Category Archives:japan

23
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, california, Capacity margin, Carbon pricing, China, climate, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, fracking, France, germany, global warming, grid, Grid Parity, IEA, india, italy, japan, Julian Castro, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Morgan Stanley, natural gas, Natural gas exports, NERC, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, pennsylvania, Portugal, Renewable energy standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, san francisco, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, utah, YieldCo
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18
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.18.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA May anomaly hints 2014 will be hottest year on record (via InsideClimate News)

World’s energy systems vulnerable to climate impacts, warns report (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS 

Japan, India near carbon offset deal (via Reuters)

US clean power plan exempts major CO2 emitters (via Climate Central)

Poll shows majority of Americans back Obama’s push to reduce carbon emissions (via Huffington Post)

TAR SANDS 

Canada approves Northern Gateway oil pipeline despite protests (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

China’s solar target crucial for the global industry (via South China Morning Post)

Solar home market begins to capture mainstream buyers (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Icebergs take a bite out of Antarctic biodiversity (via Los Angeles Times)

Obama proposes vast expansion of Pacific Ocean marine life sanctuaries (via Washington Post)

Arizona could face cutbacks in Colorado River water, say officials (via New York Times)

Two California state fish hatcheries evacuated amid drought, rising temperatures (via Los Angeles Times)

Growing number of walkable urban areas signals “the end of sprawl” – report (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

Exxon chief hails Russia plans alongside sanctioned Rosneft CEO (via Bloomberg)

North Dakota oil production tops 1 million-barrels-a-day milestone (via Star-Tribune)

The new oil crisis: Exploding trains (via Politico)

GRID 

Microgrid sales rise alongside qualms about the power grid (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Europe’s swollen gas reserves guard against repeat of 2006 crisis (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Obama’s coded climate politics (via National Journal)

The Kochs are cooking up a new dirty-energy political scheme (via Grist)

OPINION 

Like Keystone in the U.S., Canada’s pipeline to the Pacific is high-voltage politics (via InsideClimate News)

Obama is betting his environmental legacy on Hillary Clinton (via National Journal)

Why Cantor’s downfall is bad news for EPA (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, arizona, california, canada, Carbon offset, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado river, drought, emissions, environment, EPA, Eric Cantor, europe, Exxon, global warming, hillary clinton, Icebergs, india, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, natural gas, News, north dakota, Northern Gateway, oil, Oil train, Pacific Ocean, Pipeline, renewables, Rosneft, Russia, Shale oil, solar, Sprawl, tar sands
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30
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.30.14

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

EPA EMISSIONS PLAN 

Obama to unveil historic plan to cut U.S. carbon pollution by up to 25% (via The Guardian)

How Obama’s power plant emission rules will work (via Washington Post)

EPA’s approach on carbon limits to spark court challenges (via Wall Street Journal)

GAO shuts down McConnell’s push to block EPA carbon regulations (via The Hill)

NRDC says Obama climate rule will save consumers $37 billion (via The Hill)

EPA may nod to nuclear in carbon rules as generators fear closures (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

China expects to launch national carbon market in 2018 (via RTCC)

CO2 monitoring could be “space-based” in the future (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil expects 3GW new wind power in auctions this year (via Recharge)

UK solar capacity passes 3GW (via RTCC)

Japan wind lobby boosts wind capacity target by half (via Bloomberg)

Iceland moves closer to power Europe with geothermal power (via Bloomberg)

UK radar fix could open up 1GW of onshore wind potential (via BusinessGreen)

Rooftop solar’s emerging markets are in middle-class neighborhoods (via Climate Progress)

Connecting the dots: How fossil-fuel interests are funding state RPS battles (via Greentech Media)

Biodiesel producers push for higher mandate (via The Hill)

Ohio freezes standards for renewable energy in landmark vote (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme opens commercial algae oil factory in Brazil (via GigaOm)

California moves closer to streamlined solar permitting (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

AEP foresees coal plant closures on Obama plan (via Bloomberg)

Testing shows slow movement of coal ash in Dan River (via Roanoke Times)

