Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Asian air pollution may be changing U.S. weather patterns (via OnEarth)

Hearing on Inslee plan to charge polluters draws divided crowd (via Seattle Times)

A tax or a cap? Debating the path to carbon pricing in Oregon (via Portland Business Journal)

COAL 

Federal coal program costing taxpayers and states more than $1 billion per year in lost royalties (via Climate Progress)

Swedish, U.S. universities divest from coal, Oxford “meets to discuss” (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

New report urges western governments to reconsider reliance on biofuels (via New York Times)

China connected 18.7GW of wind to the grid in 2014, says NEA (via Recharge)

Germany adds 4.75GW onshore wind, breaking 12-year record (via Recharge)

Lowering interest rates “could cut Indian solar cost by a third” (via PV Tech)

China’s wind energy output dropped in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. wind power quadruples in 2014 as Texas leads installations (via Bloomberg)

GE, Siemens, Vestas dominate U.S. wind market in 2014 (via Recharge)

Walmart tops EPA’s on-site generation list (via Energy Manager Today)

Charting Hawaii’s spectacular solar growth (via Greentech Media)

CALSEIA issues California net metering update (via Solar Industry)

Minnesota: Where solar is about to take off (via Sustainable Business)

SolarWorld sees 6-8GW U.S. solar PV market over next decade (via Recharge)

First week of February is “Solar Education Week” (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment

NATURAL GAS 

Scotland announces moratorium on fracking for shale gas (via The Guardian)

Kansas earthquakes likely tied to rise in fracking wastewater, say state geologists (via International Business Times)

CLIMATE 

Climate models don’t over-predict warming, shows study (via Los Angeles Times)

British belief in climate change on the rise, finds research (via The Guardian)

House panel agrees to prioritize climate change (via The Hill)

TV networks now cover climate change, but they’re doing it wrong (via Grist)

OIL 

EIA chief: Cheap oil won’t last forever (via Christian Science Monitor)

Shell shaves $15 billion off three-year spending plans (via Forbes)

Shell wants to resume Arctic drilling this year (via The Hill)

Chevron and BP in deal to search for oil deep beneath Gulf of Mexico (via New York Times)

Senate votes on fracking, endangered species pave way for Keystone XL passage (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION : Energy and Environment

Sales of electric trucks and buses expected to reach nearly 160,000 annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Psychological barriers are holding back EV adoption (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK energy use falls by 7.5 percent (via BusinessGreen)

Ikea sees green product sales soar 58% to over €1 billion (via BusinessGreen)

Finally, an energy issue everybody (mostly) likes (via National Journal)

ENERGY POLICY

China’s overseas investments, explained in 10 graphics (via WRI Insights)

Northrup Grumman cuts ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

OPINION : Energy and Environment

Is surging U.S. wind power headed off a cliff? (via Breaking Energy)

The solar-utility battle is getting ugly (via Greentech Media)

The best idea in a long time: Covering parking lots with solar panels (via Washington Post)

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Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Fate of EU carbon market hangs in balance of reform vote (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading reforms in doubt after MEPs fail to agree on start date (via BusinessGreen)

European Parliament committee fails to agree on carbon reform date (via Reuters)

How the oil industry will try to kill carbon pricing (via Sightline Daily)

CLIMATE

Citing climate, Obama issues Arctic executive order (via USA Today)

The case of Greenland’s disappearing lakes (via CBS News)

How far Obama’s message on climate change has come (via Washington Post)

COAL 

U.S. coal declines, bucks global trend (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

EPIA: Germany’s solar tender plan “makes no sense” while PV prices fall (via PV Tech)

U.S. trade panel triggers duties on China, Taiwan solar gear (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar remains committed to supplying PV modules to U.S. after ITC ruling (via PV Tech)

Dubai ups renewable energy target to 15% by 2030 (via PV Tech)

Plans submitted for 205MW Chile solar project (via PV Tech)

Greenwood to build 80-megawatt solar power facility in Chile (via Bloomberg)

U.S. wind power installations rose six-fold in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s biggest utility wants to ditch solar net metering (via Greentech Media)

Moth eyes inspire scientists to cut reflection on solar panels (via GigaOm)

Solar as an energy equity solution (via Renewable Energy World)

Higher renewable energy standard could boost Minnesota’s economy (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS 

House passes bill to speed natural gas pipelines (via The Hill)

GRID 

Grid edge investments total $1.3 billion in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

