Category Archives:LEED

19
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.19.13

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel finds humans 95% likely cause of climate change (via The Hill)

More frequent heat waves by 2020 “almost certain” (via Climate Central)

Global flood damage could exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050 (via Mother Jones)

Climate change brings another flood onslaught in Pakistan (via Pakistan Daily Times)

Worst Colorado River drought in century prompts feds to cut Lake Powell releases (via Deseret News)

Many Floridians face rising tide of flood insurance costs (via Sun Sentinel)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Interior Department says Keystone XL could harm parks, wildlife (via The Hill)

TransCanada acknowledges tar sands crude could sink if spilled (via EnergyWire)

Steyer launches $1 million anti-Keystone XL ad push (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Despite slowdown, China to hold wind power market leadership to 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Czech lawmakers axe renewable energy support (via Recharge)

European climate policy drives wood pellet boom in North Carolina (via News Observer)

New hydropower laws could add 60GW of clean energy to US grid (via CleanTechnica)

Investors welcome new environmental standards for solar (via BusinessGreen)

Energy cane “could yield five times more ethanol than corn” (via Environmental Leader)

Texas claims cheapest solar installations as prices drop nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

California Solar Initiative aims to preserve project resources as funding ends (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon markets to survive federal election (via Bloomberg)

California to discuss additional compliance options for cap-and-trade program (via Bloomberg BNA)

Waste carbon dioxide could be used as energy (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shale gas company halts fracking at British site (via New York Times)

Shale grab in US stalls as falling values repel buyers (via Bloomberg)

Methane leakage from Utah gas rigs higher than EPA estimates (via RTCC)

Aubrey McClendon is back, with deals in the Utica (via Forbes)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sweden named “most sustainable country in the world” (via BusinessGreen)

Auto manufacturers aim to produce vehicles at sustainable facilities (via Energy Manager Today)

Investors slow to embrace sustainability, Accenture says (via Environmental Leader)

US rare earths mining rush enters its “survival moment” (via Greenwire)

OIL 

Shale gas and oil production soaring in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts clash on estimates of oil spilled into Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

America’s new vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever (via Greentech Media)

Electric car charging at work: The next big push (via Green Car Reports)

Is Tesla Model S the best way to sell politicians on EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

Hybrids take 7% of California market in 1H 2013; PHEVs 0.7%, EVs 1.1% (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUILDING 

USGBC report highlights growth in green building industry (via Bloomberg BNA)

Arizona hosts world’s largest net-zero energy building (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

UK’s first large-scale battery storage project goes live (via Renew Grid)

Designing grid batteries to live long and prosper (via Greentech Media)

Distributed generation grabs power from centralized utilities (via Forbes)

Trees vs. transmission: Utility arborist seeks better approach (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EIA publishes state fact sheets on residential energy consumption and characteristics (via US EIA)

Smart windows just got a lot smarter at saving energy (via Breaking Energy)

How much is a Nest thermostat worth? (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

We’ve covered the world in pesticides – is that a problem? (via Washington Post)

In West’s expanding tinderbox, questions about development (via Stateline)

10,000 homes threatened as Idaho wildfire spreads to 92,000 acres (via NBC News)

Bare trees are a lingering sign of Hurricane Sandy’s high toll (via New York Times)

OPINION 

The future China chooses will dictate the future of Earth (via The Guardian)

Can climate science be rendered conservative-friendly? (via Grist)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

Could suburbs become the future of renewable energy? (via ClimateWire)

Is Washington in a “post-policy era”? (via Washington Post)

Obama Administration rushes to expand fracking on public lands despite frightening evidence (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado river, Czech Republic, deforestation, distributed generation, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Flood, Florida, fracking, Geoengineering, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Heat waves, Hurricane Sandy, hybrid, Hydropower, Idaho, interior department, IPCC, Keystone XL, Lake Powell, LEED, natural gas, Nest, Net zero building, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Pesticides, Rare earths, renewables, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Sugarcane, Sweden, tar sands, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, Utica Shale, Wildfire, wind
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24
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.24.13

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

COAL 

EU finance arm curbs loans to coal-fired power plants (via Reuters)

Chinese coal companies releasing toxic wastewater in Inner Mongolia (via The Guardian)

