Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.8.13

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

EMISSIONS 

How to slice a global carbon pie? (via New York Times)

US Supreme Court scheduled to consider climate change cases (via Reuters)

Divestment campaign against fossil fuels growing, says study (via The Guardian)

California highlights emissions reduction progress (via CleanTechnica)

New Jersey sets hearing on rejoining RGGI carbon trading program (via Bloomberg)

Microsoft achieves carbon neutrality, says NRDC (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Beijing to close main coal plants by 2015 in smog crackdown (via BusinessGreen)

King Coal’s last stand (via Vice)

RENEWABLES 

China set to lead 2014 solar energy boom (via RTCC)

Floating offshore wind power taking hold (via Renewable Energy World)

New British solar energy fund has chance to shine (via Daily Mail)

UK tests new method to balance renewables on the grid (via Greentech Media)

Nighttime solar power arriving in United States (via EarthTechling)

Will a new guide for regulators settle the debate over rooftop solar’s value? (via Greentech Media)

Oakland’s bid to become a solar power hub (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cumulative Nissan Leaf sales in Japan pass 30,000 mark (via Green Car Congress)

Honda plots US hybrid resurgence starting with Accord (via Bloomberg)

EV sales for 2013 up over 440% from one year ago (via Climate Progress)

Palo Alto requires homes to be pre-wired for electric cars (via EarthTechling)

Is there any business model for public electric car charging? (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

Texas on track to be among world’s largest oil producers (via Houston Chronicle)

California Gov. Brown supports hydraulic fracturing (via Houston Chronicle)

BP spars with US government over size of Gulf of Mexico spill (via Reuters)

GRID 

PJM board approves $1.2 billion in transmission improvements (via Renew Grid)

Why the hot money is chasing energy storage (via Renew Economy)

ENERGY POLICY 

Proposed LNG exports spark controversy in British Columbia (via ClimateWire)

Quebec’s Keystone conundrum (via Politico)

Electricity utilities could lose half their market to solar and storage (via Renew Economy)

Grid Edge: How will utilities, vendors, and energy service providers adapt? (via Greentech Media)

ESCO market to reach $8.3 billion in 2020 (via Energy Manager Today)

California law to change energy rates, aid renewable power (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese prime minister seeks foreign help containing Fukushima water leak (via United Press International)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How Denmark turned an efficiency obligation into opportunity (via Midwest Energy News)

Building energy benchmarking and window retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

An illustrated guide to the enormous power of energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Energy management saves Office Depot $2.2 million annually (via Energy Manager Today)

Cincinnati launches energy benchmarking toolkit (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Obama’s top climate and energy adviser to leave White House (via Washington Post)

Front-runner for FERC may be clean slate Obama’s looking for (via Greenwire)

The battle for FERC and the future of energy security (via Energy Trends Insider)

OPINION 

Solar power, in small doses (via The Economist)

Who created the global warming “pause”? (via Mother Jones)

The future of the electricity system is called Grid Edge (via Greentech Media)

Burning question: Are Europe’s biomass imports sustainable? (via Renewable Energy World)

America’s net metering war (via CleanTechnica)

Can we fly more and still meet carbon targets? (via The Guardian)

We might blow our carbon budget sooner than we think (via Renew Economy)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.24.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Cutting carbon emissions could save 3 million lives per year by 2100 (via Climate Progress)

New greenhouse gas accounting tool will help China’s cities pursue low-carbon development (via WRI Insights)

Carbon capture, sequestration may not be part of EPA rule for existing coal plants (via Washington Post)

Green groups strike back in social cost of carbon fight (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Beijing to invest $162.6 billion in 5 years to treat air pollution (via Xinhua)

China’s vanishing rivers (via Washington Post)

Property loss from Colorado flood damage estimated at $2 billion (via Huffington Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmentalists take hard line with Obama on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

RENEWABKES 

Merkel wins: New lease on life for renewables in German government (via Greentech Media)

