Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.11.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Heat, flood, or icy cold, extreme weather rages worldwide (via New York Times)
Australia braces for more blistering heat after record busting spell (via Washington Post)
COAL
Ontario to be coal-free by 2013 (via Ontario Ministry of Energy)
GREEN BUSINESS
Fossil fuel divestment campaign spreads to America’s churches (via InsideClimate News)
Investment community calls for predictable climate policy (via GreenBiz)
RENEWABLES
Deutsche Bank predicts global solar market will rise 22 percent in 2013 (via Bloomberg)
Global clean energy investment falls for first time (via BusinessGreen)
Chile approves 3.1GW of solar PV projects (via Renewable Energy World)
US wind industry awaits tax guidance on PTC rule (via Politico)
New York Governor announces $1 billion green bank and $1.5 billion solar program (via Climate Progress)
California solar program hits 1GW-installed milestone (via EarthTechling)
NREL and Stanford team up on peel-and-stick solar cells (via Renewable Energy World)
EMISSIONS
IRENA: shale gas boom can complement renewables to cut coal (via Bloomberg)
EPA cites Shell Arctic drilling rigs for air emissions violations (via Los Angeles Times)
Do you live near one of the nation’s dirtiest power plants? (via Huffington Post)
TRANSPORTATION
Global auto exec survey expects internal-combustion engine dominance but with downsizing and PHEV investment (via Green Car Congress)
In lawsuit against Energy Department, firms claim cronyism in “green car” loan program (via Washington Post)
Nearly 1 million natural gas trucks and buses will be sold worldwide from 2012-2019 (via Pike Research)
New EV charging station connects to smart meters (via Renew Grid)
Fuel cell vehicles could be a $1.8 billion market in 2030 (via Environmental Leader)
How to read a plug-in hybrid’s mileage sticker (via Mapawatt)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
US manufacturers lobby against “unfettered” natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)
California announces preliminary hydraulic fracturing regulations (via AOL Energy)
USGS finds no contamination from fracking in two Arkansas counties (via Reuters)
RARE EARTHS
DOE plunks $120 million into rare earths research hub (via AOL Energy)
Molycorp lowers 2013 outlook, shares plunge (via Reuters)
OIL
Support grows for more offshore drilling oversight by US (via Houston Chronicle)
BP oil spill settlement payments exceed $1 billion mark (via Houston Chronicle)
Rep. Markey: Shell may have moved Kulluk Arctic drilling rig to avoid taxes (via Reuters)
ENVIRONMENT
Drought-damaged US states face poor outlook as dry weather persists (via The Guardian)
Native Canadians could block natural resource development (via Reuters)
Beetlemania: insects are gobbling up 1,000-year-old trees (via Mother Jones)
GRID
ERCOT says Texas electric transmission capacity will fall short of demand (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
If you aren’t alarmed about climate, you aren’t paying attention (via Grist)
Why is General Electric backing down from its plug-in pledge? (via Plugin Cars)
New York State’s clean tech challenge to California (via Forbes)
OTHER NEWS
An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress