Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.20.15

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate chief Figueres says carbon bubble is now a reality (via RTCC)

Ten years of the European Union Emissions Trading System (via Energy Collective)

China cuts energy intensity by 4.8 percent in 2014 (via Reuters)

Investors’ new climate calculation: Engage or divest? (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

India’s Modi calls for “paradigm shift” on climate (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment jumps 12 percent in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

China “on course to miss distributed solar PV target” (via PV Tech)

Saudi Arabia delays $109 billion solar plant by 8 years (via Bloomberg)

Defective panels threatening profit at China solar farms (via Bloomberg)

Draft of Germany PV auction rules leaked (via Renewables International)

Chile now home to world’s largest merchant solar power plant (via CleanTechnica)

France celebrates 1GW surge in wind farm capacity (via BusinessGreen)

France proposes increasing feed-in tariff for residential solar projects (via PV Tech)

America installed 22 times more solar in 2014 than in 2008 (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Norway redefines Arctic ice edge in potential oil exploration boost (via Reuters)

50,000 gallons of crude oil spills into partially frozen Yellowstone River (via Climate Progress)

BP oil spill penalty trial begins in New Orleans (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Light-duty EV sales expected to reach 6.4 million annually by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Plug-in EV sales in China increase 350 percent (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf enjoys 33 percent European sales boost (via BusinessGreen)

Usage rises at DC fast chargers along West Coast EV highway (via Inside EVs)

NATURAL GAS 

Kansas official links earthquakes to fracking wastewater disposal (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Japan plans to pump $700 million into energy storage (via Greentech Media)

New York town tries to “island” itself with microgrid to avoid storm-driven power outages (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

U.S. Senate tees up votes on Keystone XL, oil exports, climate (via Houston Chronicle)

Spiking energy prices drive interest in Massachusetts competitive power market (via Energy Manager Today)

Proposal would void new North Dakota methane flaring, oil shipment rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

POLITICS 

GOP finds secret weapon against Obama’s regulatory agenda (via The Hill)

OPINION 

First Solar moves into silicon: Why efficiency is back (via Forbes)

Why solar costs will fall another 40 percent in just two years (via Renew Economy)

Lower oil prices will blunt fuel efficiency drive (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.6.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon market to hit €70 billion this year (via BusinessGreen)

Climate change groups split on fossil fuel divestment (via Financial Times)

KEYSTONE XL 

House to vote on Keystone XL bill Friday (via The Hill)

Democrats plan Keystone XL counterattack (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Egypt picks firms to develop 4.3GW of renewable energy projects (via Recharge)

Germany solar undershoots government target (via Recharge)

South Africa considers rooftop solar electricity credits (via Renewable Energy World)

UK and Germany smash wind power records (via Climate Progress)

India’s solar initiative could tip carbon scales favorably (via GreenBiz)

Scotland saw a “massive year” of renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Small and medium wind power installations expected to total over 3.2GW globally from 2014 through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reduced U.S.-China tariff rates weaken SolarWorld’s negotiating position, says Roth Capital (via PV Tech)

Chinese solar firms boosted by reduced 2012 U.S. trade tariffs (via PV Tech)

California Governor Jerry Brown calls for 50% renewables by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

New materials could boost solar panel efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia seeks to calm internal oil price fears (via The Hill)

Oilfield write-downs loom as plummeting prices gut drilling values (via Bloomberg)

Oil prices at $50: Why a barrel of crude costs less than your shoes (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Automakers challenged by low gas prices (via USA Today)

Nissan sold 30,200 Leafs in U.S. in 2014, up 33.6% from 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

California governor calls for 50% reduction in petroleum use in cars and trucks from today’s levels by 2030 (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

One for the record books: 2014 officially hottest year on record (via Climate Central)

Pope Francis plants a flag in the ground on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS 

Massive spike in Oklahoma earthquakes may be due to fracking (via Washington Post)

Against the grain: Minnesota’s long slog toward dealing with frack sand (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Revenue from grid-scale energy storage expected total more than $68 billion from 2014-2024 (via Navigant Research)

Monitoring wind conditions can improve transmission performance (via Breaking Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The most energy-efficient states in America (via Forbes)

DOE pushes for zero-energy building standards (via The Hill)

Sen. Shaheen doesn’t want energy efficiency bill tied to Keystone XL (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why India’s cuts to rooftop solar subsidies could be a good thing (via PV Tech)

The big question: What do proposed EPA regulations mean for the energy industry? (via Renewable Energy World)

The seven most attractive nations for renewable investments: Part one – America (via CleanTechnica)

Why are these clean tech venture capital investors smiling? (via Greentech Media)