Largest African PV project to begin construction early 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Loans challenge big money’s leasing model for US rooftop solar (via Reuters)

Texas Panhandle wind bursting at the seams (via EarthTechling)

Big Solar is having a banner year in US (via EarthTechling)

Ohio legislator releasing rollback of state’s clean energy rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

New York State streamlining solar permit process (via Solar Industry Magazine)

CLIMATE 

UN climate panel stresses solidity of new report on global warming (via Washington Post)

IPCC roundup: Early reports focus on warming “hiatus” (via Climate Central)

Study: Climate change pumps up risk of severe storms (via USA Today)

Coral reef destruction “accelerating” – half destroyed over past 30 years (via The Independent)

Climate change devastating ocean fishermen (via Climate Progress)

New US climate map shows temperature changes in HD (via Phys.org)

Cities leading the fight against climate change (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

COAL 

Current US coal plants excluded from new carbon capture rules – EPA chief (via Reuters)

Southern Company’s Kemper coal plant comes to fore with EPA’s CO2 proposal (via Bloomberg BNA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Airlines face carbon verdict on $708 billion industry (via Bloomberg)

Tesla’s vehicle buyback program could yield $368 million profit (via Autoblog Green)

ChargePoint’s new EV charging service borrows from solar leasing models (via Greentech Media)

California continues to dominate US electric car market (via Plugin Cars)

93 cities taking part in Sunday’s National Plug-In Day (via Green Car Reports)

OIL 

More Colorado oil spills found after devastating flooding (via Huffington Post)

California governor’s signature on fracking bill comes with a twist (via EnergyWire)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Environmental disclosure tied to higher financial performance (via Environmental Leader)

North American steel industry has recycled more than 1 billion tons of steel since 1988 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

Smart meters deliver 1 billion data points daily (via Greentech Media)

Sandia National Laboratories release energy storage how-to guide (via Phys.org)

Silver Spring networks launches smart metering-as-a-service (via GreenBiz)

Skinny grids (via Huffington Post)

NUCLEAR 

First US nuclear power closures in 15 years signal wider industry problems (via InsideClimate News)

POLITICS 

German voters follow Merkel down bumpy path to clean energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Federal shutdown would shutter EPA, says agency chief (via The Hill)

Obama cabinet stumps for climate action (via Politico)

OPINION 

Global warming hasn’t stopped – it’s the hottest decade on record (via DeSmog Blog)

Cherry-pick climate facts all you like, Earth is still warming (via Renew Economy)

RGGI: Proof carbon trading can work in the US? (Via RTCC)

EPA emissions rules lighting the way on climate change (via Baltimore Sun)

How density makes us safer during natural disasters (via Mother Jones)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.23.13

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

EMISSIONS 

French carbon tax to raise €4 billion for green energy by 2016 (via Reuters)

Norway cancels carbon capture plan it likened to “Moon landing” (via Reuters)

Everything you need to know about the EPA’s carbon limits for new power plants (via Washington Post)

Emissions regulations are central battle in Obama climate agenda (via The Hill)

Feds promise to work with businesses on meeting emissions goals (via The Hill)

COAL 

EPA claims new power plan emission regulations offer coal lifeline (via InsideClimate News)

A changing market and dim future for coal in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

RENEWABLES 

SEIA offers peace plan to avert US-China solar trade war (via Bloomberg)

India to build world’s largest power plant in Rajasthan (via India Economic Times)

Report: Old business models holding back clean energy shift (via Midwest Energy News)

Wind energy: Bigger isn't always better (via Breaking Energy)

Wicked green: Massachusetts clean economy grows 11.8% to 80,000 jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables provide a growing share of California’s electricity (via US EIA)

New Jersey offshore wind proposal still seeks answers (via Renewable Energy World)

Michigan can triple its renewable energy production by 2035, finds report (via Detroit Free Press)

