Nevada | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, australia, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, cellulosic ethanol, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, department of energy, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Union, EVs, Exxon, green business, grid, hillary clinton, japan, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net zero buildings, Nevada, News, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil trains, Opower, oregon, Ozone layer, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shell, Siemens, solar, statoil, SwissRe, tar sands, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, Transportation, Ukraine, Unilever, Vladimir Putin, wyoming

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.8.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Shanghai opens carbon market to trading pros to boost liquidity (via Bloomberg)

U.S. carbon markets just dropped $400 million on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

Aircraft emissions may be next for U.S. climate rules (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY

Scotland independence vote seen risking $23 billion in power projects (via Bloomberg)

Brazil delays power auction to attract more hydro, gas proposals (via Bloomberg)

It’s not just oil – power industry due to be overhauled in Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

China spurs rooftop solar projects in world’s top market with call for higher subsidy (via Bloomberg)

Australian government increasingly divided over plan to scrap renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

U.K. leading offshore wind power market (via CleanTechnica)

$71 trillion in net savings by 2050 from transition to renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

Ontario set for 1.7GW wind binge by end of 2015 (via Recharge News)

U.S., China account for over half the world’s solar PV pipeline (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. solar industry nears 16GW installed capacity (via Greentech Media)

Buoyed by business deals, solar dominates new U.S. clean tech jobs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Banner second quarter for new U.S. solar PV installations (via Recharge News)

California solar projects plan undergoing major overhaul (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Ohio clean energy rules favored by voters, poll finds (via Plain-Dealer)

SolarCity bolsters operations in seven states (via PV Tech)

OIL

BP lashes out at journalists, “opportunistic” environmentalists (via Mother Jones)

BP oil spill penalty could reach 15% of company’s market cap (via Breaking Energy)

BP “grossly negligent” in 2010 oil spill, says judge (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP can absorb new oil spill fine, say analysts (via Reuters)

Ending oil export ban drawing more talk on Capitol Hill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Electrified car sales stall as buyers back away from hybrids (via Los Angeles Times)

London’s double decker buses get updated with wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

U.S. vehicle fuel economy at record high (via Phys.org)

Nevada lures Tesla Gigafactory with $1.3 billion in tax breaks, expects $100 billion economic impact (via Bloomberg)

California may have shot at second Tesla Gigafactory (via San Francisco Chronicle)

COAL

America’s coal-fired divide (via National Journal)

North Carolina says Duke Energy coal ash dams are high hazard risk (via News Observer)

CLIMATE

World on track for 4 degrees Celsius warming by 2100 because of missed carbon targets (via The Guardian)

UN banking on business to drive climate negotiations (via RTCC)

Activists promise biggest climate march in history (via The Guardian)

Extreme snowfall events will continue even in global warming, says study (via Washington Post)

How climate change is affecting the world’s biggest food company (via Washington Post)

Yale fund takes aim at climate change (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS

U.S. economy has gotten a lift by going deep to retrieve natural gas (via Forbes)

Poorly understood fracking wastewater is analyzed for first time (via InsideClimate News)

Ohio halts injections at two fracking wastewater wells after earthquake (via Columbus Dispatch/AP)

GRID

US electricity transmission investments vary by region (via U.S. EIA)

KEYSTONE XL

Nebraska Supreme Court examines governor’s role in blessing Keystone XL (via The Guardian)

ENVIRONMENT

8% of world’s remaining pristine forests degraded since 2000 (via World Resources Institute)

100 die in five days of flooding in Northern India (via New York Times)

Canada tops world in forest degradation thanks to climate change, logging, energy development (via Climate Progress)

Dramatic proof California’s drought is one of the worst ever (via KHON/CNN)

California governor to sign plastic bag ban measure (via The Hill)

POLITICS

Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul just kicked off 2016’s climate battle (via National Journal)

League of Conservation Voters expects huge jump in midterm election spending (via The Hill)

OPINION

How the U.S. government is saving taxpayer money with clean energy (via Greentech Media)

Republicans say gas prices are rising – they’re not (via National Journal)

How methane wrecked Obama’s fracking habit (via Mother Jones)

Anthony Foxx takes futurist turn at U.S. Department of Transportation (via National Journal)

Tesla mines gold in Nevada with Gigafactory decision (via Los Angeles Times)

Posted: | Categories: Anthony Foxx, australia, BP, Brazil, california, canada, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, Divestment, drought, duke energy, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, ev, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, green jobs, grid, hillary clinton, Hybrids, Hydropower, india, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, London, methane, mexico, natural gas, Nebraska, Nevada, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, ontario, Rand Paul, renewables, Scotland, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, wind, Yale

Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.7.14 share

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

NATURAL GAS

Water for drinking or fracking: Why we may have to choose by 2040 (via Christian Science Monitor)

China halves 2020 shale gas output target (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

U.S., China collaborate on carbon capture (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES

China adds Australia-sized solar capacity in energy push (via Bloomberg)

In Africa, “solar as a service” attracts U.S. dollars (via Navigant Research)

China sets 2014 solar PV target at 13GW (via Recharge)

What can we learn from Germany’s solar experience? (via Greentech Media)

U.S. adds 619MW wind in Q2 (via Recharge)

DOE gives $18 million to geothermal projects (via The Hill)

Army awards final contracts to support $7 billion renewable energy plan (via Energy Manager Today)

Utility-scale solar is back from the dead (via Greentech Media)

First Solar claims 21% efficiency for thin-film PV cell (via Solar Industry Magazine)

CLIMATE

For most of us, a warmer world has become the new “normal” (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

FEMA threatened by record legal fees that eclipse cost of Katrina (via ClimateWire)

Tornado outbreaks could have a climate change assist (via Climate Central)

White House science adviser: Wildfires are linked to climate change (via Climate Progress)

57% of Americans want companies to weigh in on climate change (via Environmental Leader)

OIL

Mexican Congress approves oil sector energy reform (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell keeps Arctic drilling on table for 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

Deepwater fracking next frontier for offshore drilling (via Bloomberg)

Railroads lack insurance for major oil train disasters, say feds (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION

Worldwide gasoline demand to drop after 2012 (via Autoblog Green)

Japan considering offering free hydrogen cars (via Autoblog Green)

$11 billion later, U.S. high-speed rail is inching along (via New York Times)

Why battery electric vehicles will beat fuel cells (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT

“Abnormally early” Australian bushfire season prompts call for more resources (via The Guardian)

U.S. firefighting budget is almost gone, but the forests are still burning (via Grist)

Nevada drought could reverse drop in bark beetle numbers (via Reno Gazette-Journal)

Meet the invasive pest fueling Lake Erie’s toxic algae bloom (via National Journal)

GRID

Annual grid investment expected to reach $198 billion by 2024 (via Renew Grid)

Mapping tool shows which U.S. energy facilities are in flood risk areas (via U.S. EIA)

POLITICS

FERC Commissioner Norris to leave agency early (via SNL Energy)

Fight brews in Arizona over dark money, solar policy (via Huffington Post)

OPINION

Fire and ice: What I did on my summer vacation (via EcoWatch)

PR firms’ foolish global warming fatwa could backfire (via Investors Business Daily)

Why a new study thinks next year’s climate talks won’t keep the world under 2 degrees Celsius (via Climate Progress)

Choose your future: Four possible emissions pathways (via WRI Insights)

Al Gore: “Compelling” economic case for ditching coal assets (via BusinessGreen)

Posted: | Categories: africa, al gore, arctic, arizona, australia, carbon capture, China, climate, coal, Coal bubble, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, EVs, Extreme weather, FEMA, FERC, First Solar, fracking, Fuel Cells, Gasoline, geothermal, germany, global warming, grid, high speed rail, hydrogen, japan, John Norris, Lake Erie, mexico, natural gas, Nevada, News, offshore drilling, oil, Oil trains, renewables, Shale gas, Shell, solar, Stranded assets, transmission, Transportation, US Army, wildfires, wind

Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.4.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

U.S. presses India for greater carbon cuts (via BusinessGreen)

California and Mexico sign agreement to reduce emissions (via Green Car Congress)

A dozen states file suit against new EPA coal rules (via New York Times)

EPA hearings put Pittsburgh in crosshairs of climate war (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

COAL

Shipping rates drop as China hydropower cuts coal demand (via Bloomberg)

New coal dust rules take effect (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

U.S.-China solar fight lurches forward (via National Geographic)

Global biodiesel market to grow 8.1% annually from 2013-2018 (via Environmental Leader)

SunPower sees energy storage commercial market in Australia in 2015 (via Renew Economy)

Non-hydro renewables now routinely surpass U.S. hydropower generation (via US EIA)

Obama’s delay on renewable fuel puts producers in bind (via Bloomberg)

As small hydropower expands, so does caution on its impacts (via Yale e360)

SunPower plans new factory to gain share as demand surges (via Bloomberg)

