Category Archives:News

03
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.3.14

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

EMISSIONS

Carbon offsets bring over $600 a ton of benefits to local communities (via Business Green)

Air pollution regulations over last decade in Chinese city has halved health costs (via Green Car Congress)

House panels to hear from regulators on carbon rule (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

Limited water presents challenge for natural gas fracking (via Los Angeles Times)

EPA chief pushes economic case of capturing methane (via The Hill)

Scientists find “alarming” amount of arsenic in groundwater near Texas fracking sites (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Lux predicts solar industry to grow 75% worldwide by 2019 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA’s renewable fuel quota may rise as gasoline sales climb (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy jobs continue to grow in U.S. (via EcoWatch)

Better, cheaper loans challenging the solar leasing model? (via Greentech Media)

Green bonds come to retail investors (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU energy chief not ruling out “worst case scenarios” on energy security (via Reuters)

Where does Hillary Clinton stand on energy? (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Study links polar vortex chills to melting sea ice (via AP)

Developing nations assert wealth nations are resigned to more risky climate changes (via ClimateWire)

Canadian provinces bypass Harper to make climate a “priority” (via RTCC)

Global warming could reduce Sierra Nevada runoff by 25% (via Summit County Citizens Voice)

As extreme weather harms Great Lakes, funding and research for climate change adaptation comes slowly (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

From Seoul to Mexico City, pressure mounts to ease U.S. oil export ban (via Reuters)

Halliburton to pay $1.1 billion to settle damages in Gulf of Mexico oil spill (via New York Times)

Keystone redux haunts Trans Mountain as flight shifts to climate (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China adds even more EV incentives – mostly for local brands (via Green Car Reports)

California clean air initiative: Cash in a clunker, buy an EV (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berkeley lab brings energy management to small commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

Global smart meter shipments expected to peak at 116 million units annually in 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Wind and solar boosting power line investment (via Climate Central)

Texas grid operator says it will be able to keep up with fall, winter electricity demand (via Houston Chronicle)

How to make a community microgrid? Follow San Francisco (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

Six strategies could end global water stress by 2050, say scientists (via Yale e360)

Unilever, WRI partner to end tropical deforestation (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

Now is the time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Do coal investors really care about exports? (via Sightline Daily)

A rarely tapped city strategy for boosting local renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: Berkeley, biofuels, california, canada, carbon offsets, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy management, EPA, ERCOT, European Union, ev, fracking, Gina McCarthy, global warming, Great Lakes, Green bonds, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, hillary clinton, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, Microgrid, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Polar vortex, renewables, Russia, san francisco, Seoul, Sierra Nevada, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, Stephen Harper, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, Unilever, wind
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02
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.2.14

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

EMISSIONS

China seeks pollution cut with national carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Carbon prices to average €23 in the 2020s, say analysts (via BusinessGreen)

EU mulls €30 billion low carbon fund for industry and member states (via BusinessGreen)

Fossil fuel divestment: A $5 trillion challenge or opportunity? (via Energy Collective)

Brazil presidential candidate Silva would put a price on carbon (via Reuters)

Study: Calculating the true cost of CO2 emissions (via Environmental Leader)

RGGI to hold allowance auction this week (via Bloomberg BNA)

EPA staff backs new ozone restrictions (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

India poised to be a world solar leader – adding 145GW in 10 years (via Renew Economy)

Solar makers set for record 2014 sales on strong demand (via Bloomberg)

Geothermal power nears 12,000 megawatts worldwide (via EcoWatch)

Floating solar power hits land-squeezed Japan under new plan (via Bloomberg)

Utility-scale projects driving Japan’s PV module demand (via PV Tech)

Survey finds Midwest customers support solar as utilities push back (via Midwest Energy News)

Inedible crop biofuels need government mandate, says Novozyme (via Bloomberg)

Austin, Texas passes a new law making solar a “default” generation resource (via Greentech Media)

In depth: The YieldCo effect (via Recharge News)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. residential electricity prices are rising (via U.S. EIA)

Renewables and resiliency help reverse a 30-year decline in U.S. transmission investments (via Greentech Media)

