offshore wind | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.14.14 share

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

OIL

Crude oil shipments by rail increased 83 percent in 2013 (via New York Times)

BP regains ability to bid on leases for US land and water (via Washington Post)

Report: Fracking could raise earthquake risks in California (via Houston Chronicle)

Average pump price passes $3.50 for first time in 6 months (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS

Research: China’s “war on smog” won’t cut CO2 by much (via RTCC)

Social cost of carbon greatly underestimated, says report (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES

Norway’s oil fund may inject $40 billion in renewables (via Renew Economy)

Mexico boosts appeal as emerging solar market (via Solar Industry Magazine)

The burden of permitting, inspection, and interconnection on residential solar PV deployment (via Energy Collective)

California’s grid sets two new solar energy records in two days (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel Energy awards $42 million for development of renewable energy projects (via Renew Grid)

US seeks comments on Virginia offshore wind (via Recharge)

It’s official: Efficiency, clean energy can help fill California’s nuclear generation gap (via Renewable Energy World)

Panasonic looks to California for solar-storage integration lessons (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL

Beyond the hype, Keystone would yield few permanent jobs (via Reuters)

Keystone debate rages in Senate over health, climate effects (via Houston Chronicle)

Kerry says he hasn’t prejudged Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Markey wants Keystone XL oil to stay in US (via The Hill)

Dems grapple with dilemma on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE

SEC’s role in climate change (via The Hill)

Technology needed to combat climate change, says Murkowski (via Bloomberg)

Here’s what the Chamber of Commerce thinks about global warming (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS

16% of natural gas consumed in Europe flows through Ukraine (via US EIA)

Experts see cheaper way to turn natural gas into fuels (via Reuters)

Stakes high in mystery over Ohio fracking, quakes (via Columbus Dispatch)

COAL

Emails link Duke Energy and North Carolina regulators (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects Duke’s coal ash plan, amid leniency accusations (via News & Observer)

Utility quietly buying up homes near Wisconsin coal plant on groundwater pollution fears (via Journal-Sentinel)

18 Ohio coal power plans operating with expired pollution permits (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS

Climate change showdown in Florida governor’s race (via InsideClimate News)

Hanger withdraws from Pennsylvania governor’s race (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

OPINION

Russia picks an odd time to put on climate halo (via Bloomberg)

Are US infrastructure needs truly urgent? (via New York Times)

How risky is investing in oil stocks? (via CleanTechnica)

Five things we learned from the Keystone XL Senate hearing (via Climate Progress)

Fourth time’s the charm on climate change for Chamber of Commerce (via National Journal)

Posted: | Categories: BP, california, California ISO, chamber of commerce, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, duke energy, Ed Markey, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, europe, Florida, fracking, gas prices, john kerry, Keystone XL, Lisa Murkowski, mexico, natural gas, News, North Carolina, norway, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, Panasonic, pennsylvania, renewables, Russia, SEC, Social cost of carbon, solar, Solar soft costs, Ukraine, virginia, wind, Wisconsin, xcel energy

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.7.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Carbon-taxed companies cut emissions by 7% in the past year (via The Guardian)

EPA chief won’t commit to refinery carbon emissions rule (via National Journal)

EPA chief: Power plant rules won’t “put the brakes on business” (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Drilling for certainty: The latest in fracking health studies (via ProPublica)

Report to US government concludes FracFocus shields too much information from public (via Houston Chronicle)

Decisions on LNG exports up to Energy Department, says White House (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

Japan may set higher offshore wind subsidy, reduce solar tariff (via Bloomberg)

Ghana to add 600MW of solar plants, 300MW solar panel factory (via TreeHugger)

Wind power continues to grow as source of American electricity (via United Press International)

Largest US grid operator could switch to 30% renewables with no ill effects, says study (via EnergyWire)

How the military is (indirectly) fueling the solar industry (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar venture capital is down but still on the make (via Solar Industry Magazine)

US states boosting wind energy output, pipeline filling up (via Renewable Energy World)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

New poll: Keystone Xl project overwhelmingly favored by Americans (via Washington Post)

Pro-Keystone XL ad airs in White House video feed (via Politico)

CLIMATE

China calls on rich nations to give $490 billion in climate funding to poorer nations (via Bloomberg)

