Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.4.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel issues starkest warning yet on global warming (via New York Times)

UK to pledge “strongly” to support Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

Across America, science center offerings on climate change are scant (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Climate change brings pine beetles north to New York and New Jersey forests (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Denmark considers phasing out coal by 2025 (via Reuters)

Australia coal port expansion will not get environmental impact study (via Al-Jazeera America)

The demise of coal-fired power in the U.S. (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

Deserted by China, Taiwanese solar cell makers eye new markets (via Reuters)

Scottish wind energy output exceeds domestic power demand (via BusinessGreen)

Solatio, Renova, Enel biggest winners in Brazil solar auction (via Bloomberg)

Tailwinds pick up for U.S. wind market (via Navigant Research)

Ohio utilities feel burned by solar-energy users (via Columbus Dispatch)

EMISSIONS 

Australian carbon tax demise leading to large rise in emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Power producers to face shortage in South Korea carbon market (via Reuters)

Australian electricity emissions could jump 9% in 2014-2015 (via Renew Economy)

Oil rout to weigh on Alberta’s carbon emissions policy (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

U.S. crude falls below $80 (via The Hill)

Big Oil feels the need to get smaller (via Wall Street Journal)

This is how ISIS smuggles oil (via BuzzFeed)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hyundai, Kia to pay $100 million for overstating fuel economy claims (via Los Angeles Times)

Nissan Leaf sets another monthly sales record, Chevy Volt remains steady (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Four trends shaping the U.S. solar-plus-storage market (via Greentech Media)

Companies see little value in switching electricity vendors (via Energy Manager Today)

Will California’s energy storage procurement process unless the battery market? (via Greentech Media)

Microgrid built in a day for VERGE San Francisco (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

A staggering 400 million birds have vanished from Europe since 1980 (via Washington Post)

Options drying up for some parched North Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

3,500 North Dakota voters could put the brakes on fracking boom (via Grist)

The Tom Steyer campaigns you haven’t heard about yet (via Grist)

LCV’s Dirty Dozen: The names are in (via Huffington Post)

Most important race you haven’t heard of: Louisiana’s battle for solar (via Huffington Post)

Fracking ban divides Denton, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Why Argentina is most attractive shale play outside U.S. (via Reuters)

How the U.S. can produce cleaner energy while capturing economic benefits (via World Resources Institute)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

After record warm September, 2014 is on track for warmest year (via Washington Post)

Sweden pledges $500 million to Green Climate Fund (via RTCC)

How climate change is fueling the Miami real estate boom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

NUCLEAR 

Japan’s new trade minister says will restart reactors deemed safe (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

China wind-service market seen surging with $3 billion spending (via Bloomberg)

Chile will lead Latin America in renewable energy, says president (via PV Tech)

Geothermal power industry lost steam but may be poised for comeback (via Los Angeles Times)

Solar energy prices see double-digit decline in 2013; trend expected to continue (via NREL)

Solar lease securitization encounters tax challenges (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Solar consolidation expected in U.S. as tax credit drives deals (via Bloomberg)

Solar companies look to batteries, financing, soft costs as the future (via GigaOm)

$200 million more flows to residential solar loans through Sungage and Mosiac (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Indonesia developing mega coal mine five times larger than Singapore (via Mongabay)

India pushes ahead with coal reforms (via Reuters)

Peabody posts quarterly loss as coal prices fall (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Renewables, efficiency made up 70% of U.S. emissions drop since 2007 (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine, Russia gas deal may be just enough to get through winter (via Reuters)

Tougher greenhouse goals could cut EU’s natural gas imports in half (via WRI Insights)

British Columbia to outline carbon, tax polices for LNG (via Bloomberg)

Energy Department: U.S. must act now on methane emissions (via Houston Chronicle)

Regulations could douse North Dakota gas flaring (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Transmission superhighway takes shape in central U.S. (via Navigant Research)

Innovative energy storage technologies gain ground (via Navigant Research)

OIL 

Oil falls on speculation OPEC won’t cut production (via The Hill)

Report: ISIS oil production worth $800 million per year (via The Hill)

Government lags in measuring gush of U.S. crude (via Houston Chronicle)