Obama to nominate new FERC energy regulator (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia-Ukraine interim gas deal sought by EU amid fights (via Bloomberg)

Europe drafts emergency energy plan with eye on Russia gas shut-down (via Reuters)

WRI says 38% of world’s shale resources facing water stress (via Bloomberg)

Drilling furiously: Chinese energy giants turn upbeat on shale gas (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania finally reveals fracking has contaminated drinking water hundreds of times (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

China’s Xi Jinping likely to skip UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Threatened coral: Climate change puts 20 types at risk (via Christian Science Monitor)

United Nations predicts climate hell in 2050 with imagined weather forecasts (via The Guardian)

Climate change ups odds of a Southwest mega drought (via Climate Central)

OIL 

Shell formally launches 2015 Arctic drilling bid (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Charge Ahead California opens a portal to America’s future (via CleanTechnica)

California renters may soon install EV chargers at home (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla teams up with China wireless carrier Unicom for EV charging network (via GigaOm)

The long game for Tesla’s Gigafactory (via San Jose Mercury News)

Tesla rolls out destination charging program at hotels, restaurants, resorts (via San Jose Mercury News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water resources a problem for energy extraction worldwide, finds report (via Houston Chronicle)

Australia to scrap plan for dumping near Great Barrier Reef (via Reuters)

Mountain forest changes threaten California water supplies (via Climate Central)

California bans plastic bags (via EcoWatch)

Desperately dry California tries to curb private drilling for water (via New York Times)

COAL 

Is coal really “peaking” in China? (via Energy Collective)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Nudging can save Europe billions of Euros on energy bills (via Bloomberg)

Energy efficient set-top boxes save $168 million (via Energy Manager Today)

Electrical unions launch net zero energy training center (via GreenBiz)

OPINION 

Why does NATO still downplay climate threats? (via RTCC)

Cut carbon, breathe easier, live longer (via Climate Central)

We are on the verge of an electric car battery breakthrough (via Climate Progress)

Labor Day 2050: Global warming and the coming collapse of labor productivity (via Climate Progress)

Energy quote of the day: Ultimately it will be necessary to clean produced water for reuse in fracking (via Breaking Energy)

A doomed Earth of science fiction may well become reality (via The Guardian)

Why the shale revolution is not about to end (via Reuters)

Divesting from fossil fuels: Last one out loses (via Renewable Energy World)

Why carbon markets should top Ban Ki Moon’s climate agenda (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: News
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28
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

World’s existing power plants will emit 300 billion tons of CO2 in their lifetimes (via Climate Progress)

Chile set to pass Latin America’s second carbon tax (via RTCC)

Divesting from fossil fuels would cost $5 trillion (via CleanTechnica)

Study: Open trash burning significantly worsening global air pollution; unaccounted for in emission inventories (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

Why abundant coal may have “cursed” the Appalachian economy (via Washington Post)

America’s coal heartland is in economic free fall – but only the most desperate are fleeing (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

IEA sees $1.6 trillion in clean energy investments through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Scalable solar a good match for South America, says DuPont (via PV Tech)

Cost of solar panels in Australia to rise by half if renewables target chopped (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Renewable energy report recommends cutting Australia’s target (via Bloomberg)

GE to add 1.5GW Brazil wind by 2016 (via Recharge)

Chile, US navies working on drop-in alternative fuels (via Green Car Congress)

EIA report: U.S. PV generation more than doubles over last year’s output (via PV Tech)

How a new group is helping West Virginia nonprofits get solar for just $1 (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

State Dept. denies seeking alternative to climate treaty, but has been doing so since 2009 (via Huffington Post)

What global warming might mean for extreme snowfalls (via Climate Central)

How climate change could ruin your Hawaii vacation (via Christian Science Monitor)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia denies plans to block natural gas transit to Europe (via Reuters)

Plenty of reserves left in Marcellus Shale, says report (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan advances electricity market reform (via Recharge)

OIL 

You’re welcome, world: U.S. fracking surge picks up slack for global disruption (via National Journal)

Dearth of oil finds threatens long-term supplies, price (via Reuters)

Rail deliveries of U.S. oil continue increasing in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

