Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.24.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted (via The Guardian)

China to impose tougher penalties on polluters under new law (via Reuters)

Up to a third of wild US seafood likely “illegal” (via Environmental Leader)

New map could refocus California’s pollution battles (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Poland pushes coal on Europe as Putin wields gas weapon (via Bloomberg)

Federal government lowers level of coal dust allowed in mines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Investment in aging coal plants a losing proposition (via Energy Manager Today)

CDC: West Virginia symptoms “consistent” with coal ash chemical health effects (via Charleston Daily Mail)

RENEWABLES 

Green bonds could cut India clean energy costs 25% (via Bloomberg)

UK approves five offshore wind projects with capacity to power three million homes (via Sustainable Business)

Biomass: The world’s biggest provider of renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Environmental groups ask US trade rep to drop complaint over India’s solar policy (via Huffington Post)

DOE Secretary: Federal loans possible for Cape Wind project (via Cape Cod Times)

Google and SunPower join forces to fund solar homes (via Forbes)

Unlocking solar energy’s value as an asset class (via Renewable Energy World)

Three new finance models for non-profits to go solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Report says ethanol generates $19.3 billion in economic activity, supports 73,000 jobs in Iowa (via The Gazette)

Illinois still in search of solution for “broken” renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

EMISSIONS 

Australia slashes emission penalties in new climate plan (via RTCC)

Ireland outlines low-carbon transition plans with new climate bill (via RTCC)

Two-thirds of mayors can quantify carbon emissions cuts (via Environmental Leader)

Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal enters third week (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Report says US not ready for Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

Oil price declines as US oil supplies rise (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to remain largest plug-in market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro lead spot from LA (via Green Car Congress)

Lufthansa says helping to test new aviation biofuel (via Reuters)

Tesla could build EVs in China as soon as 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House disputes report on Keystone XL (via National Journal)

Spirit camp embodies Sioux opposition to Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Greenland’s icecap losing stability (via Alaska Dispatch/Deutsche Welle)

African Development Bank launches new climate change fund (via RTCC)

Climate change threatens California’s air quality, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Storm surge could flood New York City one in every four years (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

In landmark ruling, jury says fracking company must pay $3 million to sickened family (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PSE&G frustrated by resistance to “Energy Strong” effort (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CalCharge: A model for California energy storage dominance (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU warned energy efficiency plans are slipping (via BusinessGreen)

Five million reasons for communities to lower their energy use (via Energy.gov)

Opower IPO signals growing market for energy management tools (via Navigant Research)

California schools get $381 million in first wave of energy efficiency upgrades (via Sustainable Business)

Advocates of Ohio’s green energy law say it saves $2 for every $1 spent (via Columbus Dispatch)

OPINION 

Obama’s last shot (via Rolling Stone)

The left’s secret club (via Politico)

Which US universities are the greenest? (via Climate Progress)

What a win-win on unburnable carbon looks like (via GreenBiz)

The green heroes of the Time 100 (via Time)

What’s climate change got to do with lung cancer? (via EcoAffect)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.24.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China says more than half of its groundwater is polluted (via The Guardian)

China to impose tougher penalties on polluters under new law (via Reuters)

Up to a third of wild US seafood likely “illegal” (via Environmental Leader)

New map could refocus California’s pollution battles (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Poland pushes coal on Europe as Putin wields gas weapon (via Bloomberg)

Federal government lowers level of coal dust allowed in mines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Investment in aging coal plants a losing proposition (via Energy Manager Today)

CDC: West Virginia symptoms “consistent” with coal ash chemical health effects (via Charleston Daily Mail)

RENEWABLES 

Green bonds could cut India clean energy costs 25% (via Bloomberg)

UK approves five offshore wind projects with capacity to power three million homes (via Sustainable Business)

Biomass: The world’s biggest provider of renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Environmental groups ask US trade rep to drop complaint over India’s solar policy (via Huffington Post)

DOE Secretary: Federal loans possible for Cape Wind project (via Cape Cod Times)

Google and SunPower join forces to fund solar homes (via Forbes)

Unlocking solar energy’s value as an asset class (via Renewable Energy World)

Three new finance models for non-profits to go solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Report says ethanol generates $19.3 billion in economic activity, supports 73,000 jobs in Iowa (via The Gazette)

Illinois still in search of solution for “broken” renewable energy standard (via EnergyWire)

EMISSIONS 

Australia slashes emission penalties in new climate plan (via RTCC)

