Category Archives:NRG

22
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.22.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Fate of EU carbon market hangs in balance of reform vote (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading reforms in doubt after MEPs fail to agree on start date (via BusinessGreen)

European Parliament committee fails to agree on carbon reform date (via Reuters)

How the oil industry will try to kill carbon pricing (via Sightline Daily)

CLIMATE

Citing climate, Obama issues Arctic executive order (via USA Today)

The case of Greenland’s disappearing lakes (via CBS News)

How far Obama’s message on climate change has come (via Washington Post)

COAL 

U.S. coal declines, bucks global trend (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

EPIA: Germany’s solar tender plan “makes no sense” while PV prices fall (via PV Tech)

U.S. trade panel triggers duties on China, Taiwan solar gear (via Bloomberg)

Trina Solar remains committed to supplying PV modules to U.S. after ITC ruling (via PV Tech)

Dubai ups renewable energy target to 15% by 2030 (via PV Tech)

Plans submitted for 205MW Chile solar project (via PV Tech)

Greenwood to build 80-megawatt solar power facility in Chile (via Bloomberg)

U.S. wind power installations rose six-fold in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Hawaii’s biggest utility wants to ditch solar net metering (via Greentech Media)

Moth eyes inspire scientists to cut reflection on solar panels (via GigaOm)

Solar as an energy equity solution (via Renewable Energy World)

Higher renewable energy standard could boost Minnesota’s economy (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS 

House passes bill to speed natural gas pipelines (via The Hill)

GRID 

Grid edge investments total $1.3 billion in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

FERC files Supreme Court challenge to demand response decision (via Greentech Media)

Clean Line solicits 3.5GW capacity for Grain Belt Express (via Recharge)

OIL 

OPEC chief says oil will rebound, defends decision not to cut (via Reuters)

Spain mulls fracking after offshore drilling comes up dry (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP head expects oil prices “low for up to three years” (via BBC)

U.S. drivers put oil market on road to recovery (via Reuters)

Nearly 3 million gallons of brine spill in North Dakota oil boom’s largest leak (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tokyo wants 6,000 fuel cell cars from Toyota and Honda for 2020 Olympics (via Autoblog)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republican hints at Keystone XL backup plan (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

GOP knives come out against U.S.-China carbon pact, Paris climate talks (via National Journal)

Senate votes 98-1 that “climate change is real and not a hoax” (via Climate Progress)

How senators voted on whether climate change is real and “human activity significantly contributes” (via National Journal)

Republicans edit climate-denial mockery out of Obama’s State of the Union (via Grist)

Obama to Republicans: So long, and thanks for nothing (via Grist)

Tom Steyer’s green ambitions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

As Obama and Modi meet, 4 opportunities for U.S.-India action on clean energy and climate (via WRI Insights)

U.S.-India climate talks could pave way for billions in clean energy investment but not emissions goals (via International Business Times)

NRG’s grand ambition to dominate the solar market (via Forbes)

Five reasons why companies should invest in climate resilience now (via GreenBiz)

The most important solar trends in eight charts (via Greentech Media)

Climate action protects the middle class (via Huffington Post)

The Senate is pretty clearly a hoax (via Vox)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, BP, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, Dubai, emissions, EU ETS, FERC, fracking, fuel cell, germany, greenland, Greenwood Energy, grid, Hawaii, honda, india, Keystone XL, minnesota, natural gas, Net metering, News, north dakota, NRG, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Spain, Taiwan, Tom Steyer, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, Trina Solar, wind
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06
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.6.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Split decision by voters on local fracking bans (via New York Times)

Spending on wastewater treatment for fracking may triple by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

First lawsuits filed over Denton, Texas fracking ban (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LED lighting efficiency jumps roughly 50% since 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Army net zero initiative soldiers on (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Germany plans trio of 200MW solar PV tenders for 2015 (via Recharge)

October delivers another record-breaking month for UK wind power (via BusinessGreen)

Largest solar PV plant in Europe planned for France (via PV Tech)

Germany consortium evaluating major solar PV manufacturing hub in Brazil (via PV Tech)

World’s largest merchant solar project goes online in Chile (via Renew Economy)