Fracking foes force some oil drillers to tread lightly (via Bloomberg)

North Dakota universities crumble as oil cash pours in (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China’s electric and hybrid vehicle production up 280% (via CleanTechnica)

Main path to better fuel efficiency: Lighter vehicles, say automakers (via Green Car Reports)

California first to give extra funds to low-income EV buyers (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Grid perfection, not defection: A new microgrid landscape in the making (via Greentech Media)

What Americans really want from their smart homes (via Greentech Media)

Grid infrastructure upgrades mean Texas no longer wastes wind power (via Renewable Energy World)

Illinois grapples with question of who owns energy data from smart meters (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Spending on energy efficient buildings in Europe to total $800 billion through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

What’s moving capital back into energy efficiency? (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

ENVIRONMENT 

Big wins elusive for EPA in Clean Water Act showdowns (via Greenwire)

Reminder: The terrible drought in California is still really, really terrible (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

The head-on politics of going around Congress on climate change (via National Journal)

An inside look at how ALEC ‘s plans to undo environmental legislation (via Toronto Star)

In audio recording, McConnell envisions using budget to undo Obama initiatives (via New York Times)

Climate change a central issue in tight Florida governor’s race (via InsideClimate News)

Vulnerable Dem slams Obama over UN climate change effort (via The Hill)

One Democrat’s gamble on climate change (via Politico)

OPINION 

These revolutionary technologies promised to help save us from climate change – so what happened? (via Washington Post)

A climate for change: A solution conservatives could accept (via Washington Post)

Why Republicans won’t back a carbon tax (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, Appalachia, australia, biofuel, Brazil, california, carbon tax, Chile, Clean Water Act, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, DuPont, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, fuel-efficiency, GE, global warming, grid, Hawaii, Illinois, International Energy Agency, japan, marcellus shale, Microgrid, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, News, north dakota, oil, Oil train, renewables, Russia, smart meters, solar, texas, Transportation, West Virginia, wind
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27
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Irreversible damage seen from climate change in UN leak (via Bloomberg)

Obama pushing climate accord in lieu of treaty (via New York Times)

WHO urges action on climate change to protect health (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

Ukraine PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe (via Reuters)

As Japan pushes power deregulation, Tepco moves in on rivals’ turf (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar market to exceed 65GW in 2019 (via Energy Manager Today)

Clean energy investment at risk as Australia reconsiders targets (via Bloomberg)

South Africa energy minister to “intervene” over renewable deal delays (via Bloomberg)

11.7GW of solar PV to be installed across U.S. in 2019 (via Recharge)

Trina Solar could surpass Yingli Green to market leadership in 2014 (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green loss narrows on rising panel demand (via Reuters)

New bill could make residential solar in California a lot cheaper (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii to triple rooftop solar installations by 2030 (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese public seen as biggest obstacle to nuclear restart (via Bloomberg)

NRC finalizes nuclear waste rule, lets licensing decisions resume (via Greenwire)

California earthquakes may pose threat to nuclear plant (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the majority of data centers are failing at energy efficiency (via GreenBiz)

Americans love paying extra to stay at LEED-certified hotels (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

New coal power stations a threat to EU’s emissions target (via The Guardian)

Coal to be hardest hit by fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Forbes)

Coal mining expansion sparks demonstrations along Germany-Poland border (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

Cap-and-trade saves 10x its cost in health benefits (via CleanTechnica)

Environmentalists target Pope Francis in fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Houston Chronicle)

University of Sydney joins coal divestment movement (via BusinessGreen)

Nespresso pledges £330 million to become “carbon neutral” by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

S&P: Lifting U.S. oil export ban will lift sector credit scores (via Reuters)

Who needs Keystone XL? Oil sands flow to U.S. via loophole (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Supercharger network grows in Europe and Asia (via CleanTechnica)

Natural gas truck sales struggle to gain traction in North America (via Wall Street Journal)

Tesla Gigafactory competition a “race to the bottom?” (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart grid as a service will reach $11.2 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Winter blackouts a danger in “rapid transition” from coal, warns PJM Interconnection (via Columbus Business First)