FERC files Supreme Court challenge to demand response decision (via Greentech Media)

Clean Line solicits 3.5GW capacity for Grain Belt Express (via Recharge)

OIL 

OPEC chief says oil will rebound, defends decision not to cut (via Reuters)

Spain mulls fracking after offshore drilling comes up dry (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP head expects oil prices “low for up to three years” (via BBC)

U.S. drivers put oil market on road to recovery (via Reuters)

Nearly 3 million gallons of brine spill in North Dakota oil boom’s largest leak (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tokyo wants 6,000 fuel cell cars from Toyota and Honda for 2020 Olympics (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republican hints at Keystone XL backup plan (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

GOP knives come out against U.S.-China carbon pact, Paris climate talks (via National Journal)

Senate votes 98-1 that “climate change is real and not a hoax” (via Climate Progress)

How senators voted on whether climate change is real and “human activity significantly contributes” (via National Journal)

Republicans edit climate-denial mockery out of Obama’s State of the Union (via Grist)

Obama to Republicans: So long, and thanks for nothing (via Grist)

Tom Steyer’s green ambitions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

As Obama and Modi meet, 4 opportunities for U.S.-India action on clean energy and climate (via WRI Insights)

U.S.-India climate talks could pave way for billions in clean energy investment but not emissions goals (via International Business Times)

NRG’s grand ambition to dominate the solar market (via Forbes)

Five reasons why companies should invest in climate resilience now (via GreenBiz)

The most important solar trends in eight charts (via Greentech Media)

Climate action protects the middle class (via Huffington Post)

The Senate is pretty clearly a hoax (via Vox)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.16.15

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

CLIMATE 

EU plans diplomatic offensive ahead of Paris climate summit (via RTCC)

New Pew survey shows Americans may finally be serious about global warming (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Michigan governor wants to wean state off coal as an energy source (via Lansing News)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind power to become cheapest energy source in Asia (via Business Standard)

Brazil wind financing deals surged 83% last year to $2.5 billion (via Bloomberg)

Wind farms could save UK £7.4 billion in gas import costs, says report (via BusinessGreen)

2015 will see first solar equipment produced in Brazil, says BNDES (via Recharge)

Merkel says Germany needs “a respite from solar” (via PV Magazine)

Dubai doubles capacity of “lowest cost” PV plant to 200MW (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green kick-starts China PV project pipeline in 2015 (via PV Tech)

Queensland businesses turn to solar to offset soaring bills (via Renew Economy)

Australian households installed a rooftop solar system every 2.8 minutes in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

U.S. solar industry adds 31,000 jobs in 2014 (via The Hill)

California regulators consider west-facing incentives for solar (via Solar Industry)

Missouri net metering bills could aid battered solar industry (via Midwest Energy News)

In Wisconsin, solar “new math” could equal big impacts (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota group wants state energy assistance to fund solar for low-income families (via Sustainable Business)

Solar cell efficiency jumps 50% with hand-build Perovskite layer (via CleanTechnica)

Small-scale hybrid energy device harvests both sun and wind (via Treehugger)

Solar Decathlon 2015 kicks off with Irvine workshop (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Mexico considers delaying some oil exploration bidding (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Canada postpones North American summit amid Keystone XL tension (via Reuters)

Lifting U.S. crude export ban could boost production, cut gas prices, says study (via Reuters)

Judge puts BP’s top fine at $13.7 billion for Gulf oil spill; U.S. sought $18 billion (via Bloomberg)

U.S. oil train safety proposal due in May (via Reuters)

Gravy train derails for oil patch workers laid off in downturn (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Korea’s target: 200,000 EVs by 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Nissan to have longer-range EVs “relatively quickly,” says executive (via Green Car Reports)

Elon Musk: Hyperloop test track may be built in Texas (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

India’s power sector moves into the 21st century (via Navigant Research)

PJM files “stop-gap” proposal with FERC to allow demand response in capacity auctions (via SNL Energy)

Opower says 95 utility partners have saved 6TWh energy (via Energy Manager Today)

California takes lead in developing energy storage (via GreenBiz)

Solar and utilities can co-exist through EVs, says Elon Musk (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Poll: GOP clashes with voters on oil industry priorities (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar alliance in Sunshine State may be bad news for Jeb Bush (via Forbes)

OPINION 

How beyond-the-grid solar firms and lenders can make better use of capital (via Greentech Media)

