Category Archives:North Carolina

03
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.3.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL unites environmentalists and landowners in pipeline battle (via The Guardian)

Keystone pipeline inches toward green light with crucial climate finding (via National Journal)

Keystone report reignites battle over pipeline’s impact (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA review could be lynchpin to Keystone review process (via Reuters)

Pressure is on Kerry as Keystone pipeline decision nears (via Washington Post)

State Department Inspector General won’t release Keystone XL contractor report (via Washington Post)

Keystone foe Steyer urges review of “defective” analysis (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

EU wind market shrank 8% in 2013 (via Recharge)

Repowering boosts new German onshore wind capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Rooftop solar will soon be cheaper than coal in the EU (via Greentech Media)

Dong Energy to sell half of London Array offshore wind stake for £644 million (via BusinessGreen)

Canadian hydro gambles big on US export market – but at what cost? (via EnergyWire)

Goldman Sachs says renewables one of most compelling investment sectors (via CleanTechnica)

2014 wind boom: Record 12,000MW of wind now under construction (via Facts of the Day)

Solar continues to attract financing, M&A, and VC (via Greentech Media)

Price of solar much lower than solar savings (via CleanTechnica)

What does $2 million buy? How about 1,800GW of wind power (via CleanTechnica)

Is ethanol eating your car’s engine? (via Forbes)

Colorado PUC keeps net metering in place for now (via Renew Grid)

Solar thermal power poses challenges for drought-stricken California (via MIT Technology Review)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

CHP capacity will grow 16.3GW annually through 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

Panama Canal expansion could increase LNG exports to Asia (via Houston Chronicle)

North Carolina fracking panel sets safe drilling distances from homes, streams (via Charlotte Observer)

EMISSIONS 

In China’s war on bad air, government decision to release data gives fresh hope (via Washington Post)

Canadian prime minister defers emissions rules in Obama Keystone standoff (via Bloomberg)

UK carbon capture industry potential estimated at up to £35 billion by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Lower emissions cap for RGGI takes effect in 2014 (via US EIA)

California carbon prices “will remain low” (via Environmental Leader)

California cities compete to see which can be “coolest” and cut emissions (via United Press International)

COAL 

Australia permits coal port dredge dumping near Barrier Reef (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Indian microgrids seek to bring millions out of darkness (via GreenBiz)

Global smart meter installations to top 800 million by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Construction of wind-energy transmission line to create Missouri jobs (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

OIL 

BP digs in as last leg of Gulf oil spill trial approaches (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla aims for electric car coast-to-coast record (via USA Today)

BMW exec says public chargers not important for EV success (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philadelphia rates its buildings for energy consumption (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENVIRONMENT 

UK’s January flooding surpasses all 247 years of data on the books (via Climate Progress)

Severe drought has U.S. west fearing worst (via New York Times)

Congress tried to cut subsidies for homes in flood zones – it was harder than they thought (via Washington Post)

Leading scientists explain how climate change is worsening California’s epic drought (via Climate Progress)

California drought prompts unprecedented water conservation efforts (via Huffington Post/AP)

How a brewery might save one town during the California drought (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

EU ETS isn’t out of trouble just yet (via Energy Collective)

No matter how you count them, fossil fuel subsidies are high as ever (via DeSmogBlog)

Long path still ahead for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

Five takeaways from State Department’s Keystone XL pipeline review (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL, a sorry symbol of continued fossil fuel reliance (via Los Angeles Times)

Approving Keystone XL could be the biggest mistake of Obama’s presidency (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, BMW, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon prices, China, CHP, coal, colorado, Combined heat and power, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, EU ETS, ev, Flood, fracking, germany, Goldman Sachs, Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, india, john kerry, Keystone XL, LNG, london array, Microgrids, Missouri, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Panama Canal, philadelphia, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, smart meter, solar, Solar Thermal, Stephen Harper, Subsidies, tar sands, Tesla, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
0
14
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Top global emitter China best on climate change, Figures says (via Bloomberg)

After years of decline, US carbon emissions rose 2% in 2013 (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Google buys Nest for $3.2 billion (via Forbes)

Seattle energy benchmarking finds $90 million potential annual utility bill savings (via CleanTechnica)

Net zero at unprecedented scale on Illinois campus (via EarthTechling)

Nest gives Google its next big data play: Energy (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

UK solar panels reach half a million rooftop milestone (via BusinessGreen)

How the new US-China trade case could change the American solar market (via Greentech Media)

UK renewable energy firms “looking to hire more staff” (via BBC News)

Clean tech venture investment is on the rise, says report (via GreenBiz)

