Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Top global emitter China best on climate change, Figures says (via Bloomberg)
After years of decline, US carbon emissions rose 2% in 2013 (via Washington Post)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Google buys Nest for $3.2 billion (via Forbes)
Seattle energy benchmarking finds $90 million potential annual utility bill savings (via CleanTechnica)
Net zero at unprecedented scale on Illinois campus (via EarthTechling)
Nest gives Google its next big data play: Energy (via Forbes)
RENEWABLES
UK solar panels reach half a million rooftop milestone (via BusinessGreen)
How the new US-China trade case could change the American solar market (via Greentech Media)
UK renewable energy firms “looking to hire more staff” (via BBC News)
Clean tech venture investment is on the rise, says report (via GreenBiz)
Solar City takes 32% of 2013 3Q US residential PV marker as utilities squirm (via CleanTechnica)
Ethanol mandate unlikely to face repeal in 2014 (via Argus Leader/Gannett)
North Carolina to join California as top 10 global PV “country” in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
Coal-dependent Michigan ready to make the switch to clean energy (via EnergyWire)
New ACORE head outlines renewable energy priorities (via National Journal)
COAL
Japan’s Tepco doubled coal burning on nuclear shutdown (via Bloomberg)
Coal reliance puts Australia second on OECD’s emissions list (via The Guardian)
China to boost annual railway coal capacity to 3 billion tons by 2020 (via Reuters)
Omnibus federal spending bill thwarts Obama on overseas coal funding limits (via National Journal)
Most states remain dependent on coal imports, draining billions from local economies (via Union of Concerned Scientists)
CLIMATE
Massive Antarctic glacier has entered irreversible melt, could add up to 1 centimeter of sea level rise (via InsideClimate)
New assessment of climate change’s economic risks is ready for business (via Climate Progress)
Historic black colleges leading climate change advocacy (via Huffington Post)
The flood next time: Grappling with sea level rise sooner not later (via New York Times)
Massachusetts governor to unveil climate change prep plan today (via Boston Herald/AP)
Washington DC’s water utility takes lead in preparing for warming world (via ClimateWire)
OIL
Trains will still move oil despite wrecks, Keystone XL (via Climate Central)
Federal report says 400,000 gallons of oil spilled in North Dakota train derailment (via National Journal)
TRANSPORTATION
Nearly 2.6 million EVs will be sold in the US between 2013 and 2022 (via Navigant Research)
Ford F150 truck trail blazes new green technologies (via TriplePundit)
Annual North Carolina fee on electric vehicles starts this month (via Winston-Salem Journal)
Inslee won’t rule out low-carbon fuel standards in Washington State (via Washington State Wire)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL: Texas high court gives hope to landowners in eminent domain fight (via InsideClimate News)
ENVIRONMENT
West Virginia chemical crisis: The latest (via National Journal)
Water restrictions lifted on day five of West Virginia chemical spill (via The Hill)
GRID
A123 installs 3MWh grid storage solution in Spain (via Renew Grid)
Upper Great Plains Region looking to join Southwest Power Pool grid (via Renew Grid)
ENERGY POLICY
How one utility giant created its own pipeline of skilled workers (via National Journal)
Has shale gas really reduced US carbon emissions? The problem of coal exports (via Energy Collective)
OPINION
Keep up the pressure, climate activists (via Washington Post)
Infrastructure snags: What’s so hard about moving energy? (via National Journal)
Why Nest could be a nightmare for Google (via Forbes)