POLITICS 

How Harry Reid holds veto power over Obama (via Politico)

OPINION 

Liebreich: Climate change talks – the rocky road to Paris (via Bloomberg)

Why investors’ fossil-fuel addiction is tough to kick (via National Journal)

A climate for change: EPA limits on emissions are important but not enough (via Washington Post)

Why the Washington Post is running an editorial series on climate change (via Media Matters for America)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, cap and trade, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, European Union, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, green building, grid, harry reid, Hawaii, japan, Keystone XL, LEED certification, Michael Liebreich, natural gas, Nespresso, News, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, Poland, Pope Francis, renewables, Russia, smart grid, solar, South Africa, Tepco, Tesla Gigafactory, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation, Trina Solar, Ukraine, united nations, University of Sydney, World Health Organization, Yingli Green
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26
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

13 states say EPA climate regulations illegally left out data (via The Hill)

GAO finds no fault with “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment: A $5 trillion challenge (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

UBS analysts: “Large-scale power stations could be on path to extinction” (via Greentech Media)

“Major investment cycle” and rapidly changing U.S. energy markets pose challenges for FERC, says new chairman (via EnergyWire)

One electric utility is carbon neutral, today (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

India plans to add 10,000MW wind energy capacity every year (via CleanTechnica)

Pattern turns to solar after building top Chile wind farm (via Bloomberg)

Verizon to boost solar by $40 million, almost doubling its clean energy (via GigaOm)

SolarWorld wins trade case but faces sliding stock, parts recall, and more (via Greentech Media)

Trina Solar posts profit as module shipments jump (via Reuters)

Retail vs. wholesale energy pricing: One reason it’s easy for rooftop solar to be cost effective (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Enbridge case reflects broader effort to fast-track pipelines (via Midwest Energy News)

Grain piles up, waiting for a ride, as trains move North Dakota oil (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

China said to consider $16 billion EV-charging fund (via Bloomberg)

Are the EPA’s MPGe ratings hurting EV sales? (via Autoblog Green)

The story of Elon Musk and GM’s race to build the first mass-market EV (via Quartz)

NATURAL GAS 

Labour party attempts to strengthen UK fracking industry regulation (via BusinessGreen)

Fracking link to birth defects probed in early research (via Bloomberg)

Drilling underway at Pittsburgh International Airport (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

CLIMATE 

Small island states, facing rising seas, seek economic overhaul (via Reuters)

Health benefits offset costs of climate policies: MIT study (via Greenwire)

Visualize it: Old weather data feeds new climate models (via Climate Central)

Scientists go beyond science to explain their climate terror (via National Journal)

GRID 

Investment in U.S. electricity transmission infrastructure shows steady increase (via U.S. EIA)

The Catch-22 of energy storage (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Chart: How many birds are killed by wind, solar, oil, and coal? (via Climate Progress)

San Joaquin is America’s most endangered river (via EcoWatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sustainability standard developed for home appliances (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

In race for solar power, China is winning (via Christian Science Monitor)

Europe is burning our forests for “renewable” energy. Wait, what? (via Grist)

A climate for change: America should not wait while the world warms (via Washington Post)

How WWI killed the dream of a solar-powered world (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, Cheryl LaFleur, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Enbridge, energy storage, EPA, europe, ev, ev charging, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, GM, grid, india, natural gas, News, north dakota, oil, Pattern Energy, Pipelines, Pittsburgh, renewables, San Joaquin River, Sea level rise, Shale oil, Social cost of carbon, solar, Solarworld, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, Trina Solar, united kingdom, verizon, wind
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25
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.25.14

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

COAL 

China’s coal gas plants to emit massive greenhouse gases (via The Hill)

India’s top court rules allocations of 218 coal mines illegal (via Bloomberg)

India markets slip after coal block allocations are termed illegal (via Business Standard)

British Columbia coal export terminal gets the green light (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

EMISSIONS 

Hundreds of methane plumes spotted on Atlantic sea floor (via Scientific American/Nature)

California’s latest carbon auction raises $331.8 million (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

Leading Chinese solar PV suppliers continue to increase market share despite global trade disputes (via Solarbuzz)