Why is Germany’s greenest city building a coal-fired power plant? (via InsideClimate News)

Lessons from the beginning of the end of America’s coal industry (via Energy Trends Insider)

ENERGY POLICY 

Utilities missing opportunity on combined heat and power (via Midwest Energy News)

Senate offshore energy revenue-sharing bill has $6 billion price tag (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Chinese tariffs may hurt U.S. makers of solar cells’ raw material (via Washington Post)

New radar technology could double number of UK wind farms (via RTCC)

Highlighting trends in global renewable energy generation (via Houston Chronicle)

The real solar feed-in tariff story in Spain (via CleanTechnica)

House lawmakers say U.S. renewable fuel mandate will change (via Bloomberg)

How twelve states are succeeding in solar energy installation (via Climate Progress)

Offshore wind gains in Virginia, stumbles in New Jersey (via EarthTechling)

First Wind Energy proposes New England’s largest wind farm (via CleanTechnica)

Maryland governor to propose 25% by 2020 renewable energy target (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Report: Keystone XL would boost oil sands output and emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

The Alberta oil sands have been leaking for nine weeks (via Mother Jones)

Study finds little environmental enforcement in tar sands infractions (via Calgary Herald)

EMISSIONS 

Social cost of carbon battle hits House floor (via The Hill)

A carbon tax by any other name (via New York Times)

11 reasons to divest from the fossil fuel industry (via Resilience)

What if we could harvest electricity from carbon dioxide? (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Wyoming fracking study to be funded by industry after EPA pulls out (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE 

Ancient global warming raised sea levels nearly 70 feet (via National Geographic)

Global temperature plateau likely due to deep ocean warming (via Climate Central)

Arctic thawing could cost the world $60 trillion, say scientists (via BusinessGreen)

Biden, in India, calls climate change a risk to development (via The Hill)

Arctic shipping quadrupled in past year as global warming melts sea ice (via Slate)

Climate change threatens Bangladesh’s millennium development goal achievements (via Thompson-Reuters)

Heat and storms: research helps suburban homes adapt to climate change (via Phys.org)

OIL 

US EIA says OPEC oil sales will decline through 2014 (via Houston Chronicle)

Hess, PetroChina sign China’s first shale oil deal (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU in last lap of talks on global aviation emissions deal (via Euractive)

Renault-Nissan sells its 100,000th electric car (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Severe drought plagues northeast Brazil (via Al-Jazeera)

China weighs environmental costs of economic growth (via Wall Street Journal)

Louisiana state agency to sue energy companies for wetland damage (via New York Times)

GRID 

Smart meters must better integrate into utility operations (via Greentech Media)

Construction on 700-mile Clean Line transmission project could begin in 2015 (via The Oklahoman)

Microgrids and micro-municipalization (via RMI Outlet)

Demand response helps NYISO defend against record heat wave (via Renew Grid)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green job placements lag (via Environmental Leader)

“LEED for sustainable purchasing” to help corporate buyers (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Houses of the rising sun: developers build homes that make more energy than they take (via Washington Post/AP)

Milwaukee launches $100 million PACE program (via Journal Sentinel)

POLITICS 

House bill limiting EPA power draws veto threat (via The Hill)

House Energy Committee chairman: biofuel-blending system “cannot stand” (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Reuters climate change coverage declined significantly after “skeptic” editor joined (via Media Matters for America)

Last week’s hearing on social cost of carbon put right-wing objections to bed (via Climate Progress)

Washington heading for another round of devastating energy innovation cuts (via Energy Collective)

U.S. natural gas use must peak by 2030 to fight climate change (via Center for American Progress)

New Jersey offshore wind: Dead or alive? (via Huffington Post)

Is Georgia the next frontier for US solar development? (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, Alberta, arctic, Bangladesh, biofuel, Brazil, carbon tax, China, CHP, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Demand response, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, feed-in tariff, First Wind, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fred Upton, Georgia, germany, global warming, green business, green jobs, grid, Hess, india, Inner Mongolia, Keystone XL, LEED, Louisiana, maryland, Microgrid, Milwaukee, natural gas, New England, new jersey, News, Nissan, NYISO, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, OPEC, PACE, PetroChina, Renault, Renewable energy standard, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, res, RFS, Sea level rise, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, tar sands, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, US EIA, virginia, Wetland, wind, wyoming
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17
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.17.13