Beyond the cliché: Why energy efficiency needs success stories, not catchphrases (via Greentech Media)

Wind and solar – the perfect partnership (via Recharge)

Six renewable energy trends to watch in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

New York State Public Service Commission action will help tenants, low-income customers, others lacking rooftop access go solar (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.5.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon emissions to rise 2.5% in 2015 (via RTCC)

Four questions for global carbon markets in 2015 (via The Energy Collective)

Aviation industry set to triple emissions by 2050 (via EcoWatch)

California cap-and-trade now covers transportation fuel retailers (via CleanTechnica)

Former Obama advisor calls for carbon tax (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China struggles to find prospective blocks for third shale auction (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell criticizes fracking bans (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar announces construction of four Pacific island PV projects (via PV Tech)

Scotland’s power grid could be fossil fuel free by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

2015 outlook: Brazil gets serious about solar (via Recharge)

UK wind power up 15%, smashes annual output record (via BusinessGreen)

Egypt’s first renewable energy tender twice oversubscribed on solar projects (via PV Tech)

SolarWorld speaks out against latest EU trade case on solar glass (via PV Tech)

Santander, Gamesa request permits for Mexico wind (via Bloomberg)

La Paz, Mexico to be 100% solar powered (via CleanTechnica)

A setback for SolarWorld, a trade case win for Chinese solar manufacturers (via Greentech Media)

Hanwha SolarOne says it can provide 600MW of tariff-free PV modules to U.S. in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

Community and home solar remain great investments (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables over 13% of U.S. electricity production Jan-Oct 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel doubling renewable energy generation in Minnesota (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Future of wind farms cloudy in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

Solar-powered EV charging initiative aids San Francisco apartment dwellers (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE

2014 was hottest year on record globally, says Japan meteorological agency (via Climate Progress)

2014 was UK’s “warmest year on record,” confirms Met Office (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Oil below $60 tests economics of U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

U.S. Senate panel to introduce Keystone XL bill Thursday (via Reuters)

GOP prepares Keystone blitz (via The Hill)

Alaska Governor Walker bracing for budget crisis amid oil price crash (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to extend new EV subsidies through 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Mexico to re-launch $3.75 billion high-speed train tender January 14 (via Reuters)

By 2017, under 50% of new cars will use conventional gas engines (via Autoblog)

Nissan Leaf set U.S. EV sales record in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

First hybrid-electric airplane uses 30% less fuel (via CleanTechnica)

Lower fuel prices could save U.S. motorists $80 billion in 2015 (via Autoblog)

December 2014 plug-in EV sales report card (via Inside EVs)

Tesla Model S demand continues to outstrip supply (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.S. office buildings and schools to save $15 billion with new DOE standards (via Energy Manager Today)

Green buildings cost 25% less to operate (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Government confirms £960 million cost of capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

Massachusetts cities get $18.4 million for energy resiliency projects (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Voters give Obama, Congress poor grades on energy (via The Hill)

New Senate chairmen aim to undo Obama’s policies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Sen. Thune leaves wiggle room on gas tax (via The Hill)

EPA says Google, Kohl’s, REI reflect trends in green power (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

South Africa faces looming water crisis, says newspaper (via Bloomberg) 

Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The top ten electricity stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

The year of concentrating solar power: Five new plants to power America with clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

The Sol-Wind IPO: Can a renewable YieldCo win master limited partnership benefits? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.26.14

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

OIL 

Oil’s swift fall raises fortunes of U.S. abroad (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Is Europe leaving electric vehicle range anxiety behind? (via CleanTechnica)

Nissan Leaf may overtake Chevy Volt on cumulative sales in 2015 (via Autoblog)

EMISSIONS 

China on pace to beat 2014 energy intensity reduction target (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Germans balk at plan for wind power lines (via New York Times)

Japan to build world’s biggest floating solar farm (via Greentech Media)

America’s place in the Sun: Energy Department report sets goal (via Phys.org)

CASE says U.S. solar sector harmed by decision to impose PV tariffs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

India announces 1.3GW solar projects to support domestic manufacturers (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

Investment in microgrid technologies expected to exceed $155 billion through 2023 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

New transmission replaces retiring coal plants (via Navigant Research)

Largest behind-the-meter energy storage system deployed in LA (via Energy Manager Today)

Flywheels get their spin back with Beacon Power’s rebound (via IEEE Spectrum)

Orix offers energy storage twist on solar leasing (via CleanTechnica)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the LEED Dynamic plaque is the way to go (via GreenBiz)

Ameren Missouri energy efficiency plan to save customers $260 million (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazil appoints agribusiness advocate as agriculture minister (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