Post-election report: Clean energy jobs grow in Republican (and Democratic) districts (via Huffington Post)

Utility unveils plan to clear Hawaii solar PV backlog within five months (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar PV operations and maintenance versus asset management: What’s the difference? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase stock punished despite record-setting quarter (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity reports “fiery” Q3 growth (via Recharge)

NRG’s David Crane begins to “pull back the curtain” on retail solar strategy (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC’s weak links feeling pain that shale producers seek (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla reports loss, but beats Wall Street expectations (via New York Times)

Tesla shares surge after record Model S sales (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republicans plan quick move on Keystone XL in 2015 (via Reuters)

How a Republican Senate could force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Delay urged in Obama carbon rules to shield electric grid (via Bloomberg)

Meet the climate sleuths keeping carbon reporting honest (via RTCC)

Climate quietly wins midterm victory in Pennsylvania and RGGI (via National Journal)

How to manage carbon prices: Lessons from the Northeast U.S. (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Counting the varied costs of China’s dependence on coal (via New York Times)

U.S. water use drops to lowest level in 40 years (via Science Blogs)

Study: Environmental groups are relatively oblivious to economics (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Battery market to double in 10 years, says Navigant (via Energy Manager Today)

Real-time energy markets bring millions in cost savings to Western U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

SCE announces winners of energy storage contracts worth 250MW (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Geoengineering: The ethical problems with cleaning the air (via The Guardian)

Five environmental challenges for Dilma Rousseff’s second term (via RTCC)

10 lessons for the green economy from the U.S. midterms (via BusinessGreen)

The greenest companies consistently outperform markets (via Environmental Leader)

Tom Steyer spent $74 million on the election. He didn’t get much to show for it. (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Energy seen getting biggest boost from Republican Senate (via Reuters)

Meet the U.S. Senate’s new climate denial caucus (via Mother Jones)

GOP to fight on Keystone, climate rules, says McConnell (via The Hill)

GOP Congress may steamroll Obama on Keystone, energy exports (via Forbes)

The possibility of post-election bipartisan deals (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, Brazil, california, Carbon market, Carbon prices, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, coal, David Crane, Dilma Rousseff, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy imbalance market, energy storage, Enphase, fracking, Fracking ban, France, Geoengineering, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, Keystone XL, LED, Mitch McMconnell, natural gas, Net zero, News, NRG, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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25
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.25.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australian Senate leader to support carbon-price repeal (via Bloomberg)

EPA’s first carbon regs nearly unscathed after years of litigation (via Greenwire)

Congressional observers doubt GOP can blog funding for EPA carbon rules (via SNL Energy)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

First Nations being courted to back tar sands refineries on their land (via InsideClimate News)

Republicans renew push for Keystone vote in Senate (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Over 7GW new solar PV capacity installed in Japan last fiscal year (via CleanTechnica)

U.K. solar industry set to hit 9GW in rush to meet subsidy deadline (via BusinessGreen)

Sustainable district heating from seawater? It’s happening in Holland (via CleanTechnica)

Concentrated solar power could compete with natural gas, says study (via Yale e360)

U.S. financial sector lags in clean energy investment (via Energy Manager Today)

Challenges to financing renewable energy projects on U.S. military sites (via Renewable Energy World)

NRG CEO says residential solar competitive with utility power in 25 states next year (via Green Car Reports)

Southern California Edison seems 290MW in small-scale renewables (via Solar Industry Magazine)

SunPower and SolarCity emerge as fierce solar roof rivals (via GigaOm)

Report: Michigan could expand solar without raising rates (via Midwest Energy News)

Two universities in D.C. make deal to buy solar power (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

G20 summit: Obama expected to discuss “critical issue” of climate change (via The Guardian)

May was hottest on Earth since records began (via The Guardian)

Eastern U.S.: Coldest spot on Earth so far in 2014 (via Washington Post)

Former Treasury chiefs agree: Get the SEC into the climate mix (via National Journal)

On N.C.’s Outer Banks, climate change predictions prompt change of forecast (via Washington Post)

OIL 

OPEC secretary general says no oil shortage exists (via Reuters)

U.S. ruling loosens four-decade ban on oil exports (via Wall Street Journal)