Lake Erie wind turbines viable (via Plain Dealer)

CLIMATE 

IPCC issues stark warning over global warming (via The Guardian/The Observer)

Global warming “hiatus” puts climate change scientists on the spot (via Los Angeles Times)

Big business funds effort to discredit climate science, warns UN official (via The Guardian)

Arctic alpine plants may survive in “micro refuges” as temperatures rise (via The Guardian)

Arctic on course for ice-free summer “within decades”, scientists say (via The Guardian)

Hunger to worsen as climate change heats up world (via Bloomberg)

Study says children will bear brunt of climate change impact (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Not business as usual: China’s oil majors are no longer invincible (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal standards needed for safe Arctic drilling, Pew says (via Houston Chronicle)

Eagle Ford’s future might lie in Mexico’s oil demand (via Houston Chronicle)

California law to regulate fracking signed by governor (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to raise prices for clean fuel to boost production (via Reuters)

US gasoline prices fall 6.4 cents as crude declines (via Reuters)

Green parking: Not just a concept anymore (via New York Times)

Tesla’s feat of (financial) engineering (via Washington Post)

NUCLEAR 

France to tax nuclear output to fund shift to renewables (via Bloomberg)

US DOE invests $60 million in nuclear technology research and training (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

Vehicle-to-grid charging coming of age (via EarthTechling)

Top 9 things you didn’t know about America’s power grid (via Energy.gov)

KEYSTONE XL 

Hundreds of events “Draw the Line” against Keystone XL and tar sands (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why are some airlines better at saving fuel than others? (via Washington Post)

Siemens installing energy saving measures for US Coast Guard (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Money flowing to build pipelines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sites sought for Marcellus Shale region’s fracking residue (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Merkel romps to victory but faces tough coalition choices (via Reuters)

Republicans pounce on Obama’s global warming regulations for political fodder (via National Journal)

White House “War on Coal” no slam dunk for GOP in 2014 (via Politico)

White House: No retreat on troubled FERC nominee Binz (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What climate scientists should talk about: Their personal stories (via The Guardian)

Beleaguered CEOs say they can’t save the planet by themselves (via Bloomberg)

A reality check on offshore wind in Virginia (via Washington Post)

How big an impact will EVs have on the grid and your wallet? (via Greentech Media)

Will offshore wind finally take off on US East Coast? (via Yale e360)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.20.13

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

COAL 

Obama takes on coal with first-ever carbon limits (via Associated Press)

Coal’s future darkens around the world (via Associated Press)

Government’s latest coal auction attracts lowest bid in 15 years (via Climate Progress)

It’s not just Obama’s carbon rules that are killing coal – it’s cheap gas (via Time)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon markets set “to be oversupplied until 2027” (via BusinessGreen)

France to cut fossil fuels 30% by 2030, president says (via Phys.org)

EU carbon price forecast to hit €66 per ton by 2030 (via Recharge)

Administration presses ahead with limits on power plant emissions (via New York Times)

Study: Fracked shale formations could store carbon dioxide (via Yale e360)

How bad for the environment are gas-powered leaf blowers? (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Germany industry wants end of feed-in tariff on rising power cost (via Bloomberg)

Is Brazilian sugarcane the answer to US biofuel needs? (via Green Car Reports)

Algae biofuels cut CO2 emissions more than 50% compared to petroleum fuels (via Phys.org)

Siemens opens state-of-the-art wind service training center (via Energy Collective)

Solar Exchange launches with over $28 million in solar goods (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Top 10 challenges for the biofuels industry (via Renewable Energy World)

In Minnesota, looking for lessons from Goodhue wind fight (via Midwest Energy News)

Massachusetts racks up 11.8% growth in clean energy (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s future depends on stopping Fukushima leaks, PM tells workers (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

Ozone treaty offers quicker fix for global warming (via Bloomberg)

Russia urges UN climate report to include geoengineering (via The Guardian)

