Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.24.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENERGY POLICY
Energy subsidies rebound to pre-financial crisis levels (via Houston Chronicle)
Russia to double oil and gas flows to Asia by 2035 (via Reuters)
Britain launches new tender for offshore oil and gas licenses (via Reuters)
Above and beyond: Green tariff design for traditional utilities (via World Resources Institute)
OIL
Canada, U.S. agencies urge fast action on oil-by-rail safety (via Reuters)
NTSB urges oil trains be routed away from population centers (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Federal regulators check Eagle Ford shale oil flammability (via Houston Chronicle)
Tar sands backers say report on oil train risks boosts Keystone XL (via AP)
Record grain crop stuck on prairie as railways tap oil (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
China’s solar industry rebounds, but will boom-bust cycle repeat? (via Reuters)
Germany signs off on solar tax (via Climate Spectator)
Two countries dominate world’s green energy workforce, says report (via Houston Chronicle)
Why Latin America will be a tough solar market to crack (via Forbes)
Green bond market breaches $10 billion milestone (via BusinessGreen)
U.S. probes new dumping complaints on China solar products (via Reuters)
U.S. wind incentives among lowest in world (via Facts of the Day)
U.S. may lower 2013 cellulosic ethanol target (via Reuters)
Senators pressure EPA to revise 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard (via National Journal)
NREL finds wind turbines can boost grid system readiness (via Renew Grid)
Wind permits allowing eagle deaths face blowback (via National Journal)
Texas on the brink of a major wind energy milestone (via EcoWatch)
Solar PV installations up 39% in 2013 across Hawaiian utility service area (via Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
In Kansas, renewable energy standard again under attack (via Midwest Energy News/EnergyWire)
COAL
China bank regulator said to issue alert on coal loans (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Obama says climate plan will help U.S. negotiate with China, India (via National Journal)
Climate change: The Winter Olympics’ great thaw (via Climate Central)
Arctic sea ice free fall is mirror image of carbon dioxide ascent (via Grist)
Industry awakens to threat of climate change (via New York Times)
Hundred years of dry: How California’s drought could get much, much worse (via Time)
Poll shows Latinos overwhelmingly support climate action (via Grist)
GRID
Smart grid venture capital funding hit $405 million in 2013 (via Renew Grid)
EIA now providing more detail on electric capacity additions and retirements (via US EIA)
$3.6 billion in transmission improvements on tap for ERCOT grid (via Renew Grid)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla Model S to sell for $121,000 in China (via San Jose Mercury News)
Tesla & China: Priced at $121,000 country could be biggest market, says Musk (via Green Car Reports)
EVs could be key part of changing electrical grid (via New York Times)
Virginia will scrap tax on hybrid vehicles (via Autoblog Green)
OPINION
Four signs Africa could leapfrog fossil fuels – and one it won’t (via TreeHugger)
No one tries harder than Europe to fight climate change – the recession is testing that (via Washington Post)
How the federal ITC expiration could create a commercial solar market boom (via Renewable Energy World)
Obama’s State of The Union talking points: Saving the planet (via Washington Post)
Five reasons Obama may cave on the Keystone pipeline (via Forbes)