Coal ash spill upends North Carolina politics, but will substantive legislation result? (via E&E Daily)

CLIMATE 

Fishing industry is poised to lose billions due to climate change (via Climate Progress)

Markey meets Pope to make common cause on climate (via Boston Globe)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia’s energy minister says no gas payments from Ukraine (via Reuters)

Pro-fracking bill flies through North Carolina legislature (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: Species disappearing far faster than before (via AP)

Brazil drought fuels World Cup blackout fears (via RTCC)

KEYSTONE 

TransCanada credibility dented by Keystone defects (via Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION 

California, seven other states ready for 3.3 million EVs by 2025 (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Advanced battery capacity for utility-scale storage will grow 71% per year through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Missouri utility to make up for lost time on energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS 

Republicans on climate science: Don’t ask us (via Politico)

The House Science Committee spent yesterday in a climate change denial echo chamber (via Motherboard)

Harry Reid’s attacks on Koch Brothers sends GOP donors into shadows (via Washington Post)

Big money, the Koch Brothers, and me (via Politico)

OPINION 

Obama is planning his biggest climate policy yet – and he doesn’t need Congress (via Vox)

Wonks collide as Obama climate plan prompts new ideas (via Forbes)

Evolving the conversation on climate change (via Washington Post)

Lies, damn lies, and global warming rules (via National Journal)

You down with LCOE? Maybe you, but not me (via RMI Outlet)

Posted:   |   Categories: AEP, battery, biodiesel, Blackout, Brazil, california, Carbon market, China, climate, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, drought, Ed Markey, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, europe, ev, Extinction, fracking, GAO, geothermal, grid, harry reid, Iceland, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, LCOE, Missouri, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, News, North Carolina, nrdc, nuclear, Ohio, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Russia, solar, Solar soft costs, Solazyme, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, wind
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28
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank: Carbon price efforts hurt by Australia, Russia policies (via Bloomberg)

Australia’s opposition leader concedes carbon, mining taxes to go (via Reuters)

South Korea releases tough CO2 caps on utilities, industry (via Reuters)

China’s Shenzen province to hold its first carbon permit auction (via Reuters)

Algeria site offers note of caution to storing carbon dioxide underground (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind giant Texas stands tall as emissions rule change looms (via Houston Chronicle)

Cap and trade lives on through the states (via Politico)

Fossil fuel divestment spreads in Massachusetts: Three towns in ten days (via Treehugger)

RENEWABLES 

Lessons from South Africa: Mobilizing renewable energy investment (via WRI Insights)

Consumer solar sales will hit $2.4 billion by 2024 (via Energy Manager Today)

U.S. seeks offshore wind investments near New York coast (via Bloomberg)

Big business buys into big wind (via Navigant Research)

How a little-used NREL tool could have saved the U.S. solar industry $6 billion (via Renewable Energy World)

Capitol One, SolarCity create $100 million investment fund (via CleanTechnica)

Barclays downgrades entire utility sector because of solar’s rise (via Sustainable Business)

Siemens plans to unveil 10MW offshore wind turbine by 2020 (via Recharge)

ENERGY POLICY

White House releases sweeping regulatory agenda (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Russia near deal to avoid natural gas cutoff (via The Hill)

Japanese lawmakers to lobby Abe for Russian gas pipeline (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Light-colored insects surviving warming conditions in Europe (via Science World Report)

Pentagon “clear” climate change is a national security issue (via RTCC)

Yale poll: Americans much more worried about global warming than climate change (via Climate Progress)

Climate change officially now more divisive than abortion (via Climate Progress)

U.S. industry gears up to fight Obama’s climate change rules (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Las Vegas water czar warns other U.S. cities to gear up for climate change (via Inhabitat)

Florida Governor Rick Scott won’t say if he things manmade climate change is real, significant (via Miami Herald)

OIL 

Mexico’s oil production fell 25% in last decade, says EIA (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC writing new rules for foreign oil payment disclosures (via Houston Chronicle)

BP loses bid to stall oil spill payments during court appeal (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Top eight automakers all reduced vehicle emissions in 2013 (via The Hill)