Ireland outlines low-carbon transition plans with new climate bill (via RTCC)

Two-thirds of mayors can quantify carbon emissions cuts (via Environmental Leader)

Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal enters third week (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Report says US not ready for Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

Oil price declines as US oil supplies rise (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to remain largest plug-in market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro lead spot from LA (via Green Car Congress)

Lufthansa says helping to test new aviation biofuel (via Reuters)

Tesla could build EVs in China as soon as 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

White House disputes report on Keystone XL (via National Journal)

Spirit camp embodies Sioux opposition to Keystone pipeline (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Greenland’s icecap losing stability (via Alaska Dispatch/Deutsche Welle)

African Development Bank launches new climate change fund (via RTCC)

Climate change threatens California’s air quality, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Storm surge could flood New York City one in every four years (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

In landmark ruling, jury says fracking company must pay $3 million to sickened family (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PSE&G frustrated by resistance to “Energy Strong” effort (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CalCharge: A model for California energy storage dominance (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU warned energy efficiency plans are slipping (via BusinessGreen)

Five million reasons for communities to lower their energy use (via Energy.gov)

Opower IPO signals growing market for energy management tools (via Navigant Research)

California schools get $381 million in first wave of energy efficiency upgrades (via Sustainable Business)

Advocates of Ohio’s green energy law say it saves $2 for every $1 spent (via Columbus Dispatch)

OPINION 

Obama’s last shot (via Rolling Stone)

The left’s secret club (via Politico)

Which US universities are the greenest? (via Climate Progress)

What a win-win on unburnable carbon looks like (via GreenBiz)

The green heroes of the Time 100 (via Time)

What’s climate change got to do with lung cancer? (via EcoAffect)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

One-fifth of China’s farmland is polluted (via New York Times)

California suffers astonishingly fast snowpack melt as drought intensifies (via Mashable)

COAL 

Barclays and Citigroup funded worst of US coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Old-school coal is making a comeback (via Miami Herald/McClatchy)

Cold January boosted capacity factor of retiring coal plants above 50% (via SNL Energy)

Duke Energy tells shareholders coal ash spill won’t affect bottom line (via Charlotte News Observer)

RENEWABLES 

Ukraine seeks renewable energy boost to counter Russia (via Bloomberg)

South Africa moves to add more renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

The 20 best cities for solar power as US prepares for an energy “revolution” (via Huffington Post)

Eleven states generated electricity from non-hydro renewables at double US average (via US EIA)

A few of America’s greenest colleges are really big on renewables (via US News and World Report)

Green Power Partnership driving on-site energy (via Energy Manager Today)

New simulation tool could help add more solar to America’s grid (via Energy.gov)

EPA data shows 57,860 gallons of cellulosic biofuel produced in Q1 2014 (via Green Car Congress)

Wisconsin solar garden sells out in two weeks (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

5.3 million years of sea level change on one cliff face (via Wired Science)

More, bigger wildfires burning western US, shows study (via AGU)

After dry winter in California, preparations begin for harsh wildfire season (via Climate Progress)

Virginia Supreme Court rules for U-Va, in global warming case (via Washington Post)

New Jersey residents want to reduce coastal risks, but they don’t want to pay (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican energy industry working to restructure for the future (via Breaking Energy)

State AGs take up fossil fuels boom as IPCC and feds lean green (via Denver Post)

Kasich questions electricity deregulation at PUCO chief’s swearing in (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Brazil looks to swap World Cup publicity for carbon credits (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania asks EPA for more flexible emissions, trading rules to boost power plant energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Steyer vows to aid anti-Keystone lawmakers (via Politico)

Ohio voters favor renewables, energy efficiency and candidates who do the same, says poll (via Plain Dealer)

OPINION 

On climate, business as usual (via Washington Post)

Let’s use fossil fuels to make stuff, but let’s not cook the planet (via CleanTechnica)

Thanks in part to climate change, the American West will see more fiery summers (via Washington Post)

The Deepwater Horizon threat (via New York Times)

The fracking industry faces its climate demon (via National Journal)

Energy efficiency doesn’t sell, but it can (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

US used more energy in 2013 than 2012, but efficiency is up too (via National Geographic)

Grandfather utilities threatened by spreading renewables (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Wyden aims for energy parity in overhaul to “rotting” tax code (via E&E Daily)

CLIMATE 

414 cities report over 4,000 climate actions (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

El Nino odds seen at more than 70% as Pacific warms (via Bloomberg)