Solar City takes 32% of 2013 3Q US residential PV marker as utilities squirm (via CleanTechnica)

Ethanol mandate unlikely to face repeal in 2014 (via Argus Leader/Gannett)

North Carolina to join California as top 10 global PV “country” in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Coal-dependent Michigan ready to make the switch to clean energy (via EnergyWire)

New ACORE head outlines renewable energy priorities (via National Journal)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubled coal burning on nuclear shutdown (via Bloomberg)

Coal reliance puts Australia second on OECD’s emissions list (via The Guardian)

China to boost annual railway coal capacity to 3 billion tons by 2020 (via Reuters)

Omnibus federal spending bill thwarts Obama on overseas coal funding limits (via National Journal)

Most states remain dependent on coal imports, draining billions from local economies (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

CLIMATE 

Massive Antarctic glacier has entered irreversible melt, could add up to 1 centimeter of sea level rise (via InsideClimate)

New assessment of climate change’s economic risks is ready for business (via Climate Progress)

Historic black colleges leading climate change advocacy (via Huffington Post)

The flood next time: Grappling with sea level rise sooner not later (via New York Times)

Massachusetts governor to unveil climate change prep plan today (via Boston Herald/AP)

Washington DC’s water utility takes lead in preparing for warming world (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

Trains will still move oil despite wrecks, Keystone XL (via Climate Central)

Federal report says 400,000 gallons of oil spilled in North Dakota train derailment (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 2.6 million EVs will be sold in the US between 2013 and 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Ford F150 truck trail blazes new green technologies (via TriplePundit)

Annual North Carolina fee on electric vehicles starts this month (via Winston-Salem Journal)

Inslee won’t rule out low-carbon fuel standards in Washington State (via Washington State Wire)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL: Texas high court gives hope to landowners in eminent domain fight (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

West Virginia chemical crisis: The latest (via National Journal)

Water restrictions lifted on day five of West Virginia chemical spill (via The Hill)

GRID 

A123 installs 3MWh grid storage solution in Spain (via Renew Grid)

Upper Great Plains Region looking to join Southwest Power Pool grid (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY POLICY 

How one utility giant created its own pipeline of skilled workers (via National Journal)

Has shale gas really reduced US carbon emissions? The problem of coal exports (via Energy Collective)

OPINION 

Keep up the pressure, climate activists (via Washington Post)

Infrastructure snags: What’s so hard about moving energy? (via National Journal)

Why Nest could be a nightmare for Google (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, ACORE, Antarctica, australia, california, China, Christiana Figueres, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deval patrick, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, Ford, Ford F150, google, grid, Illinois, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, massachusetts, Michael Browner, michigan, Nest, Net zero, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Oil train, PGE, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, RFS, Rick Snyder, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, solar, SolarCity, Southwest Power Pool, Spain, SPP, Tepco, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington DC, Washington State, West Virginia
0
23
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.13

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

CLIMATE 

Fossil fuel investments face major risks due to climate (via Climate Central)

Conservative groups spend up to $1 billion a year to fight climate change action (via The Guardian)

Temperature records broken across Mid-Atlantic during December heat wave (via Huffington Post/AP)

Tom Steyer may be the liberal answer to the Koch Brothers (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

How this Chinese coal company’s $5 billion bankruptcy could trigger financial panic (via Quartz)

Germany’s biggest electricity producer to drop two coal-fired power contracts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Asia-Pacific region to account for half 2014 global solar PV demand (via CleanTechnica)

Are utilities wilting from heat of solar competition? (via National Journal)

Study finds Texas will increase renewable energy 150% by 2032 but add no coal capacity (via Facts of the Day)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program aren’t owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California takes aim at “ducks” to smooth move to renewables (via Reuters)

Ballot fight over Oregon renewable energy law could be sparked by small rural utility (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina has morphed into a solar power leader this year (via GigaOm)

Hawaii’s solar boom is so successful, it’s been halted (via ClimateWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Enbridge Gateway win shows stopping Keystone won’t halt oil (via Bloomberg)

Hundreds of conditions attached to Northern Gateway route’s approval (via EnergyWire)

TransCanada CEO: Obama will approve Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Enbridge’s Michigan dilbit spill still not cleaned up as 2013 closes (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US electricity sales continue downward trend (via Energy Manager Today)

California utility energy efficiency efforts save customer $850 million over two years (via Energy Manager Today)

The new Philadelphia Story is about green infrastructure (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

EMISSIONS 

$290 billion investment needed for China to treat air pollution (via Shanghai Daily)

