Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

MIT predicts 2015 UN climate talks likely to fail (via Environmental Leader)

BASIC nations urge rich countries to act on climate change (via RTCC)

UN releases Ban Ki-moon climate summit plan (via RTCC)

The world’s first climate change refugees were granted residency in New Zealand (via Smithsonian)

87 cities, 4 scenarios, and 1 really hot future (via Climate Central)

Edelman formally declares it will not accept climate denial campaigns (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal’s price seen stunted at year-end amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India invites bids for $8 billion renewable grid upgrade (via Bloomberg)

In Asia, wind industry picks up again (via Navigant Research)

China adds 3.3GW of solar PV in first half 2014 (via Recharge)

U.S. imposes tariffs on solar imports from Taiwan, adds new duties on China imports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

No end in sight for America’s solar revolution (via EcoWatch)

Flaw and order: How Brookings got its analysis of wind and solar costs so wrong (via Greentech Media)

Michigan net metering program shows steady increase (via Energy Manager Today)

Price of wind energy goes down in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Minnesota regulators side with utility in value-of-solar case (via Midwest Energy News)

SpaceX is going solar with Elon Musk’s other company, SolarCity (via GigaOm)

SolarCity loss widens as new rooftop installations surge (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit (via GigaOm)

OIL 

From Russia to Iraq, rising oil risks push 2015 prices to a premium (via Reuters)

DOT: Rail insurance inadequate for oil train accidents (via Politico)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla X to devour premium SUV market, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

2016 Chevy Volt teased ahead of debut at Detroit Auto Show (via Autoblog)

No million by 2015, but electric vehicles are surging (via Breaking Energy)

Electric vehicles could save U.S. utilities from a death spiral (via Forbes)

Latest services from Uber and Lyft will upend transportation even more (via Washington Post)

Nissan, Mitsubishi team up for $14,000 EV (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Marcellus Shale hits gas production milestone (via The Hill)

Anti-fracking measures to be officially pulled from Colorado ballot (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Deep emissions cuts needed by 2050 to limit warming, says UN (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Air traffic growth rates will outpace emissions reductions, research shows (via The Guardian)

White House says emissions delay will raise climate costs (via Bloomberg)

New lawsuits unlikely to touch EPA’s carbon rule, at least in near term (via ClimateWire)

Environmental groups to sue EPA over aircraft emissions (via The Hill)

Carbon pricing and Northwest businesses: a match made in tax-swap heaven? (via Sightline Daily)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. insurance industry changes with energy industry (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina just passed a major solar bill and sued EPA (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency? (via GreenBiz)

Investment districts may help clean energy reach minority communities (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Cracking the code on the business of energy management (via Energy Trends Insider)

California could rewrite the rules for distributed demand response (via Greentech Media)

Seattle’s energy code bests national standard (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Mercury pollution in oceans has tripled since Industrial Revolution (via Yale e360)

U.S. forecasters lower hurricane season expectations (via Climate Central)

California’s severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Has the era of the “climate refugee” begun? (via Washington Post)

Fools at the fire (via New York Times)

U.S. Commerce Department should allow exports of crude oil (via Washington Post)

Why a global warming pact won’t stop global warming (via National Journal)

Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes (via The Guardian)

This data on how consumers use energy may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

MIT predicts 2015 UN climate talks likely to fail (via Environmental Leader)

BASIC nations urge rich countries to act on climate change (via RTCC)

UN releases Ban Ki-moon climate summit plan (via RTCC)

The world’s first climate change refugees were granted residency in New Zealand (via Smithsonian)

87 cities, 4 scenarios, and 1 really hot future (via Climate Central)

Edelman formally declares it will not accept climate denial campaigns (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal’s price seen stunted at year-end amid supply glut (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

India invites bids for $8 billion renewable grid upgrade (via Bloomberg)

In Asia, wind industry picks up again (via Navigant Research)

China adds 3.3GW of solar PV in first half 2014 (via Recharge)