Canada’s safety board chief urges U.S. to phase out old rail cars (via Reuters)

1,250-pound tar mat discovered off Florida beach (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Japan bets big on making fuel cell cars a near-future reality (via Reuters)

California lawmakers urge change to vehicle carbon emissions plan (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

In Wyoming, going deep to draw energy from coal (via NPR)

GRID 

Fewer wind curtailments, negative power prices in Texas after CREZ grid expansion (via U.S. EIA)

Five key disruptors on the grid edge (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.K. Green Investment Bank backs £2 small business energy efficiency fund (via BusinessGreen)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Best Global Green Brands revealed, Ford leads list (via Environmental Leader)

Minneapolis announced as U.S. leader in green commercial space (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Merkel to push back against EU if Germany’s green energy subsidies questioned (via Reuters)

Report: Independent producers leading growth in U.S. oil and gas reserves (via Houston Chronicle)

Colorado suspends oil and gas wastewater disposal well after quake (via Reuters)

OPINION 

How to untangle yourself from clean energy finance jargon (via GreenBiz)

How the Gateway pipeline stokes simmering fury among British Columbia natives (via Globe and Mail)

Could Opower soon enter the community solar business? (via Greentech Media)

EPA’s clever legal trick could save its clean power plan (via Energy Collective)

POLITICS 

White House says it has “no misgivings” about Steyer meeting (via The Hill)

Joe Manchin, Sheldon Whitehouse seek middle ground on climate change (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, community solar, concentrated solar power, CREZ, Curtailment, David Crane, District heating, Energy Efficiency, EPA, First Nations, Florida, Ford, g20, Gateway pipeline, germany, global warming, Green bank, green building, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Holland, japan, Joe Manchin, Keystone XL, michigan, Minneapolis, natural gas, News, North Carolina, NRG, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, OPEC, Opower, renewables, Sea level rise, SEC, Sheldon Whitehouse, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Subsidy, SunPower, tar sands, texas, The Netherlands, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation Fuel cell, united kingdom, Washington D.C., Wastewater disposal well, wyoming
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22
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.22.13

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

COP 19 

Warsaw talks ignore IPCC “carbon budget” approach (via Climate Central)

COAL 

Ontario premier vows to ban coal-powered electricity (via Financial Post)

CLIMATE 

US and China find convergence on climate issue (via New York Times)

Is America no longer public enemy number one on climate change? (via ClimateWire)

Wildfire risk seen as high or extreme for 4.5 million US homes (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Latin America report: Wind sweeps Brazil’s A-3 power auctions (via Renewable Energy World)

“Stealth business lobbyist” plans 2014 offensive against solar net metering (via Greentech Media)

Standard developed to predict solar plant capacity (via Energy Manager Today)

Wind produces 25% of Iowa’s power, may generate 50% by 2018 (via Facts of the Day)

South Carolina embraces wind energy with turbine research center (via Reuters)

Prince George’s County, Maryland requires buildings to install renewable energy (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Americans uninformed about fracking, says new survey (via Climate Central)

House votes 252-165 to speed up natural gas pipeline approvals (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

EPA doesn’t rule out state carbon tax option for power plants (via The Hill)

Shell self-imposes carbon tax high enough to crash coal, natural gas (via Climate Progress)

Iowa wind energy cuts carbon pollution by 8.4 million metric tons (via Des Moines Register)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Working around Keystone XL, Suncor Energy steps up oil production in Canada (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Why cities hold the key to success on EVs (via GreenBiz)

Can California charge ahead to one million EVs within ten years? (via Energy Collective)

What’s behind NRG’s slow rollout of EV chargers in California? (via Greentech Media)

Tesla Model S tops Consumer Reports car owner satisfaction survey (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

Transmission line would take Kansas wind power east (via Hutchinson News)

PSE&G gains public support for grid resilience proposal in New Jersey (via Renew Grid)

FERC 

FERC Chairman Wellinghoff stepping down Sunday (via The Hill)

The greatest hits of FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

A war over solar power is raging within the GOP (via New Republic)

Fracking campaign contributions fuel Congress (via Roll Call)

Controversial Ohio clean energy bill gets rewritten (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Why America’s major sports leagues are talking about climate change (via Think Progress)

