Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.14

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

CLIMATE 

Military bases face hurdles in climate change adaptation (via Climate Central)

The business cost of climate change: What the science says (via The Guardian)

Heat waves replacing drought as deadliest climate disaster (via Vox)

Corporate America steadily steering climate solutions despite Congressional stalemate (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS 

States with fracking see surge in earthquake activity (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Anti-dumping duty on solar gear unlikely to reduce India imports (via Panchabuta)

The Central American solar market is set to boom (via Greentech Media)

Record-breaking offshore wind deal helps drive up Q2 clean energy investment (via Bloomberg)

U.S. clean tech leaders announced (via Environmental Leader)

Leased solar panels can cast a shadow over a home’s value (via NPR)

Without state regulation, Iowa counties get tougher on wind projects (via Iowa City Gazette)

June bloom: Ten clean energy stocks for 2014, Q2 update (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

Coal plant carbon pollution injects life in old oil wells (via Bloomberg)

NRG’s $1 billion bet to show how carbon capture could work for coal power plants (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon tax repeal set for final showdown (via Reuters)

In lead up to carbon price, South Africa preps carbon offset program (via Climate Progress)

Emitters in China’s largest carbon market meet targets amid falling prices (via Reuters)

Switzerland threatens 40% carbon tax rise if targets not met (via Reuters)

Study: States can handle EPA power plant rules (via The Hill)

Texas utilities preparing for new EPA emissions regulations (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

North Dakota expects “big surge” in summer crude output (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK auto industry is booming, largely thanks to clean technology (via BusinessGreen)

Low U.S. gasoline taxes may lead to waste, says IEA chief (via Reuters)

U.S. oil and rail sector agree on train tanker safety (via Reuters)

Which states have the worst roads in America? (via Washington Post)

White House says won’t help Tesla sell cars online (via The Hill)

Tesla wins approval to sell cars in Pennsylvania (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

Amidst extreme weather surge, distributed energy takes on new meaning for U.S. grid (via Greentech Media)

California ready to fund the next wave of microgrids paired with renewables and storage (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

Corporate cannibals: Electricity sector may have to kill gas to save itself (via Renew Economy)

Greatest growth opportunity for electric companies: Devour oil’s market (via Energy Trends Insider)

Colorado ranked least energy-expensive state (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nestle bottling water straight from heart of California’s drought (via Salon)

OPINION 

How climate change changed me (via Politico)

The decline of coal (via Charleston Gazette)

Global warming is coming, but climate hysteria doesn’t help anyone (via Time)

The point everyone’s missing about the Polar Vortex’s return (via Climate Progress)

Electric vehicles will change the way you power your home (via Time)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL 

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL 

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID 

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN proposes building blocks of new climate deal (via Bloomberg)

U.S. and China set for latest climate change discussions (via RTCC)

France and India pledge cooperation at UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Lessons from a drowning nation (via Washington Post)

Climate change up close (via Ensia)

BBC cuts airtime for climate skeptics (via The Hill)

COAL 

Indian power plants running out of coal, imports to surge (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy’s share of China power generation to reach 20% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment rebounds to highest level since 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy share in UK electricity generation inches closer to 20% (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank lends $1 billion in Japan’s solar gold rush (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

India exploring desert-based renewable energy strategy (via BusinessGreen)

UK Crown Estate approves marine power sites, test zones (via Bloomberg)

Offshore wind energy traversing regulatory, financial currents (via Forbes)

Growing green bond market raises $20 billion in six months (via RTCC)

Four residential solar trends to watch in second half 2014 (via Greentech Media)

CitiBank official: ITC drop “beyond huge” (via Recharge)

Here’s a way to get utilities to embrace solar and batteries: Let them own the inverter (via Greentech Media)

Florida utilities working to crush nascent solar industry (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU’s united front on Russia falling amid gas needs (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ukraine-Europe gas link to run at full capacity this winter (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Aramco pulls the rug out from under U.S. natural gas industry (via CleanTechnica)

How are energy boom states dealing with fracking-related health complaints? (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Fracking fears grow as Oklahoma hit by more earthquakes than California (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canadians are eating tar sands pollution (via Grist)