Shale oil producers face low price consequences of their success (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil at $80 a barrel muffles forecasts for U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Crude oil spills into Louisiana bayou, kills wildlife (via Shreveport Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

As China gets tougher on fuel economy, some carmakers may be left behind (via Reuters)

UK hails best-ever quarter for EV sales as demand revs up (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark’s plan to offset transportation emissions sparks EV row (via The Guardian)

Ford Focus Electric gets $6,000 price drop, now starts at $29,995 (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan does demand response via Leaf EVs (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Amid California’s drought, a bruising battle for cheap water (via Los Angeles Times)

Land records show many Ohio state parks could see mining, drilling (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Sao Paulo water cuts used by Rousseff against challenger (via Bloomberg)

In key midterm races, Democrats sound like Republicans on climate (via InsideClimate News)

Five lose-lose Senate races for climate advocates (via InsideClimate News)

OPINION 

What's the value of divestment? (via National Journal)

Will the solar industry get behind CPS Energy’s alternative to net metering in San Antonio? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.20.14

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

CLIMATE 

EU climate chief says energy, climate deal next week “feasible” (via Reuters)

When island nations drown, who owns their seas? (via Boston Globe)

Some cities try to stem the flood in South Florida (via USA Today)

Climate change takes center stage on Instagram (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia, Ukraine reach tentative gas deal in tough Milan talks (via Reuters)

Tracers developed for tracking frack fluids (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

A multibillion-dollar opportunity – service for China’s wind farms (via Bloomberg)

UK wind industry sets new generation record with 24% power share (via BusinessGreen)

UK green investment bank’s wind fund raise “going well” (via Bloomberg)

Labor is most variable cost for solar, wind projects (via Energy Manager Today)

New biofuels facility converts plant waste to ethanol, is 90% cleaner than gasoline (via Huffington Post/AP)

New software modeling tool a wind industry boon (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar EPC firms must adapt to industry changes via new business models (via Solar Industry)

For taller wind turbines, Iowa engineer looks to concrete (via Midwest Energy News)

Another blow to Ohio’s solar industry as PUCO nixes in-state sourcing rule (via Columbus Business First)

COAL 

Study links mountaintop removal dust to cancer (via Charleston Gazette)

EMISSIONS 

Fossil fuel divestment: climate change activists aim at Australia’s banks (via The Guardian)

Renewables, not shale, biggest driver in US emissions cuts: study (via BusinessGreen)

EPA moves to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals (via The Hill)

OIL 

Saudi August oil exports fall to lowest level in three years (via Reuters)

Deeper oil slump seen as “disaster” risk for Australian LNG (via Bloomberg)

Fracking to make U.S. an “energy superpower” (via Saudi Gazette)

Despite slumping prices, no end in sight for U.S. oil production boom (via New York Times)

North Dakota aims to reduce natural gas flaring (via US EIA)

Murky waters: Chicagoans worry petcoke moving to barges (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

The coming era of long-range electric cars (via Plugin Cars)

CARB’s next meeting could dramatically change the EV landscape (via Autoblog Green)

GM expands zero-waste agenda worldwide (via TriplePundit)

Ford edges closer to “growing” its own car parts (via TriplePundit)

GRID 

Lawyers to debate $590 million Houston transmission project (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

The Chinese people care more about the environment than Americans (via Grist)

EPA finds little benefit to pesticide linked to bee declines (via The Hill)

GM, Dow, others launch zero-waste initiative (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Rouseff on the offensive a week from runoff vote (via Reuters)

Fossil fuel lobby spent $213 million last year on U.S., EU politicians (via DeSmog Blog)

How to get Republicans to stop using the “I’m not a scientist” dodge (via Grist)

First wind, now gas: Texas tax breaks face scrutiny (via Texas Tribune)

OPINION 

Are tumbling oil prices food or bad news for the world economy? (via The Economist)

Political capital needed for clean energy finance to flourish (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Is EPA too conservative in its clean energy projections under new carbon rules? (via Greentech Media)

LEDs are a bright idea whose time has come (via Climate Central)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.17.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Russia’s Putin threatens to reduce European gas supplies (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Winter unlikely to see repeat of frigid polar vortex (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