Australia scraps national climate commission (via The Guardian)

India and China face significant flooding risk warns Swiss Re (via RTCC)

UN climate report set to establish “global carbon budget” (via RTCC)

Study says journalists should talk about climate change like a pension policy (via Climate Progress)

Clash over flood insurance rates sharpens days before hikes are enacted (via ClimateWire)

The many small ways Americans are adapting to climate change (via The Atlantic)

ENERGY POLICY 

US revives aid program for cleaner fossil fuels (via New York Times)

California’s strategic plan for renewables and efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Beacon Power starts up flywheel energy storage facility in Pennsylvania (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Halliburton pleads guilty to destroying evidence after BP oil spill (via The Hill)

Legal, political battles await EPA’s power plant emissions limits (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

General Motors looks to cut battery prices and increase EV range (via New York Times)

Tesla shares hit yet another record high at $180 (via Autoblog Green)

Ecotality bankruptcy could give Nissan its own charger network (via Plugin Cars)

2014 Chevy Spark EV test drive (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senate support unravels for Obama’s FERC nominee (via The Hill)

US Senate GOP leader says he will work to defeat FERC nominee (via Reuters)

Government funding battle knocks stalled energy efficiency bill off Senate floor (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Sorry, Arctic sea ice isn’t really “recovering” (via Washington Post)

Time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Will coal survive the EPA’s new carbon rules? (via Washington Post)

Obama’s coming climate crackdown (via Politico)

A clean energy revolution – now (via Energy.gov)

These five things need to happen before electric cars really go mainstream (via Washington Post)

Are wind farm-related eagle deaths higher than we think? (via EarthTechling)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Obama looks to fill fall scorecard with regulations, going small-bore (via The Hill)

German industry group seeks green energy overhaul after election (via Reuters)

COAL 

Three times more people working in green jobs than coal (via BusinessGreen)

On cost, new clean energy is beating coal (via EarthTechling)

Wyoming coal sale canceled by US on bid at 15-year low (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

China faces tough fight against air pollution (via Xinhua)

Business groups, GOP attack social cost of carbon on multiple fronts (via The Hill)

California clears way for use of offsets in carbon market (via Sacramento Bee)

RENEWABLES 

2.8GW solar PV capacity expected to be added in India in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Study flags UK’s offshore green jobs surge (via Recharge)

5 market innovations revolutionizing solar in the developing world (via Sustainable Industries)

Cost of US solar power 60% lower than in early 2011 (via CleanTechnica)

US charges 6 people, 3 firms with $100 million biofuels fraud (via Reuters)

Ten myths about geothermal heating and cooling (via National Geographic)

Google goes greener with 240MW wind power purchase (via Houston Chronicle)

New Era Wind will no longer pursue Goodhue wind farm in Minnesota (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Big solar comes to Utah with 300MW project (via SustainableBusiness)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s Abe orders surviving Fukushima reactors scrapped (via Reuters)

DOE still seeks beneficiary for small modular reactor funding (via Aiken Standard)

CLIMATE 

Delaying climate action will triple costs (via Grist)

Study identifies 10 regions to target climate adaptation funding (via RTCC)

Global temperature trends and the IPCC (via Energy Collective)

Nation-to-nation peer pressure may be best hope for global climate deal (via NBC News)

Poland partners with coal and oil corporate sponsors for COP19 climate conference (via DeSmog Blog)

Obama climate change plan gets first airing in front of House skeptics (via The Guardian)

17 states accuse EPA of exceeding its authority with climate change plan (via The Hill)

Most US companies ignoring SEC rule to disclose climate risks (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ranking reveals top US cities on energy efficiency (via USA Today)

A quest to prove the business case for installing big batteries at buildings (via GigaOm)

GM’s LEED Gold data center slashes electric bill by 70% (via EarthTechling)

Chicago passes energy benchmarking rules (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