NYSERDA opens data on thousands of solar projects (via Environmental leader)

New York utility proposes community solar, microgrids-as-a-service (via Greentech Media)

How much money will California solar customers save with net metering? (via Greentech Media)

Solar City achieves $201.5 million securitization (via CleanTechnica)

Ohio utilities take net metering fight to state Supreme Court (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR

Tepco set to miss target for Fukushima radioactive water cleanup (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE

Wildfires, “biomass burning” bigger climate threats than previously thought (via International Business Times)

As oysters die in Pacific Northwest, climate policy goes on the stump (via New York Times)

Idaho shifts policy behavior in response to climate change (via Idaho Statesman)

Sen. Murray tells Dems to push fiscal impacts of climate change (via The Hill)

World’s top PR companies rule out working with climate deniers (via The Guardian)

Will fiction influence how we react to climate change? (via New York Times)

OIL

Mexico lower house passes final oil bills, sends them to Senate (via Houston Chronicle)

Nigeria, Shell not cleaning oil pollution, report charges (via Houston Chronicle)

Big Oil companies pay just an 11.7% tax rate, finds report (via Climate Progress)

Comment period starts for oil-train rules (via The Hill)

Oil industry works on blowout preventers for deeper depths (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla selling like gangbusters in China (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf hits 3,000 sales in July, Chevy Volt climbs over 2,000 (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla announces plan to boost production in 2015 (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla breaks ground near Reno for battery Gigafactory (via Bloomberg)

Tesla, Panasonic reach Gigafactory investment deal (via Energy Manager Today)

Tesla says it plans to have Model X prototypes next week (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS

Pennsylvania AG looking into claims state willfully ignores fracking-related health complaints (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT

Setting rivers free: As dams are torn down, nature quickly recovers (via Christian Science Monitor)

Bee-killing neonictinoids found in Midwest rivers (via Wired Science)

Gov. Brown declares state of emergency over California wildfires (via Los Angeles Times)

California drought watering restrictions may leave trees high and dry (via Sacramento Bee)

14 big wildfires scorching California (via Los Angeles Times)

Farming practices and climate change at root of Lake Erie water pollution (via The Guardian)

OPINION

What do U.S. sanctions mean for Exxon’s close friendship with Russia in the Arctic? (via National Journal)

Six eye-catchers in 2030 picture of world energy (via Bloomberg)

EPA’s climate change plan fills void as Congress does nothing (via Washington Post)

Replant after wildfire or let nature take over? (via Bloomberg/AP)

The really scary thing about those Siberian craters (via Climate Progress)

Is Illinois becoming the third coast of clean tech? (via Midwest Energy News)

How yieldcos are changing renewables investment paradigm (via Renew Economy)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, australia, biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, california, chevy volt, China, climate, coal, drought, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, Exxon, fracking, Fukishima, Gigafactory, Hydropower, Idaho, Illinois, india, Jerry Brown, Lake Erie, mexico, Microgrid, natural gas, Neonictinoids, Net metering, Nevada, News, nigeria, nissan LEAF, nuclear, NYSERDA, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Oil trains, Patty Murray, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Russia, Shell, solar, Solar City, Solar trade war, SunPower, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Model X, Transportation, wildfires, YieldCo

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.14 share

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

COAL

China coal demand to peak by 2020, says Standard & Poor (via RTCC)

German coal power plants are Europe’s most climate-damaging (via Bloomberg)

Labor officials promise to fix black program for coal miners with black lung (via ABC News)

EMISSIONS

Industry to EPA: Climate rule “not workable” (via The Hill)

U.S. poll finds support for carbon tax grows when revenue funds renewables (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES

Solar leasing market in Australia could reach $100 billion (via Renew Economy)

European wind industry slashes growth forecasts (via BusinessGreen)

Geothermal industry grows with help from oil and gas drilling (via New York Times)

Orix plans to build as many as 15 geothermal plants in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Iberdrola profit drops as Spain renewable subsidy cuts hit (via Bloomberg)

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer (via Energy Manager Today)

Google offers $1 million prize for anyone who can build a better power inverter (via Forbes)

“Pay-as-you-go” solar financing hits new milestone (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Earth’s hottest June follows hottest May – a new normal? (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. and China presidents to attend September UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Study: Natural variations explain the global warming “pause” (via Salon)

Poll: U.S. leads the world….in climate denial (via Climate Progress)

Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, says official (via The Hill)

Obama attributes wildfires to climate change (via Huffington Post/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