EPA ethanol mandate goes to White House for review (via The Hill)

Geothermal power steaming over wind and solar energies (via Forbes)

$500 million invested in Mexico distributed solar (via Energy Manager Today)

SolarCity expects Silevo 1GW factory to cost up to $450 million (via PV Tech)

New York’s solar programs merge under NY-Sun initiative (via Energy Manager Today)

Berkshire Hathaway says net metering should be “eliminated” (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

Climate change could happen slower for the next decade, says study (via Time)

“Incredible” rate of polar ice loss alarms scientists (via The Guardian)

Don’t even think about it: Why we are wired to ignore climate change (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Energy reform could increase Mexico’s long-term oil production 75% (via U.S. EIA)

Iraqi, Kurdistan lawyers face off in U.S. court over stranded tanker’s oil (via Houston Chronicle)

West Texas energy bills show oil boom’s unexpected costs (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama urges renewal of U.S. Export-Import Bank (via Washington Post)

Watch six months of fracking fires blaze across America (via National Journal)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge tries new strategy to sidestep Keystone-style permitting fight (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Vanishing bird ignites debate over endangered species rules (via The Hill)

Ecologists just saved miles of Texas coastline using BP oil spill money (via Climate Progress)

POLITICS 

Will Hispanic voters alter the politics of climate change? (via National Journal)

Steyer PAC gets just $501,000 from outside donors in July (via Politico)

OPINION 

How the U.S. and Korea could work together to reduce carbon emissions (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Generation Y have “very little interest” in challenging unsustainable investment (via Blue & Green)

Here’s what EVs need to succeed: Roaming for charging stations (via GigaOm)

Lifestyles of California’s rich and parched (via Politico)

Why the Gulf job market actually improved after the BP oil spill (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: berkshire-hathaway, biofuels, british columbia, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, EPA, ethanol, ev charging, EVs, Export-Import bank, fracking, geothermal, india, iraq, Keystone XL, Korea, Kurdistan, methane, mexico, Net metering, new york state, News, NextGen Climate, NY-Sun, oil, oil spill, renewables, Silevo, solar, SolarCity, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, wind
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22
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.21.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China to let foreign investors trade in Shenzen carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Architects from 124 countries make “zero-carbon cities” pledge (via RTCC)

EPA report shows progress reducing urban air toxics across U.S.; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990 (via Green Car Congress)

Reducing NYC’s carbon emissions one building at a time (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal gas boom in China holds climate change risks (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Canada’s largest port approves $15 million coal transfer project (via Reuters)

Oregon coal terminal decision highlights exports’ emissions (via Climate Central)

North Carolina lawmakers pass coal ash restrictions (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Africa to add more renewables in 2014 than in past 14 years (via Bloomberg)

South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya lead renewables spurt in Africa (via Bloomberg)

Solar power poses lower risk to birds than cats or cars (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy could hit 36% of global energy, but there’s a biomass catch (via The Energy Collective)

Solar PV helps eliminate kerosene lamps in Africa (via Navigant Research)

“World’s biggest” tidal array gets go ahead in Scotland (via BusinessGreen)

Japan to support PV on landfill sites (via Recharge)

Renewable energy accounts for 100% of all new U.S. power in July (via Renew Grid)

As small hydropower swells, so does caution over its impacts (via GreenBiz)

Are reverse auctions key to reforming solar energy subsidies? (via The Energy Collective)

How one wonky court decision could unlock our renewable energy future (via CleanTechnica)

ABB unveils cable innovation to increase offshore wind efficiency (via Reuters)

Vestas heads for 1st dividend in decade after turnaround (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco concedes failure of Fukushima ice wall (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Antarctica and Greenland losing ice at fastest rate ever recorded (via Yale e360)

Study says answer to global warming slowdown lies in depths of Atlantic Ocean (via The Guardian)

Food and drink companies respond to consumer pressure on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS 

China’s natural gas production falls short in China (via New York Times)

Study to explore economic potential of Mexican shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy industry looks to develop better methane monitors (via Houston Chronicle)

At least 10 percent of fracking fluid is toxic, says LBNL analysis (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Smart grid technology revenue will be $70.2 billion by 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