How Ontario went coal free (via National Journal)

Experts present their views on ethanol and advanced biofuels (via Breaking Energy)

Posted:   |   Categories: Advanced biofuels, ALEC, Brazil, california, canada, Carbon budget, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, COP 19, electric vehicles, emissions, EPA, ethanol, ev, ev charging, FERC, fracking, grid, Iowa, Jon Wellinghoff, kansas, Keystone XL, maryland, natural gas, Net metering, new jersey, News, NRG, Ohio, ontario, Pipelines, PSE&G, renewables, Shell, solar, south carolina, Suncor Energy, tar sands, Tesla Model S, transmission, Transportation, Wildfire, wind
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21
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Shell predicts oil-powered cars will be “nearly” gone by 2070 (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK universities urged to cut fossil fuel funding (via RTCC)

In first vote, Columbia College students back fossil fuel divestment (via Huffington Post)

OIL 

No oil from North Dakota spill seen in water sources (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil found on Louisiana shore surges three years after BP spill (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Grid parity, low LCOE driving 34% global renewables capacity by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

FERC report says solar leads all new US capacity except natural gas (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Clean tech VA investments crater, drop to pre-2006 levels (via GigaOm)

Study says most Americans would consider residential solar (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NRG buying 1.7GW of US wind (via Recharge)

Xcel get approval to add 750MW of wind power to Midwest grid (via Renew Grid)

New York State plugs solar farms (via Albany Times-Union)

Wind power gains favor in Ohio (via Springfield News-Sun)

Michigan PACE program growing rapidly, may soon add state’s largest county (via Midwest Energy News)

Arizona experiments with storing solar power (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Which countries win and lose from US shale gas boom? (via Breaking Energy)

Britain looks to fracking as North Sea oil dwindles (via New York Times)

Study projects no long-term climate benefit from shale gas revolution (via Climate Progress)

California finds more instances of offshore fracking (via Phys.org/AP)

OPINION 

Shell director: US has “overfracked and overdrilled” (via National Journal)

Reading renewable energy tea leaves in latest FERC report (via CleanTechnica)

How 9 major papers deal with climate denying letters (via Mother Jones)

Will fracking suck California dry? (via National Journal)

California’s energy and climate agenda: Visionary leader or cautionary tale? (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, BP, california, Divestment, emissions, energy storage, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, LCOE, Levelized cost of electricity, Louisiana, michigan, natural gas, new york state, News, north dakota, NRG, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PACE, renewables, rooftop solar, Shale gas, Shell, solar, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind, xcel
0
17
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.17.13

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

CLIMATE 

Smaller glacier melt boost sea level rise as much as largest ones (via Climate Central)

USGS: warmer springs causing loss of snow cover throughout Rocky Mountains (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian government doubles advertising spend on tar sands (via The Guardian)

Canadian prime minister warns US against Keystone XL rejection (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Keystone XL oil pipeline bill moves to full US House (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

EU confirms two percent reduction in ETS emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Norwegian firm seeks way to trap cement factory CO2 (vie Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China PV prices “could rise 45%” in June (via Recharge)

Australia launches clean energy map (via Renew Economy)

Solar power costs closing in on wind (via Reuters)

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom (via GreenBiz)

US military’s renewable energy development at risk from Sequester (via Medill)

Goldman Sachs to finance $500 million for SolarCity roofs (via Bloomberg)

Report outlines US military’s 130MW solar power might (via CleanTechnica)

Are run-of-river hydropower systems ready for the US? (via Renewable Energy World)

800MW solar power plant goes online in California (via Sacramento Bee)

Renewable power generation grew 7 percent in Texas last year (via Houston Chronicle)

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plans (via Courier-Press/AP)

COAL 

NRG settles lawsuit with NJ & CT; will shut down coal units (via Renew Grid)

TRANSPORTATION 

Global capacity of lithium-ion batteries for EVs will grow 10-fold by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s market value soars but some see a bubble (via Washington Post)

Nissan Leaf sales hit 25,000 in US (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Baltic LNG terminal deal likely for late 2013 (via Retuers)

Interior Department unveils fracking rules for federal lands (via The Hill)