A reminder to investors dumping solar stocks: PV and oil rarely mix (via Greentech Media)

Center for Public Integrity reveals how PR firms manufacture consent for oil firms (via DeSmogBlog)

Wind must cut costs in face of cheap crude (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.15

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

EMISSIONS 

EU power sector emissions drop a “staggering” eight percent (via BusinessGreen)

South Korea cap-and-trade market becomes world’s second-largest (via CleanTechnica)

Warm weather sinking EU emissions-market plans (via Bloomberg)

EPA air chief “confident” as rulemakings face legal, political fire (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Drillers say Obama plan to plug methane leaks imperils boom (via Bloomberg)

President Obama’s gas-drilling dance (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Germany passes 1GW offshore wind, set to triple this year (via Recharge)

Wind and bioenergy star in 2030 U.S. green energy mix, PV not so much (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. solar jobs climb 22% as clean power aids economic recovery (via Bloomberg)

Policy uncertainty drives 25 percent of wind industry suppliers out of business (via CleanTechnica)

SolarCity taps Credit Suisse for $200 million on “MyPower” financing (via PV Tech)

Net metering for rooftop solar: How to fix the problems (via The Energy Collective)

Xcel’s community solar program creates “bite-sized” utility projects (via Solar Industry)

Florida Tea Party helps launch ballot initiative for third-party solar (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC to see market share drop even as oil slump slows shale boom (via Reuters)

Wells Fargo examines its energy loans after oil-price drop (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

The $2.4 billion plan to get Germans to buy EVs (via Autoblog)

Production and sales of plug-in EVs boomed in China in 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla chief asks automakers to support electric cars (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

Rate of sea-level rise more significant than thought (via BBC)

Map reveals which countries will survive climate change (via Inhabitat)

Scientists reveal which coral reefs can survive global warming (via The Guardian)

Pope Francis says climate change is mostly man’s fault (via The Guardian)

Global Climate Fund on GOP’s budget hit list (via InsideClimate News)

For vulnerable barrier islands, a rush to rebuild on U.S. coast (via Yale e360)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada still expecting Keystone XL approval (via The Hill)

GRID 

Clean Line scores key approval for Plains & Eastern transmission line (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima meltdowns pervade South Korea debate on reactor renewal (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

USDA to provide $370 million for environmental conservation projects (via The Hill)

State of the California drought: Still very bad (via ScienceBlogs)

OPINION 

Could China become the OPEC of solar manufacturing? (via Forbes)

Institutional investors are blowing it on renewable energy (via GreenBiz)

Cost-competitive clean energy well placed to rise out oil price slump (via Forbes)

Solar industry added jobs nearly 20 times faster than overall U.S. economy in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China calls for local targets to curb coal use, cut pollution (via Bloomberg)

Carbon pricing set to cover 80 percent of Canada’s economy (via RTCC)

White House methane plan takes aim at oil and gas industry (via Houston Chronicle)

Goddard College becomes fourth Vermont school to divest from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Harvard invests tens of millions in fossil fuels despite divestment campaign (via The Guardian)

Top 10 carbon market predictions for 2015 (via TriplePundit)

RENEWABLES 

Deutsche Bank predicts solar grid parity in 80% of global market by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico to build 2.3GW wind capacity by 2019 (via Recharge)

Green bond market hits record $36.6 billion in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Utilities push back as solar industry booms in Japan (via Forbes)

Google’s clean energy capacity passes 2.5GW with latest solar investment (via BusinessGreen)

Report: Solar is cheaper than the grid in 42 of 50 largest U.S. cities (via Greentech Media)

U.S. homes fitted with PV attract higher prices, says report (via PV Tech)

As North Carolina solar industry booms the region takes notes (via Environmental Leader)

Ohio renewable energy policies spurred growth, now driving away business, says report (via Cleveland.com)

NREL enzyme could help offset fossil fuel dependence (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

India’s faulty grid presents a transmission opportunity (via Navigant Research)

Moody’s and Navigant offer conflicting views on economics of solar-plus storage (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE 

Developing cities hold big key to climate action (via Climate Central)

Melting glaciers imperil Kathmandu, perched high above rising seas (via Bloomberg)

Moisture shortfall, heat threaten Southwestern forests (via Climate Central)

Climate change is laying waste to water supplies, warns Farm Bureau (via Grist)