Why a carbon tax is necessary (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

US oil industry takes aim at export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

US transmission investment gets largest boost since 2000 (via Greentech Media)

EVs integrating with the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: Asia, california, Carbon bubble, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Dilbit, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, ev, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, michigan, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, philadelphia, renewables, Russ Girling, RWE, smart grid, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission
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01
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

IPCC report recommends fossil fuels stay in the ground (via Huffington Post)

What the carbon budget means for business (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon market main hurdle to aviation deal, India says (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Europe whets appetite for coal as US eschews it (via Climate Central)

Stop funding coal, green groups tell European Bank (via BusinessGreen)

The local election that could determine the future of US coal (via Climate Progress)

Nebraska coal plant tests new pollution-control system (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind in Europe: Lessons for the US (via Huffington Post)

Deutsche Banks says China solar PV may reach 15GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil: Just not that into second-generation biofuels (via Energy Collective)

Movin’ and shakin’ – geothermal projects face a rocky road (via Renewable Energy World)

US renewables mid-year report: 10% energy consumption, 14% net electrical generation (via Renewable Energy World)

Tax credits to spur renewable energy seen set to end (via Bloomberg)

US Air Force trains for combat on wind power (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China faces steep climb to exploit its shale riches (via New York Times)

US gears up to be a prime natural gas exporter (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects federal funds for fracking studies (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

“Climate refugee” fighting to stay in New Zealand goes to court (via ABC News)

The hard math of flood insurance in a warming world (via Time)

How farmworkers experience a warming climate (via EarthFix)

Bloomberg, Steyer, Paulson team up to gauge global warming’s economic toll (via The Hill)

New climate assessment likely to spark action by companies; Congress, not so much (via ClimateWire)

Resilient communities are the incentive for businesses to focus on climate change (via Triple Pundit)

“Atmospheric River” smashes storm records in Pacific Northwest (via Climate Central)

OIL 

An uphill climb for the oil giants (via New York Times)

Feds to release new rules for offshore emergency equipment this year (via Houston Chronicle)

Lawyers tell trial BP lied about size of US Gulf oil spill (via Reuters)

Texas regulators issue few fines for Eagle Ford pollution (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicles speeding toward 7% of all global sales by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

EV-wary consumers still want utilities to develop charging infrastructure (via Renew Grid)

BMW to electrify its entire lineup (via CleanTechnica)

Ford C-Max hybrid owners get rebate for disappointing mileage (via New York Times)

GRID 

Will energy storage save the grid? (via Energy Collective)

New California net metering study appears to be DOA (via Greentech Media)

TAR SANDS 

Oil sands deals dive as foreign-state firms scrutinized by Canada (via Houston Chronicle)

British Columbia, Alberta move closer to tar sands pipeline agreement (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency drive yields $1 billion, 11 million metric tons CO2 cuts for US manufacturers (via Triple Pundit)

POLITICS 

EIA can operate through October 11 under government shutdown (via Reuters)

EPA to be hit hard in shutdown, could delay renewable fuel standard (via Reuters)

FERC nominee Binz withdraws amid coal pushback (via Politico)

“No evidence” EPA used private emails to keep records secret (via The Hill)

Can Bob Inglis make the GOP relevant on climate and clean energy policy? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Atmospheric River, biofuels, BMW, Bob Ingliis, BP, Brazil, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon budget, carbon capture, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate refugees, coal, Coal exports, Deutsche Bank, Eagle Ford Shale, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Bank, ev, EV charger, FERC, Floods, Ford, Ford C-Max hybrid, fracking, geothermal, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Paulson, india, IPCC, Michael Bloomberg, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, Net metering, new zealand, News, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, renewables, Resilience, Resilient communities, Ron Binz, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, tar sands, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, wind
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19
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.19.13

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel finds humans 95% likely cause of climate change (via The Hill)

More frequent heat waves by 2020 “almost certain” (via Climate Central)

Global flood damage could exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050 (via Mother Jones)

Climate change brings another flood onslaught in Pakistan (via Pakistan Daily Times)

Worst Colorado River drought in century prompts feds to cut Lake Powell releases (via Deseret News)

Many Floridians face rising tide of flood insurance costs (via Sun Sentinel)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Interior Department says Keystone XL could harm parks, wildlife (via The Hill)

TransCanada acknowledges tar sands crude could sink if spilled (via EnergyWire)

Steyer launches $1 million anti-Keystone XL ad push (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Despite slowdown, China to hold wind power market leadership to 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Czech lawmakers axe renewable energy support (via Recharge)