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

COAL 

World Bank to limit financing of coal-fired plants (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

Power plants face “collision course” with water, researchers say (via Houston Chronicle)

States file lawsuit against EPA over “sue and settle” strategy (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China in $5 billion drive to develop disputed East China Sea natural gas (via Reuters)

Brussels says no plans for EU-wide shale gas ban (via Phys.org)

California seeks record fine in PG&E San Bruno pipeline explosion (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Thailand boosts renewable energy goal to 13.9GW (via Recharge)

Dutch push back 2020 renewable energy targets (via Recharge)

New crystals yield solar power breakthrough (via BBC News)

Study says renewables more water-friendly than carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

US ranchers round up the power of the Sun (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy survives ALEC’s attack in states, grows stronger (via Sustainable Business)

US oil executive says biofuel credits “out of control,” urges action (via Globe and Mail)

Xcel to boost its wind power in Upper Midwest by 600MW (via Minnesota Star-Tribune)

Proposed wind farm could double South Dakota’s wind capacity (via Argus-Leader)

KEYSTONE XL 

Report: Keystone XL will hike gasoline prices for some US drivers (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone’s public comments reveal economic woes of small towns (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Demand response programs will reach nearly 22 million sites worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Battery seen as way to cut heat-related power losses on grid (via New York Times)

Reconnecting buildings to the grid (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

EU and Australia set to accelerate emissions trading links (via RTCC)

UK government promises electricity market reform to cut cost of decarbonization (via BusinessGreen)

ExxonMobil, PG&E fined for violating California emissions reporting rule (via Los Angeles Times)

Cement industry cuts carbon emissions 17% (via Environmental Leader)

Policies using carbon capture and storage in soil are too costly, say experts (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Capacity at existing US oil refineries increases in 2013 (via US EIA)

Refinery receipts of crude oil by rail, truck, and barge continue to increase (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Honda seeks mass-market fuel cell car by 2020 (via Wall Street Journal)

AAA: $3 gasoline “a thing of the past” (via The Hill)

US House votes to keep $25 billion DOE advanced-powertrain loan program open (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Thousands of years of rising seas (via MIT Technology Review)

Scientists predict looming climate shift: will ocean heat come back to haunt us again? (via Climate Progress)

More New Jersey homeowners targeted for flood buyouts (via Philadelphia Inquirer/AP)

Koch Brothers use Web to take on media reports they dispute (via Washington Post)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Ceres, ICCR draft blueprint for sustainable investing (via GreenBiz)

Investment funds divested from fossil fuels “will perform better” (via Energy Collective)

LEED brings Cradle-to-Cradle into green building certification (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The big book of building energy data, 2008-2012 (via Greentech Media)

EPEAT adds green ratings to mobile phones (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS 

Climate policy is dominating the Australian election (via Grist)

Senate advancing federal flood insurance reform bill (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Australia’s carbon mess a warning to the world (via Reuters)

Can Jim Yong Kim end World Bank backing for coal-fired power? (via The Guardian)

Costs of climate change and extreme weather pass the high-water mark (via Time)

Why don’t farmers believe in climate change? (via Slate)

Did US carbon emissions bottom in 2012 or will they fall 20% by 2020? (via Facts of the Day)

As solar panel efficiencies keep improving, it’s time to adopt new metrics (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, ALEC, australia, battery, biofuel, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon capture and storage, ccs, Ceres, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA Natural gas, EPEAT, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, ExxonMobil, Flooding, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, gas prices, Gasoline, green building, green business, grid, honda, ICCR, Jim Yong Kim, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, LEED, Netherlands, new jersey, News, offshore drilling, oil, PGE, Pipeline, Renewable fuel standard, Renewable portfolio standards, renewables, RFS, rps, San Bruno explosion, Sea level rise, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, South Dakota, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, wind, World Bank, xcel
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17
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.17.13

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

COAL 

World Bank to limit financing of coal-fired plants (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

Power plants face “collision course” with water, researchers say (via Houston Chronicle)