OIL 

Record oil imports take China closest ever to passing U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Commodity traders exploit crude crash to make oil storage king (via Bloomberg)

Poll: Majority of voters oppose more oil exports (via The Hill)

EIA forecasts temporary peak in U.S. oil output in May (via Reuters)

Some on Wall Street see oil plunging to $40 and below (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone-oil export ban sought by Senator backing pipeline bill (via Bloomberg)

Tool shows how taxpayer money could be spent instead of subsidizing Big Oil (via EcoWatch)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to cut subsidies for non-electric vehicles (via Bloomberg)

United Kingdom emergency services in front line of government EV rollout (via BusinessGreen)

Honda announces all-electric and PHEV model while debuting FCV concept (via Inside EVs)

Musk: Tesla can make a few million cars a year by 2025 (via GigaOm)

Nissan CEO: Chevy Bolt “not a surprise”  - Nissan has competing, long-range EV in development (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Annual revenue from fuel cell systems is expected to reach nearly $57.8 billion by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reverse net metering? California penalizes certain types of energy efficiency (via Forbes)

ENERGY POLICY 

Worries about consumers cutting utility ties are overblown, say Moody’s analysts (via Greentech Media)

Top 50 green American schools, as Stanford faculty calls for fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

The 25 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2014 (via WeatherUnderground)

POLITICS 

Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening (via The Hill)

Two ways Obama can win on Keystone even if Republicans triumph (via Slate)

Ted Cruz oil export amendment difficult vote for some GOP senators (via National Journal)

The greenest governor in America tells Grist about his big climate plan (via Grist)

Massachusetts’s governor appoints controversial new energy team (via Boston Globe)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.12.15

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama’s India visit could yield progress on climate change and solar power (via The Guardian)

Solar plus batteries unlikely to threaten utilities anytime soon, says study (via Forbes)

Wholesale power prices increase across the U.S. in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea launches carbon cap-and-trade system (via The Hill)

Stanford professors urge withdrawal from fossil fuel investments (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

India plans five separate $5 billion green energy funds (via Panchabuta)

Solar at grid parity in most of world by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Renewable energy investment surges, nearly surpasses 2011 mark (via Climate Progess)

Solar accounted for nearly half of all global clean energy investment in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

5GW wind-solar energy park planned in Gujarat, India (via CleanTechnica)

Indian oil corporation targets 10,000 solar-powered gas stations (via CleanTechnica)

SunEdison plans $4 billion India solar factory as demand climbs (via Bloomberg)

Morocco solar agency awards 350MW of concentrating solar power contracts (via PV Tech)

Chile will be home to latest challenger for world’s largest merchant solar plant (via PV Tech)

Wind developers seen bidding to build Brazil transmission lines (via Bloomberg)

Steady wave power could be cheaper than wind and solar (via BusinessGreen)

Wind forecasting receives $2.5 million boost from U.S. DOE (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley deal nudges 2015 U.S. residential solar investment toward $800 million (via PV Tech)

Net metering fight comes to New Mexico (via Navigant Research)

Utility commission order bolsters North Carolina’s status as a rising solar power (via Solar Industry Magazine)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: State Department studying Nebraska ruling on Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Not enough votes to override Keystone veto, says Sen. Coons (via The Hill)

TransCanada CEO: “We need Keystone” (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Countries could leave UN climate body if Paris fails, says Todd Stern (via RTCC)

Most physicians already seeing health effects of climate change in patients (via Yale e360)

72 percent of Republican Senators are climate deniers (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Oil tumbles to 5-½ year low as OPEC reaffirms stance (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Venezuela, Saudi leaders meet to talk oil prices in Riyadh (via Houston Chronicle)

As oil plummets, how much pain still looms for U.S. energy firms? (via Reuters)

Oil drillers bail on U.S. boom, idle most rigs since 1991 (via Bloomberg)

Shell to cut five to ten percent of oil sands jobs (via Houston Chronicle)

Bakken oil producers need $55 a barrel to keep production steady (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Inflexible ethanol costs stopping further decrease in gas prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt arrives with 50-mile EV range, 41 mpg (via Autoblog)

Official Chevrolet Bolt details: 200-mile range, $30,000 starting price (via Inside EVs)

University of Tennessee to head $250M advanced composites manufacturing institute (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS 

Idea for gas terminal off East Coast rankles fracking foes (via Houston Chronicle)

New York fracking ban seen as having little impact on supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