Men and women drive, enjoy their EVs differently (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline defects lead to new federal safety mandates on Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Koch Brothers get rolling on their first tar sands project (via Grist)

GRID 

Wall Street steps up warnings on distributed energy’s threat to utilities (via Greentech Media)

What the court decision on FERC Order 745 means for demand response (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

Power market auction results place Exelon nuclear plants in jeopardy (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency directive could boost energy services in Europe (via Navigant Research)

States examine energy efficiency resource standards (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Emissions markets with Chinese characteristics, or how transparency is key (via Energy Collective)

On oil and mining rules, should progressives be worried? (via National Journal)

New utility models require new understanding of customers (via Navigant Research)

How much difference can a year make? A lot, where emissions are concerned (via ClimateWire)

Four reasons why small solar installers will rise again (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Algeria, australia, Barclays, BP, cap and trade, Capitol One, Carbon market, Carbon sequestration, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, Demand response, distributed generation, Divestment, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, europe, ev, Exelon, FERC, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, global warming, grid, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Las Vegas, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, New York City, News, NREL, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, renewables, Rick Scott, Russia, SEC, Shenzen, Shinzo Abe, Siemens, solar, SolarCity, South Africa, South Korea, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Ukraine, wind, World Bank
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28
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank: Carbon price efforts hurt by Australia, Russia policies (via Bloomberg)

Australia’s opposition leader concedes carbon, mining taxes to go (via Reuters)

South Korea releases tough CO2 caps on utilities, industry (via Reuters)

China’s Shenzen province to hold its first carbon permit auction (via Reuters)

Algeria site offers note of caution to storing carbon dioxide underground (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind giant Texas stands tall as emissions rule change looms (via Houston Chronicle)

Cap and trade lives on through the states (via Politico)

Fossil fuel divestment spreads in Massachusetts: Three towns in ten days (via Treehugger)

RENEWABLES 

Lessons from South Africa: Mobilizing renewable energy investment (via WRI Insights)

Consumer solar sales will hit $2.4 billion by 2024 (via Energy Manager Today)

U.S. seeks offshore wind investments near New York coast (via Bloomberg)

Big business buys into big wind (via Navigant Research)

How a little-used NREL tool could have saved the U.S. solar industry $6 billion (via Renewable Energy World)

Capitol One, SolarCity create $100 million investment fund (via CleanTechnica)

Barclays downgrades entire utility sector because of solar’s rise (via Sustainable Business)

Siemens plans to unveil 10MW offshore wind turbine by 2020 (via Recharge)

ENERGY POLICY

White House releases sweeping regulatory agenda (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Russia near deal to avoid natural gas cutoff (via The Hill)

Japanese lawmakers to lobby Abe for Russian gas pipeline (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Light-colored insects surviving warming conditions in Europe (via Science World Report)

Pentagon “clear” climate change is a national security issue (via RTCC)

Yale poll: Americans much more worried about global warming than climate change (via Climate Progress)

Climate change officially now more divisive than abortion (via Climate Progress)

U.S. industry gears up to fight Obama’s climate change rules (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Las Vegas water czar warns other U.S. cities to gear up for climate change (via Inhabitat)

Florida Governor Rick Scott won’t say if he things manmade climate change is real, significant (via Miami Herald)

OIL 

Mexico’s oil production fell 25% in last decade, says EIA (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC writing new rules for foreign oil payment disclosures (via Houston Chronicle)

BP loses bid to stall oil spill payments during court appeal (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Top eight automakers all reduced vehicle emissions in 2013 (via The Hill)

Men and women drive, enjoy their EVs differently (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline defects lead to new federal safety mandates on Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Koch Brothers get rolling on their first tar sands project (via Grist)

GRID 

Wall Street steps up warnings on distributed energy’s threat to utilities (via Greentech Media)

What the court decision on FERC Order 745 means for demand response (via Greentech Media)

NUCLEAR 

Power market auction results place Exelon nuclear plants in jeopardy (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency directive could boost energy services in Europe (via Navigant Research)

States examine energy efficiency resource standards (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Emissions markets with Chinese characteristics, or how transparency is key (via Energy Collective)