European climate policy drives wood pellet boom in North Carolina (via News Observer)

New hydropower laws could add 60GW of clean energy to US grid (via CleanTechnica)

Investors welcome new environmental standards for solar (via BusinessGreen)

Energy cane “could yield five times more ethanol than corn” (via Environmental Leader)

Texas claims cheapest solar installations as prices drop nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

California Solar Initiative aims to preserve project resources as funding ends (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon markets to survive federal election (via Bloomberg)

California to discuss additional compliance options for cap-and-trade program (via Bloomberg BNA)

Waste carbon dioxide could be used as energy (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shale gas company halts fracking at British site (via New York Times)

Shale grab in US stalls as falling values repel buyers (via Bloomberg)

Methane leakage from Utah gas rigs higher than EPA estimates (via RTCC)

Aubrey McClendon is back, with deals in the Utica (via Forbes)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sweden named “most sustainable country in the world” (via BusinessGreen)

Auto manufacturers aim to produce vehicles at sustainable facilities (via Energy Manager Today)

Investors slow to embrace sustainability, Accenture says (via Environmental Leader)

US rare earths mining rush enters its “survival moment” (via Greenwire)

OIL 

Shale gas and oil production soaring in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts clash on estimates of oil spilled into Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

America’s new vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever (via Greentech Media)

Electric car charging at work: The next big push (via Green Car Reports)

Is Tesla Model S the best way to sell politicians on EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

Hybrids take 7% of California market in 1H 2013; PHEVs 0.7%, EVs 1.1% (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUILDING 

USGBC report highlights growth in green building industry (via Bloomberg BNA)

Arizona hosts world’s largest net-zero energy building (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

UK’s first large-scale battery storage project goes live (via Renew Grid)

Designing grid batteries to live long and prosper (via Greentech Media)

Distributed generation grabs power from centralized utilities (via Forbes)

Trees vs. transmission: Utility arborist seeks better approach (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EIA publishes state fact sheets on residential energy consumption and characteristics (via US EIA)

Smart windows just got a lot smarter at saving energy (via Breaking Energy)

How much is a Nest thermostat worth? (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

We’ve covered the world in pesticides – is that a problem? (via Washington Post)

In West’s expanding tinderbox, questions about development (via Stateline)

10,000 homes threatened as Idaho wildfire spreads to 92,000 acres (via NBC News)

Bare trees are a lingering sign of Hurricane Sandy’s high toll (via New York Times)

OPINION 

The future China chooses will dictate the future of Earth (via The Guardian)

Can climate science be rendered conservative-friendly? (via Grist)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

Could suburbs become the future of renewable energy? (via ClimateWire)

Is Washington in a “post-policy era”? (via Washington Post)

Obama Administration rushes to expand fracking on public lands despite frightening evidence (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado river, Czech Republic, deforestation, distributed generation, drought, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Flood, Florida, fracking, Geoengineering, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Heat waves, Hurricane Sandy, hybrid, Hydropower, Idaho, interior department, IPCC, Keystone XL, Lake Powell, LEED, natural gas, Nest, Net zero building, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Pesticides, Rare earths, renewables, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Sugarcane, Sweden, tar sands, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, Utica Shale, Wildfire, wind
0
16
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change may have ended late Bronze Age civilizations (via Los Angeles Times)

Apples losing their crunch to global warming (via Agence-France Presse)

Online map guides Great Lakes climate change adaptation planning (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change may be easing devastating 2012 drought (via Climate Central)

Plants in US Southwest moving higher as the climate warms (via Yale e360)

Researchers flying over Western wildfire sampling smoke to study role in climate change (via Washington Post/AP)

NUCLEAR 

US nuclear power plants vulnerable to 9/11-style attacks (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil plans for 9GW wind energy tender across 377 locations (via Recharge)

Canadian solar sees grid parity for big projects in 5 years (via Renew Economy)

A novel way to cut the cost of advanced biofuels (via MIT Technology Review)

Investments in existing hydropower unlock more clean energy (via Energy.gov)

Proof that renewables can out-compete coal (via The Energy Collective)

White House solar panels being installed this week (via Washington Post)

Oklahoma wind developers say they’ll have enough projects for Clean Line transmission project (via The Oklahoman)

North Carolina coastal residents get glimpse of proposed offshore wind farm (via News Observer)

Four Texas wind projects will combine into world’s largest community-owned wind farm (via Plainview Daily Herald)

Clean Line “overwhelmed” by wind developer response to RFI (via Renew Grid)

Goodhue wind project foes ready to celebrate its defeat (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Wisconsin renewable energy firms, public urge state to rethink solar credit suspension (via Journal Sentinel)