France signs agreement to build nuclear reactors in South Africa (via Yahoo! News/AFP)

UK’s Hinkley nuclear deal to face National Audit Office probe (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

Europe’s biggest solar bonds downgraded on Italy’s policy (via Bloomberg)

As Japan eyes nuclear restarts, renewables get shut out of grid (via Reuters)

India announces 15GW solar power purchase program (via Renewable Energy World)

China to phase out financial support for solar sector by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

JinkoSolar adds 200MW to China PV project pipeline (via PV Tech)

GTM Research expects equivalent of 25GW new polysilicon production by 2016 (via PV Tech)

Minneapolis utility fight ends with unique clean-energy deal (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Pacific islanders blockade Australian coal port to protest rising sea levels (via The Guardian)

Britain’s battered coal industry sees glimmer of hope in carbon capture (via Reuters)

For $20 million, a coal utility bought an Ohio town and a clean conscience (via The Atlantic)

EMISSIONS 

Qingdao prepares China’s 8th regional carbon market (via RTCC)

Sweden calls on EU to agree to 50% carbon cuts for 2030 (via RTCC)

Texas plant to capture, then reuse carbon (via New York Times)

OIL 

Falling oil prices shake up global economies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices plummet, Saudi Arabia faces a test of strategy (via New York Times)

Oil-by-rail fuels record U.S. imports of Canadian oil (via DeSmogBlog)

Shale oil boom helping American consumers like never before (via Bloomberg)

U.S. moves ahead with central Gulf of Mexico offshore auction (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Americans could waste $2.8 trillion stuck in traffic by 2030 (via Autoblog)

Tesla says first battery-swapping site will go live in December (via Green Car Reports)

11 more GM facilities worldwide go landfill-free; total rises to 122 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC investigating polar vortex impact on grid (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sao Paulo running out of water unless reserve tapped now (via Bloomberg)

U.S. plastic bottle recycling increases for 24th year (via Environmental Leader)

Whole Foods launches environmental ratings for its produce (via BusinessGreen)

Tornadoes increasingly coming in swarms in U.S., study says (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Neves closing campaign cash gap thanks to banks and ethanol (via Reuters)

OPINION 

PJM’s capacity market: Model to copy or avoid? (via Breaking Energy)

Why you should question the value proposition of energy storage (via Greentech Media)

We don’t, and can’t know how much it will cost to tackle climate change (via Grist)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EPA ozone-pollution standard left intact by Supreme Court (via Bloomberg)

Methane pollution from federal lands rising, oil boom to blame (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Leading Australian pension fund ditches coal holdings (via RTCC)

Complex market forces are challenging Appalachian coal mining (via Center for American Progress)

Coal miners to march on EPA against climate rule (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar power market could hit 200GW by end of 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. solar trade case could expand to include Chinese modules with any cell origin (via PV Tech)

Chinese, Japanese solar PV to soar in Q4 2014 (via Recharge)

Solar PV catching on fast in Latin America, Caribbean (via Triple Pundit)

UK offers $482 million for renewable energy auctions (via Energy Manager Today)

China’s solar industry continues rebound (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar, wind cost may fall to level for coal by 2020s (via Bloomberg)

First-ever global life cycle assessment of renewable energy future (via Phys.org)

Solar companies fall on U.S. stock market on heavy volume (via Reuters)

Despite political setback, high hopes for Ohio clean energy (via Midwest Energy News)

Researchers develop technique to turn winery waste into biofuel (via Breaking Energy)

DuPont, P&G partner to use cellulosic ethanol in Tide laundry detergent, replacing corn ethanol (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU moves closer to 2030 deal on climate, energy (via Bloomberg)

Japan nuclear restart to hit oil usage hardest (via Reuters)

Regulatory complexities, natural gas economics driving power markets (via Energy Manager Today)

California drought leads to less hydropower, increased natural gas generation (via U.S. EIA)

OIL 

EU abandons “dirty” label for tar sands oil (via Reuters)

DOE Secretary skeptical U.S. will export oil anytime soon (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