Data shows low snowpack years will happen more frequently in Pacific Northwest (via EarthFix)

Virginia governor to revive climate change panel (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy installations to rise 37% by 2015, says BNEF (via Bloomberg)

Enel Green sees Africa as “next big place” for renewables (via Bloomberg)

India’s solar power capacity tops 2.6GW (via CleanTechnica)

Solar, wind no longer face high capital costs, says Shah (via Bloomberg)

Solar jumps to 22% of new US generation capacity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Crowdfunding seen topping $5 billion for rooftop solar (via Bloomberg)

Fishermen’s Energy appeals BPU offshore wind project rejection (via Recharge)

Clean energy victory bond could generate $150 billion in financing, 1 million jobs (via Business Journals)

COAL 

Duke Energy, North Carolina appeal coal ash ruling (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost “accelerating global warming” (via International Business Times)

Many nations wary of extracting carbon from air to fix climate (via Reuters)

Shell, Unilever, 68 others seek 1 trillion-ton limit on CO2 output (via Bloomberg)

Chile plans to enact the first carbon tax in South America (via Climate Progress)

Utilities disagree on how EPA should regulate emissions (via Climate Central)

Carbon divestment activists claim victory as Harvard adopts green code (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium proposal advances in California State Senate (via Los Angeles Times)

Scientists, oil industry still probing fracking-earthquake link (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

Debunked: Hybrid vehicle myths and truths (via Breaking Energy)

GM investing $449 million for advanced EV and battery manufacturing (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Toronto’s “Race to Reduce” garners 9% energy efficiency cut (via Energy Manager Today)

Indonesia gets world’s first net-zero energy skyscraper (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

5 market trends that will drive microgrids into the mainstream (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

The geopolitical potential of the US energy boom (via Council on Foreign Relations)

How the US power grid is like a big pile of sand (via National Journal)

What made Vermont’s net metering expansion process so unique? (via Greentech Media)

If “value of solar” is optional, will Minnesota utilities adopt it? (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

West Coast states, British Columbia talk carbon collaboration (via Bloomberg)

Report: Wood-burning power plants emit more pollution per megawatt than coal (via Herald-Leader)

EPA faulted for failure to disclose pollutant test risks (via New York Times)

Social media data centers powered by dirty energy, warns Greenpeace (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Arctic sea ice falls to fifth lowest level on record (via The Guardian)

Warming temperatures could dry out one third of the planet (via Climate Central)

Climate change experts become an endangered species in North Carolina (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Soaring solar PV growth set to hit new highs in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Japan, UK drive 9GW solar PV installations in Q1 (via Recharge)

Green bonds hit record $8 billion mark in first quarter 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Merkel agrees to ease cuts in wind aid to appease regional governments (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy investment rises in 3 countries amid global decline (via Bloomberg)

One million solar lamps now shining across Africa (via RTCC)

White House doubles down on green tech loan program (via National Journal)

Rail congestion, cold weather raise ethanol spot prices (via US EIA)

5 renewable energy finance models bringing clean power to the people (via GreenBiz)

Minnesota lawmakers look to boost wind energy exports (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Old math casts doubt on accuracy of oil reserve estimates (via Bloomberg)

Energy industry leaders clash over US oil exports (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU “bullied” into diluting aviation emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

Li-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $26 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

DOE ready for more advanced transportation loans, now focusing on suppliers (via Autoblog Green)

US gasoline prices reach six-month high as ethanol climbs (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla to appeal changed New Jersey car regulations (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Gallup poll says majority of US favors energy conservation over production (via The Hill)

DOE and IMT build new green lease recognition program (via GreenBiz)

Demand response value isn’t just about capacity, finds study (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Less rainfall not the only risk factor in widespread drought shows study (via CBS News)

House passes “Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014” (via Washington Post)

Allergy alert: Tidal wave of pent up pollen could be headed our way (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

What climate change means in dollars and cents (via Bloomberg)

The UN’s new focus: Surviving, not stopping, climate change (via The Atlantic)

Injecting urgency into the World Bank’s climate change efforts (via World Resources Institute)

Why it’s still too early to bet on residential energy storage in the US (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

West Coast states, British Columbia talk carbon collaboration (via Bloomberg)

Report: Wood-burning power plants emit more pollution per megawatt than coal (via Herald-Leader)

EPA faulted for failure to disclose pollutant test risks (via New York Times)

Social media data centers powered by dirty energy, warns Greenpeace (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Arctic sea ice falls to fifth lowest level on record (via The Guardian)