An open Cuba is poised for a green future (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.22.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Regulators want to change fossil fuel pricing rules for federal land (via The Hill)

Oil price plunge and clean energy – the real impact (via Bloomberg)

Ohio Governor Kasich says more regulation needed on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

D.C. coalition emerges to oppose Exelon-Pepco merger (via Washington Post)

Portland considers energy benchmarking policy for large commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

India to fund $158 million for 1GW of new solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Germany to help finance Chile’s first solar-thermal power plant (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

Indian solar plant will equal almost all the solar capacity installed in the U.S in 2010 (via Treehugger)

Kyocera venture to build 13.4MW floating solar plant in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Solar-friendly rate for commercial customers adopted in California (via Energy Manager Today)

Arizona utilities get approval to own rooftop solar (via Greentech Media)

Maximizing the value of installed solar assets (via Forbes)

Upcoming auctions for solar PV: A legal perspective (via Renewables International)

Utilities and solar groups both claim victory in Arizona rooftop showdown (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Geopolitics key to South Africa’s $100 billion nuclear plan (via Bloomberg)

First of four Fukushima reactors cleared of nuclear fuel (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Four legal battles this year that were all about climate change (via Climate Progress)

The military, energy, and preparing for climate change (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Cuban oil may prove a boon for U.S. companies (via Climate Progress)

Saudi oil chief: No conspiracy behind oil prices (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Shale debt crunch could intensify in April (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone “not even nominal benefit” to U.S. consumers, says Obama (via The Hill)

Good times for Texas to North Dakota may turn bad on oil-price drop (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs hurt most in renewables industry from oil’s slump (via Bloomberg)

DOE report evaluates EV charging impacts on grid and charging behaviors (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla Model S drivers travel more miles than Nissan Leaf owners (via Autoblog)

Tesla battery swap now working in beta in California (via GigaOm)

COAL 

Is China’s demand for coal going to keep rising? Don’t count on it. (via Grist)

U.S. plans to shut royalty loophole on coal exports (via Reuters)

Environmentalists split with the Obama administration over coal ash rules (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Will EU emission trading remain a major source of low carbon finance? (via CleanTechnica)

Alberta extends climate change rules, including $15/tonne carbon levy (via Huffington Post/Canadian Press)

Study recommends Massachusetts carbon tax to fight climate change (via Boston Globe)

OPINION 

Why Russia should ally with China and India on carbon rules (via RTCC)

Obama sounds like he’s about to reject the Keystone pipeline (via Mother Jones)

Five questions to help us understand how commercial solar may grow in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Who will get caught when the oil debt bubble pops? (via Forbes)

How oil’s decline could spatter North Dakota (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Continuing Maryland’s energy boom (via Washington Post)

Who really has grassroots support? Wind energy (via The Hill)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.14

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

UN CLIMATE TALKS

What to expect in Lima: An overview of the 2014 UN climate negotiations (via Center for American Progress)

Lima climate talks: One in three countries not sending ministers (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY

EU, US present Russian with united sanctions, energy front (via Reuters)

Brazilian companies cut output, sell power instead in weak economy (via Reuters)

U.S. nuclear plants squeezed by cheap gas, uranium costs (via Bloomberg)

First utility receives B Corp certification (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES

Canada’s green energy sector employs more people than tar sands (via Climate Progress)

9% of solar homes are doing something utilities love – will others follow? (via Outlier)

DOE to fund $9 million in solar module technology R&D (via Recharge)

AWEA warns job cuts begin in January without PTC deal (via Recharge News)

Utility-scale PV O&M: A crowded vendor landscape (via Greentech Media)

Abengoa’s 280MW California solar plant begins operation (via Bloomberg)

Could Kansas be the next state to kill its renewable energy target? (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE

2014 set to be world’s hottest-ever year (via The Guardian)

Antarctica losing Mt. Everest worth of ice as melt triples (via Bloomberg)

The next big climate question: Will India follow China? (via New York Times)

Volcanoes may be responsible for much of the global surface warming slowdown (via The Guardian)

Keystone antagonist steps down as head of climate group 350.org (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS

Number of natural gas customers participating in customer choice programs is increasing (via US EIA)

GRID

Ontario pumps millions into smart grid projects (via Renew Grid)

Utilities are building the infrastructure for California’s shift to EVs (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Cheap oil is hitting these countries the hardest (via Houston Chronicle)

Green groups sue DOT over oil-by-rail regulations (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil from Deepwater Horizon spill is still trapped in Alabama beaches, finds study (via Huffington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Workplace charging doubles in two years, 90% of charging stations full (via Green Car Reports)