States file lawsuit against EPA over “sue and settle” strategy (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China in $5 billion drive to develop disputed East China Sea natural gas (via Reuters)

Brussels says no plans for EU-wide shale gas ban (via Phys.org)

California seeks record fine in PG&E San Bruno pipeline explosion (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Thailand boosts renewable energy goal to 13.9GW (via Recharge)

Dutch push back 2020 renewable energy targets (via Recharge)

New crystals yield solar power breakthrough (via BBC News)

Study says renewables more water-friendly than carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

US ranchers round up the power of the Sun (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy survives ALEC’s attack in states, grows stronger (via Sustainable Business)

US oil executive says biofuel credits “out of control,” urges action (via Globe and Mail)

Xcel to boost its wind power in Upper Midwest by 600MW (via Minnesota Star-Tribune)

Proposed wind farm could double South Dakota’s wind capacity (via Argus-Leader)

KEYSTONE XL 

Report: Keystone XL will hike gasoline prices for some US drivers (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone’s public comments reveal economic woes of small towns (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Demand response programs will reach nearly 22 million sites worldwide by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Battery seen as way to cut heat-related power losses on grid (via New York Times)

Reconnecting buildings to the grid (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

EU and Australia set to accelerate emissions trading links (via RTCC)

UK government promises electricity market reform to cut cost of decarbonization (via BusinessGreen)

ExxonMobil, PG&E fined for violating California emissions reporting rule (via Los Angeles Times)

Cement industry cuts carbon emissions 17% (via Environmental Leader)

Policies using carbon capture and storage in soil are too costly, say experts (via Phys.org)

OIL 

Capacity at existing US oil refineries increases in 2013 (via US EIA)

Refinery receipts of crude oil by rail, truck, and barge continue to increase (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Honda seeks mass-market fuel cell car by 2020 (via Wall Street Journal)

AAA: $3 gasoline “a thing of the past” (via The Hill)

US House votes to keep $25 billion DOE advanced-powertrain loan program open (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Thousands of years of rising seas (via MIT Technology Review)

Scientists predict looming climate shift: will ocean heat come back to haunt us again? (via Climate Progress)

More New Jersey homeowners targeted for flood buyouts (via Philadelphia Inquirer/AP)

Koch Brothers use Web to take on media reports they dispute (via Washington Post)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Ceres, ICCR draft blueprint for sustainable investing (via GreenBiz)

Investment funds divested from fossil fuels “will perform better” (via Energy Collective)

LEED brings Cradle-to-Cradle into green building certification (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The big book of building energy data, 2008-2012 (via Greentech Media)

EPEAT adds green ratings to mobile phones (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS 

Climate policy is dominating the Australian election (via Grist)

Senate advancing federal flood insurance reform bill (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Australia’s carbon mess a warning to the world (via Reuters)

Can Jim Yong Kim end World Bank backing for coal-fired power? (via The Guardian)

Costs of climate change and extreme weather pass the high-water mark (via Time)

Why don’t farmers believe in climate change? (via Slate)

Did US carbon emissions bottom in 2012 or will they fall 20% by 2020? (via Facts of the Day)

As solar panel efficiencies keep improving, it’s time to adopt new metrics (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: AAA, ALEC, australia, battery, biofuel, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon capture and storage, ccs, Ceres, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA Natural gas, EPEAT, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme weather, ExxonMobil, Flooding, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, gas prices, Gasoline, green building, green business, grid, honda, ICCR, Jim Yong Kim, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, LEED, Netherlands, new jersey, News, offshore drilling, oil, PGE, Pipeline, Renewable fuel standard, Renewable portfolio standards, renewables, RFS, rps, San Bruno explosion, Sea level rise, Severe weather, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, South Dakota, Thailand, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, wind, World Bank, xcel
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15
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia to scrap carbon tax for trading scheme (via Agence France-Presse)

California cap and trade could mean data center cost bumps (via GigaOm)

CLIMATE 

Ice sheets melting at rate of 300 billion tons a year, shows climate satellites (via The Independent)

Study shows climate change happening too quickly for species to adapt (via The Guardian)