The $1.5 trillion oil find in the Gulf of Mexico (via Christian Science Monitor)

Eagle Ford oil expected to surpass 1 million barrels per day (via Houston Chronicle)

One downside to more oil drilling? Wasted gas (via StateImpact Texas)

China finds resistance to oil deals in Africa (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

DOE advanced vehicle loan portfolio remains strong (via EarthTechling)

Ford adding 200 charging stations in next 15 months (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Environmental groups set for new fight over drilling on US-managed Utah land (via New York Times)

POLITICS 

Obama energy officials defend climate plan to Republicans (via Bloomberg)

Democrat Manchin’s opposition imperils Obama FERC nominee (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Time for Angela Merkel to fill the climate leadership vacuum? (via RTCC)

Carbon pricing levels playing field, reduces energy use (via Energy Manager Today)

Fracking may not be as bad for the climate as we thought (via Washington Post)

Clearing up a few myths about Brazilian biofuels trade (via Energy Collective)

Whether approved or not, Keystone XL has been a victory for lobbyists (via DeSmog Blog)

Naomi Klein “waging ideological war” instead of tacking climate change (via The Guardian)

What’s the climate change context behind Colorado’s floods? (via ClimateWire)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China to publish monthly list of 10 worst polluted cities (via Reuters)

Human fingerprints visible in atmospheric changes (via Climate Central)

Latest RGGI auction: Time to reconsider “success” in carbon markets? (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to switch off last operational nuclear power plant (via Reuters)

COAL 

In Australia, an uphill battle to rein in the power of coal (via Yale e360)

US coal companies scale back export goals (via New York Times)

Mississippi coal plant overruns show risks of carbon rules (via Bloomberg)

Is the writing on the wall for US coal? (via Green Car Reports)

RENEWABLES 

China to slap anti-subsidy duties on US solar material (via Reuters)

Japan solar PV installations reach 10GW milestone (via CleanTechnica)

2.7GW of solar PV up for grabs at upcoming Brazilian renewable auction (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s largest tidal power array surges forward (via BusinessGreen)

Blend wall closes in and lobbies spar over impact (via Breaking Energy)

Wall Street exploits ethanol credits and prices spike (via New York Times)

Refiners lobbying lawmakers to repeal renewable fuel law (via Houston Chronicle)

Case study: Wind lags responding to a power demand spike (via Breaking Energy)

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

California sets up $162 million annual clean energy research fund (via EarthTechling)

Maine’s offshore wind development becomes a bidding war (via Renewable Energy World)

Google now buying enough wind energy to power 170k homes (via GigaOm)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany plans $3.5 billion support for energy and climate fund (via Bloomberg)

Study: Clean energy best answer for US power costs (via United Press International)

America’s Power Plan: The crucial role of distributed resources (via RMI Outlet)

California bills shape new energy world (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Study: Methane leaks from gas drilling not as large as feared (via AP)

North Dakota officials say regulation needed to curb flaring (via Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE 

Antarctic ice sheet melting from below, scientists say (via Christian Science Monitor)

Australia ditches climate minister position in cabinet (via BusinessGreen)

South Africa set to be hit by climate-related migration (via RTCC)

California and China sign climate change pact (via RTCC)

Study: Majority of climate change news stories focus on uncertainty (via The Guardian)

Case for climate change is overwhelming, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Coastal communities in Virginia lead the way on local climate action (via WRI Insights)

KEYSTONE XL 

Obama’s ex-climate czar: Canadian CO2 offer would change debate on Keystone (via The Hill)

Keystone soon will carry crude through Texas, with or without Obama (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

UK’s smart meter plan kicks into high gear (via GigaOm)

Study: Battery energy storage benefits solar, not wind (via CleanTechnica)

USDA provides $136 million in grid improvement funding (via Renew Grid)

Microgrids: A new kind of power struggle in New York and Connecticut (via Greentech Media)

California ISO approves three-year grid plan (via Renew Grid)

