewable Energy World)

Japanese domestic solar shipments soar (via Recharge)

Ontario replacing large-scale FIT with competitive procurements process (via Renew Grid)

Utility Xcel proposes total of 30% wind across its generation system (via Denver Post)

New Jersey utility PSE&G spending half a billion on solar (via Renew Grid)

ENVIRONMENT 

In Alaska, planned mine pits salmon against gold (via Politico)

NOAA ends weather forecast furloughs as tornadoes strike Oklahoma (via The Hill)

Fracking tests ties between California oil and agriculture interests (via New York Times)

82% of California native fish species risk extinction from climate change (via Sacramento Bee)

OIL 

Oil executives tune out the call of the wild Arctic (via Reuters)

OPEC to study US shale boom on member concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil fields under olive groves offer Italy an economic boost (via Bloomberg)

Canadian refineries importing US crude at 4 times historic levels (via Houston Chronicle)

China’s plastic bag ban saves 6 million tons of oil in 5 years (via China Daily)

Kinder Morgan shelves plans for Texas-to-California oil pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPA exploring negative environmental effects of li-ion EV batteries (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf hits 10,000-unit sales mark in Europe (via Green Car Congress)

Bosch sees 180-mile EVs as minimum by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Musk says fourth Tesla vehicle to be small electric SUV (via Bloomberg)

Combining EVs with smart grid technology can halve charging costs (via Climate Progress)

Range anxiety frustrating EVs with charger disconnect (via Bloomberg)

Florida repeals state renewable fuel standard (via Green Car Congress)

Car2Go comes to Denver with 300 Smart Fortwo vehicles (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Climate envoys urged to draft plan B on failure of global temperature target (via Bloomberg)

Rainforests will survive extreme global warming, says study (via Mongabay)

Rate of ocean warming greater than previous estimates (via RTCC)

Colorado getting a climate change czar (via CBS/AP)

GRID 

Vehicle-to-grid emerges in new deployments (via Navigant Research)

Energy storage gets a boost in California (via Navigant Research)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

3 big energy efficiency stories you should know about (via Greentech Media)

Infographic: LEED buildings in the world (via USGBC)

OPINION 

Global game-changers in energy and climate (via National Journal)

America isn’t a clean-energy leader (via National Journal)

Tesla’s a success – so what? (via Greenwire)

The climate change guilt trip (via Los Angeles Times)

Is rail-bound crude oil a disaster waiting to happen? (via EnergyWire)

Silicon Valley is now paying even less attention to climate change and that sucks (via GigaOm)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.3.13

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank finds 60 carbon pricing systems in place or in development (via CleanTechnica)

Beijing adding pollution tax to gas prices by next year (via Autoblog Green)

Higher CO2 levels cause “greening” from plant fertilization effect (via Mongabay)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

British Columbia says no to Northern Gateway pipeline on oil spill concerns (via The Globe and Mail)

Another major tar sands pipeline seeking US permit (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone builder “extremely confident” Obama will approve it (via The Hill)

All sides pressing John Kerry on Keystone XL (via Boston Globe)

RENEWABLES 

US now most attractive market for renewables, says Ernst & Young (via Renewable Energy World)

Japanese domestic solar shipments soar (via Recharge)

Ontario replacing large-scale FIT with competitive procurements process (via Renew Grid)

Utility Xcel proposes total of 30% wind across its generation system (via Denver Post)

New Jersey utility PSE&G spending half a billion on solar (via Renew Grid)

ENVIRONMENT 

In Alaska, planned mine pits salmon against gold (via Politico)

NOAA ends weather forecast furloughs as tornadoes strike Oklahoma (via The Hill)

Fracking tests ties between California oil and agriculture interests (via New York Times)

82% of California native fish species risk extinction from climate change (via Sacramento Bee)

OIL 

Oil executives tune out the call of the wild Arctic (via Reuters)

OPEC to study US shale boom on member concerns (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil fields under olive groves offer Italy an economic boost (via Bloomberg)

Canadian refineries importing US crude at 4 times historic levels (via Houston Chronicle)

China’s plastic bag ban saves 6 million tons of oil in 5 years (via China Daily)

Kinder Morgan shelves plans for Texas-to-California oil pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPA exploring negative environmental effects of li-ion EV batteries (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf hits 10,000-unit sales mark in Europe (via Green Car Congress)