Lake Mead, largest U.S. reservoir, to reach record low this week (via Climate Progress)

NRDC petitions EPA to cancel neonicotinoid pesticides (via NRDC Switchboard)

A California oil field yields another prized commodity – water (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

More Chargepoint chargers than McDonalds now in U.S. (via CleanTechnica)

Why cars remain so appealing even in cities with decent public transit (via Washington Post)

A designer fuel for the environmentally-conscious supercar enthusiast (via Breaking Energy)

EMISSIONS 

Emissions reduction efforts gather steam (via Navigant Research)

EPA refutes charge NRDC played key role in emissions rule (via The Hill)

GRID 

Big microgrid savings from replacing diesel with energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Researchers developing supercomputer to tackle grid challenges (via Renewable Energy World)

Maine utilities to strengthen grid, provide renewables access (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

Outside groups spent lavishly on top DOE officials’ global travels (via Greenwire)

Behind Harry Reid’s war against the Koch Brothers (via Politico)

OPINION 

Primer on Beijing’s slice-and-dice approach to energy and climate reform (via Center for American Progress)

Picking the lesser of two climate evils (via New York Times)

Ignore the climate change deniers (via Politico)

Should Wall Street care about global warming? (via National Journal)

Climate pricing and strange bedfellows (via Energy Collective)

Could California’s climate revolution change the national conversation? (via Huffington Post)

Jerry Brown on clean energy: The hard part is yet to come (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

Australia sees little consensus among G20 for new climate action (via The Hill)

Report says UK climate change policies have not harmed economy (via The Guardian)

Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont take serious climate adaptation action (via CleanTechnica)

Ceres: half of America’s largest companies don’t report on climate risk (via Triple Pundit)

Meet the scientist who might end the climate culture wars (via Popular Science)

RENEWABLES 

Lessons in solar development for the Latin American market (via Renewable Energy World)

Brazil planning local-content rules for solar industry (via Bloomberg)

Deutsche Bank predicts big increase in publicly traded solar-based Yieldcos (via CleanTechnica)

Global solar jobs surge to 2.3 million in 2013 (via Recharge)

Solar thin-film panels reach 11-month high on trade war (via Bloomberg)

World Bank to invest $775 million in clean energy across India (via Economic Times)

Renewables jump to 31% in Germany for first half 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil’s national development bank loans $251 for wind projects (via Recharge)

Insurers to cover European withdrawal of solar and wind subsidies (via Financial Times)

Gamesa and Areva ink deal to form offshore wind giant (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. weighs offshore wind tourism impact (via Recharge)

Two federal agencies side with Cape Wind on environmental issues (via Cape Cod Times)

North Carolina utilities panel will delve into cost of renewable power (via Charlotte News Observer)

Michigan PSC says state could boost solar at no cost to utility customers (via Environmental Law & Policy Center)

Lessons from the making of Massachusetts’ solar compromise bill (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Modi’s power pledge set to lift coal imports to record (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

U.S. Ex-Im Bank weighs loan to major India coal project (via Reuters)

Coal poised for rare win over Obama in Ex-Im Bank fight (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

U.S. pension funds ignore divestment calls, keep fossil fuels burning (via Financial Times)

Taking oil industry cue, environmentalists drew emissions blueprint (via New York Times)

California Democrat introduces bill to delay cap-and-trade expansion (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. now world’s biggest oil producer after overtaking Saudi Arabia (via Bloomberg)

Lac Megantic, Quebec still recovering from deadly oil train disaster (via Huffington Post)

US Commerce Secretary says “serious conversations” underway on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Model S earns top score in industry for total quality (via Green Car Reports)

Toyota to offer wireless charging on next-generation Prius in 2016 (via Plug-in Cars)

Data shows why EV owners are so different from the rest of us (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Germany drafting anti-shale fracking rules on public opposition (via Bloomberg)

Research links Oklahoma quakes to drilling activity (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy companies say disposal wells central to Oklahoma’s oil, gas operations (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reed faces ravaging from expected El Nino (via The Guardian)

Nearly 80% of California now under “extreme” drought conditions (via Los Angeles Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Homebuilders, restaurants herald cracks in Japan’s power market (via Bloomberg)