OIL 

US and China oil consumption and imports: a tale of two very different countries (via Houston Chronicle)

Nicaragua to start exploring for oil in the Caribbean (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ecuador scraps forest protection plan to drill for oil (via Reuters Point Carbon)

As railroad tank cars roll through, Texas towns prepare for accidents (via StateImpact Texas)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to bring gas mileage rule to hybrid era (via New York Times)

Could electric cars threaten the grid? (via MIT Technology Review)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Work begins as oil sands pipeline gains fast-track approval (via Midwest Energy News)

ExxonMobil may retire pipeline that burst in Arkansas (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

EMISSIONS 

New Zealand scales back 2020 carbon reduction target (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark publishes 78 ideas to curb emissions (via RTCC)

Redwood trees store triple the carbon (via Sustainable Business)

Texas businesses back greenhouse gas emissions law (via New York Times)

GRID 

FERC revises energy storage regulations to improve market competition (via Energy Manager Today)

New flow battery could enable cheaper, more efficient energy storage (via Phys.org)

Microgrids get big test in Connecticut (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Foreseeing trouble in exporting natural gas (via New York Times)

Could local politics derail West Coast LNG export plans? (via Breaking Energy)

Fracking boom could lead to housing bust (via Grist)

Pennsylvania will pass Louisiana to be second top US gas producing state in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Smart windows could spark energy efficiency revolution (via RTCC)

Energy Saver 101: Home energy audits (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Climate policy’s twin challenges (via Los Angeles Times)

Renewable fuels make a difference (via USA Today)

Separating fact from fiction in accounts of Germany’s renewable revolution (via RMI Outlet)

Top 8 things you didn’t know about distributed wind (via Department of Energy)

Are utilities ready for the coming death spiral? (via Greentech Media)

How utilities can adapt when big box retailers go solar (via GreenBiz)

How carbon dioxide regulations could actually hurt renewables (via MIT Technology Review)

Posted:   |   Categories: Advanced biofuels, Arkansas, battery, biofuels, Brazil, canada, Caribbean, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, Climate change adaptation, coal, Community wind, Connecticut, denmark, Distributed wind, drought, ecuador, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, ExxonMobil, FERC, fracking, germany, global warming, Goodhue, Great Lakes, grid, Grid Parity, Home energy audit, Hydropower, Keystone XL, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Louisiana, Microgrid, minnesota, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new zealand, News, Nicaragua, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oklahoma, pennsylvania, Pipeline, Rainforest, renewables, solar, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, white house, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin
0
29
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.29.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Merkel’s green shift backfires as German pollution jumps (via Bloomberg)

Climate change divestment campaigns go on offense in Australia (via The Guardian)

Court tosses Texas, industry challenge to EPA greenhouse gas permitting (via The Hill)

Boulder, Colorado eyes carbon neutrality by 2050 (via Daily Camera)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Elevated levels of metals found in water near fracking wells in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

Internal EPA report suggests fracking contaminated Pennsylvania drinking water (via Los Angeles Times)

Effort to speed up North Carolina fracking derailed (via News Observer)

Colorado Congressman Polis pulls lawsuit to stop fracking near his property (via The Hill)

Crews ready to drill relief well at blowout site (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

China announces subsidy for small-scale distributed solar (via PV Tech)

Grumbling all around after EU-China solar panel deal (via New York Times)

Europe and China agree to settle solar panel fight (via New York Times)

India plans to reintroduce wind power tax break and fiscal incentives (via Live Mint)

Czech government aims to scrap aid for renewables in 2014 (via Recharge)

With EU sales likely capped, China solar firms will need new markets (via Reuters)

Thailand solar feed-in tariff rates announced for 1GW of solar PV (via CleanTechnica)

Dazzling Dozen US states illuminate path to solar energy future (via CleanTechnica)

The US will be the world’s largest residential PV monitoring market in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

On rooftops, a solar rival for utilities (via New York Times)

States take a shine to solar energy (via USA Today)

Distributed solar power generation to jump in next five years (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar and wind get higher capacity values from ERCOT (via Greentech Media)

Fight against solar net metering in Arizona gets controversial support (via Renewable Energy World)

Massive solar plant a stepping stone for future projects (via NPR)

OIL 

Federal rule to boost safety standards for rail cars carrying oil delayed for a year (via Washington Post/AP)

Could Alaska end tax breaks for Big Oil? (via Christian Science Monitor)

On the road in Texas, where oil is king again (via Christian Science Monitor)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Obama’s Keystone comments give opponents reason for hope (via Washington Post)