Bosch sees 180-mile EVs as minimum by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Musk says fourth Tesla vehicle to be small electric SUV (via Bloomberg)

Combining EVs with smart grid technology can halve charging costs (via Climate Progress)

Range anxiety frustrating EVs with charger disconnect (via Bloomberg)

Florida repeals state renewable fuel standard (via Green Car Congress)

Car2Go comes to Denver with 300 Smart Fortwo vehicles (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Climate envoys urged to draft plan B on failure of global temperature target (via Bloomberg)

Rainforests will survive extreme global warming, says study (via Mongabay)

Rate of ocean warming greater than previous estimates (via RTCC)

Colorado getting a climate change czar (via CBS/AP)

GRID 

Vehicle-to-grid emerges in new deployments (via Navigant Research)

Energy storage gets a boost in California (via Navigant Research)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

3 big energy efficiency stories you should know about (via Greentech Media)

Infographic: LEED buildings in the world (via USGBC)

OPINION 

Global game-changers in energy and climate (via National Journal)

America isn’t a clean-energy leader (via National Journal)

Tesla’s a success – so what? (via Greenwire)

The climate change guilt trip (via Los Angeles Times)

Is rail-bound crude oil a disaster waiting to happen? (via EnergyWire)

Silicon Valley is now paying even less attention to climate change and that sucks (via GigaOm)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Greenhouse gas rules will be enacted soon, says Obama aide (via The Hill)

California governor green lights carbon market link with Quebec (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Which countries are planning the most coal-fired power plants? (via The Guardian)

Europe’s 2nd-biggest coal-fired power plant will turn to wood from North America (via ClimateWire)

Study: US coal industry is in far more trouble than anyone realizes (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Vehicle-to-building technology rises with PEV sales (via Environmental Leader)

Making sense of the demand response market (via Energy Collective)

MISO wraps up its first annual capacity auction (via Renew Grid)

RENEWABLES 

Over 1,000 firms demand end to EU-China solar PV trade war (via BusinessGreen)

Solar power has reached grid parity in India and Italy (via Treehugger)

China’s wind output grows 41% (via Recharge)

How cleantech is enhancing the US military’s “mission capability” (via Greentech Media)

Super algae could replace conventional biofuels (via RTCC)

New wind harvesting invention could bring cities to life (via Phys.org)

New York State renewable power plan would cost $382 billion by 2030 (via Bloomberg)

California wind power blows away production record (via Yahoo! Finance)

New York State expands NY-Sun Initiative with $13.5 million in new funding (via Solar Industry Mag)

Turbines near Lake Erie energize conservation, wind power debate (via Toledo Blade)

Wind farm suit against Xcel dismissed (via St. Paul Pioneer Press)

ENERGY POLICY 

White House engaging lawmakers on energy tax code issues (via The Hill)

How much do health impacts from fossil fuel electricity cost the US economy? (via Forbes)

Indiana lawmakers advance plan to give utilities more power over rate increases (via Midwest Energy News)

KEYSTONE XL 

Killing Keystone XL could risk more oil spills by rail (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Island countries facing watery demise confer on survival strategies (via ClimateWire)

Climate change will threaten wine production, study shows (via The Guardian)

Geoengineering could trigger disaster in parts of Africa (via Climate Central)

Poll: fears of global warming rising in US (via The Hill)

Summer temperatures expected to be far above average (via Greentech Media)

Rebuilding the shores, increasing the risks (via New York Times)

Getting serious about a Texas-sized drought (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Captured carbon used for natural gas fracking (via Sustainable Business)

Judge rules administration overlooked fracking risks in California mineral leases (via Reuters)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Manufacturing nearing energy efficiency ceiling (via Energy Manager Today)

Colby College achieves carbon neutrality (via Environmental Leader)

California office park secures three dozen LEED certifications (via EarthTechling)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s TEPCO may run out of space for radioactive water (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Obama’s DOE, EPA picks face Senate grilling this week (via Reuters)

DOE nominee Moniz seen as “dose of reality” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

How Margaret Thatcher made the conservative case for climate action (via Mother Jones)

For the price of the Iraq War, the US could have gotten halfway to a renewable power system (via Grist)

Climate fight should target coal, not Keystone (via Bloomberg)

Schwarzenegger: California’s silent disaster (via Los Angeles Times)

Fisker struggles mark blow to Obama’s electric car goal (via Bloomberg)