Net metering grows some muscles in California (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Colorado and industry working to assess damage in flooded oil fields (via Denver Post)

Blood tests show elevated health risks for Gulf oil spill cleanup workers (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Scotland plans to go electric, ban gas-burners by 2050 (via Autoblog Green)

12 million carsharing users predicted by 2020, 2.3 million today (via Autoblog)

Report: Biofuel could cut CO2 cheaper than electric cars (via BusinessGreen)

Ford launches employee EV charging network (via Environmental Leader)

US to sell nonperforming Fisker Auto loans next month (via Reuters)

National Plug-In Day will hit 75+ US cities (via CleanTechnica)

GM triples size of its Michigan electric vehicle battery laboratory (via CleanTechnica)

Coastal states will lead plug-in vehicle adoption through 2022 (via Autoblog Green)

US gas prices set record: 1,000 straight days above $3 a gallon (via Christian Science Monitor)

POLITICS 

An unusual public battle over an energy nomination (via New York Times)

Senate Leader Reid offers path forward on stalled energy bill (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How science denial is going to affect today’s big climate hearing (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks vs. climate deniers: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt” (via Climate Progress)

The era of unlimited carbon pollution is over (via Politico)

5 stages of climate denial on display ahead of IPCC report (via The Guardian)

Four charts prove the future of clean energy is arriving (via Greentech Media)

Will Germany reject smart meters? (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Markets bet on Australian carbon repeal…and a new carbon price (via Renew Economy)

EU Parliament votes to tackle biofuel emissions from 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Biggest polluters in US ranked by emissions in new report (via Huffington Post)

California cap-and-trade may be hurt as emissions drop off (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Oil industry touts $81 billion in carbon-cutting efforts (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Batteries and plug-ins dominate Frankfurt Auto Show (via Climate Progress)

CA, NY, WA, FL will lead US in plug-in EV sales through 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Average fuel economy for new US vehicles hits high of 24.9 mpg (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES 

Development banks lend record $108.9 billion to clean energy in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Report: Offshore wind can be installed in deeper waters at cheaper cost (via Greentech Media)

China to back 50MW Kazakhstan wind farm (via Recharge)

3D-printing robots could enable solar arrays to self-fabricate in space (via Treehugger)

Coupled solar and energy storage market to grow (via Renewable Energy World)

Talking windmills herald gust of US productivity growth (via Bloomberg)

Cuomo starts $1 billion New York State green bank for energy lending (via Bloomberg)

Energy bill in California gets a rooftop solar-friendly makeover (via Renewable Energy World)

North Dakota county approves $350-million wind farm (via Bismarck Tribune)

Minnesota opens state’s first community solar installation (via Minnesota Public Radio)

From sunlight to farm waste, small Minnesota cities create energy from what’s on hand (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Greensburg, Kansas: A high-renewables tomorrow today (via RMI Outlet)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Raising more than just walls (via Energy.gov)

NFL goes solar, who’s in the lead? (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar panel is next granite countertop for homebuilders (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Renewable energy boom could create $90 billion global HVDC transmission market (via BusinessGreen)

London Array to sell its substations and cables for £459 million (via BusinessGreen)

In Germany, a yellow light for smart meters (via Navigant Research)

USDA provides new funding for grid improvements in eight states (via Renew Grid)

CPUC proposes 1.325GW energy storage target by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Hawaii governor vows to link islands via undersea cable despite opposition (via Star-Advertiser)

CLIMATE 

EU limbers up for fight over new climate targets (via Renew Economy)

Australian military: Climate change will “exacerbate existing problems” (via ABC)

Drought helped cause Syria’s war – will climate change bring more like it? (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Secrets of fracking fluids pave way for cleaner recipe (via Nature)

Gas flaring responsible for 42% of black carbon in the Arctic (via RTCC)

North Dakota senators seek state exemption from Interior Department fracking rules (via The Hill)