Alabama, Mississippi to assess tar sands resources in their states (via Green Car Congress)

55 arrested at Keystone XL pipeline protest (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

Ocean’s iron impact could alter climate predictions (via Climate Central)

Atmospheric rivers grow, causing worse floods ahead (via Climate Central)

Many species will have to evolve 10,000 times faster to adapt to climate change, says study (via Climate Progress)

Small business owners see extreme weather as tightrope without net (via ClimateWire)

NOAA scientists to study ocean acidification effects off US West Coast (via Los Angeles Times)

Timeline: a look at extreme weather and climate events (via WRI Insights)

Alaska forest fires “worst for 10,000 years” (via RTCC)

Outrage as New York homeowners prepare for higher flood insurance rates (via New York Times)

COAL 

Facing tough market at home, US coal giant pushes overseas (via Yale e360)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK government set to unveil path to zero carbon homes (via BusinessGreen)

Philadelphia buildings must report energy, water usage (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

NYC gets first net zero energy school (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION 

Japan automakers team up to add electric chargers (via Bloomberg)

UPS cut emissions 2.1% in 2012 while shipments rose (via Autoblog Green)

California plug-in rebate program running out of money (via Plugin Cars)

POLITICS 

Congress’s climate skeptics could snarl GOP’s strategy (via Politico)

After delayed vote, EPA gains a tough leader to tackle climate change (via New York Times)

GOP lawmaker warns DOI fracking rule could lead to cascade of new federal regulations (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Wind, the “workhorse” of renewable energy (via San Jose Mercury News)

Why Hawaii just became an even better market for solar (via Forbes)

Why it finally makes political sense to talk about climate change (via National Journal)

The five most important names in renewable energy you’ve never heard of (via Grist)

Battery storage: the numbers don’t add up – yet (via Renew Economy)

Divestment: can investors actually make more money going fossil free? (via Greentech Media)

 

Posted:   |   Categories: Alabama, alaska, Angela Merkel, arizona, Atmospheric River, australia, barack obama, Barnett Shale, battery, Boulder Colorado, california, Capacity market, Carbon neutrality, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, Czech Republic, Distributed solar, Divestment, Electric vehicle charger, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, European Union, EV charger, Extinction, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Flood, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Hawaii, india, interior department, japan, Jered Polis, Keystone XL, Mississippi, natural gas, Net metering, New York City, News, noaa, North Carolina, Ocean acidification, oil, pennsylvania, philadelphia, renewables, Rooftop PV, solar pv, Solar trade war, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Thailand, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, ups, wind
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22
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.13

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

TAR SANDS 

“Nobody understands” spills at Alberta oil sands operation (via The Star)

State Department approves US-Canada pipeline – it’s not Keystone XL (via Christian Science Monitor)

EMISSIONS 

Trees absorb lower levels of pollution in hot weather (via RTCC)

EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown (via The Hill)

GRID 

Which states are leading in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

FERC’s energy storage ruling could jump-start big batteries (via Greentech Media)

The challenge and cost of interconnecting power projects to the grid (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production infrastructure will attract $69 billion in capital investment between 2013-2023 (via Navigant Research)

India may expand solar dumping probe to EU, Japan cells (via Bloomberg)

Bedouin tribe talks a risk in Saudi solar drive (via Bloomberg)

Coal-heavy South Africa eyes wind and solar additions (via RTCC)

Canada to add 450MW of new solar PV in next five years (via Recharge)

UK energy companies paying a heavy price for shunning renewables (via The Guardian)

Solar module costs down 20% in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

Renewables provide 25% of new US electrical generating capacity in first half 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Excel, Interior Department approvals add almost 2GW of wind (via Sustainable Business)

Oil companies break with trade group on renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Plan for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm rejected by regulators (via Star-Ledger)

Texas A&M launches world’s biggest solar photovoltaic R&D facility (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Canadian oil storage hubs set to expand 25% by 2015 (via Reuters)

US, Canada chug ahead with oil shipments by rail despite risks (via Washington Post)

WTI oil reaches highest price in 16 months (via Houston Chronicle)

Judge denies BP effort to halt Gulf spill claim payouts (via Reuters)

New platforms rise to meet Gulf of Mexico drilling boom (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK government committing additional $763 million to support EVs through 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Why not a plug-in hybrid minivan? (via Plugin Cars)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Federal study finds natural gas fracking chemicals didn’t spread to aquifers (via Washington Post/AP)

North Carolina fracking moratorium remains in place (via Charlotte Observer)