On oil and mining rules, should progressives be worried? (via National Journal)

New utility models require new understanding of customers (via Navigant Research)

How much difference can a year make? A lot, where emissions are concerned (via ClimateWire)

Four reasons why small solar installers will rise again (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Algeria, australia, Barclays, BP, cap and trade, Capitol One, Carbon market, Carbon sequestration, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, Demand response, distributed generation, Divestment, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, europe, ev, Exelon, FERC, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, global warming, grid, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Las Vegas, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, New York City, News, NREL, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, renewables, Rick Scott, Russia, SEC, Shenzen, Shinzo Abe, Siemens, solar, SolarCity, South Africa, South Korea, tar sands, texas, Transportation, Ukraine, wind, World Bank
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27
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.27.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Australian power prices to surge, utilities to profit if renewable target scrapped (via Bloomberg)

India PM Modi appoints banker to oversee renewables, coal, power (via Bloomberg)

Wellinghoff to utilities: Time to rethink your business model (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

Extreme U.S. and UK winters linked to greenhouse gases (via Bloomberg)

Over 50 trade unions launch global climate action campaign (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Russian firm studying world’s largest coal-fired plant to supply China (via Reuters)

A bogus claim electricity prices will “nearly double” because of clean coal technology (via Washington Post)

Rural North Carolina sites become coal ash dumping grounds (via News Observer)

RENEWABLES 

Danish report says 100% renewables feasible by 2050 (via Renew Economy)

China solar PV exports rise on emerging market expansions (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar farmers in Japan harvest electricity with crops (via Bloomberg)

Half of German solar jobs disappear in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australian navy to join U.S. in switch to biofuels (via Renew Economy)

U.S. to reach 20GW solar PV by end of 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind Production Tax Credit still up in the air (via Energy Manager Today)

U.S. hydro losing edge to wind, solar (via Recharge)

Applying the lessons of politics to green power (via New York Times)

Utah’s solar power homeowners fight proposed utility fee (via Salt Lake Tribune)

Georgia power adding wind, boosting solar (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Smoothing the flow of renewable solar energy in California’s Central Valley (via Energy.gov)

Massive California multi-family apartment complex completes solar installation (via Inhabitat)

SolarCity snaps up another partner – and more money (via SmartPlanet)

SolarCity expands to second island in Hawaii (via CleanTechnica)

Community solar coming of age in Michigan (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia-China natural gas deal fuels U.S. export push (via The Hill)

Putin says Ukraine has no right to demand natgas price discount (via Reuters)

Polish plan on EU Russian natural gas buying gains support (via Reuters)

Shakeout threatens U.S. shale patch as frackers go for broke (via Bloomberg)

Gas boom starts to hit home for residents of Southeastern Pennsylvania (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Bill introduced to speed up fracking in Illinois (via Chicago Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

Northern hemisphere hits carbon dioxide milestone in April (via Reuters)

“Time is running out” to stop rising CO2 levels, says UN (via Time)

Deep underground carbon deposits could pose global warming threat if exposed (via Raw Story/Agence France-Presse)

South Africa has Africa’s largest carbon footprint (via Africa Science News)

WRI tool shows “history of CO2 emissions” (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

Mexican energy reform seeks to reverse oil production decline (via US EIA)

Sharp rise in West Coast oil trains, fears abound (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil boom places 3 of 5 fastest-growing U.S. cities in Texas, shows census (via AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to scrap over 5 million old cars in anti-pollution push (via Reuters)

100% of Dutch electric trains could run on renewable energy by 2018 (via CleanTechnica) 

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and more collaborating to increase fuel efficiency (via Autoblog)

As of today, Nissan has solar 50,000 Leafs in U.S., 115,000 globally (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada oil will flow any way it can to U.S., says transport minister (via Reuters)

New safety requirements set for Keystone XL pipeline (via Kansas City Star)

ENVIRONMENT 

Alaska wildfire scorches an area larger than Chicago (via Los Angeles Times)

California drought: State’s flawed water system can’t track usage (via Huffington Post Green)