Fracking risks to groundwater assessed by scientific review (via Phys.org)

Could we see three US LNG export projects approved by 2014? (via Breaking Energy)

Shale drilling nearly doubles Ohio output since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China’s State Grid to buy stake in Australian electricity network for $802 million (via Washington Post/AP)

California ISO market fix boosts renewables in state (via Reuters)

National Grid unveils plans for sustainability hub (via Daily Finance)

ENERGY POLICY 

What British Columbia election means for Northwest fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

EPA ranked most effective of all federal agencies (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE publishes protocols to determine energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)

Five technologies to make government buildings more efficient (via Greentech Media)

NREL teams up with US Navy to cut energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study finds world’s fish have been moving to colder waters for decades (via Washington Post)

Indonesia extends landmark ban on clearing rainforests and peatland (via New York Times)

State officials seek federal help fighting invasive species (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Senate approves Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy (via Greentech Media)

Senate committee advances EPA nominee McCarthy in party-line vote (via The Hill)

GOP says EPA’s FOIA decisions show “anti-conservative attitude” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Strengthening ownership and effectiveness of climate finance (via WRI Insights)

How low can utility emissions go? (via Greentech Media)

Proposed fracking rules anger environmentalists, annoy industry (via National Journal)

Spigot of money starting to open up for installing solar panels (via GigaOm)

A new model for valuing distributed energy (via Greentech Media)

 

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, british columbia, Cal-ISO, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate finance, coal, Coal exports, Concentrating solar power, Connecticut, csp, deforestation, distributed generation, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, fracking, Gina McCarthy, grid, Hydropower, indiana, Indonesia, investment, Keystone XL, LNG, national grid, natural gas, Natural gas export, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, norway, NREL, NRG, Ohio, renewables, rooftop solar, Run-of-river hydropower, Sea level rise, Sequester, Shale gas, Shale oil, Snow cover loss, solar, solar pv, SolarCity, State Grid, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, US Navy, usgs, wind
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17
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.17.13

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

CLIMATE 

Smaller glacier melt boost sea level rise as much as largest ones (via Climate Central)

USGS: warmer springs causing loss of snow cover throughout Rocky Mountains (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canadian government doubles advertising spend on tar sands (via The Guardian)

Canadian prime minister warns US against Keystone XL rejection (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Keystone XL oil pipeline bill moves to full US House (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

EU confirms two percent reduction in ETS emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Norwegian firm seeks way to trap cement factory CO2 (vie Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China PV prices “could rise 45%” in June (via Recharge)

Australia launches clean energy map (via Renew Economy)

Solar power costs closing in on wind (via Reuters)

Some light in clean tech investing, despite the gloom (via GreenBiz)

US military’s renewable energy development at risk from Sequester (via Medill)

Goldman Sachs to finance $500 million for SolarCity roofs (via Bloomberg)

Report outlines US military’s 130MW solar power might (via CleanTechnica)

Are run-of-river hydropower systems ready for the US? (via Renewable Energy World)

800MW solar power plant goes online in California (via Sacramento Bee)

Renewable power generation grew 7 percent in Texas last year (via Houston Chronicle)

Top Indiana wind farm drafts bat-protection plans (via Courier-Press/AP)

COAL 

NRG settles lawsuit with NJ & CT; will shut down coal units (via Renew Grid)

TRANSPORTATION 

Global capacity of lithium-ion batteries for EVs will grow 10-fold by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla’s market value soars but some see a bubble (via Washington Post)

Nissan Leaf sales hit 25,000 in US (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Baltic LNG terminal deal likely for late 2013 (via Retuers)

Interior Department unveils fracking rules for federal lands (via The Hill)

Fracking risks to groundwater assessed by scientific review (via Phys.org)

Could we see three US LNG export projects approved by 2014? (via Breaking Energy)

Shale drilling nearly doubles Ohio output since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

China’s State Grid to buy stake in Australian electricity network for $802 million (via Washington Post/AP)

California ISO market fix boosts renewables in state (via Reuters)

National Grid unveils plans for sustainability hub (via Daily Finance)

ENERGY POLICY 

What British Columbia election means for Northwest fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