A comeback for community energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Where is distributed energy storage being deployed in the U.S.? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Russia said to be near oil tax plan that may cost state $6.6 billion (via Bloomberg)

Western Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling lease sale results in $110 million in bids on 400,000 acres (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Epic drought in U.S. West is literally moving mountains (via Climate Central)

63 trillion gallons of groundwater lost in Western U.S. drought (via Los Angeles Times)

California has given out rights to five times more water than it actually has (via Climate Progress)

Drought weighing you down? It’s lifting America up. (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands bitumen set to eclipse pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

Canada’s $24 million Keystone XL ad campaign falls flat (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Apple produces 134 out of 135 entries in EPEAT’s new green tablet registry (via Treehugger)

OPINION 

Could shale revive China’s flagging oil fields? (via Reuters)

Brace yourself for Solargeddon, Australia (via The Energy Collective)

Why EVs will make solar viable without subsidies (via Renew Economy)

Here’s why Solar City will move into Mexico (via Greentech Media)

Toyota could be wrong about the high cost of hydrogen (via CleanTechnica)

If you can’t take the heat, get off the island (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

McConnell promises spending standoff over Obama green agenda (via National Journal)

Meet the scientists who sat Rick Scott down and explained climate change to him (via Salon)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, africa, Antarctica, apple, australia, biomass, california, canada, Carbon market, China, climate, coal, coal ash, Coal export, Coal gas, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EPEAT, Ethiopia, EVs, fracking, fukushima, global warming, greenland, grid, hydrogen, Hydropower, japan, Kenya, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, New York City, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oregon, renewables, Reverse auction, Rick Scott, Russia, Scotland, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, Solar City, South Africa, Subsidies, tar sands, Tepco, tidal power, Toyota, vestas, Water rights, wind
0
20
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.20.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Japanese government seeks to deregulate utility market, boost renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

Exelon and Pepco seek Maryland PSC blessing of $7 billion merger (via Renew Grid)

CLIMATE 

NWF warns climate change could ruin “outdoor” experience (via The Hill)

Report: California should prepare for 3-foot sea level rise this century (via San Francisco Examiner)

RENEWABLES 

Australia renewable review chills $20 billion clean energy industry (via Bloomberg)

China’s wind power industry shows overall recovery (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewables set new records in U.S., Germany (via Breaking Energy)

Mexico approves 220MW of solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Rooftop solar may reach grid parity in 25+ states by 2017 (via CleanTechnica)

With wind energy prices at all-time lows, DOE is cautiously optimistic (via InsideClimate News) 

U.S. wind supply chain hopes “dimmed” (via Recharge)

Tom Steyer takes a side in environmentalists’ ethanol fight (via National Journal)

Developer U.S. Wind tops DOI’s Maryland offshore wind bid (via Recharge)

Advocates: Wisconsin solar fight could spill into other states (via Midwest Energy News)

Six summer stories from GTM Research you may have missed (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Canadian watchdog: Oil trains need more oversight (via Politico)

Report: Canada railway audit inadequate before Lac-Megantic disaster (via Reuters)

Feds boosting oil spill liability limits (via Houston Chronicle)

14 companies bid for western Gulf leases (via Houston Chronicle)

Alaska oil tax supporters fending off repeal efforts (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla owner tax rebates could total $1.5 billion (via CleanTechnica)

Uber picks David Plouffe to wage regulatory fight (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia-China deal will supply Siberian natural gas to China’s northern, eastern provinces (via U.S. EIA)

Refracking brings “vintage” U.S. gas wells to life (via Reuters)

GRID 

FERC grants key approval to 3.5GW wind power transmission project (via Renew Grid)

Federal research spurs Washington State to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

New Jersey creates the nation’s first Energy Resilience Bank (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

Western Governors’ Association calls to end “wildfire borrowing” (via Denver Post)

Wildfire near Yosemite National Park holds steady (via Wall Street Journal)

NUCLEAR 

Two Belgian nuclear reactors may be closed permanently (via Reuters)

U.S. government’s nuclear watchdog victim of cyber attacks (via Reuters)