California fracking moratorium regulations near approval (NBC News)

Fracking filmmakers reflect unusual political twists in gas drilling debate (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

Forest fires expected to worsen as climate warms (via The Good Human)

Continuing heat, drought, flooding make up this year’s weather story (via ClimateWire)

Waxman: climate regulations won’t revive legislation (via The Hill)

Vulnerable Maryland weighs threat of sea-level rise (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK consumers to pay “dirty” coal power subsidies for years (via The Independent)

As EPA head, McCarthy will focus on coal. Oil and gas, not so much (via Triple Pundit)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top 6 cities leading the green building revolution (via EarthTechling)

A new concept: sustainability incubator for cities (via Sustainable Business)

NUCLEAR 

Germany rebuffs European nuclear power subsidy proposal (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

California non-residential building owners must disclose energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The case against EPA political bias (via Politico)

Ernest Moniz to restructure top leadership at Energy Department (via Politico)

OPINION 

Shouldn’t climate scientists try harder to communicate their findings? (via The Guardian)

Putting more wind power on the grid (via Los Angeles Times)

US playing game of catch-up in rapidly changing Arctic (via Climate Central)

Why it’s hard for the US government to create green jobs (via Washington Post)

Why new EPA chief Gina McCarthy will be so important to cleantech (via Greentech Media)

When will utilities get a clue about social media? (via Greentech Media)

How do we use electricity? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arctic, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, Excel, FERC, Flooding, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Waxman, india, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, maryland, natural gas, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, plug-in hybrid, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Texas A&M, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires, wind
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22
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.13

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

TAR SANDS 

“Nobody understands” spills at Alberta oil sands operation (via The Star)

State Department approves US-Canada pipeline – it’s not Keystone XL (via Christian Science Monitor)

EMISSIONS 

Trees absorb lower levels of pollution in hot weather (via RTCC)

EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown (via The Hill)

GRID 

Which states are leading in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

FERC’s energy storage ruling could jump-start big batteries (via Greentech Media)

The challenge and cost of interconnecting power projects to the grid (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production infrastructure will attract $69 billion in capital investment between 2013-2023 (via Navigant Research)

India may expand solar dumping probe to EU, Japan cells (via Bloomberg)

Bedouin tribe talks a risk in Saudi solar drive (via Bloomberg)

Coal-heavy South Africa eyes wind and solar additions (via RTCC)

Canada to add 450MW of new solar PV in next five years (via Recharge)

UK energy companies paying a heavy price for shunning renewables (via The Guardian)

Solar module costs down 20% in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

Renewables provide 25% of new US electrical generating capacity in first half 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Excel, Interior Department approvals add almost 2GW of wind (via Sustainable Business)

Oil companies break with trade group on renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Plan for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm rejected by regulators (via Star-Ledger)

Texas A&M launches world’s biggest solar photovoltaic R&D facility (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Canadian oil storage hubs set to expand 25% by 2015 (via Reuters)

US, Canada chug ahead with oil shipments by rail despite risks (via Washington Post)

WTI oil reaches highest price in 16 months (via Houston Chronicle)

Judge denies BP effort to halt Gulf spill claim payouts (via Reuters)

New platforms rise to meet Gulf of Mexico drilling boom (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK government committing additional $763 million to support EVs through 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Why not a plug-in hybrid minivan? (via Plugin Cars)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Federal study finds natural gas fracking chemicals didn’t spread to aquifers (via Washington Post/AP)

North Carolina fracking moratorium remains in place (via Charlotte Observer)

California fracking moratorium regulations near approval (NBC News)

Fracking filmmakers reflect unusual political twists in gas drilling debate (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

Forest fires expected to worsen as climate warms (via The Good Human)

Continuing heat, drought, flooding make up this year’s weather story (via ClimateWire)

Waxman: climate regulations won’t revive legislation (via The Hill)

Vulnerable Maryland weighs threat of sea-level rise (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK consumers to pay “dirty” coal power subsidies for years (via The Independent)

As EPA head, McCarthy will focus on coal. Oil and gas, not so much (via Triple Pundit)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top 6 cities leading the green building revolution (via EarthTechling)

A new concept: sustainability incubator for cities (via Sustainable Business)

NUCLEAR 

Germany rebuffs European nuclear power subsidy proposal (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

California non-residential building owners must disclose energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The case against EPA political bias (via Politico)

Ernest Moniz to restructure top leadership at Energy Department (via Politico)

OPINION 

Shouldn’t climate scientists try harder to communicate their findings? (via The Guardian)

Putting more wind power on the grid (via Los Angeles Times)