EV sales charge up 50% in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Fast charging your EV might not be as bad for batteries as predicted (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla to join luxury race into automated driving (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

The ocean’s surface layer has been warming much faster than previously thought (via Climate Progress)

10 countries have pledged $2.3 billion to fight climate change – the U.S. isn’t one of them (via Mother Jones)

NATURAL GAS 

A push to make “fracking” sound better (via Wall Street Journal)

Cuomo administration edited and delayed key fracking study (via Capital New York)

GRID 

Battery storage costs could plunge below $100/kWh (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Anti-ALEC activists pressure eBay to drop conservative group (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Are Russian energy sanctions working? (via National Journal)

Why are institutional investors still hesitating on solar? (via Greentech Media)

Carbon capture’s energy penalty problem (via Reuters)

Can sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere really work? (via MIT Technology Review)

Why solar power is taking off at airports across the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Obama and Modi announce agreement on U.S.-India global warming efforts (via Washington Post)

Antarctic sea ice hits new max; continent still warming (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

MIT: Global energy use, CO2 may double by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Ex-Im Bank to finance $1 billion Mexican oil and gas deal (via The Hill)

Finland’s “fickle” nuclear energy policy? (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

2014 clean energy spending at $175 billion so far on Chinese rise (via Bloomberg)

Global clean energy investment rallies, but UK market plummets (via BusinessGreen)

Latin America on pace to install 2.3GW of solar PV in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

World Bank approves $500 million for Morocco solar (via Bloomberg)

Trina drops as Japan outlook sinks Chinese solar makers (via Bloomberg)

Property tycoon reveals $20 billion solar-led portfolio (via Bloomberg)

Vivint Solar makes public market debut, shares up modestly (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Hilton Worldwide achieves ISO 50001 energy management certification (via Energy Manager Today)

Japan focuses on zero-energy buildings (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas slips on outlook for above-normal supply gain (via Bloomberg)

Baker Huges will officially disclose fracking chemicals (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon fracking report responds to shareholders (via ABC News/AP)

Ohio fracking waste issues go beyond chemical disclosure (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

DOE approves transmission line to deliver Quebec hydropower to New York (via Renewable Energy World)

New Jersey Transit becomes a leader in microgrids (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

U.S. crude oil exports headed to South Korea (via Energy Collective)

As U.S. debates oil train safety, local rules gather steam (via Christian Science Monitor)

Maze of federal oversight impedes North Dakota’s anti-flaring push (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil boom widens wage gap between the sexes (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla now has 200 Superchargers open around the world (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf makes 19 months in a row for record sales; Chevy Volt drops 21% (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s Musk outlines unveiling of “Model D and something else” (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Australian coal miners cutting costs not output as rebound seen (via Bloomberg)

Court upholds EPA veto in mountaintop removal mining case (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: Bark beetles not a wildfire bugaboo in Western U.S. (via USA Today)

POLITICS 

Republicans craft 2015 plan to force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via Reuters)

Energy trade group, environmental bosses rake in green (via Greenwire)

Report: McConnell opposed coal plant as county leader (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Global clean energy investment sustains its recovery (via Bloomberg)

Counting trees to save the woods: Using big data to map deforestation (via The Guardian)

Could the 2C climate target be completely wrong? (via The Guardian)

Expanding on the California Climate Credit (via Huffington Post)

Voters don’t really care about climate change, so why do Democrats keep talking about it? (via Washington Post)

The Wall Street Journal’s fresh face of climate inaction (via Slate)

The cult of Neil Degrasse Tyson (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.30.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Beijing emissions drop in carbon market’s first year (via Environmental Leader)

EPA’s McCarthy: Clean Power Plan state targets, compliance options could change (via SNL Energy)

Despite UN climate summit, fossil fuel firms are in for the long term (via The Guardian)

COAL 

China to overhaul coal resource taxes to boost domestic producers (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

IEA says solar could be world’s top electricity source by 2050 (via The Guardian)

Japan has added 11GW of clean energy since July 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Utilities limit access as clean energy tests Japan’s grid (via Bloomberg)

Schneider joins Mexican distributed solar venture (via Energy Manager Today)