Texas’ nuclear waste dump poised to get wiggle room (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED certification boosts hotel revenue (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

Microsoft ends its relationship with American Legislative Exchange Council (via Eclecta Blog)

Latino group sides with EPA on climate rule (via The Hill)

Florida Governor Scott meeting with climate scientists is “leadership” moment for him (via Miami Herald)

OPINION 

Renewables records reveal how clean energy is starting to light up the world (via BusinessGreen)

What the green revolution in electronics means for smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Five things you should know about Powder River Basin coal exports (via Center for American Progress)

PR firm Edelman has more than a PR problem (via Marc Gunther)

In “After Water” project, writers imagine life in climate change-altered Chicago (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, American Legislative Exchange Council, australia, Belgium, california, canada, chicago, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, DOE, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, Exelon, FERC, Florida, fracking, germany, grid, Grid Parity, japan, LEED, maryland, mexico, Microsoft, National Wildlife Federation, natural gas, new jersey, News, nuclear, Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil trains, Pepco, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Rick Scott, Russia, Sea level rise, solar, Tesla, texas, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, Uber, US Wind, Washington State, Western Governors' Association, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yosemite National Park
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19
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.19.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Guandong Province adds 20 million permits to China’s biggest carbon market (via Reuters)

COAL 

UK lobbying to keep open one of Europe’s dirtiest coal power plants (via The Guardian)

China’s coal consumption just fell for the first time in a century (via Energy Collective)

Oregon Department of State Lands denies coal export terminal permit (via The Oregonian)

Did this smart business deal just end the South’s overdependence on coal? (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

Solar boom driving first global panel shortage since 2006 (via Bloomberg)

Abbott’s new attack on renewables may spark another solar boom (via Renew Economy)

Germany meets 75% of domestic electricity demand with renewables (via Renew Economy)

Biggest solar project falls as Australia reviews policy (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

Sunpower starts solar leasing program for Australian homes (via Bloomberg)

DOE report highlights strength of U.S. wind industry (via Energy.gov)

Price of wind power at all-time low of 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour (via Greentech Media)

Landmark court ruling opens U.S. grid to renewable energy (via SustainableBusiness)

Old car batteries could make cheaper, more efficient solar panels (via Washington Post)

Power surge coming in Minnesota’s solar industry (via Star-Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

China’s natural gas demand continues to grow (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking could threaten air quality, workers’ health, says report (via Washington Post)

Pennsylvania Department of Health will note fracking complaints (via Pittsburgh Tribune)

CLIMATE 

The year in heat: World on track for third-hottest year ever (via Bloomberg)

Climate change to slash South Asian GDP, warns development bank (via Financial Times)

Water scarcity and climate change through 2095 (via Phys.org)

Australian climate scientist calls on colleagues to speak up on global warming (via Sydney Morning-Herald)

OIL 

Apache makes 300 million barrel oil reserve discovery off Australia (via Reuters)

EIA to cast new data into oil export debate (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking recycles during drought (via Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla announces infinite mile warranty for Model S EV (via Autoblog Green)

GM’s 200-mile EV for 2017: What we know so far (via Green Car Reports)

Possibly the world’s first battery-powered train undergoing trials (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental groups demand State Department hand over Keystone XL docs (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Navigant says falling LED prices accelerate adoption in parking lots, outdoor systems (via Energy Manager Today)

Big data driving energy efficiency market, says report (via Energy Manager Today)

Opening the multi-trillion dollar energy management market (via Energy Collective)

After a slow start, PACE getting off the ground in Missouri (via Midwest Energy News)

9 of 10 New York City building plans fail basic energy code test (via Crain’s New York Business)

ENVIRONMENT 

“Severe” drought covers nearly 99.8% of California (via Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles dramatically increases "water cops" staffing as drought worsens (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Behind closed doors, Obama crafts executive actions (via New York Times)

OPINION 

How to profit off global warming (via Vox)

The power of collective energy purchasing (via CleanTechnica)

Edelman PR firm scurries to fix climate change denial debate (via EcoWatch)

Warm seas keep world on track for a hot year (via Sydney Morning-Herald)