A next-gen battery to land in Hawaii, courtesy of Aquion Energy (via GigaOm)

Massachusetts awards $18 million for microgrids, energy resiliency (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green building materials market to reach $235 billion in value by 2019 (via Environmental Leader)

New U.S. DOE lighting standards could save $15 billion (via CleanTechnica)

What’s unique about the Texas PACE-in-a-box toolkit? (via Renewable Energy World)

ENVIRONMENT 

We can fix the Gulf dead zone, for $2.7 billion a year (via Grist)

New York is biggest city to ban foam packaging (via Grist)

California’s almonds use as much water annually as Los Angeles uses in three years (via Mother Jones)

OPINION 

How EVs could impact the grid in four charts (via Greentech Media)

How innovative solar business models can benefit all (via GreenBiz)

Bakken oil wells and the Red Queen’s revenge (via Reuters)

U.S. car travel has been on the decline for a decade – will cheap gas change that? (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.15

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

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court approves Keystone XL route through Nebraska (via The Hill)

Keystone foes cite foreign oil users to undercut Republican push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Prepare for rising migration driven by climate change, warn scientists (via The Guardian)

U.S. hot streak now old enough to vote (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Solar took half of all global renewables investment in 2014, says BNEF (via PV Tech)

Rebound in clean energy investment beats expectations in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar investment surged an incredible 175% in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Key solar PV market trends in 2015: IHS (via PV Tech)

Deutsche Bank lowers PV market demand forecast for 2014-2015 (via PV Tech)

FiT and net-metering charges confirmed for Italian solar PV installations (via PV Tech)

Japan funding $779 in million energy-saving battery storage installations (via Bloomberg)

China clarifies plans for cuts to onshore wind FiT (via Recharge)

Brazil minister sees no changes to auction system for wind and solar (via Recharge)

Korean researchers deliver record 18.4% efficient perovskite solar cell (via Greentech Media)

Renewable energy rising across all spheres of U.S. society (via TriplePundit)

Industry says wind saved consumers $1 billion during 2014 Polar Vortex (via Breaking Energy)

Sunrun Investec deal completes bumper week for U.S. residential PV investment (via PV Tech)

Colorado utility leads the way for community solar (via Renewable Energy World)

OIL 

How OPEC weaponized the price of oil against U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Oil industry group to score lawmakers’ energy votes (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump taking a toll on U.S. alternative fuels (via Reuters)

Mexico proposes historic crude oil swap with U.S. (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China plug-in EV sales target 336,000 units by end of 2015 (via Inside EVs)

European Leaf owners drive 50% more per year on average than gas-powered owners (via Green Car Congress)

House Speaker Boehner signals he’s opposed to gas tax hike (via The Hill)

Boston Power aims to rival Tesla with gigawatt battery factories (via Greentech Media)

West Coast electric highway serves thousands of EV drivers (via Green Car Reports)

EMISSIONS 

DOE project captures and stores one million metric tons of carbon (via Green Car Congress)

Xcel Energy plans 40% carbon emissions cut (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking data sought by environmental groups in EPA lawsuit (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

California issues roadmap for grid-connected energy storage technology (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

On energy efficiency, easy money not always an easy sell (via Midwest Energy News)

Chicago’s first benchmarking report showcases energy savings opportunities (via NRDC Switchboard)

POLITICS 

The anti-science climate denier caucus: 114th Congress edition (via Climate Progress)

Boxer retirement a big loss for environmentalists (via The Hill)

Steyer ally says California Senate run a possibility (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How falling oil prices will impact the economy and the Keystone XL debate (via Forbes)

In Keystone fight and beyond, infrastructure is energy policy (via InsideClimate News)

Why California needs to think differently about how it supports energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

The point of the Keystone XL fight (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.15

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

EMISSIONS 

China carbon trading to almost double in 2015 (via RTCC)

California carbon market off to strong start in 2015 (via Reuters)

Low gas prices smooth path for carbon add-on in California (via Scientific American/ClimateWire)

COAL 

China’s declining coal dependence is evident in the data (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

India cuts floor price for solar energy credits to boost demand (via Bloomberg)

Denmark delivers “one-of-a-kind” wind power record (via BusinessGreen)

Pakistan to pull solar energy into national power grid (via Reuters)

Residential FiT aims to make Thailand the ASEAN solar leader in 10 years (via PV Tech)

Brazil approves $9.6 million financing for solar panel factory (via Bloomberg)