Latin America, Caribbean could get 9GW new solar in five years (via Recharge News)

1GW new PV under construction in Latin America and Caribbean (via PV Tech)

China outlines new rules for wind industry (via Recharge)

Federal report says solar could cut utility profits 15% (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Federal clean-energy loans go begging over controversy concerns (via Wall Street Journal)

U.S. solar firms set to benefit from OPIC loan program (via PV Tech)

PSEG to spend $247 million through 2016 on solar power (via Bloomberg)

A new solar model takes root in Colorado (via Navigant Research)

SunEdison sets emerging markets yieldco (via PV Tech)

NREL software tool a boon for wind industry (via Phys.org)

ENVIRONMENT 

Earth has lost 50% of its wildlife in past 40 years, says WWF (via The Guardian)

Brazil drought heralds sugar shortages (via Reno Gazette-Journal)

US consumer behavior “least sustainable” globally (via Environmental Leader)

Once considered won, battled against invasive beetles is renewed (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia hopes for Ukraine gas deal this week (via Reuters)

Advocates warn frack sand rush threatens U.S. towns (via Huffington Post)

West Virginia to frack beneath Ohio River, drinking water supply for millions (via Climate Progress)

Ohio singled out for worst fracking waste disposal practices (via EcoWatch)

Exelon to build “cleanest” natural gas units (via Environmental Leader)

CLIMATE 

Climate fueled some of 2013’s most extreme weather events (via Climate Central)

Antarctic ice melt causes small shift in gravity (via Slate)

Scientists trace extreme heat in Australia to climate change (via New York Times)

Source of the sizzle: Climate change-fueled heat waves (via USA Today)

Barrier islands feeling effects of climate change (via New York Times)

Occidental Petroleum bolts from ALEC over climate stance (via National Journal)

GRID 

Grid-scale energy storage systems totaled more than 360MW in 2013-2014 (via Navigant Research)

Microgrid technologies to exceed $26 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

A major settlement could make Arizona the next energy storage growth market (via Greentech Media)

Xcel Energy powers up 200-mile transmission project (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Russian oil chief: Sanctions won’t stop Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

New Eagle Ford oil wells continue to show higher production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

European cars were 38% dirtier than air standards show (via Bloomberg)

EU countries to set EV targets under new green car rules (via BusinessGreen)

Japan conducts first public test of new maglev train (via Inhabitat)

Rolls-Royce gives up on electric, diesel in favor of hybrid (via Autoblog Green)

POLITICS 

Obama faces hard sell on climate fund (via The Hill)

Environmental groups take 2014 fight to states (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why peak oil predictions haven’t come true (via Wall Street Journal)

The death of the Aral Sea (via Science Blogs)

The natural gas boom could accelerate climate change (via FiveThirtyEight)

Dark side of the shale oil boom (via Washington Post)

Is a global climate treaty only a pipe dream? (via New York Times)

U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard: Not just for ethanol anymore (via National Geographic)

Drought in California, floods in California, doubt now in scientists’ minds (via Bloomberg)

Can the Big Island of Hawaii get all its electricity from renewables? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.19.14

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

COAL 

China power plants exempts from low-quality coal ban: Sources (via Reuters)

With China coal ban, has Australia’s luck run out? (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek) 

Battery storage to make reserve coal plants redundant (via Renewables International)

A month of disappointments for coal exporters (via Sightline Daily)

Scientists on a quest for knowledge about coal dust risks (via EarthFix)

Ohio Supreme Court approves coal strip mining in state wildlife area (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

Scotland “No” vote removes doubt for $23 billion in new renewables (via Bloomberg)

Wind adds 1.4GW to upcoming Brazil renewables auction (via Recharge News)

Jamaica aims to double renewable energy capacity (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek) 

German PV equipment manufacturing up 39% in 2014 (via Renewables International)

Solar power making big competitive gains, new studies show (via Breaking Energy)

Technology advances wind energy development (via The Energy Collective)

Food versus fuel in U.S. renewable energy showdown (via Thompson Reuters)

Report: U.S. solar costs continue rapid decline (via PV Tech)