After Sandy, New York aims to fortify itself against next big storm & climate change (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV to hit grid parity, $134 billion annual revenue by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Annual offshore wind investment to hit €18 billion by 2016 (via Renewable Energy World)

China vows to quadruple solar generating capacity by 2015 (via Reuters)

EU plans probe on German renewable energy law (via Reuters)

Europe installs 1GW offshore wind capacity in first half 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

The history of biofuels goes back 300 years (via Autoblog Green)

US court says biofuel producers must face carbon emissions rules (via Reuters)

Georgia PSC orders 525MW more solar power capacity by 2016 (via Atlanta Business Chronicle)

New York inches toward offshore wind energy (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS 

France’s president rules out shale gas exploration (via Reuters)

Sen. Wyden: natural gas proposal coming soon (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: world’s coral reefs face serious problems by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Sweeping parts of southern seas could become a nature preserve (via NPR)

Study says removing coastal habitat doubles flood impact (via Phys.org)

Canada’s second-largest fire on record spreads smoke to Europe (via Weather Underground)

Wind power and this bird get along fine (via EarthTechling)

OIL

Full extent of heavy metal contamination in Arkansas Exxon oil spill still unknown (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK aims for low-carbon vehicles with £1 billion R&D center (via BusinessGreen)

GM to double models with 40-mpg highway or better by 2017 (via Green Car Congress)

Battery-electric cars are outselling plug-in hybrids (via Green Car Reports)

Better Place bought out of bankruptcy for $12 million (via GigaOm)

Study projects Tesla Roadster packs will retain 80-85% capacity after 100k miles (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla trims Model S reservation price in half (via CleanTechnica)

One year with my Chevy Volt (via CleanTechnica)

Connecticut to fund $200,000 in public charging station incentives (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Federal building efficiency standard could cut energy use 18% (via Environmental Leader)

DOE set to order energy efficiency standards for US computers and servers (via The Hill)

GREEN BUSINESS

Recycling saved General Motors $1 billion in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Skanska quits US Chamber of Commerce over anti-LEED lobbying (via BusinessGreen)

NUCLEAR 

IAEA says aging nuclear reactors pose safety challenge (via Reuters)

GREEN BUILDING 

Re-imagined London tower would harvest pollution as fuel (via EarthTechling)

Munich building snags highest-ever LEED rating (via EarthTechling)

ENERGY POLICY 

Water scarcity from climate change could jack up Europe’s power prices (via Climate Progress)

World Bank abandons coal, green-lights clean micro-grids (via Renew Economy)

When space weather attacks the grid (via Washington Post)

Ideas to bolster US power grid run up against system’s many owners (via New York Times)

Flush with oil and gas cash, North Dakota’s economic growth tops in nation (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Rudd seeks to ditch carbon tax with eye on election campaign (via Bloomberg)

Tough job ahead as Obama puts climate talk into action, sells plan to public (via Washington Post)

Battle over EPA nominee draws to a close (via The Hill)

GOP “climate disconnect” would sacrifice climate research for weather forecasting (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, battery, better place, biofuels, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, chamber of commerce, chevy volt, China, climate, coal, Connecticut, Coral reef, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, EV charging infrastructure, ExxonMobil, Flood, France, Francois Hollande, General Motors, Georgia, germany, Gina McCarthy, GM, green building, green business, grid, Grid Parity, IAEA, International Atomic Energy Association, kevin rudd, LEED, London, Microgrid, Munich, natural gas, New York City, new york state, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Recycling, renewables, Ron Wyden, Shale gas, Shale oil, Skanska, solar, solar pv, Tesla, Tesla Model S, tesla roadster, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind, World Bank
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03
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.3.13

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

EMISSIONS 

European parliament votes for backloading plan to push up carbon price (via BusinessGreen)

EU ministers and blue chips unite in call to save carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

33 cities test new framework for community-scale greenhouse gas inventories (via WRI Insights)

Lesser-known CO2 storage idea merits attention (via Reuters)

United Church of Christ passes fossil fuel divestment strategy (via Huffington Post)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Ratings and rankings: how competition promotes corporate sustainability (via GreenBiz)

Report says less carbon pollution and more manufacturing can go together (via Climate Progress)

