Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.20.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENERGY POLICY
Japanese government seeks to deregulate utility market, boost renewables (via Renewable Energy World)
Exelon and Pepco seek Maryland PSC blessing of $7 billion merger (via Renew Grid)
CLIMATE
NWF warns climate change could ruin “outdoor” experience (via The Hill)
Report: California should prepare for 3-foot sea level rise this century (via San Francisco Examiner)
RENEWABLES
Australia renewable review chills $20 billion clean energy industry (via Bloomberg)
China’s wind power industry shows overall recovery (via Renewable Energy World)
Renewables set new records in U.S., Germany (via Breaking Energy)
Mexico approves 220MW of solar projects (via Bloomberg)
Rooftop solar may reach grid parity in 25+ states by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)
With wind energy prices at all-time lows, DOE is cautiously optimistic (via InsideClimate News) 
U.S. wind supply chain hopes “dimmed” (via Recharge)
Tom Steyer takes a side in environmentalists’ ethanol fight (via National Journal)
Developer U.S. Wind tops DOI’s Maryland offshore wind bid (via Recharge)
Advocates: Wisconsin solar fight could spill into other states (via Midwest Energy News)
Six summer stories from GTM Research you may have missed (via Greentech Media)
OIL
Canadian watchdog: Oil trains need more oversight (via Politico)
Report: Canada railway audit inadequate before Lac-Megantic disaster (via Reuters)
Feds boosting oil spill liability limits (via Houston Chronicle)
14 companies bid for western Gulf leases (via Houston Chronicle)
Alaska oil tax supporters fending off repeal efforts (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Tesla owner tax rebates could total $1.5 billion (via CleanTechnica)
Uber picks David Plouffe to wage regulatory fight (via New York Times)
NATURAL GAS
Russia-China deal will supply Siberian natural gas to China’s northern, eastern provinces (via U.S. EIA)
Refracking brings “vintage” U.S. gas wells to life (via Reuters)
GRID
FERC grants key approval to 3.5GW wind power transmission project (via Renew Grid)
Federal research spurs Washington State to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)
New Jersey creates the nation’s first Energy Resilience Bank (via GreenBiz)
ENVIRONMENT
Western Governors’ Association calls to end “wildfire borrowing” (via Denver Post)
Wildfire near Yosemite National Park holds steady (via Wall Street Journal)
NUCLEAR
Two Belgian nuclear reactors may be closed permanently (via Reuters)
U.S. government’s nuclear watchdog victim of cyber attacks (via Reuters)
Texas’ nuclear waste dump poised to get wiggle room (via Texas Tribune)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
LEED certification boosts hotel revenue (via Environmental Leader)
POLITICS
Microsoft ends its relationship with American Legislative Exchange Council (via Eclecta Blog)
Latino group sides with EPA on climate rule (via The Hill)
Florida Governor Scott meeting with climate scientists is “leadership” moment for him (via Miami Herald)
OPINION
Renewables records reveal how clean energy is starting to light up the world (via BusinessGreen)
What the green revolution in electronics means for smart grid (via Energy Collective)
Five things you should know about Powder River Basin coal exports (via Center for American Progress)
PR firm Edelman has more than a PR problem (via Marc Gunther)
In “After Water” project, writers imagine life in climate change-altered Chicago (via InsideClimate News)