Nissan battery breakthrough to double Leaf EV range within a few years (via Autoblog)

Audi plans electric crossover to take on Tesla in U.S. (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Model S leads Consumer Reports satisfaction survey (via San Jose Mercury News)

COAL

Germany targeting coal plants to reach 2020 climate goals (via Reuters)

Find out which state wants to bail out big coal (via EcoWatch)

EMISSIONS

Emissions reduction fund passed by Australian parliament (via Breaking Energy)

U.S. sees voluntary emissions cuts as key to climate change accord (via Los Angeles Times)

Nike, IKEA join 221 companies in backing EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

OPINION

How much coal will be squeezed out of Germany’s grid by 2019? (via Renewables International)

Here’s a cool way to visualize carbon emissions (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.2.14

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

CLIMATE

Over 190 nations meet in Lima to talk climate (via The Hill)

At climate talks, UN calls fossil fuels “high risk” investment (via Reuters)

Lima climate talks: EU and U.S. at odds over legally binding emissions targets (via The Guardian)

Rich nations will make $100 billion climate goal, says U.S. (via Bloomberg)

China: Climate laggards must join in pre-2020 efforts (via RTCC)

As climate warms, more disease outbreaks for sea life (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES

China’s solar energy progress sputters (via Renewable Energy World)

European wind market to stabilize in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Poll: 89% of Australians object to renewable energy cuts (via PV Tech)

E.ON split to fortify German green energy transformation (via Bloomberg)

E.ON shakeup could create new solar giant (via Recharge)

France to launch new offshore wind tender next year (via Reuters)

Argentina province schedules auction to build first solar farm (via Bloomberg)

New world record for solar cell efficiency set at 46% (via Renew Economy)

Solar power’s stunning growth: U.S. generation up 100% this year (via Breaking Energy)

Strategic or VC investors? Where clean tech startups are finding funding (via Greentech Media)

AWEA sees billions of dollars in savings within SPP from wind energy (via Recharge)

SunPower’s solar panel manufacturing capacity to triple in five years (via CleanTechnica)

Fuel manufacturer threatens to sue EPA over 2015 renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS

China’s carbon goal a tough sell in coal country (via Huffington Post/AP)

Australia power emissions continue to climb in absence of carbon price (via Renew Economy)

Bank of England to investigate carbon bubble risks (via Business Green)

Comment period for EPA’s climate rule closes after 1.6 million comments (via The Hill)

OIL

OPEC squeeze on oil spares renewables from energy turmoil (via Bloomberg)

Saudi-Venezuela OPEC split plays out behind closed doors (via Bloomberg)

Report: Falling prices could eliminate U.S. oil production growth (via Houston Chronicle)

What plunging oil prices mean for your pocketbook (via Washington Post)

Junk bonds funding shale boom face $8.5 billion of losses (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION

Merkel backs incentives in 1 million German EV push (via Bloomberg)

BMW unveiled three plug-in hybrids last week (via Green Car Reports)

Plug-in EV sales in November: Leaf grows, Volt wanes (via Green Car Reports)

Washington State to give EV cars tax breaks, carpool-lane access (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

New relay technology transforming the grid (via Navigant Research)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Property owners reduce financial risk, raise property value with energy upgrades (via Energy Manager Today)

Honolulu airport receives $150 million energy retrofit (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

Commercial fisheries likely to collapse by 2048 (via EcoWatch)

How three inches of rain could cut GDP growth: Corporate Brazil (via Bloomberg)

2014 Atlantic Hurricane season ends with below-average activity (via Weather Underground)

POLITICS

Hillary Clinton wades into debate over fracking but avoids Keystone XL (via Climate Progress)

OPINION

A blueprint for an effective international climate agreement (via WRI Insights)

Five ideas for EPA’s Clean Power Plan (via C2ES)

The fight over EPA’s climate rule is just getting started (via Climate Progress)

Can shale withstand a drop in oil prices? (via National Journal)

Why do black and Latino Americans support climate action so much more than whites? (via Washington Post)

The perfect storm: Why now is the time to seize the 30% credit on commercial and industrial solar (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel issues starkest warning yet on global warming (via New York Times)

UK to pledge “strongly” to support Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

Across America, science center offerings on climate change are scant (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Climate change brings pine beetles north to New York and New Jersey forests (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Denmark considers phasing out coal by 2025 (via Reuters)

Australia coal port expansion will not get environmental impact study (via Al-Jazeera America)

The demise of coal-fired power in the U.S. (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

Deserted by China, Taiwanese solar cell makers eye new markets (via Reuters)

Scottish wind energy output exceeds domestic power demand (via BusinessGreen)