China’s “war on pollution” may end up accelerating global warming (via Quartz)

US infrastructure threatened by climate change poses “a national crisis” (via ClimateWire)

OIL

BP refinery seen skirting US oil export ban (via Bloomberg)

E85 fueling station availability increasing, now 2% of all US locations (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT

NOAA issues El Nino watch for summer and fall 2014 (via Weather Underground)

Rains ease California drought, make wildfire outlook grimmer (via Climate Central)

Judge rules Duke must immediately stop polluting North Carolina groundwater (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Your utility bill is going up – and there’s nothing you can do about it (via National Journal)

Batteries may vie with US oil boom as energy changer (via Bloomberg)

OPINION

Why Putin is bad news for fracking (via Salon)

Experts: Solar will live, even when subsidies die (via Houston Chronicle)

Why Russia needs to sell natural gas more than EU needs to buy it (via Christian Science Monitor)

Harry Reid: “Climate change is worst problem facing the world today” (via Huffington Post)

Posted: | Categories: Batteries, BP, california, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal ash, Coal ash spill, DOE, drought, duke energy, El Nino, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, feed-in tariff, FracFocus, fracking, Ghana, global warming, grid, harry reid, japan, Keystone XL, LNG exports, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, renewables, Russia, solar, tar sands, Vladimir Putin, Wildfire

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.6.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

UK and China launch 3-year, £20 million low carbon innovation program (via Green Car Congress)

Europe’s banks in $1 trillion risk from carbon bubble, say reports (via RTCC)

Texas could lead on methane emissions reduction, report says (via Texas Tribune)

Harvard president says fossil fuel divestment unnecessary, “hypocritical” (via DeSmogBlog)

COAL

Coal firm to pay record penalty, spend millions on water cleanup in five states (via New York Times)

North Carolina regulators want Duke coal ash pond documents (via Charlotte Observer)

RENEWABLES

Obama seeks “permanent” Production Tax Credit (via Recharge)

Cape Wind foes sue FAA over access to air traffic data (via Cape Cod Times)

Utility-backed anti solar bill on the move in Kansas statehouse (via Renewable Energy World)

$28.6 million awarded for solar projects under NY-Sun program (via Solar Industry)

Iowa gets 27% of its electricity from wind, report says (via Des Moines Register)

Mosaic crowdsources solar installation for homeowners (via San Francisco Chronicle)

What can solar companies do to woo homeowners in a booming market? (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS

Congressional pressure builds for gas exports to counter Putin (via Politico)

US gas exports will grow but won’t change markets, say industry executives (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK takes the lead on smart city standards (via Navigant Research)

Dubai focuses on technology in smart city bid (via Phys.org)

House passes energy efficiency bill targeting homes, federal agencies (via The Hill)

If DC can’t lead in policy, at least it’s leading in energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Beyond data: How to succeed in building efficiency analytics (via Greentech Media)

Tenants and landlords can both save with energy efficiency upgrades (via C2ES)

OIL

Canada’s oil-by-rail deliveries in 2013 lagged US estimate (via Reuters)

Too much propane could be a factor in exploding oil trains (via InsideClimate News)

Moniz: Oil industry hasn’t made case for crude-oil export (via National Journal)

Keystone XL-inspired clash begins over Enbridge’s $7 billion expansion plan (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT

Chinese premier says government will declare war on pollution as smog spreads (via Bloomberg)

Great Barrier Reef damage “irreversible” without radical action (The Guardian)

US trade deals from the 90s set up China as a pollution haven (via InsideClimate News)

CLIMATE

Indian cities face “huge” risks without climate planning (via Thompson Reuters)

Pentagon: Climate change impacts “threat multipliers,” could enable terrorism (via DeSmogBlog)

Climate risk bonds: How to finance climate disaster response and adaptation (via Huffington Post)

How does conservative money work against climate change legislation? (via ClimateWire)

OPINION

Historic shift to cheap clean energy being held back by over-regulation (via Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

Just another solar deal, or the future of mid-size project financing? (via Breaking Energy)

The energy transition tipping point is here (via SmartPlanet)

Will state legislatures join Congress to cut green energy incentives? (via Forbes)

A bright year for solar in the US – but clouds are on the horizon (via Time)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, australia, Benchmarking, canada, cape wind, Carbon bubble, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ernest Moniz, Fossil fuel divestment, Great Barrier Reef, Harvard, india, Iowa, kansas, Keystone XL, methane, Mosaic, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Pipeline, production tax credit, Propane, renewables, Russia, solar, texas, uk, united kingdom, wind

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.4.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

EU ETS auction cuts to breathe new life into carbon markets (via Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

EPA strikes back at sulfur emissions (via National Journal)

ENERGY POLICY

Proposed Congressional bill would revive US rare earths industry (via Navigant Research)

Green groups take aim at US energy exports as Keystone XL attack broadens (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency creates 387% return on investment in US Southeast (via CleanTechnica)

Opower files for $100 million US IPO (via Bloomberg New Energy Finance)

RENEWABLES

Africa takes first steps toward renewables revolution (via Renewable Energy World)

Five lessons US offshore wind must learn from Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Top 10 metro US areas winning the solar race (via Smart Planet)

Wind power’s big empty space down south (via EarthTechling)

In Virginia politics, renewable energy dwarfed by big utility (via Virginian-Pilot)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Study says Keystone XL would have much larger impact than State Department suggests (via Huffington Post)

Great Lakes oil pipeline raise spills fear amid debate over Keystone XL (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE

EU releases proposals for UN 2015 climate deal (via RTCC)

European support for climate change action “not dented by financial crash” (via The Guardian)

Australia’s climate forecast: Hot days, higher fire risk, more severe droughts (via The Guardian)

Netherlands to upgrade flood defenses to cope with climate change (via RTCC)

OIL

China’s national oil company licensed to seek Arctic oil (via China Daily)

Domestic crude oil drives a cautious US refining revival (via New York Times)

Crude oil export battle flares with dueling reports (via National Journal)

US court rejects BP appeal over Gulf spill losses (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

New US fuel standards aim to cut asthma, heart attacks (via Reuters)

Nissan Leaf sales up again in February, Chevy Volt dips deeper (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s battery factory threatens the auto, utility, and building controls market (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Government shutdown cost national parks 8 million lost visitors in 2013 (via Climate Progress)

Harsh winter causing large die-off of invasive insects (via Yale e360)

Study says Americans use twice as much water as they think (via Los Angeles Times)

North Carolina cites five more power plants in massive coal ash spill (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS

Russia-Ukraine conflict spills beyond borders into natural gas markets (via Forbes)

Investment report: Marcellus growth not peaking any time soon (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID

Are utility concerns about aging infrastructure overblown? (via Midwest Energy News)

Install a building battery, save the grid? (via GreenBiz)

How will Tesla’s “gigafactory” affect the grid? (via EnergyWire)

OPINION

Vladimir Putin won’t threaten Europe’s gas – for now (via Politico)

Can Congress pass energy efficiency legislation? (via National Journal)

What Opower’s IPO filing tells us about the company (via Greentech Media)

Just another solar deal, or the future? (via EarthTechling)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, australia, battery, BP, Carbon market, chevy volt, China, climate, CNOOC, Coal ash spill, Dominion Virginia, drought, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, Flood, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, natural gas, Netherlands, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Opower, Pipeline, Rare earths, renewables, Russia, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, unfccc, virginia, Vladimir Putin, Wildfire, wind

Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.3.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

China may build biggest smog lab to control pollution (via Bloomberg)

Norwegian government reviews fossil fuel divestment plan (via BusinessGreen)

EPA set to reveal tough new sulfur emissions rule (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL

Hundreds arrested at White House Keystone XL protest (via Politico)

Native Americans vow a last stand to block Keystone XL oil pipeline (via Washington Post)

Boxer joins Grivalja in push for Keystone XL contractor review probe (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

US biodiesel production sets annual and monthly records (via Facts of the Day)

Analysis finds some research studies may overstate energy crop yields by as much as 100 percent (via Green Car Congress)

Battle over renewable energy ahead in Kansas legislative session (via Lawrence Journal-World)

PUC pushes limits on Pennsylvania solar net metering actions (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Cape Wind finds cash, eyes 2016 for offshore wind operation (via EarthTechling)

Maine governor seeks to get rid of wind energy goals (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE

Flood damage cost to rise fivefold across Europe by 2050 (via The Guardian)

Russia outlines plans to meet 2020 climate goals (via RTCC)

Apple CEO advises climate change deniers to get out of company stock (via CNET)

More companies face climate-related risks to supply chains (via GreenBiz)

GRID

Joint-operating dispute reignites between Midwest grid operators (via EnergyWire)

Southwest Power Pool launches new market, is poised to double in size (via EnergyWire)

Energy storage: California’s new green tech battleground (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

IEA chief: Only a decade left in US shale boom (via Christian Science Monitor)

US natural gas prices rise a second day on winter storm, Ukraine escalation (via Bloomberg)

LA city council takes step toward fracking ban (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT

EPA takes step toward restricting Pebble Mine project on Alaska’s Bristol Bay (via Washington Post)

California governor signs $687 million drought relief legislation (via Reuters)

California rain brings mudslides but no drought relief (via Time)

North Carolina regulators cite Duke Energy in coal ash spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Top 10 regions for EV growth in US – Atlanta crushing it! (via CleanTechnica)

Almost $1 billion in claims filed against bankrupt Fisker (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY POLICY

Mexico energy overhaul could renew interest in green power (via Houston Chronicle)

In search of new sales, defense contractors embrace energy market (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

DOE steams ahead with third appliance standard in Obama’s “year of action” (via Greenwire)

OPINION

Edison Electric Institute really does not want you to go solar (via Greentech Media)

Batteries combined with rooftop solar may speed grid’s “death spiral” (via EnergyWire)

Posted: | Categories: alaska, apple, Atlanta, Barbara Boxer, battery, biodiesel, Bristol Bay, california, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal ash, Coal ash spill, DOE, drought, duke energy, Edison Electric Institute, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, europe, ev, Fisker, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking ban, grid, IEA, Jerry Brown, kansas, Keystone XL, los angeles, Maine, mexico, MISO, natural gas, Net metering, News, North Carolina, norway, offshore wind, Paul LePage, Pebble Mine, pennsylvania, Raul Grivalja, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, SPP, Tim Cook, Ukraine, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.27.14 share

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Shaheen, Portman finalize latest version of bill ahead of release (Via E&E Daily)

Opower’s evolution: Will the efficiency firm soon be a solar and EV integrator? (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

IG: State Dept did not break rules when hiring consultant for Keystone XL report (via Washington Post)

Corporation exploiting major loophole to quickly build 600-mile tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Canadian crude now moving through Keystone XL’s southern leg (via Houston Chronicle)

Kerry feels Keystone XL pressure from all sides (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer raises health concerns about Keystone XL (via USA Today)

Youth plan major White House protest against Keystone XL (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES

Solar set for record global expansion in 2014, led by China (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany must scrap its green energy law, say experts (via Reuters)

UK wind power output grew 38 percent in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

IEA says wind, solar can carry bulk of energy transformation (via Recharge)

Midsize EPCs squeezed globally while the US and China nurture top firms (via Solar Industry)

Morocco opens final tender on wind farms worth $1.7 billion (via Reuters)

Large offshore wind farms could soften blow of hurricanes (via Yale e360)

Report: Solar paired with storage is a “real, near, and present” threat to utilities (via Greentech Media)

Oregon Senate passes bill to protect state renewable energy mandates (via The Oregonian)

Cape Wind expects to wrap financing in Q3 (via Recharge)

OIL

Dream of US oil independence slams against shale costs (via Bloomberg)

Accidents spur US to mandate tests of oil by train (via Reuters)

Seismic troubles stir up trouble in offshore drilling debate (via National Journal)

Shippers confused by new federal order on oil transport (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION

Obama proposed $302 billion transportation bill (via Washington Post)

Tesla Gigafactory will be capable of supplying 500,000 EVs a year (via Autoblog Green)

Honda to halt production of Insight hybrid vehicle (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE

US, UK science academies say climate change is real (via Economic Times/Agence France-Presse)

Emerging economies lead climate action, says global study (via Bloomberg)

Climate change is increasing extreme heat globally (via Climate Central)

Report finds almost 500 laws to tackle climate change across world (via The Guardian)

COAL

Dollar value of US net coal exports has increase more than three-fold since 2005 (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT

Radioactive water from Fukushima reaches Canada (via United Press International)

Ikea suspended by Forest Stewardship Council for illegal logging (via Environmental Leader)

California’s drought is extreme, but the government is making it worse (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Light-duty natural gas vehicles worldwide will reach nearly 40 million by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

LA and California lawmakers move to impose fracking moratoriums (via Grist)

GRID

Smart grid benefits could bypass consumers, warns report (via Phys.org)

Threats to power sector gleaned from other industries’ attacks (via EnergyWire)

OPINION

Obama’s pipeline (via New York Times)

Reuters’ climate coverage continues to decline under “skeptic” editor (via Media Matters for America)

Are high natural gas prices here to stay? (via National Journal)

Stunning map shows what a worst case climate change scenario might look like (via Business Insider)

Posted: | Categories: california, canada, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, drought, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ev, Extreme weather, forest stewardship council, fracking, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, honda, IEA, Ikea, john kerry, Keystone XL, los angeles, Morocco, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil train, Opower, oregon, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, smart grid, solar, State Department, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.26.14 share

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

COAL

Japan continues to fund coal despite increasing US pressure (via RTCC)

Researchers say 35 million gallons of coal ash spilled in North Carolina (via Boston Herald/AP)

EMISSIONS

South Africa delays carbon tax implementation to 2016 (via Bloomberg)

RGGI revenues to encourage $2 billion in energy bill savings (via Environmental Leader)

ALEC drums up opposition to upcoming EPA power plant limits (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL

Grivalja: GAO set to investigate Keystone XL conflict (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

Growth in solar reshaping world’s renewables market (via RTCC)

Europe to lose renewables grip to Asia and Africa (via Renewable Energy World)

Nearly 100GW in worldwide solar pipeline (via Sustainable Business)

Mexico building Latin America’s largest solar farm to replace oil-power plant (via Climate Progress)

India to install 1GW new solar in 2014 (via Panchabuta)

GE targets Japanese onshore wind market (via Recharge)

Brazil’s small PV installations think big (via Recharge)

Offshore wind power’s eye-popping capacity factors (via EarthTechling)

Growth of solar market depends on PV module reliability and performance (via Greentech Media)

Renewables account for 99% of new US generation in January (via Renew Grid)

22 ARPA-E projects have attracted more than $625 million in private investment (via Green Car Congress)

New power lines will make Texas world’s 5^th largest wind power producer (via ClimateWire)

NC Sustainable Energy Association acts to protect rooftop solar market (via Solar Industry)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Value of natural gas net imports has declined dramatically in recent years (via US EIA)

Colorado fracking rules could become national blueprint (via Forbes)

Maps show where droughts and fracking collide (via Fast Company)

Chesapeake plans to cut drilling costs by $900 million (via Reuters)

Ohio wants to plug more abandoned gas wells (via Plain-Dealer)

CLIMATE

World begins 2014 with unusual number of extreme weather events (via The Guardian)

Extreme heat days multiply despite global warming “hiatus” (via CBC News)

Geoengineering side effects could be potentially disastrous, research shows (via The Guardian)

UK PM Cameron warns climate change one of biggest threats facing world (via BusinessGreen)

New York State expects all utilities to prep for climate change (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR

Fukushima radiation could reach Pacific coast by April (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Tepco says Fukushima radiation “significantly” undercounted (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT

China on track to meet 2020 forest targets, but concerns linger (via Reuters)

John Kerry calls for expansion of world’s marine reserves (via The Guardian)

OIL

Surge in fuel exports boosting US trade balance (via Houston Chronicle)

Emergency DOT order mandates rail crude oil tests (via The Hill)

US lawmakers to question oil-by-rail safety (via Reuters)

North Dakota county wants state to take stand on illegal oilfield waste (via Inforum)

TRANSPORTATION

Psychology can wipe out 20-25% of your EV’s range (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla Motors shares zoom to record high on favorable reports (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla Model S wins “best overall” car by Consumer Reports (via CNET)

Why a gigafactory? Because Tesla used 1/3 all EV batteries last year (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US electricity use declines, says ACEEE (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION

Who owns weather, the feds or the states? (via National Journal)

Will Tesla disrupt the electric utility industry? (via Smart Planet)