DOE issuing up to $4 billion in loan guarantees for energy, efficiency projects (via Green Car Congress)

A hot July energy legislation forecast on Capitol Hill (via National Journal)

The future of batteries: Q&A with director of national laboratory battery hub (via Phys.org)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Utilities reveal just how much customers are saving with energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Biggest hospital in North America to feature a green roof with medicinal herbs (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

World Bank email leaks reveal internal row over power project loans (via The Guardian)

Green bond market is growing, but what makes a bond green? (via The Economist)

Here’s why the forecast for microgrids looks so sunny (via GreenBiz)

Why carbon market participants want more corporate involvement (via GreenBiz)

Congress’s head-in-the sand approach to climate change (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.3.14

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

COAL 

Port wants to load coal between ships in middle of Great Barrier Reef (via The Guardian)

Study: Mountaintop removal reduces fish population (via Charleston Gazette)

Vanishing coal jobs weigh on U.S.-backed pension plans (via Bloomberg)

Manchin Ex-Im bill proposes rolling back coal restrictions (via The Hill)

Wyoming sticks by coal despite upheaval (via Wall Street Journal)

RENEWABLES 

India plans world’s largest floating solar power project at 50MW (via CleanTechnica)

Australia’s $10 billion clean-energy bank to announce solar deals (via Bloomberg)

Holland: Pioneering sustainable district heating innovations (via Energy Collective)

China’s second-biggest hydropower plant completed (via Reuters)

Desertec’s second wind (via Recharge)

EPA qualifies new biogas, electricity pathways for cellulosic biofuel requirement under RFS (via Green Car Congress)

Will offshore wind pick up speed? (via Huffington Post)

The rise of residential solar PV customers (via Renewable Energy World)

Distributed wind energy: The new cash crop (via Renewable Energy World)

Interior Department to auction site off Maryland for offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

New York State fracking ruling leaves shale industry weary (via Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE 

Researchers say costs of climate change being massively underestimated (via CleanTechnica)

Climate-driven wildfires consume forest service budget (via Bloomberg)

New storm surge maps debut with TS Arthur (via Climate Central)

Why New York City might need canals to survive (via Fast Company)

Sea-level rise cuts across political divide in Norfolk, Virginia (via World Resources Institute)

OIL 

Oil prices decline, despite bullish oil inventory data (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP says we have 53.3 years of oil left (via Autoblog)

EMISSIONS 

Glasgow University could ditch £19 million in fossil fuel assets (via RTCC)

EPA moves to slash methane at landfills, oil wells (via Climate Central)

EPA adds hearings on power plan carbon regulations (via The Hill)

Four carbon-pricing pitfalls to avoid (via Sightline Daily)

ENVIRONMENT 

The disaster we’ve wrought on the world’s oceans may be irrevocable (via Newsweek)

UN green fund to seek cash in November; poor nations want $15 billion (via Reuters)

UK take from environmental taxes reaches £43 billion in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

The costly lobbying war over America’s dying honeybees (via National Journal)

As their yards go brown, Californians pocket the green (via Greenwire)

California drought: America’s golden state runs dry and its farmers are struggling to survive (via The Independent)

POLITICS 

Iraq violence has restarted Bernie Sanders’ gas-price fight with Wall Street

Australian prime minister attempts to undermine global climate action (via EcoWatch)

League of Conservation Voters beefs up with hiring of climate veteran (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How climate change could foil China’s smog-fighting efforts (via New York Times)

Peak coal: Why the industry’s days are numbered (via GreenBiz)

Three signs clean tech is booming in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Is divestment at catholic universities a climate game changer? (via Huffington Post)

America needs to raise the gas tax – and then get rid of it (via Washington Post)

David Crane’s green vision for carbon-belching NRG Energy (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Caribbean coral reefs “will be lost within 20 years” (via The Guardian)

U.S. military bases threatened by climate change (via Fiscal Times)

What every governor really believes about climate change, in one handy map (via Climate Progress)

VA governor revives climate change panel, citing sea level rise threat (via Washington Post/AP)

Eight summer miseries made worse by global warming, from poison ivy to allergies (via National Geographic)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU utilities will suffer from low power prices until 2020, says Moody’s (via Retuers)