EU Commission agrees to 30% by 2030 energy savings goal (via Reuters)

In Minnesota, “behavior” programs show energy-saving results (via Midwest Energy News)

California calculates the value of time in energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

In New York, greening older buildings (via Navigant Research)

Energy efficiency finance in plain English: An intro to leases (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Industry pans DOE’s plan for natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale plays reduce political risk (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania Auditor General criticizes state oversight of shale gas industry (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GRID

Brazil to auction 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines (via Recharge)

Here’s what utilities really think about microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Keeping up with energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS

Alberta oil clout dominating Canada’s unbalanced economy (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge mulls Midwest rail terminal to ease pipeline congestion (via Reuters)

Maine port city bans oil loading as Canada seeks export options (via Reuters)

TransCanada spends big on K Street as pipeline fight heads to finish (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION

Lithium-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $24 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Electric cars equal gasoline cost of just 75 cents per gallon (via Green Car Reports)

Is this the site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada? (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Great Barrier Reef will be “pretty ugly” by 2050, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

Drier than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for relief in rural America (via Washington Post)

Unprecedented spate of wildfires incinerates homes in Pacific Northwest (via Scientific American)

POLITICS

Group tries to make climate change a winning wedge issue (via Huffington Post)

EPA chief in hot seat as lawmakers dissect carbon rule (via Reuters)

Obama announces nominations for Nuclear Regulator Commission (via The Hill)

OPINION

British Columbia’s climate plan is working, so why stop now? (via The Tyee)

Why Australia’s carbon tax repeal is an economic step back (via CleanTechnica)

The dangerous truth behind wildfires (via Huffington Post)

I crashed a climate change denial conference in Las Vegas (via Vice)

How the South Portland city council foiled Big Oil’s plan to sneak tar sands out of Canada (via Climate Progress)

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.14 share

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

COAL

China coal demand to peak by 2020, says Standard & Poor (via RTCC)

German coal power plants are Europe’s most climate-damaging (via Bloomberg)

Labor officials promise to fix black program for coal miners with black lung (via ABC News)

EMISSIONS

Industry to EPA: Climate rule “not workable” (via The Hill)

U.S. poll finds support for carbon tax grows when revenue funds renewables (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES

Solar leasing market in Australia could reach $100 billion (via Renew Economy)

European wind industry slashes growth forecasts (via BusinessGreen)

Geothermal industry grows with help from oil and gas drilling (via New York Times)

Orix plans to build as many as 15 geothermal plants in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Iberdrola profit drops as Spain renewable subsidy cuts hit (via Bloomberg)

Self-cooling solar cells boost power, last longer (via Energy Manager Today)

Google offers $1 million prize for anyone who can build a better power inverter (via Forbes)

“Pay-as-you-go” solar financing hits new milestone (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Earth’s hottest June follows hottest May – a new normal? (via Christian Science Monitor)

U.S. and China presidents to attend September UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Study: Natural variations explain the global warming “pause” (via Salon)

Poll: U.S. leads the world….in climate denial (via Climate Progress)

Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, says official (via The Hill)

Obama attributes wildfires to climate change (via Huffington Post/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

EU Commission agrees to 30% by 2030 energy savings goal (via Reuters)

In Minnesota, “behavior” programs show energy-saving results (via Midwest Energy News)

California calculates the value of time in energy efficiency (via Navigant Research)

In New York, greening older buildings (via Navigant Research)

Energy efficiency finance in plain English: An intro to leases (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Industry pans DOE’s plan for natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale plays reduce political risk (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania Auditor General criticizes state oversight of shale gas industry (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

GRID

Brazil to auction 4,000 kilometers of new transmission lines (via Recharge)

Here’s what utilities really think about microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Keeping up with energy storage (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS

Alberta oil clout dominating Canada’s unbalanced economy (via Bloomberg)

Enbridge mulls Midwest rail terminal to ease pipeline congestion (via Reuters)

Maine port city bans oil loading as Canada seeks export options (via Reuters)

TransCanada spends big on K Street as pipeline fight heads to finish (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION

Lithium-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $24 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Electric cars equal gasoline cost of just 75 cents per gallon (via Green Car Reports)

Is this the site of Tesla’s Gigafactory in Nevada? (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Great Barrier Reef will be “pretty ugly” by 2050, say researchers (via Huffington Post)

Drier than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for relief in rural America (via Washington Post)

Unprecedented spate of wildfires incinerates homes in Pacific Northwest (via Scientific American)