U.S. imposes tariffs on solar imports from Taiwan, adds new duties on China imports (via Solar Industry Magazine)

No end in sight for America’s solar revolution (via EcoWatch)

Flaw and order: How Brookings got its analysis of wind and solar costs so wrong (via Greentech Media)

Michigan net metering program shows steady increase (via Energy Manager Today)

Price of wind energy goes down in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Minnesota regulators side with utility in value-of-solar case (via Midwest Energy News)

SpaceX is going solar with Elon Musk’s other company, SolarCity (via GigaOm)

SolarCity loss widens as new rooftop installations surge (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit (via GigaOm)

OIL 

From Russia to Iraq, rising oil risks push 2015 prices to a premium (via Reuters)

DOT: Rail insurance inadequate for oil train accidents (via Politico)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla X to devour premium SUV market, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

2016 Chevy Volt teased ahead of debut at Detroit Auto Show (via Autoblog)

No million by 2015, but electric vehicles are surging (via Breaking Energy)

Electric vehicles could save U.S. utilities from a death spiral (via Forbes)

Latest services from Uber and Lyft will upend transportation even more (via Washington Post)

Nissan, Mitsubishi team up for $14,000 EV (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Marcellus Shale hits gas production milestone (via The Hill)

Anti-fracking measures to be officially pulled from Colorado ballot (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Deep emissions cuts needed by 2050 to limit warming, says UN (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Air traffic growth rates will outpace emissions reductions, research shows (via The Guardian)

White House says emissions delay will raise climate costs (via Bloomberg)

New lawsuits unlikely to touch EPA’s carbon rule, at least in near term (via ClimateWire)

Environmental groups to sue EPA over aircraft emissions (via The Hill)

Carbon pricing and Northwest businesses: a match made in tax-swap heaven? (via Sightline Daily)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. insurance industry changes with energy industry (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina just passed a major solar bill and sued EPA (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency? (via GreenBiz)

Investment districts may help clean energy reach minority communities (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Cracking the code on the business of energy management (via Energy Trends Insider)

California could rewrite the rules for distributed demand response (via Greentech Media)

Seattle’s energy code bests national standard (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Mercury pollution in oceans has tripled since Industrial Revolution (via Yale e360)

U.S. forecasters lower hurricane season expectations (via Climate Central)

California’s severe drought unchanged despite record thunderstorms (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Has the era of the “climate refugee” begun? (via Washington Post)

Fools at the fire (via New York Times)

U.S. Commerce Department should allow exports of crude oil (via Washington Post)

Why a global warming pact won’t stop global warming (via National Journal)

Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes (via The Guardian)

This data on how consumers use energy may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.11.13

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

COP 19 CONFERENCE 

Mood of “realism” about future deal at climate talks (via BBC News)

Loss and Damage: Elements for successful negotiations at COP 19 (via World Resources Institute)

UN talks seek modest climate for 2015, to raise aid (via Reuters)

Report: Funding drought threatens 2015 UN climate agreement (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

New German government would put moratorium on fracking, cut wind support (via Reuters)

EU may challenge German green subsidy (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Annual worldwide solar PV installations will double by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

European solar PV demand set to rebound in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Record-breaking wind integration in Denmark (via Greentech Media)

UK confirms plans for 39GW of offshore wind by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

Japan starts up offshore wind farm in shadow of Fukushima (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

UK offshore wind capacity rises 80% in one year (via Renewable Energy World)

Up to 21GW of small CSP could be integrated into US fossil plants (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar power begins to shine as environmental benefits pay off (via New York Times)

Midwest states grapple with value of homegrown solar electricity (via St. Paul Pioneer-Press)

Wind energy blows Michigan toward 30% renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Solar company wins converts by going door-to-door (via Reuters)

Xcel, advocates at odds over Minnesota solar garden rules (via Midwest Energy News)

Iowa State study says ethanol mandate cut would have minor impact on corn price (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

International shale plays likely to face water shortfalls (via Houston Chronicle)

What’s fueling fights over fracking? (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