RENEWABLES 

BNEF: Renewable energy’s about to dominate global power investments (via CleanTechnica)

Research shows solar panels benefit crops (via Ashland Daily Tidings)

New EIA energy maps show four renewable energy trends (via Greentech Media)

U.S. Northeast added more than 800MW of new renewables capacity in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Cape Wind gets $150 million boost from U.S. Energy Department (via Boston Globe)

Will EPA carbon rules push Michigan harder on clean energy? (via Midwest Energy News)

NextEra yieldco IPO raises $442.7 million (via Recharge)

Barclays and MSCI launch green bond index (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

Colorado coal mine rejection on global-warming grounds has major implications (via InsideClimate News)

Georgia coal-to-solar pivot shows the way on climate regulations (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

The amount of atmospheric CO2 just reached a new record, and scientists are worried (via Climate Progress)

Giving up fossil fuels to save the climate: The $28 trillion write-down (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Nine states join lawsuit against EPA climate rule (via The Hill)

EPA looks to reduce emissions at landfills (via The Hill)

EPA’s CO2 rule and the back door to cap and trade (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic disappearing from oceans, scientists say, but why? (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Brazil made big environmental promises for its Rio Olympics – here’s why it won’t keep them (via National Journal)

California may step up water restrictions enforcement amid drought (via Reuters)

Water use fell 23% in March as LA reports driest two-year total (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Bakken Shale oil producers told to cut flaring or face punishment (via Houston Chronicle)

With North Dakota oil boom comes concern over spills (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

While you’re asleep, electric car owners are guzzling power (via Mashable)

Chevy Volt sales drop in June, Nissan Leaf inches upward (via Autoblog Green)

Gas prices at six-year high heading into July 4th holiday weekend (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

North Dakota’s latest fracking problem: Burning off excess gas (via Wall Street Journal)

Russia says European Union requests natural gas talks (via Reuters)

GRID 

Hackers find open back door to power grid with renewables (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

IEA: $80 billion wasted on power for online devices in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

LED lighting will constitute 94% of annual global street lighting sales by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

GE opens a pricing war over the connected LED light bulb (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

How El Nino will change the world’s weather in 2014 (via The Guardian)

EPA’s carbon rule is both a tax and a subsidy (via Forbes)

If Jerry Brown is so green, why is he allowing fracking in California? (via The Nation)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.24.14

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

CLIMATE 

May 2014: Earth’s 2nd consecutive warmest month on record (via Weather Underground)

Bipartisan report tallies high toll on economy from global warming (via New York Times)

World Bank says tackling climate change would grow global economy (via The Guardian)

With rising heat and humidity, many U.S. areas will be “unsuited for outdoor activity” (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Australian PM Tony Abbott introduces carbon tax repeal bill (via Huffington Post)

U.S. Supreme Court nibbles at EPA’s greenhouse gas powers (via Politico)

University of Dayton ditches fossil fuels (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

UK Green Investment Bank plans $1.7 billion offshore wind fund (via Bloomberg)

German state will soon go 100% renewable electricity (via Renew Economy)

Three lessons learned from Latin America’s red-hot solar market (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. wind headed for dismal year as carbon emissions rise (via RTCC)

Market share for leasing residential solar to peak in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Renewables provided 88% of new U.S. electrical generating capacity in May 2014 (via Renewable Energy World)

Rooftop solar leases scaring buyers when homeowners sell (via Bloomberg)

Texas hits new peak wind output of 29% total electricity load (via U.S. EIA)

Setback rule will end new wind farms in Ohio (via Greentech Media/Midwest Energy News)

Ohio’s freeze on renewable mandates encourages clean energy foes (via Navigant Research)

SunPower offers batteries to hold solar power until night (via Bloomberg)

Solar installer to use drones for rooftop inspections (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Mosiac expands solar loan program for residential installers (via Solar Industry Magazine)

COAL 

King Coal faces rising investment backlash in Australia (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. Midwest receives two months of rainfall in one week (via Climate Progress)

California drought poised to drive up food prices as it worsens (via International Business Times)

Half of Colorado in some level of drought (via AP)

Greenpeace losses: Leaked documents reveal extent of financial disarray (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

