Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.7.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NATURAL GAS
Water for drinking or fracking: Why we may have to choose by 2040 (via Christian Science Monitor)
China halves 2020 shale gas output target (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
U.S., China collaborate on carbon capture (via Navigant Research)
RENEWABLES
China adds Australia-sized solar capacity in energy push (via Bloomberg)
In Africa, “solar as a service” attracts U.S. dollars (via Navigant Research)
China sets 2014 solar PV target at 13GW (via Recharge)
What can we learn from Germany’s solar experience? (via Greentech Media)
U.S. adds 619MW wind in Q2 (via Recharge)
DOE gives $18 million to geothermal projects (via The Hill)
Army awards final contracts to support $7 billion renewable energy plan (via Energy Manager Today)
Utility-scale solar is back from the dead (via Greentech Media)
First Solar claims 21% efficiency for thin-film PV cell (via Solar Industry Magazine)
CLIMATE
For most of us, a warmer world has become the new “normal” (via Huffington Post/Reuters)
FEMA threatened by record legal fees that eclipse cost of Katrina (via ClimateWire)
Tornado outbreaks could have a climate change assist (via Climate Central)
White House science adviser: Wildfires are linked to climate change (via Climate Progress)
57% of Americans want companies to weigh in on climate change (via Environmental Leader)
OIL
Mexican Congress approves oil sector energy reform (via Houston Chronicle)
Shell keeps Arctic drilling on table for 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)
Deepwater fracking next frontier for offshore drilling (via Bloomberg)
Railroads lack insurance for major oil train disasters, say feds (via The Hill)
TRANSPORTATION
Worldwide gasoline demand to drop after 2012 (via Autoblog Green)
Japan considering offering free hydrogen cars (via Autoblog Green)
$11 billion later, U.S. high-speed rail is inching along (via New York Times)
Why battery electric vehicles will beat fuel cells (via Autoblog Green)
ENVIRONMENT
“Abnormally early” Australian bushfire season prompts call for more resources (via The Guardian)
U.S. firefighting budget is almost gone, but the forests are still burning (via Grist)
Nevada drought could reverse drop in bark beetle numbers (via Reno Gazette-Journal)
Meet the invasive pest fueling Lake Erie’s toxic algae bloom (via National Journal)
GRID
Annual grid investment expected to reach $198 billion by 2024 (via Renew Grid)
Mapping tool shows which U.S. energy facilities are in flood risk areas (via U.S. EIA)
POLITICS
FERC Commissioner Norris to leave agency early (via SNL Energy)
Fight brews in Arizona over dark money, solar policy (via Huffington Post)
OPINION
Fire and ice: What I did on my summer vacation (via EcoWatch)
PR firms’ foolish global warming fatwa could backfire (via Investors Business Daily)
Why a new study thinks next year’s climate talks won’t keep the world under 2 degrees Celsius (via Climate Progress)
Choose your future: Four possible emissions pathways (via WRI Insights)
Al Gore: “Compelling” economic case for ditching coal assets (via BusinessGreen)