Warming temperatures could dry out one third of the planet (via Climate Central)

Climate change experts become an endangered species in North Carolina (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Soaring solar PV growth set to hit new highs in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Japan, UK drive 9GW solar PV installations in Q1 (via Recharge)

Green bonds hit record $8 billion mark in first quarter 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Merkel agrees to ease cuts in wind aid to appease regional governments (via Bloomberg)

Clean energy investment rises in 3 countries amid global decline (via Bloomberg)

One million solar lamps now shining across Africa (via RTCC)

White House doubles down on green tech loan program (via National Journal)

Rail congestion, cold weather raise ethanol spot prices (via US EIA)

5 renewable energy finance models bringing clean power to the people (via GreenBiz)

Minnesota lawmakers look to boost wind energy exports (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Old math casts doubt on accuracy of oil reserve estimates (via Bloomberg)

Energy industry leaders clash over US oil exports (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU “bullied” into diluting aviation emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

China considers more electric car incentives (via Bloomberg)

Li-ion batteries for EVs will surpass $26 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

DOE ready for more advanced transportation loans, now focusing on suppliers (via Autoblog Green)

US gasoline prices reach six-month high as ethanol climbs (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla to appeal changed New Jersey car regulations (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Gallup poll says majority of US favors energy conservation over production (via The Hill)

DOE and IMT build new green lease recognition program (via GreenBiz)

Demand response value isn’t just about capacity, finds study (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

New Chicago ordinance grants petcoke exemption (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Less rainfall not the only risk factor in widespread drought shows study (via CBS News)

House passes “Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014” (via Washington Post)

Allergy alert: Tidal wave of pent up pollen could be headed our way (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

What climate change means in dollars and cents (via Bloomberg)

The UN’s new focus: Surviving, not stopping, climate change (via The Atlantic)

Injecting urgency into the World Bank’s climate change efforts (via World Resources Institute)

Why it’s still too early to bet on residential energy storage in the US (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations hit 400ppm 2 months early this year (via ClimateWire)

Visualizing the global carbon budget (via WRI Insights)

Christie administration improperly pulled NJ out of RGGI (via Bergen Record)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA proposes greater protections for streams, wetlands under Clean Water Act (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US energy efficiency programs cost 2 cents per kilowatt-hour saved (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Japan cuts subsidy for solar power, boosts offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

India could cut wind farm subsidies by up to 78% (via Bloomberg)

UK’s offshore wind vital amid Russian tensions, says energy secretary (via The Guardian)

Greece proposes more cuts to renewable energy feed-in tariff (Renewable Energy World)

China loses rare earth export trade dispute, says US (via Reuters)

Siemens to invest $264 million in UK wind turbine manufacturing project (via New York Times)

Top 50 PV module manufacturers to add 10GW in module capacity in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar extends net metering win streak with Vermont decision (via PR Newswire)

California will enable residential PACE through property tax bill (via Solar Industry)

Solar rivals Sungevity, Sunrun form alliance (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS 

US expands gas exports in bid to punish Putin for Crimea (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

UN climate science report will highlight “limits to adaptation” (via RTCC)

Asia’s great cities face rising flooding risks in warming world (via RTCC)

UK Met Office: Deadly heat wave summers to become the norm by 2040 (via The Independent)

OIL 

Kremlin oil partnership places BP at risk in Russia crisis (via Bloomberg)

Crimea crisis pushes Russian energy to China from Europe (via Bloomberg)

Transport limits causing “serious logistical challenge” for shale boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon, PHMSA withholding key documents on Pegasus pipeline as restart nears (via InsideClimate News)

BP confirms oil spill into Lake Michigan from refinery (via Chicago Tribune)

Ohio pipeline spill twice as large as original estimate (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volvo testing flywheel energy capture with 25% fuel savings (via Green Car Reports)

COAL 

House votes to stop Obama’s new coal mining rules (via The Hill)

Duke Energy: Cleaning up coal ash “is going to take time” (via The State)

GRID 

Where will the next $400 billion in grid investment come from? (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage hits the rails in California and Nevada (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Why climate change will make mudslides more common (via Salon)

Grid parity: Why electric utilities should struggle to sleep at night (via Washington Post)

PACE financing for California’s clean energy future: Expanding the residential market (via Breaking Energy)

Hot air about American natural gas won’t scare Putin (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.25.14

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

COAL 

Netherlands to stop funding overseas coal power plants (via RTCC)