UK nuclear cleanup bill rises by £2.2 billion (via Financial Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Consumer group: U.S. drivers buying more fuel-efficient cars (via The Hill)

California puts its EV-owner survey info online (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

Wind industry unites to support 3.5GW Clean Line transmission project (via Renew Grid)

ComEd to complete smart meter rollout three years early (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Thanks to tablets and better TV tech, more gadgets use less energy (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

White House planning another big climate push (via Huffington Post)

Gasoline fears drive congressional energy agenda (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

The losing bet on climate change (via Bloomberg)

Could Obama’s climate rule come undone? (via National Journal)

Why a national carbon tax would be amazing – in four charts (via Climate Progress)

Storm clouds gathering over the U.S. solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.23.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

France launches €5 financing plan for clean energy transition (via Reuters)

Utilities unsure of future as environmental regs loom (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Yieldco returns in high demand from energy sector (via Financial Times)

Beyond the bank: A new peer-to-peer financing model connects investors to projects (via Greentech Media)

California wrestles with emerging energy business models (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Abbott revives proposal to scrap carbon-price levy (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

European Union mulls cutting energy use 35% by 2030 (via The Guardian)

RENEWABLES 

Off-grid, clean energy access market valued at $12 billion (via Energy Collective)

India power ministry seeks to reverse solar dumping duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan domestic solar shipments more than doubled in fiscal 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Australians want renewable energy target retained by 72% majority (via The Guardian)

Italy’s planned solar subsidy cuts risk scaring off investors (via Reuters)

Solar tariffs to boost prices of Chinese solar panels 14% (via Bloomberg)

Drifting off the coast of Portugal, the frontrunner in the global race for floating wind farms (via The Guardian)

U.S. water stress may drive shift to renewable power (via RTCC)

Renewable power initiative is stalling in San Francisco (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Solar at grid parity in Utah, a coal state with no renewable standard (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity’s acquisition of Silveo spurs rise in solar stocks (via CleanTechnica)

Despite funding setback, Lake Erie offshore wind project pushes ahead (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Pressure builds against France’s fracking ban (via Los Angeles Times)

LNG rally fading on new supply as nukes set to restart (via Bloomberg)

Higher U.S. natgas price needed to boost shale growth, says economist (via Reuters)

Pennsylvania ordered its health workers to never discuss fracking (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

Waves in the atmosphere fueling extreme weather (via Climate Central)

U.S. summer temperatures have risen up to five degrees since 1970 (via Yale e360)

U.S. mayors to use nature in climate change fight (via AP/ABC News)

COAL 

Rising German coal use imperils European emissions deal (via Bloomberg)

North Carolina residents worry over coal ash ponds (via USA Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Fears of EPA land grab create groundswell against water rule (via The Hill)

The White House wants to save America’s bees (via Time)

As California drought worsens, water use dips slightly (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

IEA: Unconventional oil boom to spread beyond North America by 2019 (via Houston Chronicle)

Russia needs U.S. technology to unlock $8.2 trillion oil trove (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla is world’s most important automaker, says Morgan Stanley (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla prepping Supercharger network for big growth across Europe (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla looks to fuel a battery revolution (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

Texas turns into testing ground for energy storage (via Texas Tribune)

NERC’s Summer Reliability Assessment highlights regional electricity capacity margins (via U.S. EIA)

OPINION 

The United States of drought (via Washington Post)

The RFS is broken and E85 is no solution (via Breaking Energy)

What the SolarCity-Silveo acquisition could mean (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Inside the vast liberal conspiracy (via Politico)

Democrats use climate change as wedge issue on Republicans (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Julian Castro is Obama’s newest climate denizen (via National Journal)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China completes pilot carbon market rollout, but take up uncertain (via Reuters)

EPA starts taking comments on clean power plan (via Climate Central)

TVA plans significant cut in carbon emissions (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia “secretly working with environmentalists to oppose fracking” (via The Guardian)

Sempra wins final U.S. FERC approval for LNG export plant (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Germany may install least solar power capacity since 2008 (via Bloomberg)

Report: U.S. trade dispute will inflict pains on China solar manufacturers (via Forbes)

A simple solution to the complex problem of offshore wind costs? (via CleanTechnica)