Why American businesses should fight for renewable portfolio standards (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Saudi Arabia starts survey of renewable energy potential (via Bloomberg)

Desertec in trouble as founders quit €400 billion solar project (via RTCC)

UK feed-in tariff generates 380,000 small-scale renewable projects in three years (via BusinessGreen)

Uganda launches renewable energy feed-in tariff program (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar water heaters bloom on China’s rooftops, but not in the US (via ClimateWire)

Vestas wins 93MW South African wind turbine order (via Bloomberg)

Algae species shows promise in reducing power plant pollution to make biofuel (via Green Car Congress)

Interior approves 500MW Arizona wind farm (via Renew Grid)

Connecticut’s green bank: a model for public-private renewables partnerships? (via Breaking Energy)

COAL 

Obama revamps $8 billion coal loan program amid objections (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

UN charts “unprecedented” global warming since 2000 (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s climate finance plan welcomed by vulnerable nations (via RTCC)

Rich countries’ proposal to bypass poorer governments on climate aid rejected in UN (via The Guardian)

Death estimates from Indian floods range to 10,000 (via Wall Street Journal)

Arizona wildfire continues to burn out of control (via Arizona Republic)

Death Valley hit hottest US June temperature ever recorded Sunday – 129 (via Washington Post)

OIL 

Federal court rejects SEC rule on oil company payments (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama administration boosts oil industry with $8 billion in loan guarantees (via Houston Chronicle)

Steelmakers file US trade case seeking duties on oil pipes (via Houston Chronicle)

Sickened by Exxon oil spill, Arkansas victims face confusion of officials and doctors (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

GM and Honda to collaborate on fuel-cell development (via New York Times)

Strong June sales push Chevy Volt ahead of Nissan Leaf for first time since February (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker bankruptcy likely, says Delaware governor (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima plant operator seeks to restart two nuclear reactors (via New York Times)

Lower power prices and high repair costs drive nuclear retirements (via US EIA)

GRID 

PJM seeks additional resources to restart electric system if power lost across grid (via Wall Street Journal)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands coal petcoke exports hit second-highest level ever in April (via DeSmog Blog)

Keystone XL foes turn focus to local governments (via ABC News/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Cambridge plans $1.5 billion in energy efficiency retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

How Obama’s climate plan will boost US energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Empire State Building efficiency retrofit model rolls out across US (via CleanTechnica)

NPR’s LEED Gold headquarters a radio nerd’s dream (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

What would happen if candidates and elected officials were asked to sign a climate action pledge? (via Climate Progress)

Has the GOP stopped denying climate science, and will they begin participating in solutions? (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

Solar offers hope in fight against climate change (via Huffington Post)

Kosovo a chance for World Bank, Obama to show climate change leadership (via National Geographic)

Heroes and villains of the renewable energy fight (via CleanTechnica)

A closer look at Obama’s $7 billion plan to bring electricity to Africa (via Washington Post)

What’s causing the West’s heat wave and why hot nights are so dangerous (via Washington Post/AP)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, arizona, Arkansas, barack obama, biofuel, Cambridge, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Carbon storage, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, Delaware, Desertec, Divestment, emissions, empire state building, Energy Efficiency, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Extreme heat, Exxon, feed-in tariff, Fisker, Flood, Fossil fuel divestment, fukushima, General Motors, global warming, GM, Green bank, green business, grid, honda, india, interior department, Keystone XL, LEED, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Petcoke, Pipeline, PJM, Renewable portfolio standards, renewables, rps, saudi arabia, SEC, solar, Solar water heater, South Africa, tar sands, Transportation, Uganda, uk, UN, United Church of Christ, united kingdom, united nations, vestas, Wildfire, wind, World Bank
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11
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.11.13

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

EMISSIONS 

US-China emissions deal faces broader challenges (via Politico)

China’s rich provinces outsource emissions to less developed ones (via The Guardian)

America’s 20 worst corporate air polluters (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA says US oil and gas reserves up 35% thanks to shale boom (via The Hill)

Electricity generation scoreboard: gas down 8%; coal up 8%; nuclear down 2.5%; wind up 10% & solar up 228% (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES 

US installs record 723MW of solar PV in Q1 2013 (via Greentech Media)

