Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
West Antarctic ice collapse “could drown Middle East and Asia crops” (via The Guardian)
Australia’s pollution U-turn threatening UN climate talks (via Bloomberg)
Saudis accused of deleting part of UN climate science report (via RTCC)
Global warming linked to frigid U.S. winter, say scientists (via NBC News)
Cold U.S. winter caused by warm tropical waters? (via Climate Central)
COAL
Deutsche Bank won’t fund Australia coal port expansion near reef (via Reuters)
EPA reaches deal with Duke Energy over coal ash spill (via The Guardian)
Petitioners ask Gov. Nixon to halt Missouri coal ash landfill construction (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Over 600 local elected officials back Obama’s coal rules (via The Hill)
RENEWABLES
India hits US, China with solar imports & anti-dumping duties (via Reuters)
A brief history of ethanol in Brazil (via Green Car Reports)
Abengoa says CSP with storage will beat baseload gas by 2020 (via Renew Economy)
5 trends illustrating the resurgence of solar suppliers in 2014 (via Greentech Media)
Ohio kicks RPS vote to next week (via Recharge)
400-mile transmission line could expand Texas wind market (via Houston Chronicle)
South Carolina prepares for solar revolution with historic vote (via EcoWatch)
Can yieldcos reduce the risk of solar financing? (via Renewable Energy World)
NUCLEAR
Russia may build eight nuclear reactors for Iran (via Reuters)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Building efficiency upgrades save $730 million across U.S. (via Greenbang)
Lighting is a “gateway drug to energy efficiency” (via Breaking Energy)
Google won’t serve ads to your Nest, but will find you elsewhere (via Greentech Media)
OIL
UK says South England holds billions of barrels of shale oil (via Bloomberg)
North Dakota governor warns oil producers on gas flaring (via Bismarck Tribune/AP)
TRANSPORTATION
Energy consumption falling in the transportation sector (via Navigant Research)
GRID
U.S. utility’s control system was hacked, says Homeland Security (via Reuters)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Russia-China deal to damp LNG prices as output rises (via Bloomberg)
Obama faces fracking protesters on New York visit (via The Hill)
EMISSIONS
How does your state rank on climate emissions? (via Sustainable Business)
California carbon auction sells all allowances (via Environmental Leader)
17 things to know about California’s carbon cap (via Sightline Daily)
Does working from home grow your carbon footprint? (via GreenBiz)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
First shipment of Canadian tar sands heads toward EU shores (via RTCC)
TransCanada eyes “bridge” to Keystone XL pipeline approval (via The Hill)
POLITICS
Red state, blue state, hot state, cold state: Mapping the politics of climate change (via Politico)
League of Conservation Voters raises $3 million for campaign contributions (via The Hill)
Climate change is on the ballot (via Huffington Post)
Ohio churches fight to save renewables and energy efficiency (via Climate Progress)
OPINION
When China became the world’s workshop it inherited the world’s air pollution, too (via Grist)
How fossil fuel interests attack renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)
Dust Bowl days: Will we cut carbon fast enough to prevent permanent droughts? (via Climate Progress)
How green energy won out over fossil fuels in a red state (via National Journal)
The real reason why no one cares about CNN’s climate stories (via Climate Progress)
Why “ratepayer” is a dirty word (via Greentech Media)
Defending clean energy in Ohio and beyond (via Grist)
Why owning your own power plant might not be crazy (via RMI Outlet)