NUCLEAR 

U.S. plants prepare long-term nuclear waste storage facilities (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

Brazil grid bottlenecks to ease with new transmission (via Recharge)

An almond farm and a “big-ass battery” show future of energy in California (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

One GOP Senate candidate is backing climate change (via The Hill)

Hillary Clinton’s Keystone XL headache (via Politico)

OPINION 

Could Australia really dismantle its carbon price? (via The Guardian)

Tough emissions cuts would prove the U.S. is serious about climate change (via Washington Post)

The truth about Stanford’s coal divestment shows hurdles ahead (via New Republic)

No thanks to Congress, America has added 5,600 new clean energy jobs in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

What’s the best way to write U.S. climate rule? (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, africa, alaska, australia, battery, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, China, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, community solar, denmark, Divestment, drought, emissions, energy storage, environment, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Georgia, Georgia Power, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, hillary clinton, honda, Hydropower, Illinois, india, japan, Jon Wellinghoff, Keystone XL, mexico, michigan, natural gas, Netherlands, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Oil trains, pennsylvania, Poland, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, solar, SolarCity, South Africa, Stanford University, tar sands, texas, Tom Matzzie, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, utah, Vladimir Putin, Wildfire, wind
0
21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Antarctic, australia, Brazil, california air resources board, cape wind, CARB, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, climategate, coal, Connecticut, Cree, Drought Brazil, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, enel, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, First Solar, Flaring, Floods, fracking, global warming, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Grid Parity, Hawaii, hillary clinton, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, LED, Levelized cost of energy, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, new jersey, new york, News, north dakota, norway, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Philips, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, Shell, Soft costs, solar, Solazyme, South Africa, Stockholm, Sydney, texas, tidal energy, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, wildfires, wind
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21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Antarctic, australia, Brazil, california air resources board, cape wind, CARB, Carbon bubble, carbon capture, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, climategate, coal, Connecticut, Cree, Drought Brazil, duke energy, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, enel, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, europe, European Union, ev, First Solar, Flaring, Floods, fracking, global warming, Green bonds, greenland, grid, Grid Parity, Hawaii, hillary clinton, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, LED, Levelized cost of energy, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, new jersey, new york, News, north dakota, norway, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Philips, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, Shell, Soft costs, solar, Solazyme, South Africa, Stockholm, Sydney, texas, tidal energy, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, wildfires, wind
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15
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Fossil-free investment portfolios soared 50% in 2013 (via RTCC)

Obama said to put personal push behind EPA emission rules (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

LNG, power demand driving shift in U.S. gas flow (via Houston Chronicle)

Overwhelming vote advances extenders bill, but hurdles remain (via E&E Daily)

Ohio’s manufacturers on both sides of debate over efficiency and renewables (via Plain-Dealer)

RENEWABLES 

Bangladesh leads the world in small solar power home installations (via Mashable)

Is 3,000MW of new Nigeria solar power a model to end energy poverty? (via CleanTechnica)

India may back solar duties after probe finds dumping (via Bloomberg)

Netherlands’ largest offshore wind farm powers forward (via BusinessGreen)

80% of British support renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

US biodiesel producers hit hard by policy uncertainty (via Biodiesel.org)

Senate debates wind tax credit extension (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Delays on climate change have cost us $8 trillion, says IEA (via New Scientist)

IPCC reports “diluted” under “political pressure” to protect fossil fuel interests (via The Guardian)

Warming shifting hurricane impacts away from tropics (via Climate Central)

Japan, Australia urge developing countries to do more on climate (via RTCC)

Kerry to warn of national security climate threats in speech (via The Hill)

Insurance company sues Illinois cities for climate damage (via ClimateWire)

Raging California wildfires fueled by unusually hot May weather (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

U.S. crude output advances to 28-year high on shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Expert: White House likely to lift oil export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors pressuring oil industry over $1.1 trillion exposure to high-cost projects (via Forbes)

California’s thirst shapes debate over fracking (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

White House urges Congress to shore up depleted Highway Trust Fund (via Autoblog)