U.S. solar and wind start to outshine gas (via Financial Times)

Wind power could improve grid resiliency, says GE (via CleanTechnica)

Putting solar panels on school roofs could increase U.S. solar capacity (via Climate Progress)

U.S. DOE targets 50,000 new solar installers by 2020 (via PV Tech)

Vivint Solar, 2nd U.S. solar installer, sets IPO terms to raise $370 million (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

2014 on track to be warmest year on record (via Climate Central)

Summer 2014 was a sizzler: Earth’s hottest on record (via USA Today)

China cautious on fresh commitments ahead of climate change summit (via South China Morning Post)

Obama to tout U.S. climate plan at UN summit (via Reuters)

Report warns Superstorm Sandy was not “The Big One” (via Huffington Post)

White House officials acknowledge climate plan’s limits, but decry inaction (via ClimateWire)

HUD launches $1 billion national disaster resilience competition (via Inhabitat)

OIL 

Oil prices at two-year low, OPEC may change that (via Christian Science Monitor)

Oxfam sues SEC over oil payment disclosure rule (via The Hill)

Oklahoma to pass California, Alaska in oil production (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

French group develops mass electric vehicle charging stations (via Reuters)

IRS won’t (or can’t) revel how many plug-in vehicle tax credits are left (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Obama urged to plug methane leaks to meet climate goal (via Bloomberg) 

EMISSIONS

Hard truths about world power plant carbon emissions (via CleanTechnica)

California and Quebec announce first joint cap-and-trade auction (via Green Car Congress)

MISO study suggests regional approach is better when it comes to EPA carbon compliance (via EnergyWire)

UN hired PR firm that won’t rule out clients who oppose carbon regulations (via The Guardian)

KEYSTONE XL 

TransCanada CEO “frustrated” by linkage of Keystone XL to climate change (via Bloomberg BNA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ruling against FERC order could cost U.S. demand response market $4.4 billion (via Greentech Media)

LEED-certified professionals in great demand (via Sustainable Business)

ENVIRONMENT 

Why fewer acres have burned this year despite California drought (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Massive Northern California fire outrunning firefighters (via Los Angeles Times)

Despite some rain, drought still grips Texas towns (via StateImpact Texas)

POLITICS 

White House cranks up heat ahead of UN climate summit (via The Hill)

Brazil’s Rousseff closes in on Silva ahead of October vote (via Reuters)

Al Gore: Climate skepticism will haunt GOP in 2016 (via National Journal)

With an eye on 2016, Christie resists climate change plan for New Jersey (via New York Times)

Frank Pallone builds support for top spot on Energy Committee (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why higher education is a bright green market (via GreenBiz)

U.S. schools go solar (via EcoWatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.18.14

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Can this California university create a zero-emission vehicle future? (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Benefits of Atlantic offshore drilling outweigh costs, says study (via The Hill)

BP plans deeper offshore oil drilling despite court ruling (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Asia-Pacific solar installations could pass 17GW in second half 2014 (via PV Tech)

Global offshore wind market poised for fivefold growth (via BusinessGreen)

Leading the charge in Mexico’s renewable energy revolution (via Renewable Energy World)

Brazil state plans solar auction as it seeks local panel plant (via Bloomberg)

Lazard: U.S. renewable reach cost-parity tipping point (via BusinessGreen)

New studies find significant declines in price of rooftop, utility-scale solar (via Phys.org)

The untapped power of solar data (via Greentech Media)

New online solar map heats up roof potential (via Boston Herald)

Some see garbage, other see opportunity: Installing solar landfills (via Renewable Energy World)

Amid energy law freeze, Ohio solar market stalls (via Midwest Energy News)

SolarCity says it can make commercial rooftops into better power plants (via EnergyWire)

CLIMATE 

Amid climate change, trees are growing faster (via National Journal)

Arctic sea ice to reach sixth-lowest extent on record (via Climate Central)

Obama to tout global warming “resilience” at UN climate summit (via National Journal)

Investors representing £15 trillion in assets call for climate change deal (via The Guardian)

Ban Ki-moon to join climate change march (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal industry in deep denial over Chinese coal crackdown (via Renew Economy)