As gas continues to go up in the air, North Dakota moves to tighten loose flaring rules (via EnergyWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline likely to slip to 2014 (via Reuters)

No Keystone, no problem: TransCanada pushing another tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Neil Young on tar sands: “Fort McMurray looks like Hiroshima” (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Moody’s: Bankruptcy of Energy Future Holdings is imminent (via Houston Chronicle)

California lawmakers close to passing energy reform bill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy management app turns off the heat when you leave the house (via Treehugger)

LED streetlights save Las Vegas $2 million per year (via Energy Manager Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan ponders Fukushima options, but Tepco too big to fail (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

As drought continues, Texas reservoirs could hit all-time lows (via StateImpact Texas)

OPINION 

Australia proposal to ditch carbon pricing is another nail in cap and trade (via Reuters)

Coalition wants US EIA to revamp renewable energy estimates (via Platts)

Why utilities and EV owners need demand response (via Navigant Research)

Imagining a cyberattack on the US power grid (via New York Times)

New York’s ongoing wind energy mistakes (via Breaking Energy)

How the West Texas drilling boom could go bust again (via StateImpact Texas)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.9.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada formally offers to limit emissions if US approves Keystone XL (via Climate Progress)

Keystone pipeline foe Steyer launches $1 million ad push (via The Hill)

Dilbit in Exxon’s Pegasus pipeline may have contributed to rupture (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

US, China agree to work on phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (via Washington Post)

Abbott government begins process to repeal carbon tax (via ABC)

Regulatory scholars want feds to review carbon cost estimate (via The Hill)

EPA to hold conference calls with stakeholders on carbon standards for power plants (via Bloomberg BNA)

Trees write air pollution record in wood (via Scientific American)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen-Portman bill: 172,000 green jobs, huge energy efficiency gains (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Chinese solar cheaper to manufacture because of industry scale, not cheaper labor (via CleanTechnica)

Australian renewable energy industry braces for Abbott (via Recharge)

UK urged to back EU biofuels cap (via The Guardian)

Finland looks to ease wind permitting in developed areas (via Recharge)

Dutch set 4.4GW offshore wind goal (via Recharge)

China idles fewer wind farms as grid connections smoothed (via Bloomberg)

US solar will generate as much as today’s nuclear plants, or 20% of US power, by 2026 (via Facts of the Day)

Pilot program launched to make solar more economical for electric cooperatives (via Renew Grid)

Could US solar demand bring PV manufacturing back? (via Solar Industry Magazine)

US Navy triples funding for clean energy in Hawaii (via CleanTechnica)

Renewable energy entrepreneur is China’s latest billionaire (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

House to take aim at fracking regulations (via The Hill)

US Forest Service set to decide on fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Washington Post)

FracFocus straining under heavy use as BLM weighs disclosure regulation (via EnergyWire)

CLIMATE 

Arab Summer: Warming-fueled drought helped spark Syria’s civil war (via Climate Progress)

Poland outlines ambition for 2013 UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Scientists studying solar radiation management as a way to cool planet (via Washington Post)

Ice melting faster in Greenland and Antarctica, show leaked UN documents (via Bloomberg)

Bloomberg, Steyer to launch big climate push (via The Hill)

Drones find new purpose studying Arctic ice melt (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

China looks west as it bolsters energy ties (via New York Times)

Surprising trends in summer energy use across US (via Inhabitat)

GREEN BUSINESS 

FIFA sets green goal for 2014 Brazil World Cup (via BusinessGreen)

AASHE updates college sustainability rating system (via Environmental Leader)

Executives want sustainable products, but will they walk the talk? (via GreenBiz)

Seeking investments that are profitable and green (via New York Times)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea nuclear issues, tower protests raise blackout risks (via Reuters)

Radiation levels spike at Fukushima disaster site (via CleanTechnica)

Study supports nuclear waste disposal near Great Lakes (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla worries about battery supply as it increases vehicle production (via New York Times)