SEPA report ranks US utilities by amount of deployed solar (via Greentech Media)

The coming solar electricity transformation (via CleanTechnica)

As first offshore wind turbine launches in Maine, is Texas next? (via StateImpact Texas)

Biofuels to play integral role in California’s energy future, says new study (via Phys.org)

COAL 

2014 European coal plunges to record as Credit Suisse cuts forecast (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Scientists say climate change could mean once a century floods every 10 years (via RTCC)

Catastrophic European floods raise climate concerns (via ClimateWire)

New climate data depicts New York City’s growing risk (via New York Times)

Dominion shareholder vote a loud signal to Virginia utility on climate (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart grid activity is heating up in South America (via Renew Grid)

Europe’s grid could carry 10% more electricity via next-generation technologies (via Recharge)

OIL 

Venezuelans find oil bonanza in Colombia (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Toyota Europe wants clean grid before pushing electric cars (via Plugin Cars)

Frequent flyers pressure United Airlines to tackle climate change (via BusinessGreen)

FAA wants to wean private airlines off leaded fuel (via The Hill)

2013 Chevy Volt gets $4,000 incentive, more if leasing a competitor’s vehicle (via Autoblog Green)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Green product growth outpaced others during recession (via Environmental Leader)

Under-fire Sustainable Forestry Initiative revising standards (via Environmental Leader)

Chemical companies seek to limit federal LEED green building (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian ambassador: Alberta’s oil sands crude “will get to market” (via Houston Chronicle)

Can the new social cost of carbon estimate help stop Keystone XL? (via TriplePundit)

POLITICS 

Two Senate panels compete for control over ethanol mandate (via National Journal)

Steven Chu Q&A on Solyndra, Keystone, and US grid (via San Francisco Chronicle)

DOE official violated nepotism policy, says inspector general (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What to make of a climate change plateau (via New York Times)

Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) will bring more clean energy investment (via Climate Progress)

Who’ll get stuck with San Onofre’s $3 billion tab? (via Greenwire)

Silver linings in IEA report on 2012 fossil fuel carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, biofuels, california, canada, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Colombia, Credit Suisse, department of energy, DOE, Dominion, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, europe, ev, Extreme weather, FAA, Federal Aviation Authority, Flood, green building, green business, grid, IEA, International Energy Agency, investment, Keystone XL, LEED, Maine, Master limited partnerships, MLP, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, renewables, San Onofre, Severe weather, SFI, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, solyndra, steven chu, Sustainable Forestry Initiative, tar sands, texas, Toyota, Transportation, united airlines, Venezuela, virginia
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03
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, barack obama, battery, Beijing, Bosch, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, car2go, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, denver, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ernst & Young, europe, ev, Extinction, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, Florida, fracking, global warming, grid, italy, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LEED, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, noaa, Northern Gateway, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, ontario, OPEC, Pebble Bay, Pipeline, Plastic bag ban, PSE&G, Rainforests, Range anxiety, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, Russ Girling, Severe weather, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, V2G, Vehicle to grid, wind, World Bank, xcel
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03
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arctic Offshore drilling, barack obama, battery, Beijing, Bosch, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, car2go, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, denver, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ernst & Young, europe, ev, Extinction, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, Florida, fracking, Gas price, global warming, grid, italy, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LEED, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, noaa, Northern Gateway, Ocean warming, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, ontario, OPEC, Pebble Bay, Pipeline, Plastic bag ban, Pollution tax, PSE&G, Range anxiety, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, Russ Girling, Severe weather, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tesla, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, V2G, Vehicle to grid, wind, World Bank, xcel
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21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea may launch world’s most ambitious cap and trade market (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon capture faces scale dilemma (via Reuters)

UK unwraps energy-intensive industry carbon price compensation package (via BusinessGreen)

CLIMATE 

World’s largest cities say time to adapt to climate change (via RTCC)

Glacier melt causes a third of all sea-level rise (via ABC Science)

Climate change pushes farmers in India to tipping point (via The Guardian)

Scientists agree on climate change, so why doesn’t everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Weatherproofing cities to face future Sandys (via Council on Foreign Relation)