China and US, two largest emitters, join in carbon reductions (via China Daily)

US and Norway bolster ties on CCS (via BusinessGreen)

Tony Abbott attempts to shift focus to carbon tax as new parliament opens (via The Guardian)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta premier making Keystone pipeline push (via The Hill)

Enbridge files plan for $2.6 billion North Dakota to Wisconsin pipeline (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Rising sea levels, falling real estate values (via Miami Herald)

South Florida faces ominous prospects from rising waters (via New York Times)

Study says Montreal Protocol ozone treaty slowed global warming (via Climate Central)

Latin America is already preparing for climate change adaptation (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

600,000 bats killed at wind energy facilities in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Health effects of a nuclear test can last decades (via Washington Post)

Plastic bottle recycling up 6.2% in 2012 (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Europe seeks new smart grid boost as momentum slows (via Navigant Research)

Western energy imbalance market gets approval from CaISO board (via Renew Grid)

CaISO changes rules to enable solar and wind project downsizing with less risk (via Solar Industry Magazine)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Where do US states rank in terms of energy efficiency? (via Renew Grid)

Title 24 launches California toward net zero buildings (via Triple Pundit)

TRANSPORTATION 

Gas prices could fall below $3/gallon before year’s end (via Autoblog)

Mitsubishi to offer 20% plug-in cars by 2020 (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Model S fires lead to investor lawsuit (via San Francisco Chronicle)

A hard week on Wall Street for Tesla (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

Obama grasps for climate legacy as second-term agenda crumbles (via The Hill)

White House names new climate and energy chief to replace Zichal (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Why hasn’t cellulosic ethanol taken over like it was supposed to? (via Washington Post)

New climate realism (via The Hill)

Top 10 things you didn’t know about ARPA-E (via Energy.gov)

Everything you need to know about “super-typhoons” (via Washington Post)

US ethanol expansion limited by blend wall, says Vilsack (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.24.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Japan’s 2012 LNG imports at record high on nuclear woes (via Reuters)

White House starts review of revised gas “fracking” rule (via The Hill)

GAO says regulators need to improve natural gas pipeline incident response data (via Washington Post/AP)

Dow Chemical fights ally Exxon’s natural gas export push (via Bloomberg)

Pennsylvania fracking wastewater might overwhelm Ohio injection wells (via Akron Beacon Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electrifying auto fleets could cut company fuel costs by 75% (via BusinessGreen)

Plug-in readiness reports show wide difference between California regions (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Majority of US senators back Keystone XL pipeline (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Sting operations reveal mafia involvement in Italian renewable energy (via Washington Post)

Expensive loans dim prospects for renewable energy in India (via Forbes)

Big funders bought wind in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

Mitsubishi Heavy seeks 10% share of global offshore wind market (via Bloomberg)

Latin American solar markets poised for 66% growth through 2017 (via Greentech Media)

Report: lack of consistent policy holding back clean energy industry (via Midwest Energy News)

North America’s largest wind energy storage facility goes online in Texas (via CleanTechnica)

VW starts up largest solar park at US auto factory in Tennessee (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

Japan ready to ditch emissions reduction target (via Phys.org)

Beijing to scrap old cars and swap coal-burners in clean air bid (via Bloomberg)

Greenhouse gas emissions dip in Minnesota, but future is uncertain (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Deutsche Bank pays $1.6 million to end US energy market trading probe (via Bloomberg)

Study: college endowments triple returns on fossil fuel stocks (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

China to cap electricity growth at 8% through 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Smart grid may be shortest route to Obama’s green energy goals (via Forbes)

The importance, challenge, and future of smart grid data analytics (via Renew Grid)

Duke completes battery storage project at Texas wind farm (via Renew Grid)

New aggregation programs drive consumer participation in Illinois energy choice (via US EIA)

NUCLEAR 

Japan faces nuclear shutdown for second time since Fukushima (via Reuters)

Funding no problem for German shift from nuclear energy (via Reuters)

