Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.28.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
US and China lift climate change hopes with new phase of talks (via Financial Times)
Mount Everest is shrinking due to climate change (via Climate Progress)
El Nino risk increases as Pacific Ocean gets warmer (via Bloomberg)
Western US faces bigger, more frequent wildfires (via Climate Central)
US mayors leading the way on emission cuts & climate resilience (via CleanTechnica)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Gazprom says it won’t halt gas flows to Europe over Ukraine price row (via Wall Street Journal)
Local governments fail to account for $17 million in natural gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)
How long can the fracking revolution last? (via RTCC)
RENEWABLES
Experimental efforts to harvest the ocean’s power face cost setbacks (via New York Times)
Chart: Wind dominates the 37GW of US power under construction (via Greentech Media)
Google’s green energy plan: Build, learn, and expand (via Christian Science Monitor)
Fear and loathing at the CPUC: California debates the future of solar (via Greentech Media)
6MW floating vertical-axis wind turbine unveiled (via Recharge)
ENERGY POLICY
French energy minister promises 100,000 green jobs (via Reuters)
US electricity prices may be going up for good (via Los Angeles Times)
OIL
China wants more Latin American oil, president to visit in July (via Reuters)
US regulators to propose enhanced oil tank car standards (via Reuters)
Oil industry starts fracking in Nevada (via Elko Daily Free Press)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla unveils plans for solar-powered EV charging network in China (via Renew Economy)
EPA says automakers ahead of schedule for 54.5 MPG by 2025 (via Autoblog Green)
EV buyers are younger, more affluent than hybrid shoppers (via Autoblog Green)
California Air Resources Board adds another $25 million to expand clean vehicle rebate program (via Green Car Congress)
COAL
Asian coal miners pursuing self-defeating output gains (via Reuters)
Kitzhaber says “no” to coal export plans in Oregon (via The Daily News)
Montana coal mine falls years behind original permitting schedule (via Missoulian)
EMISSIONS
Rich nations’ greenhouse gas emissions fall in 2012, led by US (via Reuters)
Scotland enlists universities in low-carbon push (via BusinessGreen)
Fossil fuels face $30 trillion in losses from climate, renewables (via Renew Economy)
Soils release far more CO2 tan previously thought as emissions rise (via Yale e360)
Changes to agriculture practices could slash emissions up to 90% (via Environmental Leader)
Projected CO2 emissions vary with coal and nuclear power plant retirements (via US EIA)
California cuts part of its greenhouse gas emissions by exporting them (via ClimateWire)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL moving forward…in Canada’s eyes (via Christian Science Monitor)
Canada still betting the US will approve Keystone XL (via Reuters)
Cowboys, Indians, and Neil Young voice opposition to Keystone XL (via United Press International)
Steyer challenges Kochs to Keystone XL debate (via The Hill)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
More LED installations than fluorescents expected this year for first time (via Energy Manager Today)
In user test, Next thermostat and its smart competitors disappoint (via EnergyWIre)
ENVIRONMENT
Worsening US drought pushes wheat price higher (via Wall Street Journal)
California drought: Jobs, money dry up in farm towns (via San Francisco Chronicle)
California drought declaration is so bad the state is rolling back some environmental protections (via Huffington Post/Reuters)
Extreme tornado swings: What holds the key? (via Climate Central)
POLITICS
GOP Rep. Grimm’s woes cast cloud on climate turnabout (via Politico)
OPINION
How US-China cooperation can expand clean energy development (via WRI Insights)
Climate-proofing the poorest cities is currently impossible (via Sustainable Cities Collective)
A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing (via Washington Post)
The rise and fall of America’s climate deniers: How politics hijacked the fight against global warming (via Salon)
Keystone weirdonomics mean gas prices won’t be getting any cheaper (via Bloomberg)
It’s easy being green. Being fossil fuel free is harder (via Forbes)
Dear Texas: Enjoy the oil boom, just don’t blow it this time (via Forbes)
2C in our rear-view mirror, geoengineering dead ahead (via Energy Collective)