US playing game of catch-up in rapidly changing Arctic (via Climate Central)

Why it’s hard for the US government to create green jobs (via Washington Post)

Why new EPA chief Gina McCarthy will be so important to cleantech (via Greentech Media)

When will utilities get a clue about social media? (via Greentech Media)

How do we use electricity? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arctic, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, Excel, FERC, Flooding, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Waxman, india, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, maryland, natural gas, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, plug-in hybrid, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Texas A&M, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires, wind
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01
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.1.13

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

CLIMATE 

Obama plan could define 2015 UN climate deal (via RTCC)

Climate change poses grave threat to security: UK military commander (via BusinessGreen)

Climate change not something insurance is likely to cover (via EarthTechling)

Federal community-resilience investments swamped by disaster damages (via Climate Progress)

A new industry is born for the frontlines of climate change (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal-fired retrofit market “$523 billion by 2020” (via Environmental Leader)

In 2013, coal is winning the war on coal: generation jumps 13% as natural gas falls 10% (via Facts of The Day)

DOE Secretary Moniz rebuts “war on coal” (via The Hill)

Coal trains raise concerns in congested Northwest US cities (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

India’s renewable energy potential remains untapped (via Triple Pundit)

Tensions laid bare as Desertec exits industrial solar consortium (via BusinessGreen)

Congress may change or even repeal 2007 ethanol mandate (via Autoblog Green)

Western governors unveil 10-year energy “vision” (via Houston Chronicle)

ACORE looks at how to scale US renewable energy investments (via Renewable Energy World)

World’s first wind-current generator could produce double the power (via TreeHugger)

Making small wind work takes big planning (via EarthTechling)

SolarCity plans solar power storage solution due in 2015 (via Los Angeles Times)

Connecticut Green Bank closes on $60 million solar lease financing (via Hartford Courant)

South Carolina regulators to re-examine solar power rules (via The State)

OIL 

Cheaper Canadian oil for Midwest refiners not reflected in price at the pump (via InsideClimate News)

BP report says Gulf oil spill only half as big as government claims (via Forbes)

Report shows ExxonMobil pipeline that spilled oil in Arkansas had at least 13 prior leaks (via The Republic)

TRANSPORTATION 

The future of solar and wind powered shipping (via MIT Technology Review)

Hertz 24/7 will make car-sharing available to most Americans by 2016 (via Autoblog Green)

Midwest seen as proving ground for biofuel-powered airliners (via Midwest Energy News)

California high-speed rail is moving forward (via Inhabitat)

Tesla Motors conquers North Carolina (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

China backs off shale gas targets (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Electricity market analytics could cut data center emissions 99% (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy Star updates Portfolio Manager for buildings (via GreenBiz)

Chicago to require benchmarking in large commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

5 ways to engage low-income customers in efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Algorithm identifies most danger power grid risks amid millions of possible failures (via Phys.org)

What’s the real cost of smart meters in Maine? (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

Is carbon pricing reducing Australia’s emissions? (via Renew Economy)

99% of Australian businesses back emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

Some climate advocates open to idea of dumping Australian carbon tax (via The Guardian)

GREEN BUILDING 

Study: smart growth reduces risk of mortgage default (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

At Fort Bliss, an Army vision for a new shade of green (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Butterfly decline signals trouble in environment (via Washington Post)

In Texas, a push to show farmers how to save water (via Texas Tribune)

POLITICS 

Obama calls on voters to demand climate action at the ballot box (via The Hill)

Two insiders take the reins on Obama’s climate effort (via Greenwire)

Moderate Democrats, facing hard midterm elections, treat climate plan carefully (via ClimateWire)

Senate leans toward Gina McCarthy confirmation for EPA (via Politico)

OPINION 

Scientists predicted a decade ago Artic ice loss would worsen Western droughts – is that happening already? (via Climate Progress)

Obama’s Lincoln moment? (via Grist)

The biggest oversight in Obama’s climate plan is a doozy (via Grist)

Google’s green search (via Recharge)

The myriad benefits of a carbon tax (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACORE, Arctic ice melt, Arkansas, australia, barack obama, biofuel, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal retrofit, Connecticut, department of energy, Desertec, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy star, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, Extinction, ExxonMobil, Gina McCarthy, Green bank, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hertz, high speed rail, india, natural gas, News, North Carolina, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Resilience, rooftop solar, Shale gas, small wind, Smart growth, smart meters, solar, solar leasing, SolarCity, south carolina, Tesla Motors, texas, Tidal, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, War on Coal, water conservation, Water scarcity, wind
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