EPA ranked most effective of all federal agencies (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE publishes protocols to determine energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)

Five technologies to make government buildings more efficient (via Greentech Media)

NREL teams up with US Navy to cut energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study finds world’s fish have been moving to colder waters for decades (via Washington Post)

Indonesia extends landmark ban on clearing rainforests and peatland (via New York Times)

State officials seek federal help fighting invasive species (via Stateline)

POLITICS 

Senate approves Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy (via Greentech Media)

Senate committee advances EPA nominee McCarthy in party-line vote (via The Hill)

GOP says EPA’s FOIA decisions show “anti-conservative attitude” (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Strengthening ownership and effectiveness of climate finance (via WRI Insights)

How low can utility emissions go? (via Greentech Media)

Proposed fracking rules anger environmentalists, annoy industry (via National Journal)

Spigot of money starting to open up for installing solar panels (via GigaOm)

A new model for valuing distributed energy (via Greentech Media)

 

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, british columbia, Cal-ISO, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Concentrating solar power, Connecticut, csp, deforestation, distributed generation, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, fracking, Gina McCarthy, Goldman Sachs, grid, Hydropower, indiana, Indonesia, Interior Department Water pollution, investment, Keystone XL, LNG, national grid, natural gas, Natural gas export, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, norway, NREL, NRG, Ohio, renewables, rooftop solar, Run-of-river hydropower, Sea level rise, Sequester, Shale gas, Shale oil, Snow cover loss, solar, solar pv, SolarCity, State Grid, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, US Navy, usgs, wind
0
10
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US recoverable natural gas estimate jumps 26 percent (via Houston Chronicle)

EIA projects flatlining of natural gas consumption through 2014 (via Facts of the Day)

Little support for natural gas exports, UT poll finds (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Australia prepares for new weather extremes as political opposition mounts (via ClimateWire)

Nearly 80 percent of Americans hit by extreme weather disaster since 2007 (via Climate Progress)

Climate change included in US science teaching guidelines for first time (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

Ex-regulator says all US nuclear reactors have safety design flaw (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar PV market surges toward 100GW milestone (via BusinessGreen)

Asian Development Bank pleads for alternative energy use (via Bangkok Post)

Chinese wind energy output soars 41 percent (via BusinessGreen)

South African solar projects get $2.2 billion boost (via Sustainable Business)

Brazil planning for another 300MW of solar PV (via CleanTechnica)

When it comes to solar power, small scale is beautiful (via EarthTechling)

Renewables provide 82% of new US electrical generating capacity in1Q 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

NRG introducing solar with battery storage for homeowners (via Renewable Energy World)

Building a solar economy: 4 lessons from Hawaii (via Yes! Magazine)

First Solar soars 45 percent on outlook, acquisition (via Reuters)

Mosiac receives approval to offer $100 million in solar investments to California residents (via San Jose Mercury News)

Illinois renewable energy fund set to jump 10x, but glitches could make it impossible to spend money (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

OIL 

OPEC joins US in lowering 2013 oil demand growth view (via Reuters)

Gazprom, Shell agree to develop Arctic oil fields despite environmental concerns (via Washington Post)

BP says safety was top priority in Gulf before massive oil spill (via Washington Post)

Today is deadline for Exxon to produce Arkansas oil spill documents (via Ozarks First)

Exxon oil spill cleanup in path of severe weather, maybe a tornado (via InsideClimate News)

Jury finds Exxon liable for $236 million in New Hampshire pollution suit (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

UN emissions credits surge as developers delay carbon claims (via Bloomberg)

Shanghai to become second Chinese city to launch carbon trading this June (via BusinessGreen)

Air pollution killed 7 million people in 2010 (via Mongabay)

DOE nominee mum on carbon tax during hearing (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL pipeline developer fears decision is “many months” away (via The Hill) 

Did Keystone XL contractor hide its conflict of interest? (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION 

More than 48,000 EV public charging stations have been deployed worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Car repair costs rising – apart from hybrids, which get cheaper (via Green Car Reports)

US public charging stations increase 9% in first quarter 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Elon Musk says next, cheaper Tesla coming in 2016 or 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

New grid architecture enables renewable integration (via Navigant Research)