Buying into solar power, no roof access needed (via New York Times)

The rise of solar co-ops (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

$10 billion Australian coal port expansion put on ice due to weak demand (via Reuters)

Duke Energy warned about pipe’s likelihood to leak in 1986 (via News-Record)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU energy chief rules out 40% energy savings goal (via Reuters)

Survey: Americans financially motivated to participate in demand response programs (via Renew Grid)

Green homes: 150,000 now LEED certified (via Environmental Leader)

Combined heat and power is a boon for Midwest steel mills (via Midwest Energy News)

LEDs to provide big savings for San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Report: Most Iraq oil production unaffected by turmoil (via Houston Chronicle)

Deloitte: OPEC’s influence waning as U.S. shale surges (via Houston Chronicle)

Abandoned Pennsylvania oil wells may be major methane emitters (via Climate Central)

TRANSPORTATION 

Gasoline at U.S. pumps set to hit six-year seasonal high (via Bloomberg)

Harley-Davidson roars into future with first electric motorcycle (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Energy storage: A different view from Germany (via Renewable Energy World)

California’s power grid operator, PacifiCorp win approval for western market (via Los Angeles Times)

Regulators approve novel plan for “real time” power sharing in the West (via Greenwire)

Building a wind-balancing grid, one island at a time (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazil achieves 70% reduction in Amazon deforestation (via RTCC)

California’s drought getting even worse, experts say (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Must-pass budget bill stalls in Senate over global-warming fight (via National Journal)

Why Jim Rubens stands out from all Republicans running for Senate (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Rough water ahead for Europe’s energy efficiency efforts (via Navigant Research)

U.S. policymakers falling behind corporate America on clean energy (via Huffington Post)

Obama’s carbon rules show bad arithmetic (via Time)

Words matter when talking global warming: The “good Anthropocene” debate (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China completes pilot carbon market rollout, but take up uncertain (via Reuters)

EPA starts taking comments on clean power plan (via Climate Central)

TVA plans significant cut in carbon emissions (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia “secretly working with environmentalists to oppose fracking” (via The Guardian)

Sempra wins final U.S. FERC approval for LNG export plant (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Germany may install least solar power capacity since 2008 (via Bloomberg)

Report: U.S. trade dispute will inflict pains on China solar manufacturers (via Forbes)

A simple solution to the complex problem of offshore wind costs? (via CleanTechnica)

Buying into solar power, no roof access needed (via New York Times)

The rise of solar co-ops (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

$10 billion Australian coal port expansion put on ice due to weak demand (via Reuters)

Duke Energy warned about pipe’s likelihood to leak in 1986 (via News-Record)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU energy chief rules out 40% energy savings goal (via Reuters)

Survey: Americans financially motivated to participate in demand response programs (via Renew Grid)

Green homes: 150,000 now LEED certified (via Environmental Leader)

Combined heat and power is a boon for Midwest steel mills (via Midwest Energy News)

LEDs to provide big savings for San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Report: Most Iraq oil production unaffected by turmoil (via Houston Chronicle)

Deloitte: OPEC’s influence waning as U.S. shale surges (via Houston Chronicle)

Abandoned Pennsylvania oil wells may be major methane emitters (via Climate Central)

TRANSPORTATION 

Gasoline at U.S. pumps set to hit six-year seasonal high (via Bloomberg)

Harley-Davidson roars into future with first electric motorcycle (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Energy storage: A different view from Germany (via Renewable Energy World)

California’s power grid operator, PacifiCorp win approval for western market (via Los Angeles Times)

Regulators approve novel plan for “real time” power sharing in the West (via Greenwire)

Building a wind-balancing grid, one island at a time (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazil achieves 70% reduction in Amazon deforestation (via RTCC)

California’s drought getting even worse, experts say (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Must-pass budget bill stalls in Senate over global-warming fight (via National Journal)

Why Jim Rubens stands out from all Republicans running for Senate (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Rough water ahead for Europe’s energy efficiency efforts (via Navigant Research)

U.S. policymakers falling behind corporate America on clean energy (via Huffington Post)

Obama’s carbon rules show bad arithmetic (via Time)

Words matter when talking global warming: The “good Anthropocene” debate (via Climate Progress)