Posted:   |   Categories: Asia, australia, Batteries, california, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, DOE, drought, eia, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy management, environment, Frackig, germany, global warming, GM, Guandong, Keystone XL, LED, los angeles, minnesota, Missouri, natural gas, New York City, News, offshore drilling, oil, oil export, oregon, PACE, pennsylvania, renewables, solar, solar leasing, SunPower, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tony Abbott, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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18
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.18.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China’s carbon plans: Secrecy and oversupply darken outlook (via Reuters)

South Carolina coal plant, efficient but doomed, offers lessons for states grappling with EPA rule (via Greenwire)

NUCLEAR 

The costs of caring for Europe’s nuclear plants (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Courts worldwide reject anti-wind experts and their evidence (via Renew Economy)

China seeks to close loophole on solar polysilicon import duties (via Bloomberg)

Low-carbon technologies deliver over half Spain’s power as renewables output soars (via BusinessGreen)

Federal court upholds renewables integration planning rule for electric grid (via The Hill)

UC Irvine tops U.S. sustainability efforts in “Cool Schools” ranking (via CleanTechnica)

Emerging solar plants scorch birds in mid-air (via ABC News/AP)

Explosive U.S. solar power growth and jobs (via CleanTechnica)

TAR SANDS 

Data shows chemical air pollution around tar sands is getting worse (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

Colombia set to draft new climate law by November (via RTCC)

As climate changes, “underwater mortgage” make take on new meaning (via Bloomberg)

Will it be extinction or “translocation” as climate change impacts increase? (via ClimateWire)

Climate change reflected in altered Missouri River flow, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Climate change study show Northwest U.S. prairie plants struggle with warming (via The Oregonian)

U.S. cities combating climate change on the local level (via Al-Jazeera)

New Jersey announces climate change mapping website (via NBC 10)

NATURAL GAS 

U.S. takes a crack at China’s tough shale (via Houston Chronicle)

A new fracking frontier: Drilling near the Arctic Circle (via Yale e360)

Natural gas execs fear they’re next for Obama regulations (via The Hill)

Fracking protests escalate on “national day of action” (via BusinessGreen)

Environmentalists split over green group’s fracking industry ties (via Al-Jazeera)

Natural gas will dominate Texas electric growth through 2040 (via Houston Chronicle)

Fact check: Florida fracking fracas (via USA Today)

OIL 

Billions in oil investments at risk from low crude prices (via Reuters)

BOEM to boost offshore drilling bond requirements (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior Department studies minimum standards for Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

Voters set to decide fate of Alaska oil production tax (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Report: Policymakers must confront transport “taboos” to meet climate goals (via ClimateWire)

Save money this month ($10,064) with mass transit (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

Eleven years after the U.S. Canada blackout, what has (and hasn’t) changed? (via National Geographic)

Survey reveals what U.S. consumers expect from their utilities (via Renew Grid)

Proof that interconnection reform is in the data (via Renewable Energy World)

ENVIRONMENT 

Indonesian government reiterates plan to clear 14 million hectares of forest by 2020 (via Mongabay)

Marine economy takes a dive as ocean acidity rises (via Climate Central)

West’s historic drought stokes fears of water crisis (via Washington Post)

California moves toward historic statewide ban on single-use plastic bags (via EcoWatch)

Report shows persistent drought lingers in western Oklahoma (via The Oklahoman)

POLITICS 

Tony Abbott’s push to ditch renewables could hand coal and gas industry $10 billion (via The Guardian)

Buying Main Street: Billionaires swamp local races (via Politico)

Many Republicans privately support action on climate (via Bloomberg)

Why is a major green group backing a Republican who supports Keystone and offshore drilling? (via National Journal)

Green group looks to “rebuild trust” with GOP (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Arctic Circle, australia, BOEM, california, Carbon market, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, coal, Colombia, Concentrating solar power, deforestation, drought, emissions, environment, EPA, Extinction, Florida, fracking, global warming, grid, Indonesia, Interconnection, interior department, mass transit, Missouri River, natural gas, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, oil, oklahoma, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Solar trade war, south carolina, Spain, tar sands, texas, Tony Abbott, Transportation, University of California Irvine, wind
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