Fracking for uranium (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Companies call on EU to deliver 2030 energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Surge expected for utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Does your state lead in LEED? (via Greentech Media)

How energy literate are you? (via Mapawatt)

CLIMATE 

Why Greenland’s melting could be the biggest climate disaster of all (via Mother Jones)

Andes glaciers melting at record rates (via Christian Science Monitor/Reuters)

Analysis: Obama’s next climate steps apt to be temperate (via Reuters)

Derek Jeter steps to the plate for climate change (via Politico)

Climate change bill readied for 2013 Utah state legislative session (via Salt Lake Tribune)

OIL 

Alaskans want role in US Arctic offshore drilling probe (via Houston Chronicle)

POLITICS 

Obama’s covert plans for climate (via Politico)

Tracking the changes at EPA in Obama’s second term (via AOL Energy)

Ashton Carter said to be leading contender for US Energy Secretary (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Kerry to divest financial holdings to avoid conflicts of interest (via Boston Globe)

Sen. Murkowski to release “comprehensive” energy blueprint next week (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why are greens so defensive about the rebound effect? (via Grist)

Uncertainty about climate change is reason for more aggressive action (via Grist)

Breaking down the Federal clean energy innovation budget: demonstration projects (via Innovation Files)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.17.13

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

OIL AND GAS 

EPA halted fracking water contamination investigation in Texas after industry protest (via Huffington Post/AP)

OPEC sees weaker demand for its crude in 2013 (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

BP, Justice Department say Gulf plea deal fair and appropriate (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil and gas lobby sees ‘early breakthrough’ for offshore royalty bill (via The Hill)

POWER GENERATION 

America’s 2012 power plant construction boom: new generation capacity jumps 21% (via Facts of the Day)

New coal generation capacity in 2012 up 135% over 2011 (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES 

Japan to build world’s largest offshore wind farm (via New Scientist)

UK green bank chief plans to allocate $4.8 billion to clean energy by 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Green energy makes up half of new US capacity in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Indian states aim to boost solar power (via Panchabuta)

Mitsubishi invests $770 million in German offshore wind (via Houston Chronicle)

An emerging source of clean power in India: city waste (via GigaOm)

New study shows net metering is financial benefit, not burden, to ratepayers (via Renewable Energy World)

Reverse auctions seen as model for clean energy renaissance (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS

Beijing’s toxic smog was years in the making, had many sources (via Reuters)

Airborne toxins down, but overall pollutant levels rising, EPA says (via Phys.org)

The simple technology helping Coca Cola, AT&T, Wal-Mart cut costs and emissions (via Forbes) 

GRID 

In smart grid energy savings, utilities must meet consumer expectations (via Pike Research)

FERC documents continued growth of demand response in the US (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE 

Study: global warming means more wildfires (via Coloradoan)

Fighting fires: you’re doing it wrong (via Live Science)

In Thoreau’s flower journal, clues for climatologists (via New York Times)

5 tips for handling climate skeptics in 2013 (via Huffington Post)

Sweltering summers to become the norm for US capital (via Climate Progress)

Climate change report forecasts major impacts for the Southwest (via Phys.org)

Europe’s climate change fail (via Energy Collective)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

2013 will bring phase-out of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs (via The Good Human)

TRANSPORTATION 

A vehicle engine that uses one-third the fuel (via MIT Technology Review)

2012 Coda sedan EV price slashed to $25,000 (via Green Car Reports)

ACEEE announces greenest cars of the year (via Green Car Reports)

Can subsidies get electric vehicles rolling in India? (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

Infographic study shows world’s oldest trees are dying off rapidly (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

Will Australia become uninhabitable? (via Australia News24)

The road forward from cap-and-trade (via Grist)

America needs a vibrant clean energy manufacturing sector (via Innovation Files)

Why has climate legislation failed? (via Washington Post)

Why the renewable energy industry needs green banks (via Renewable Energy World)

Breaking down the federal clean energy innovation budget (via Innovation Files)

The really, really big picture: there isn’t going to be enough net energy for the economic growth we want (via Resiliency)