Energy economist says shale fever soon will decline (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla’s stock is up 644% - why it may not last (via Washington Post)

Posted: | Categories: ACEEE, ALEC, ARPA-E, battery, Brazil, carbon tax, Chesapeake, China, climate, coal, coal ash, colorado, David Cameron, DOT, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, fukushima, GAO, GE, Geoengineering, global warming, india, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas imports, new york, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, radiation, Raul Grivalja, renewables, rggi, solar, South Africa, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.25.14 share

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

EMISSIONS

Backloading EU carbon market fix poised to become law (via BusinessGreen)

UN promises “bold response” to stalled carbon offset scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court questions EPA’s power on emissions controls (via National Journal)

Supreme Court justices struggle for common ground on EPA emission rules (via Greenwire)

Shell reaches landmark with world’s first industrial carbon capture project (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA threatens Pennsylvania over air pollution rule violations (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL

Governors: Obama expects Keystone decision within months (via Politico)

Loopholes speeding Keystone XL route through Nebraska backfire on governor, TransCanada (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES

China narrows gap to US in renewable energy ranking (via Bloomberg)

Greece awaits “new deal” after adding 1GW of solar in 2013 (via PV Magazine)

Netherlands connects over 600MW of PV to grid (via PV Tech)

Survival of fittest in China’s renewable energy market (via Bloomberg)

India announces 2GW worth of new large-scale solar projects (via CleanTechnica)

Non-hydro renewable sources triple electricity output in last decade (via Facts of the Day)

Powering the US with renewables: A state-by-state roadmap (via Renewable Energy World)

ALEC coordinates new attacks on renewables mandates and net metering (via Greentech Media)

Unions’ full support for offshore wind a “work in progress” (via ClimateWire)

Sugarcane converted to cold-tolerant, oil-producing crop (via Science Daily)

SolarCity says it had “an amazing year” in 2013 but delays earnings (via GigaOm)

SolarCity to install fewer panels in first quarter (via Reuters)

California startup turns old wind turbines into gold (via InsideClimate News)

North Carolina is newest net-metering battleground (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY

Japan unveils draft energy policy, with nuclear, in wake of Fukushima (via The Guardian)

Court throws out Bush Administration rule on mountaintop coal removal (via SustainableBusiness)

GE to spend another $10 billion on energy research by 2020 (via Reuters)

Oil, coal trains, concerns likely to increase in Northwest (via Spokesman-Review)

NATURAL GAS

Natural gas at heart of GE’s $10 billion Ecomagination boost (via Greentech Media)

More work needed to stop natural gas flaring at oil wells, officials say (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

UN makes future of small island states a 2014 priority (via RTCC)

Increase in Western wildfires fuels Obama’s budget move (via Climate Central)

OIL

Oil net imports have declined since 2011, with value falling slower than volume (via US EIA)

Shell’s Arctic oil plans face shareholder scrutiny (via RTCC)

TRANSPORTATION

Volt fleet to cross 400 million EV miles today (via GM)

OPINION

Is it getting any easier for clean tech firms to cross the “valley of death?” (via Greentech Media)

RMI report predicts demise of existing utility business (via Energy Manager Today)

After legal setback in Nebraska, what’s next for Keystone XL? (via Climate Progress)

A $400 natural gas bill? It’s on the way (via Washington Post)

Microalgae-derived biogas a promising alternative to fossil fuels (via Phys.org)

Posted: | Categories: ALEC, arctic, Backloading, biofuel, Biogas, california, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon offset, chevy volt, China, climate, coal, Electric Vehicle, EPA, EU, ev, Flaring, fukushima, GE, Greece, Hydropower, india, japan, Keystone XL, Mountaintop coal removal, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Netherlands, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil imports, Oil trains, pennsylvania, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, solar pv, SolarCity, Supreme Court, TransCanada, Transportation, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2^nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, amazon, barack obama, biomass, BNSF, Brazil, canada, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, denmark, Duke, ecuador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, green building, grid, Illinois, interior department, japan, John Kaisich, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, los angeles, Marcia McNutt, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, NREL, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, tar sands, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, usda, Wildfire, wind, wind turbine

Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14 share

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

CLIMATE

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2^nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

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