Solatio, Renova, Enel biggest winners in Brazil solar auction (via Bloomberg)

Tailwinds pick up for U.S. wind market (via Navigant Research)

Ohio utilities feel burned by solar-energy users (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Australian carbon tax demise leading to large rise in emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Power producers to face shortage in South Korea carbon market (via Reuters)

Australian electricity emissions could jump 9% in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Oil rout to weigh on Alberta’s carbon emissions policy (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

U.S. crude falls below $80 (via The Hill)

Big Oil feels the need to get smaller (via Wall Street Journal)

This is how ISIS smuggles oil (via BuzzFeed)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hyundai, Kia to pay $100 million for overstating fuel economy claims (via Los Angeles Times)

Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Four trends shaping the U.S. solar-plus-storage market (via Greentech Media)

Companies see little value in switching electricity vendors (via Energy Manager Today)

Will California’s energy storage procurement process unless the battery market? (via Greentech Media)

Microgrid built in a day for VERGE San Francisco (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

A staggering 400 million birds have vanished from Europe since 1980 (via Washington Post)

Options drying up for some parched North Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

3,500 North Dakota voters could put the brakes on fracking boom (via Grist)

The Tom Steyer campaigns you haven’t heard about yet (via Grist)

LCV’s Dirty Dozen: The names are in (via Huffington Post)

Most important race you haven’t heard of: Louisiana’s battle for solar (via Huffington Post)

Fracking ban divides Denton, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Why Argentina is most attractive shale play outside U.S. (via Reuters)

How the U.S. can produce cleaner energy while capturing economic benefits (via World Resources Institute)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.31.14

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

CLIMATE 

IPCC preparing “most important” document on climate change (BBC)

Bangladesh leads 32 nations hit by extreme climate risk (via Bloomberg)

Brazil’s dangerous climate spiral (via National Journal)

Climate change a threat multiplier for farming-dependent states (via Reuters)

38 federal agencies reveal their climate change vulnerabilities – and what they’re doing about it (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Moscow clinch deal on Russian natural gas supply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil rout seen diluting price appeal of U.S. LNG exports (via Bloomberg)

Toxic chemicals, carcinogens skyrocket near fracking sites (via U.S. News and World Report)

RENEWABLES 

U.K. Green Bank mobilizes $8 billion for clean energy since launch (via Bloomberg)

Why are solar’s largest players entering the Latin American market? (via Greentech Media)

China is top developing nation for clean energy investment, finds analysis (via Yale e360)

Brazil election opens solar growth (via Recharge Magazine)

India’s wind energy capacity to double in five years: GWEC (via CleanTechnica)

Politics dim Obama’s Africa power plan as lights go out (via Bloomberg)

U.S. trade policy in action: SolarWorld now adding jobs and solar module capacity (via Greentech Media)

SunEdison’s plan to go big in China (via Forbes)

OIL 

Report: U.S. gas prices driven more by international crude (via The Hill)

TransCanada applies to build Energy East oil pipeline (via Bloomberg)

Scientists investigate link between newborn deaths and Utah oil drilling (via Inhabitat)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla looks to solar to power Australian supercharging network (via Renew Economy)

Volkswagen planning 20 new plug-in models for China (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota to test EV and PHV charging infrastructure expansion in Japan (via Green Car Congress)

Nissan Leaf breaks its own annual U.S. EV sales record (via Green Car Congress)

Startup borrows financing model from solar, efficiency sectors to launch EVs in fleets (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Southeast Asia to be the next hot spot for smart grid investment (via Breaking Energy)

Survey: Utilities expect strong competition in U.S. grid build-out (via Renew Grid)

The electricity grid gets a value chain (via RMI Outlet)

Two years after Superstorm Sandy, utilities highlight grid efforts (via Renew Grid)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear industry lobbies to preserve tax credit; opposes similar wind incentive (via Bloomberg BNA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Green buildings market grows to $260 billion (via Environmental Leader)

Energy codes help drive green buildings, says Lux Research (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Race for top House Energy Committee seat brings windfall to Democrats (via National Journal)

Poll: Swing state voters back climate action (via The Hill)

California’s Brown pushes water bond as election nears (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

The world’s climate change watchdog may be underestimating global warming (via Washington Post)

Nine significant findings too recent to be included in the new IPCC report (via WRI Insights)

California’s carbon market is leaking (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

NUCLEAR 

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COAL 

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

India pushes ahead with coal reforms (via Reuters)

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

EMISSIONS 

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

NATURAL GAS 

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

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

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

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

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

GRID 

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

Innovative energy storage technologies gain ground (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

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

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

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

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

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

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

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

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

POLITICS 

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

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

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

OPINION 

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

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