RENEWABLES 

Solar has barely scratched the surface of a $2 trillion market (via Renew Economy)

2012 a record-breaking year for global wind power (via DW)

Solar industry groups urge US, EU, China to avert trade war (via Washington Post)

US and EU set to negotiate settlements in Chinese solar panel cases (via New York Times)

EU tariffs on Chinese solar imports “a grave mistake” says German minister (via BusinessGreen)

US military on track to reach 3GW of solar by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

95% of US energy executives predict more renewables investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Ethanol production stagnates as biofuel mandates grow (via Houston Chronicle)

The advantages of developing solar on brownfields (via Greentech Media)

US ethanol production capacity little changed in past year (via US EIA)

Can state harvesting guidelines keep biomass sustainable? (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota is a governor’s signature away from 450MW of solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina creates legal framework to develop wind farms (via Recharge)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency could cut wireless data power demand 90% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

LEED remains top choice for government buildings (via Sustainable Business)

Senate energy efficiency bill could be “poison pill” for LEED standards (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU to investigate environmental impact of shale gas fracking (via Reuters)

What exporting US natural gas means for the climate (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas climbs to three-week high on LNG approval, hot weather (via Bloomberg)

The fight for North Dakota’s fracking water market (via Reuters)

California’s proposed fracking moratoriums might not apply to other drilling in Monterey Shale (via EnergyWire)

161 water wells impacted by Pennsylvania gas drilling from 2008-2012 (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

More US consumers now support smart grid (via Renew Grid)

ARRA update: almost two-thirds of US smart grid funds spent (via Renew Grid)

Underwater batteries make an energy storage splash (via GigaOm)

The military microgrid as smart grid asset (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage, meet energy markets (via Greentech Media)

Texas power grid poised to be put to test again (via Texas Tribune)

Revenue at Bloom Energy falls in Q1 (via Greentech Media)

New grid switches cut 80,000 outages for ComEd (via Greentech Media)

As Texas towns say no, signs of rising resistance to smart meters (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

Oman to use solar power to get oil from old wells (via New York Times)

With US awash in oil, national interest argument for Keystone weakens (via InsideClimate News)

A black mound of Canadian oil waste is rising over Detroit (via New York Times)

Alaska’s governor launches bid to measure oil in Arctic refuge (via Los Angeles Times)

Exxon: no plans yet to reopen ruptured Arkansas pipeline, and no answers why (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plugged in: US electric car sales hit 100,000 (via EarthTechling)

Tesla to pay off US DOE loan Wednesday (via Bloomberg)

United Airlines restarts 787 Dreamliner flights (via USA Today)

Tesla’s fight with American car dealers (via CNN Money)

COAL 

In the US West, Big Coal makes its stand (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean warming means new paradigm for world’s fisheries (via Climate Progress)

A plague of deforestation sweeps across Southeast Asia (via Yale e360)

Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat (via Phys.org)

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon pacing 88% higher than 2012 (via Mongabay)

USGS: drop in US aquifer levels has accelerated (via Reuters)

Wells dry, fertile US plains turn to dust (via New York Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Moniz era begins at Energy Department (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign escalates at Swarthmore (via Huffington Post)

Illinois renewable energy law fix faces opposition from utilities (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

What’s at stake with natural-gas exports? (via National Journal)

Wind and the myth of negative pricing (via Greentech Media)

“If people aren’t pissed off, it ain’t working”: a chat with Tom Steyer (via Grist)

Climate warnings, growing louder (via New York Times)

Fixing the economy may be the best way to pass a climate bill (via Washington Post)

Arizona clean energy = more jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Utilities for dummies: how they work and why that needs to change (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, alaska, amazon, anwr, arctic, arizona, Arkansas, arra, battery, biofuel, biomass, bloom energy, Boeing 787, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, deforestation, department of energy, Detroit, Divestment, Dreamliner, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy efficeincy, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EOR, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Exxon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, green building, green jobs, grid, Illinois, india, investment, Keystone XL, LEED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, minnesota, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Negative pricing, News, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore drilling, oil, Oil coke, oil spill, Oman, pennsylvania, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, Superstorm Sandy, Swarthmore, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united airlines, united kingdom, usgs, Water scarcity, wind
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