Solar cements status as low-risk investment in 2014 (via PV Tech)

U.S. solar tariff review hints at halved Chinese cells rate (via Bloomberg)

Fact sheet: Renewable energy job numbers (via Renewable Energy World)

Major setback for Cape Wind as two utilities opt out of power purchase agreement (via Boston Globe)

New York State solar growth is 63% per year (via CleanTechnica)

Republican-led group launches ballot petition to boost solar power in Florida (via Tampa Bay Times)

SolarCity inks $350 million solar fund deal with JP Morgan (via PV Tech)

OIL 

Oil extends drop below $48 as U.S. stockpiles seen rising (via Bloomberg)

Oil lobby sets sights on export ban (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Solar-powered EV charging network takes shape in Jordan (via Navigant Research)

December 2014 EV sales hit record high in U.S. – almost 120,000 sold for year (via Inside EVs)

Clean energy banks could foster private investment (via Energy Manager Today)

California groundbreaking marks true beginning of high-speed rail in America (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House: Obama won’t sign Keystone XL pipeline bill (via National Journal)

White House riles new GOP-led Congress with threat to veto Keystone XL pipeline bill (via Washington Post)

Obama Keystone veto threat spurs Democrat’s plea for deal (via Bloomberg)

Keystone bill said to be four votes shy of a veto-proof majority (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Machu Picchu threatened by climate change (via Euronews)

Ken Cuccinelli’s new business will not survive climate change (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Senators introduce bill to speed natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Fracking ban bill introduced in Florida (via EcoWatch)

GRID 

Germany solar power storage system prices drop 25% (via CleanTechnica)

Which solar companies are active in the solar-plus-storage market today? (via Greentech Media)

Going off-grid might mean staying on grid in Germany (via Renewables International)

PG&E partners with BMW to test how EVs perform in demand response programs (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

China to boost support for NGOs that sue environmental polluters (via Bloomberg)

Limits on rare-earth metals to end after China loses global trade case (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

Going solar: From Millennials to Baby Boomers (via Renewable Energy World)

Seven surprise Republicans to watch if you care about climate change (via National Journal)

U.S. oil production will be falling by end of 2015 (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.15.14

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

EMISSIONS

Lawyers gird for fight against EPA’s Clean Power Plan based on states’ rights (via ClimateWire)

Half of Republicans support carbon limits, survey finds (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel companies grow nervous as divestment movement grows stronger (via Grist)

Capturing carbon as a byproduct of running a fuel cell (via New York Times)

Gov. Inslee says if polluters were charged, state would benefit (via Seattle Times)

NATURAL GAS

Can China’s shale gas help it reach peak coal by 2020? (via Motley Fool)

Ukraine says Chevron plans to pull out of $10 billion shale gas deal (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

EnergyTrend calls 2014 solar demand at 44GW with 2015 to top 50GW (via PV Tech)

The global biofuels industry: A future in doubt (via Navigant Research)

Analysis: Can Japan exceed 10GW of solar capacity installation in 2014? (via Renewable Energy World)

SunEdison to supply 570GWh of solar energy to Chile grid (via PV Tech)

Vestas gets biggest wind order as Africa market accelerates (via Bloomberg)

Solar industry trends: Capital costs continue to drop while solar companies reinvent themselves as energy companies (via Forbes)

South Carolina avoids a battle, reaches settlement on net energy metering (via Greentech Media)

New York State doubles solar net metering cap (via PV Tech)

430,000 advanced energy jobs in California…today (via CleanTechnica)

Solar and wind give California second camel hump (via Renewables International)

Study: Nebraska grid has capacity to export more wind energy (via Lincoln Journal Star)

Minnesota city freezes ground-mounted solar due to zoning concerns (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

International negotiators strike last-minute deal to reduce carbon emissions (via ClimateProgress)

UN agrees way forward on climate change but path is unclear (via The Guardian)

Paris climate summit faces tougher job after modest Lima deal (via Reuters)

Catholic bishops from every continent call for “end to the fossil fuel era” (via ClimateProgress)

Most Americans aren’t aware of the health impacts of climate change (via ClimateProgress)

People don’t work as hard on hot days – on a warming planet (via Washington Post)

COAL

Coal demand growth to slow in next five years on China, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Coal demand set to break 9 billion tonne barrier this decade (via The Guardian)

As Japan burns more coal, climate policies under pressure (via Reuters)