In Iowa, researchers seeing a stronger, lighter power line (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY POLICY 

Energy tax reform a heavy lift for lawmakers (via Politico)

Four charts that show the US spends too little on energy research (via Washington Post)

Kansas could outlaw sustainable development (via Treehugger)

COAL 

Plans for one coal export terminal in Oregon dropped, four others still under consideration (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Entire planet will soon have rapid deforestation detection system (via Mongabay)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Hundreds of US colleges creating a clean energy future, today (via EcoAffect)

Best Buy e-waste recycling actually a notable accomplishment (via EarthTechling)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ohio state legislature reviewing energy efficiency rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Coming and going at the Energy Department (via New York Times)

Ernest Moniz faces grilling in confirmation hearing (via Houston Chronicle)

McCarthy to face barrage of agency criticism (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

How carbon reduction and smart grid work together (via Greentech Media)

Why First Solar is buying a silicon solar cell startup no one’s heard of (via GigaOm)

Exxon revolutionizes energy by delivering it straight to your face (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: 1958, Air pollution, arctic, Arkansas, Asian Development Bank, australia, battery, Best Buy, BP, Brazil, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, deforestation, department of energy, DOE, e-waste, eia, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Energy tax reform, environment, Ernest Moniz, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Exxon, First Solar, fracking, Gazprom, Gina McCarthy, green business, Gregory Jaczko, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hybrids, Illinois, Iowa, kansas, Keystone XL, Mosiac, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New Hampshire, News, NRC, NRG, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, oregon, Recycling, renewables, Shanghai, Shell, smart grid, solar, solar pv, South Africa, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, UN, united nations, wind
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26
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.26.13

GRID 

Hackers hit energy companies more than others (via Houston Chronicle)

Opower putting energy monitoring to work in New Zealand (via Renew Grid)

Why California will lead the world on microgrids (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shell says China approves shale deal, plans more drilling (via Reuters)

New panel to advise EPA on fracking (via The Hill)

Over half of US natural gas pipeline projects in 2012 were in the Northeast (via US EIA)

States deciding note to consider seismic risks of shale drilling (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Report: Europe losing its edge in clean tech market (via BusinessGreen)

France expects new wind tender to attract $4.5 billion (via Recharge)

Wind power peaks in UK, Denmark, US (via Renewable Energy World)

Scientists hail bio-batteries breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)

NRG skirts utilities taking solar panels to US rooftops (via Bloomberg)

The biggest fight over renewable energy is now in the states (via Washington Post)

Numbers from the war on state renewable standards (via Greentech Media)

Stunning fact: Iowa and South Dakota get nearly 25% their electricity from wind (via Facts of the Day)

In Iowa, another view on how to solve wind’s variability (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Humans killed over 10% of world’s bird species when they colonized Pacific Islands (via Mongabay)

White House declares five national monuments (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

France’s electric car push presents power grid challenge (via Reuters)

Boeing tests Dreamliner battery fix with Japan first in line (via Bloomberg)

Better route planning cuts fuel use in freight sector (via Reuters)

Tesla to expand Supercharger network in Northwest, Texas, Florida, Northeast (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

Exxon fined $1.7 million over Yellowstone River oil spill (via CNBC)

Tiny Dallas oil company scores two giant deepwater discoveries in one week (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists link frozen spring to dramatic Arctic sea ice loss (via The Guardian)

New research confirms global warming has accelerated (via Skeptical Science)

Climate change will bring greater extreme weather, warns UK’s chief scientific advisor (via The Independent)

Obama’s Achilles’ heel on climate: Senate Democrats (via Politico)

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon market volume set to rise 14 percent (via BusinessGreen)

Palo Alto takes leap to 100% carbon-neutral electricity (via Sustainable Business)

OPINION 

Can we shift to renewable energy? Yes, as to how… (via Grist)

How to rebuild green after natural disasters (via Environmental Leader)

Will NRG Energy be the next ten-ton gorilla in solar leasing? (via GigaOm)