Is $35,000 or less the threshold price for volume EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

US gasoline rises to $3.58 a gallon (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

X Prize unveils $2 million award to prevent ocean acidification (via USA Today)

Rim Fire is third-largest wildfire in California’s history (via NPR)

In South Florida, a polluted water bubble ready to burst (via New York Times)

OPINION 

3 big takeaways from the new global commitment to phase down HFCs (via WRI Insights)

The president and the pipeline (via New Yorker)

Net metering polices helping to spur solar growth (via Huffington Post)

How big business can save the climate (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.6.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Europe offers US a deal, hoping for global rules on airline emissions (via New York Times)

Carbon prices rise to 5-month high as EU crimps free-permit handout (via Bloomberg)

Coalition’s plans to remove Australian carbon price will cost more than $6 billion (via The Guardian)

A new divestment focus: Fossil fuels (via New York Times)

COAL 

China may get over its addition to coal sooner than anyone thought (via Quartz)

Coal, hit hard by natural gas, could see further US market erosion from regulations (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power will hit 12GW worldwide by end of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Deutsche Bank says solar is approaching grid parity (via Breaking Energy)

Chile adopts 20% renewables by 2025 target (via Recharge)

Biggest geothermal plant of its kind kicks into gear in New Zealand (via EarthTechling)

Renewables account for nearly 50% of US added capacity in 2012 (via Transmission & Distribution World)

White House reviewing 2014 biofuel targets (via Reuters)

Wildlife groups, wind industry meet on eagle permit rule (via The Hill)

A $1.6 million win in America’s second offshore wind lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Studies suggest combining renewables can fully cover energy needs by 2030 (via Energy Collective)

Is solar about to get squeezed or saved in California? (via Greentech Solar)

In unlikely alliance, Wisconsin Libertarians back solar plan (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

US oil production reaches highest level in 24 years (via Houston Chronicle)

Is there another big US shale oil play? (via Breaking Energy)

Analyst says rail will be a lasting competitor against oil pipelines (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling permit applications soar in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA fines Shell $1.1 million for Arctic air pollution during drilling (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

India will announce plans to cut fuel consumption (via Reuters)

Who’s all excited about quick EV charging? That’d be the US military (via Green Car Reports)

San Francisco, Los Angeles account for 35% of US EV sales (via Huffington Post)

Like Tesla, Nissan making money selling ZEC credits (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Exxon: Natural gas will soon overtake coal in global energy use (via Houston Chronicle)

US natgas via Panama frightens LNG exporters worldwide (via Reuters)

Study says new shale gas development boom unlikely in Michigan (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

EU says clock ticking on 2015 climate talks deal (via Phys.org)

Acidifying oceans add to list of CO2 dangers (via Reuters)

Caribbean faces water shortages from climate change (via Time)

Study links global warming to 2012 wild weather (via AP)

Risk of Sandy-level flood in New York City has doubled since 1950 (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Canada spent $120 million on research for Enbridge pipeline (via CBC News)

Enbridge moves ahead with Michigan river cleanup (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

First Keystone pipeline pumped little money into local economy (via Lincoln Journal-Start)

GRID 

German energy storage plan could trigger new market boom (via Renew Economy)

Is the smart meter market slowing down or just relocating? (via Renew Grid)

Why energy storage is cost-effective and in need of a clear market signal (via TriplePundit)

NUCLEAR

Nuclear trash men gain from record US reactor shutdowns (via Bloomberg)

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant closure in 2014 will challenge New England energy markets (via US EIA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Expect to see deep energy retrofits for federal buildings (via GreenBiz)

Survey: Building automation and data analytics are top efficiency priorities (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Significant gap exists between firms’ sustainability talk, actions (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

How climate change became the “killing fields” of Australian politics (via Mother Jones)

Obama trying to escape political fallout from natural gas fracking proposals (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)