2015 Chevy Spark will have lighter, smaller battery (via Autoblog Green)

Elon Musk says yes to The Oatmeal’s $8 million request for Nikola Tesla museum (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

National Grid to spend more in U.S. for storm protection (via Reuters)

Three U.S. grid facilities you should know about (via Energy.gov)

COAL 

Beginning of end for coal? Citi sees structural decline (via Renew Economy)

Coal missing boom as climate foes clean Asia’s backyard (via Bloomberg)

GREEN BUILDING 

Enviros bash industry-backed “green” building program (via Grist)

POLITICS 

Steyer targets Rubio, 2016 hopefuls on climate (via The Hill)

Scott Brown urged GOP senators to kill Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The first climate tipping point has arrived: Will it be the last? (via Huffington Post)

The $4 trillion mistake: Climate action delayed is climate action denied (via Climate Progress)

Is the White House worried about a Republican president overturning Obama’s climate legacy? (via Bloomberg BNA)

Time to act on U.S. natural gas exports (via CNBC)

Florida already feeling effects of climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bangladesh, battery, biodiesel, california, Chevy Spark, Citibank, climate, Climate Change, Climate resiliency, coal, Divestment, drought, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, green building, grid, Highway Trust Fund, IEA, Illinois, india, IPCC, japan, Jeanne Shaheen, john kerry, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Marco Rubio, national grid, Natural gas exports, Netherlands, News, nigeria, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, production tax credit, ptc, scott brown, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires
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06
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.6.14

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

CLIMATE

Obama turns toward climate action (via The Hill)

Finally Neil deGrasse Tyson and “Cosmos” take on climate change (via Mother Jones)

KEYSTONE XL

Lobbying surges for Keystone XL before Senate vote (via Bloomberg)

56 senators try to force Keystone XL past Obama and the public (via EcoWatch)

RENEWABLES

Solar demand grows in Russia, surges in Chile, stumbles in India, marches on in China (via Greentech Media)

Morocco on track to deliver Africa’s largest wind farm (via BusinessGreen)

UK will install three times more solar than Australia in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Russia expects solar investment to reach $4.2 billion by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Solar power breakthrough hints at cheaper panels for more roofs (via Christian Science Monitor)

EIA: US ethanol imports from Brazil down in 2013; US net exporter for the year (via Green Car Congress)

Almost 60,000 US farms have on-site renewables (via SustainableBusiness)

Missouri’s solar problem: Too many people like it (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii wants 200MW of energy storage for solar, wind grid challenges (via Greentech Media)

Iowa lawmakers see tax credits opening wider door for solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Kansas House rejects renewable energy standard repeal (via Wichita Eagle)

Kasich urges changes in “green energy” bill (via Columbus Dispatch)

First Dallas wind farm is on college rooftop (via SustainableBusiness)

EMISSIONS

The meteoric rise of carbon dioxide in one video (via Climate Central)

California climate tax is reducing electricity bills (via Triple Pundit)

OIL

BP tech chief: Enhanced oil recovery key to world reserves (via Houston Chronicle)

Canada ups rail tanker safety standards (via Environmental Leader)

TRANSPORTATION

Study details differences in fiscal policies to support EVs across 11 markets (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla wants a Gigafactory or two ready by 2017 (via Climate Progress)

NUCLEAR

China starts 19th nuclear reactor amid construction push (via Bloomberg)

GRID

In Japan, smart meters accelerate (via Navigant Research)

Renewables are key inputs for next-gen microgrids (via Greentech Media)

COAL

Coal reduction in China a long struggle, not a great leap (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT

Still counting Gulf spill’s dead birds (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Koch’s decline Steyer’s invitation to debate climate change, Keystone XL (via The Hill)

OPINION

Five out-there energy projects moving closer to reality (via GigaOm)

Can’t put solar on your house? Four ways to invest in solar leases (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dallas, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, ethanol, ev, Gigafactory, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, india, Iowa, japan, John Kasich, kansas, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Microgrid, Missouri, Morocco, Neil deGrasse Tyson, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Oil train, renewables, Russia, smart meter, solar, Solar lease, Tesla, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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