Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.5.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Growing concern on water use of tar sands development (via Yale e360)
Canada’s Harper insists Keystone XL is important for jobs (via Reuters)
Little-known pipeline nearly as big as Keystone could win race to Gulf (via InsideClimate News)
Nebraska trial could delay Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)
State Department watchdog launches inquiry into Keystone environmental report (via The Hill)
NUCLEAR
South Korean scandal over nuclear safety revelations (via New York Times)
Amid concerns, nuclear advocates pin their hopes on new designs (via Time)
RENEWABLES
Australia’s solar revolution has been led by its suburbs (via Renew Economy)
Finland scientists turn dead wood into cheap biofuels (via RTCC)
South Korea completes first solar PV plant (via RTCC)
Spain seeks to charge for on-site renewables (via BusinessGreen)
US solar targets could save Americans $20 billion annually by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)
PUCs on the front lines of brewing net metering battle (via Energy Collective)
Solar innovation gets new ARPA-E funding chance (via EarthTechling)
DOE issues RFI for next-generation solar PV technology (via Green Car Congress)
US to hold second auction for offshore wind on Outer Continental Shelf (via Green Car Congress)
Solazyme’s twisted path to an algae-based future (via GreenBiz)
Inadequate transmission lines keeping some Maine wind power off the grid (via Portland Press Herald)
Minnesota utility will meet its renewable energy mandate 10 years early (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)
CLIMATE
Climate change pushing marine life toward the poles, says study (via The Guardian)
Ecosystems face unprecedented “climate change velocity” (via Climate Central)
Australia faces increased disease from climate change, reports find (via The Guardian)
Models for a more effective response to climate change (via Phys.org)
Fund managers worth $14 trillion say climate change influences investments (via RTCC)
US companies don’t want to talk about preventing climate change disaster (via The Guardian)
OIL
Despite boom, higher costs push Big Oil into slump (via Houston Chronicle)
In wake of Canadian disaster, US issues emergency rules for trains (via Houston Chronicle)
BLM approves environmental probe on public land drilling in California (via Greenwire)
Oil companies used fracking in coastal waters off California (via Houston Chronicle)
Police in California arrest over 200 at Chevron refinery protest (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Kick starting Europe’s electric vehicle industry (via Phys.org)
A hankering for hybrids in America (via New York Times)
Jump-starting EV sales with workplace charging stations (via Los Angeles Times)
Burlington-Montreal EV fast-charging corridor opening this fall (via Green Car Congress)
ENVIRONMENT
How 10 Western US cities are dealing with water scarcity and drought (via StateImpact Texas)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Earthquakes “may contribute to methane leaks” (via Climate Central)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency market “hard to reach” in multi-tenant buildings (via Energy Manager Today)
POLITICS
August recess now high season for interests lobbying lawmakers (via Washington Post)
Congress can’t agree on most energy issues, but it loves dams (via Washington Post)
House slams door on carbon tax (via The Hill)
Billionaire environmentalist goes big in Virginia governor’s race (via Washington Post)
OPINION
Ill wind blows for German offshore industry (via Der Spiegel)
Wind power is killing birds and bats – so what? (via Navigant Research)
The rise and rise of American carbon (via The Guardian)
How coal imports are adding to India’s energy security problems (via Renew Economy)
As temperatures rise, empires fall: heat and human behavior (via Time)