Why Google is spending billions on renewable energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, california, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, denmark, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, europe, ev, ev charging, EV charging infrastructure, Extinction, Extreme weather, Exxon, Florida, fracking, France, Fuel Economy, global warming, google, green building, grid, Iowa, japan, Microgrid, natural gas, new zealand, News, NRG, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Opower, palo alto, Pipelines, Renewable energy standards, renewables, Sea ice loss, Shale gas, Shell, solar, South Dakota, Tesla, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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01
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.1.13

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

OIL 

Mystery oil sheen grows near site of BP Gulf disaster (via NBC News)

EMISSIONS 

US carbon emissions fall to lowest levels since 1994 (via The Guardian)

Guidelines issues to ensure captured carbon stays sequestered (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone pipeline decision to languish until mid-June (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy in Europe suffering from falling CO2 prices (via Energy Collective)

German solar FIT to decline 2.2% monthly through April (via Recharge)

Greece sees impressive solar PV growth despite banking crisis (via Renewable Energy World)

Italian town runs solely on wind, sells the rest (via Sustainable Business)

Biofuel-blending battle rages on as EPA releases new projections (via The Hill)

GE introduces wind turbine for low-wind sites (via Energy Manager Today)

Seven projects looking to use big data to cut the cost of solar power (via GigaOm)

After delays, Maine approves offshore wind farm (via CLF Scoop)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

The US has some of the lowest energy taxes in the developed world (via Washington Post)

Transformation in US power supply breeds emissions success, grid challenges (via Houston Chronicle)

US utilities expect more environmental regulations during 2nd Obama term (via Environmental Leader)

Renewables in bed with natural gas? (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nissan will triple number of EV fast chargers in US (via Autoblog Green)

EV Everywhere Blueprint outlines DOE EV goals for 2022 (via Green Car Congress)

69% of US voters support stricter auto emission standards (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla’s Musk calls Boeing 787 Dreamliner batteries “fundamentally unsafe” (via Autoblog Green)

More EV loans “remains to be seen,” Chu says (via Bloomberg)

Big price declines in 2013 EVs: price cuts put EVs on the road (via Facts of the Day)

Hertz adds Chevy Volt to car-sharing service, targets students (via Green Car Reports)

Dreamliner’s woes hearten foes (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT 

Australian government pledges to protect Great Barrier Reef (via Reuters)

EU proposes to ban insecticides linked to bee decline (via BusinessGreen)

US drought hangs tough through January (via Climate Central)

Survey of nation’s largest cities finds water supplies not as threatened as believed (via Phys.org)

GRID 

Smart grid sector sees $434M in VC funding, $17B in M&A transactions (via Renew Grid)

SDG&E strives to develop ‘self-healing’ grid (via Renew Grid)

The (wrong) report on Silver Spring’s IPO chances (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

2013 policy priorities for sustainable and responsible investors (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

Philippine government says climate change is top priority (via Sustainable Business)

Planting trees may not reverse climate change but it will help local cooling (via Phys.org)

Climate scientists erring on the side of least drama (via Skeptical Science)

Alaska natives try to flee climate impacts but find little help (via ClimateWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sacramento launches $100-million energy retrofit fund (via Forbes)

Washington DC requires commercial buildings to track energy and water use (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

Why the US coal industry is so worried (via Sightline Daily)

Half of Washington State residents support coal export terminal (via Seattle Met)

POLITICS 

Hagel vows DoD focus on alternative fuels, energy efficiency if confirmed (via The Hill)

Hagel’s other label: anti-green (via Politico)

Sen. Carper plans renewed push for offshore wind credit legislation (via The Hill)

Right place, wrong time for secretary candidate with gold-plated resume? (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Mr. President, there’s a major flaw in your solution to climate change (via Take Part)

Can Obama do for the grid what Eisenhower did for highways? (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: Afforestation, alaska, australia, Auto emissions, barack obama, battery, Bees, biofuels, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, california, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, Carbon pricing, ccs, chevy volt, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Climate scientists, coal, Coal exports, Department of Defense, DoD, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, Energy retrofits, energy tax, environment, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, EV charger, feed-in tariff, FIT, GE, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Greece, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hertz, Insecticides, italy, Maine, natural gas, News, Nissan, NRG, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Philippines, renewables, Sacramento, solar, steven chu, Tesla, Tom Carper, Transportation, Washington DC, Washington State, Water, wind
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