EPA’s coal ash rule still not done (via Politico)

Supreme Court declines to hear Arch Coal mining permit case against EPA (via Reuters)

Coal ash pods: How power companies get a “bypass” on pollution regulations (via National Geographic)

EPA joins North Carolina in probe of coal ash spill (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Japan approves 2014-2015 renewable energy FiT rates (via Recharge)

Italy, Spain, Germany hit commercial solar grid parity in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

India may see slow growth in new solar capacity additions (via Panchabuta)

Developers register 12GW potential Brazil wind projects for June auction (via Recharge)

Kenya’s 300MW Lake Turkana wind farm to break ground in June (via Renewables Biz)

Solar PV industry targets 100GW annual deployment in 2018 (via Solar Industry)

Mercom Capital forecasts 46GW new solar in 2014 (via Solar Industry)

Greenwood Biosar completes Panama’s first utility-scale solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley: Going off grid nears tipping point (via Renew Economy)

FERC issues license for tidal energy pilot project in Pacific Northwest (via Renew Grid)

Feds clearing path for Pacific wave energy test (via Houston Chronicle)

Cape Wind update: A big legal victory and another legal challenge (via Greentech Media)

Maryland seeks global offshore wind role (via Recharge)

Koch-funded groups fuel assault on Kansas clean energy law (via Climate Progress)

New Jersey’s offshore wind goals up in the air after project rejection (Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL 

Southern leg of Keystone XL pipeline reaches capacity ahead of schedule (via The Oklahoman)

Not building Keystone XL will leave a billion barrels of bitumen in the ground (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

New study reveals workings of China’s pilot emissions cap-and-trade systems (via Triple Pundit)

China’s Hubei province to launch carbon market on April 2 (via Reuters)

China’s Shenzen says carbon market had 10% surplus in first year (via Reuters)

As listener and saleswoman, EPA chief takes to the road for climate rules (via New York Times)

States aren’t shying away from regulating carbon emissions from power plants (via Bloomberg BNA)

NATURAL GAS 

DOE approves natural gas export terminal (via The Hill)

North Dakota gas flaring doubles, pumping CO2 into air (via Climate Central)

CLIMATE 

UN official: Countries on track to reach 2015 global climate treaty (via The Hill)

EU delays 2030 climate package decision until October (via RTCC)

WMO: Global warming not stopped, will go on for centuries (via Reuters)

Climate change could leave another 50 million people facing hunger by 2050 (via The Guardian)

UN says 13 of 14 hottest years on record occurred since 2000 (via BusinessGreen)

Weather extremes “consistent” with manmade climate change, says UN (via Agence France-Presse)

OIL 

Houston Channel closed as 24 vessels skim 4,000-barrel oil spill (via Bloomberg)

Galveston Bay oil spill will take economic, ecological toll (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

VW chairman says component cost decreases keep him confident of EV success (via Autoblog Green)

How four states are trying to woo Tesla Motors’ gigafactory (via Autoblog Green)

Ford: Baby boomers leading trend to compact utility vehicles (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC Order 1000 has its day in court (via Renewable Energy World)

Southwest Power Pool launches wholesale energy marketplace (via Energy Manager Today)

Car companies take expertise in battery power beyond the garage (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

WHO links 7 million premature deaths annually to air pollution; 12.5% total global deaths (via Green Car Congress)

China says polluting industry still growing too fast (via Reuters)

China aims to launch national pollution permit market within three years (via Reuters)

Brazil desperately seeking solutions to worst drought in decades (via The Guardian)

Water scarcity drives US communities toward smarter use, recycling (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

By 2020, LEDs may rival incandescent bulbs in cost without rebates (via Greentech Media)

LBNL calculates “cost of saved energy” from efficiency programs (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower sets IPO price range at $17-19, could raise $110 million (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

Green groups spend $5 million to defend three Democrats (via Wall Street Journal)

Mary Landrieu is paying – and getting paid big – for her global warming stance (via National Journal)

OPINION 

“War on coal” isn’t the real reason your utility rates will rise (via Triple Pundit)

Why you shouldn’t applaud Exxon’s decision to disclose climate risks (via Climate Progress)

Galveston oil spill: Does US oil boom mean more spills? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Steven Chu solves utility companies’ death spiral (via Forbes)

Maybe transit isn’t surging after all (via Atlantic Cities)

Watts the mystery? The energy units that power our lives. (via Smart Planet)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.21.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EU warns biofuel carbon emissions “higher than expected” (via RTCC)