First U.S. coal ash regulations in the offing (via The Hill)

GRID

Fitch: U.S. utilities “well positioned” to deal with upcoming obstacles (via Renew Grid)

MISO board approves $2.5 billion in new transmission (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Mexico shale boom outlook dims as U.S. drillers struggle (via Bloomberg)

Despite lower crude oil prices, U.S. crude oil production expected to grow in 2015 (via U.S. EIA)

Early slowdown signs emerge for U.S. oil states after crude slide (via Reuters)

U.S. taxpayers help fund oil train boom amid safety concerns (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

TRANSPORTATION

Electric cars: A review of 2014 (via Forbes)

Gasoline prices tend to have little effect on demand for car travel (via U.S. EIA)

Street lights add EV charging (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s stationary storage strategy: “Everywhere we look, there’s an opportunity” (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

$140 million DOE innovation hub focuses on energy efficiency in manufacturing (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Earth faces sixth “Great Extinction” with 41% of amphibians set to go to the way of the dodo (via Huffington Post)

23 pollinating species in Britain have gone extinct in last 150 years (via Inhabitat)

Congress protects new national parks and wilderness areas for first time in five years (via ClimateProgress)

OPINION

COP20 lays groundwork for Paris climate pact: 7 key developments (via WRI Insights)

Five takeaways from the Lima climate talks (via National Journal)

How the ”war on coal” went global (via Politico)

How the U.S. can beat OPEC in an oil prices war (via Christian Science Monitor)

The basic reason oil keeps getting cheaper and cheaper (via Washington Post)

Insights from the solar industry in rural Peru (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

10 energy numbers to remember from 2014 (via Outlier)

Will cheap oil kill Keystone XL? (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

After record warm September, 2014 is on track for warmest year (via Washington Post)

Sweden pledges $500 million to Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

How climate change is fueling the Miami real estate boom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s new trade minister says will restart reactors deemed safe (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China wind-service market seen surging with $3 billion spending (via Bloomberg)

Chile will lead Latin America in renewable energy, says president (via PV Tech)

Geothermal power industry lost steam but may be poised for comeback (via Los Angeles Times)

Solar energy prices see double-digit decline in 2013; trend expected to continue (via NREL)

Solar lease securitization encounters tax challenges (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Solar consolidation expected in U.S. as tax credit drives deals (via Bloomberg)

Solar companies look to batteries, financing, soft costs as the future (via GigaOm)

$200 million more flows to residential solar loans through Sungage and Mosiac (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Indonesia developing mega coal mine five times larger than Singapore (via Mongabay)

India pushes ahead with coal reforms (via Reuters)

Peabody posts quarterly loss as coal prices fall (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Renewables, efficiency made up 70% of U.S. emissions drop since 2007 (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Russia gas deal may be just enough to get through winter (via Reuters)

Tougher greenhouse goals could cut EU’s natural gas imports in half (via WRI Insights)

British Columbia to outline carbon, tax polices for LNG (via Bloomberg)

Energy Department: U.S. must act now on methane emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

Regulations could douse North Dakota gas flaring (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Transmission superhighway takes shape in central U.S. (via Navigant Research)

Innovative energy storage technologies gain ground (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

Oil falls on speculation OPEC won’t cut production (via The Hill)

Report: ISIS oil production worth $800 million per year (via The Hill)

Government lags in measuring gush of U.S. crude (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale oil producers face low price consequences of their success (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil at $80 a barrel muffles forecasts for U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Crude oil spills into Louisiana bayou, kills wildlife (via Shreveport Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

As China gets tougher on fuel economy, some carmakers may be left behind (via Reuters)

UK hails best-ever quarter for EV sales as demand revs up (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark’s plan to offset transportation emissions sparks EV row (via The Guardian)

Ford Focus Electric gets $6,000 price drop, now starts at $29,995 (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan does demand response via Leaf EVs (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Amid California’s drought, a bruising battle for cheap water (via Los Angeles Times)

Land records show many Ohio state parks could see mining, drilling (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Sao Paulo water cuts used by Rousseff against challenger (via Bloomberg)

In key midterm races, Democrats sound like Republicans on climate (via InsideClimate News)

Five lose-lose Senate races for climate advocates (via InsideClimate News)

OPINION 

What's the value of divestment? (via National Journal)

Will the solar industry get behind CPS Energy’s alternative to net metering in San Antonio? (via Greentech Media)