Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.2.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Carbon markets now cover 20% of world’s emissions (via RTCC)
Beijing carbon trading starts as China acts on climate (via Reuters)
Top EU powers retreat further on aviation emission plans (via Reuters)
Australia must cut emissions 40% by 2020 to avoid “dramatic climatic shifts” (via The Guardian)
Australia’s pollution plan starts to look like emissions trading (via Bloomberg)
Divestment in fossil fuels pushed in response to climate change inaction (via National Journal)
Student fossil fuel divestment movement suffers setbacks (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
OIL
US oil producers rise in ranking of world’s largest (via Houston Chronicle)
As oil floods Plains towns, crime pours in (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
EU nations approve solar panel trade pact with China (via Bloomberg)
World built more solar capacity than wind capacity for first time ever in 2013 (via Business Insider)
UK sets new wind energy record with 6GW generated power (via BusinessGreen)
Merkel’s new coalition government seeks greater control over renewables (via Bloomberg)
EPA begins accepting comments on federal Renewable Fuels Standard (via Des Moines Register)
DOE announces $30 million to develop distributed generation technologies (via Renew Grid)
US biodiesel production booms to record pace (via Facts of the Day)
Missouri wants to dismiss lawsuit to enforce renewable energy goals (via News-Leader)
Massachusetts’ Cape Wind project faces tax credit deadlines (via Huffington Post)
New York City doubles down on solar energy (via GreenBiz)
Delta Air Lines joins battle over biofuels (via Houston Chronicle)
41 scientists warn Obama against burning trees for electricity (via Climate Progress)
Ethanol supporters ready to go to bat for biofuels (via Autoblog Green)
The yeast in your beer can also produce hydrocarbons (via Breaking Energy)
US online startup makes going solar as easy as booking flights (via Reuters)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Where fracking falls short (via National Journal)
Fracking boom a dilemma for environmentalists (via McClatchy)
CLIMATE
Evidence shows global heat may be hiding in oceans (via Climate Central)
Climate change will pose rising burden on US taxpayers (via Climate Central)
In New Jersey pines, beetles lead to deforestation (via New York Time)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Australian households cut electricity use by 23% over past 10 years (via Renew Economy)
DOE awards $4 million to 13 states for energy efficiency projects (via Renew Grid)
TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL
Canada continues to delay release of oil sands emission rules (via Reuters)
Memo suggests US light oil threatens approval of Keystone XL (via Globe and Mail)
TRANSPORTATION
Nissan and British Gas launch UK’s largest commercial EV pilot (via Green Car Congress)
Electric vehicles: Mobile agents of the grid edge (via Greentech Media)
Survey says $25,000 cost barrier is a problem for EVs (via Autoblog)
Are hydrogen cars the wave of the future? Toyota thinks so. (via Washington Post)
OPINION
How will China’s carbon markets work in a non-market economy? (via Renew Economy)
Why India’s solar market looks brighter in 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)
For institutional investors, no ditching fossil fuels yet (via Washington Post)
Climate change no longer electoral Kryptonite (via Grist)
EPA resets the biofuel industry (via Navigant Research)
US Defense Secretary Hagel: Clean energy capability makes US Army “stronger fighting force” (via RTCC)
Is geothermal the only baseload power replacement that makes sense? (via Renewable Energy World)
The EPA’s bold new agenda (via Mother Jones)
UC Davis shows what a sustainable energy future looks like (via GreenBiz)