Shuttered coal plants seen cutting cost of carbon rules (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

EU readies natural gas plan to cut reliance on Russia (via Bloomberg)

Cheap gas will fuel US manufacturing job surge through 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency, not just Recession, drove US energy savings since 2007 (via Greentech Media)

LED costs to halve as efficiency doubles by 2020, says US DOE (via RTCC)

California establishing new efficiency standards for consumer appliances (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Over 25% total global solar capacity added in 2013, more to come (via Forbes)

Global solar PV market set to reach 500GW by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

Study finds wind farms can provide surplus of reliable clean energy (via Phys.org)

As net metering battles move to small markets, solar advocates claim early victories (via Greentech Media)

Wind grows as power source in Kansas (via Hutchinson News)

Ethanol industry taking challenge to California LCFS to US Supreme Court (via Green Car Congress)

Compromise may help preserve net metering in Kansas (via Midwest Energy News)

Carnegie unveils 1MW wave energy machine (via Renew Economy)

CLIMATE 

Spring is arriving earlier and earlier in the US (via Climate Central)

Exxon Mobil agrees to report on climate change’s effect on business model (via The Guardian)

Chris Christie’s state agencies are worried about climate change, even if he isn’t (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

Oil lobby optimistic on repealing renewable fuel standard (via The Hill)

BP’s Gulf redemption may take decades to bestow barrels (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

AAA finds electric cars can only go half as far in freezing weather (via Los Angeles Time)

EV project to save Seattle airport $2.8 million in fuel costs (via Environmental Leader)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

While America spars over Keystone XL, a vast network of pipelines is quietly being approved (via Think Progress)

Koch Brothers are the biggest leaseholder in Canada’s oil sands (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

$500 million over budget: How should we pay for fighting wildfires? (via Weather Channel)

Asia is home to most rivers under stress from people (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

The thin green line (via Sightline Daily)

A few numbers for Nate Silver and Roger Pielke Jr on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Senate rejects carbon tax repeal bill (via Reuters)

EU lawmakers reject deal to exempt foreign flights from emission charges (via Reuters)

COAL 

Planned coal-fired power plant retirements continue to increase (via US EIA)

Duke Energy eyes closing more coal plants in response to Dan River spill (via Charlotte Business Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Japan added 7GW of clean energy capacity since July 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Concentrated solar to top 1GW capacity by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Scotland approves two major offshore wind farm projects (via Reuters)

Solar usage shattering records in California as new capacity comes online (via Greentech Media)

New Jersey rejects offshore wind project’s subsidy plan (via Recharge)

Net metering in the air: Solar energy progress in Massachusetts and other states (via Energy Collective)

Native American tribe could soon build a billion-dollar wind farm with Interior Department funding (via Climate Progress)

Clearing up cloudy understanding on solar output (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Climate change fuelled storms, rising seas cost China $2.6 billion in 2013 (via Reuters)

EU leaders to set October deadline to agree on 2030 climate goals (via Reuters)

A cold US winter, but 8th warmest globally (via Climate Central)

White House brings together big data and climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Shell pulled out of shale gas talks in Ukraine in January (via Reuters)

Crimea crisis won’t cut Russia gas flow to Europe, says IHS (via Houston Chronicle)

Simple fixes could plug methane leaks from energy industry, finds study (via National Geographic)

White House to unveil new methane strategy this month (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Up to 40% energy savings “achievable” from home energy management (via Energy Manager Today)

Detroit airport’s switch to LED lights will save $1.2 million yearly (via Detroit Free Press)

OIL 

BP set to expand Gulf of Mexico drilling (via National Journal)

Oil pipeline leaks thousands of gallons in Ohio nature preserve (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chairman says BMW will make 100,000 EVs a year by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Electric cars have a dirty little secret (via InsideClimate News)

California may cut gasoline demand 9% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Energy industry overestimated cost of pollution controls, says study (via Huffington Post)

California officials prepare for worst as historic drought deepens wildfire risk (via The Guardian)

ENERGY STORAGE 

Spurred by Japan, steady growth predicted for energy storage market (via Renewable Energy World)

Incentives for energy storage spread worldwide (via EnergyWire)

POLITICS 

John Podesta knocks greens on natural gas (via Politico)

Obama’s Keystone XL choice pits donors against at-risk Senate (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why a melting Arctic could sink the global economy (via Center for American Progress)

The end of spring in a warming world (via Time)

A remarkably accurate global warming prediction, made in 1972 (via The Guardian)