POLITICS

Group tries to make climate change a winning wedge issue (via Huffington Post)

EPA chief in hot seat as lawmakers dissect carbon rule (via Reuters)

Obama announces nominations for Nuclear Regulator Commission (via The Hill)

OPINION

British Columbia’s climate plan is working, so why stop now? (via The Tyee)

Why Australia’s carbon tax repeal is an economic step back (via CleanTechnica)

The dangerous truth behind wildfires (via Huffington Post)

I crashed a climate change denial conference in Las Vegas (via Vice)

How the South Portland city council foiled Big Oil’s plan to sneak tar sands out of Canada (via Climate Progress)

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14 share

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

CLIMATE

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Posted: | Categories: apple, arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuels, biomass, cap and trade, Chevron, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, CREZ, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enphase, environment, EU, European Union, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, fracking, France, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, india, japan, Joe Manchin, Kentucky, Keystone XL, Microgrid, Mosaic, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil shale, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Sugnevity, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Ukraine, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind

May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.2.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Russia says 2C climate goal shouldn’t dictate carbon pledges (via Bloomberg)

UK and Japan pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)

“Voice mails from the future” elicit personal views on dealing with climate change (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US to map the risks of man-made earthquakes (via Wall Street Journal)

The seismic link between fracking and earthquakes (via Time)

RENEWABLES

Demand for India renewable energy credits plunges to seven-month low (via Bloomberg)

US wind power’s problem will remain speed and direction forecasts (via Fitch Ratings)

Financing utility-scale solar in the years ahead (via Greentech Media)

Drones could be a boon for wind and solar industries (via SustainableBusiness)

ERCOT to add 8.6GW new wind capacity through 2016 (via Recharge News)

Xcel Energy sets wind power record with 46% of customer supply (via Post Bulletin)

SolarCity launches operations in Nevada (via Solar Industry)

In Michigan, debate over burning trees for biomass energy (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL

Clean coal to be put to the test at two plants this year (via Scientific American)

Durbin talks FutureGen with DOE secretary (via Washington Post/AP)

EMISSIONS

Arctic methane emissions “certain to trigger warming” (via Climate Central)

Obama’s emissions plan comes under coordinated line of attack (via The Guardian)

Scalia gets his facts wrong in EPA dissent (via AP)

KEYSTONE XL

Senators introduce pro-Keystone XL bill to bypass Obama (via The Guardian)

Clock ticks on Keystone XL vote (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Net-zero buildings an inexpensive next step from LEED-Platinum (via SustainableBusiness)

Energy benchmarking goes countrywide in Maryland (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Exxon says all activities in Russia proceeding as planned (via Reuters)

Virginia oil-train wreck brings demands for more regulation (via Washington Post/AP)

New “safer” tank cars were involved in Virginia oil train fire (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-rich North Dakota sees highest worker fatality rate (via The Hill)

California’s oil refiners double crude-by-rail import volumes (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Test loopholes take gloss off Europe’s cleaner cars (via Reuters)

Nissan Leaf keeps plug-in vehicle sales crown for 6^th straight month (via Autoblog Green)

California to use one billion less gallons of gasoline in six years (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT

This year’s wildfires could incinerate America’s fire budget (via Mother Jones)

Wildfire threatens homes in drought-parched Southern California (via Chicago Tribune/Reuters)

ENERGY INDUSTRY

Stand-alone power becomes growing reality for utilities (via Renew Economy)

Exelon doubles down on regulated assets with Pepco buy (via EnergyWire)

Exelon touts customer benefits in buying Pepco, but regulators will scrutinize claims (via Forbes)

Shareholders, protesters, speak out at Duke board meeting (via Washington Post)

NUCLEAR

Fukushima frozen wall needs risk assessment, says Tepco adviser (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

It’s time to look beyond the UN’s $100 billion climate finance target (via RTCC)

How does Vivint Solar compare to SolarCity? (via Huffington Post)

Inside New York’s historic move to remake the utility business model (via Greentech Media)

Posted: | Categories: Antonin Scalia, arctic, biomass, california, chevy volt, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, Climate finance, coal, Cross-State Air Pollution, Dick Durbin, DOE, Drones, duke energy, earthquakes, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, europe, Exelon, Exxon, fracking, fukushima, FutureGen, Gasoline, global warming, india, japan, Keystone XL, LEED, maryland, methane, michigan, natural gas, Net zero buildings, Nevada, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Oil train, Pepco, Renewable energy credit, Renewable forecasting, renewables, Russia, solar, SolarCity, Tepco, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, virginia, Vivint Solar, wildfires, wind, xcel

Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.28.14 share

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

CLIMATE

US and China lift climate change hopes with new phase of talks (via Financial Times)

Mount Everest is shrinking due to climate change (via Climate Progress)

El Nino risk increases as Pacific Ocean gets warmer (via Bloomberg)

Western US faces bigger, more frequent wildfires (via Climate Central)

US mayors leading the way on emission cuts & climate resilience (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Gazprom says it won’t halt gas flows to Europe over Ukraine price row (via Wall Street Journal)

Local governments fail to account for $17 million in natural gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

How long can the fracking revolution last? (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES

Experimental efforts to harvest the ocean’s power face cost setbacks (via New York Times)

Chart: Wind dominates the 37GW of US power under construction (via Greentech Media)

Google’s green energy plan: Build, learn, and expand (via Christian Science Monitor)

Fear and loathing at the CPUC: California debates the future of solar (via Greentech Media)

6MW floating vertical-axis wind turbine unveiled (via Recharge)

ENERGY POLICY

French energy minister promises 100,000 green jobs (via Reuters)

US electricity prices may be going up for good (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL

China wants more Latin American oil, president to visit in July (via Reuters)

US regulators to propose enhanced oil tank car standards (via Reuters)

Oil industry starts fracking in Nevada (via Elko Daily Free Press)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils plans for solar-powered EV charging network in China (via Renew Economy)

EPA says automakers ahead of schedule for 54.5 MPG by 2025 (via Autoblog Green)

EV buyers are younger, more affluent than hybrid shoppers (via Autoblog Green)

California Air Resources Board adds another $25 million to expand clean vehicle rebate program (via Green Car Congress)

COAL

Asian coal miners pursuing self-defeating output gains (via Reuters)

Kitzhaber says “no” to coal export plans in Oregon (via The Daily News)

Montana coal mine falls years behind original permitting schedule (via Missoulian)

EMISSIONS

Rich nations’ greenhouse gas emissions fall in 2012, led by US (via Reuters)

Scotland enlists universities in low-carbon push (via BusinessGreen)

Fossil fuels face $30 trillion in losses from climate, renewables (via Renew Economy)

Soils release far more CO2 tan previously thought as emissions rise (via Yale e360)

Changes to agriculture practices could slash emissions up to 90% (via Environmental Leader)

Projected CO2 emissions vary with coal and nuclear power plant retirements (via US EIA)

California cuts part of its greenhouse gas emissions by exporting them (via ClimateWire)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone XL moving forward…in Canada’s eyes (via Christian Science Monitor)

Canada still betting the US will approve Keystone XL (via Reuters)

Cowboys, Indians, and Neil Young voice opposition to Keystone XL (via United Press International)

Steyer challenges Kochs to Keystone XL debate (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

More LED installations than fluorescents expected this year for first time (via Energy Manager Today)

In user test, Next thermostat and its smart competitors disappoint (via EnergyWIre)

ENVIRONMENT

Worsening US drought pushes wheat price higher (via Wall Street Journal)

California drought: Jobs, money dry up in farm towns (via San Francisco Chronicle)

California drought declaration is so bad the state is rolling back some environmental protections (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

Extreme tornado swings: What holds the key? (via Climate Central)

POLITICS

GOP Rep. Grimm’s woes cast cloud on climate turnabout (via Politico)

OPINION

How US-China cooperation can expand clean energy development (via WRI Insights)

Climate-proofing the poorest cities is currently impossible (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing (via Washington Post)

The rise and fall of America’s climate deniers: How politics hijacked the fight against global warming (via Salon)

Keystone weirdonomics mean gas prices won’t be getting any cheaper (via Bloomberg)

It’s easy being green. Being fossil fuel free is harder (via Forbes)

Dear Texas: Enjoy the oil boom, just don’t blow it this time (via Forbes)

2C in our rear-view mirror, geoengineering dead ahead (via Energy Collective)

Posted: | Categories: california air resources board, California Public Utilities Commission, canada, CARB, Carbon bubble, Carbon sequestration, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, CPUC, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, France, Gazprom, Geoengineering, global warming, google, green jobs, Hybrids, John Kitzhaber, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Latin America, LED, Michael Grimm, Montana, Mount Everest, natural gas, Nest, Nevada, News, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, oregon, renewables, Scotland, solar, Tesla, texas, tidal power, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Ukraine, wildfires, wind

Category Archives:Nevada

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