Environmentalists see judge’s rejection of Colorado coal lease as turning point in climate fight (via Greenwire)

North Carolina coal ash petitions demand quicker cleanup (via News Observer)

Leaking Dominion Virginia coal ash ponds spur complaint (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

Germany takes first steps to ratify Kyoto extension (via Bloomberg)

Carbon-capture technology works, but cost is still prohibitive (via Seattle Times)

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction prices continue to rise (via U.S. EIA)

Obama science advisor calls carbon rule first important step (via Bloomberg)

University of California regents support renewables but not coal and oil divestment (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS 

In South China Sea, China makes first big gas discovery while other countries look on (via Climate Progress)

Argentina drafts energy bill to lure shale deposit investors (via Reuters)

GRID 

Energy storage for the grid expected to reach $15.6 billion annual revenue by 2024 (via Navigant Research)

California ISO, PacifiCorp outline energy imbalance market plan (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

White House proposes new energy efficiency rule in climate push (via Reuters)

$18 trillion windfall: Health, productivity benefits of efficiency top energy savings (via The Energy Collective)

POLITICS 

Obama may enjoy a “leadership moment” at next week’s climate summit0 (via ClimateWire)

Senators back “technology-neutral” energy taxes (via The Hill)

NRDC hires Interior Department official to be president (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What’s the worst that could happen if Scotland leaves the UK? (via National Journal)

How fossil fuels make inequality worse (via Climate Progress)

Why coal is here to stay (via Christian Science Monitor)

China’s coal addition threatens the planet – but can it handle a natural gas revolution? (via Grist)

How state public money pays for coal exports and oil trains (via Sightline Daily)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.12.14

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

EMISSIONS

UN climate summit set for major carbon pricing announcement (via RTCC)

Carbon market volatility to jump on EU overhaul talks (via Bloomberg)

China plans $65 billion carbon market at around $18/tonne (via Renew Economy)

$29 billion Australian super fund to quit thermal coal investments (via Renew Economy)

States suing to stop CO2 cuts prep for them anyway (via Climate Central)

Exxon accused of downplaying carbon bubble risks (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

China bid to curb coal output seen lifting prices 10% (via Bloomberg)

Disputing a study on coal exports and climate (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Hope for clean economy as $20 billion in green bonds issued in 2014 (via The Guardian)

World’s biggest development banks pledge to scale up climate finance (via Business Green)

Can REthinking power generation create a renewable energy future? (via CleanTechnica)

India offshore wind policy to target 1GW by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

IHS says Central America to see 1.5GW new solar PV by 2018 (via PV Tech)

Ontario grid hits 35% renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Be prepared for a lot more solar by 2025 (via The Energy Collective)

Oil group says EPA may raise ethanol quote based on E85 demand (via Bloomberg)

Is a solar development boom about to begin in Texas? (via Greentech Media)

California encourages West-facing solar panels (via Renewable Energy World)

Missouri Supreme Court to hear arguments in solar policy dispute (via EnergyWire)

Cleveland becomes clean tech leader as Ohio backtracks on renewables (via Climate Central)

Cellulosic ethanol: Firsts, failures, myths, and risks (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Warmer air caused ice shelf collapse off Antarctica (via Reuters)

Downed tropical forests exacerbate climate change (via Scientific American)

New EU climate chief must deal with global warming and energy, a difficult job (via ClimateWire)

The good and bad climate news from permafrost melt (via Climate Central)

Rising seas force landowners to embrace once-reviled “living shorelines” (via Greenwire)

Climate controversy pushing scientists to become better communicators (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Judge bars former EPA official from testifying in coal emissions enforcement suit (via Greenwire)

OIL 

IEA notes “remarkable” oil demand growth fall (via Financial Times)

Environmental groups sue DOT over oil trains (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cities cut emissions through car sharing (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla Model X reservations 20,000 strong and counting (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

East Europe stocks up on gas as Ukraine crisis drags on (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Morgan Stanley bullish on energy storage (via Breaking Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

More than half U.S. companies project increased energy efficiency investment in 2015 (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How sustainability improves shareholder value (via GreenBiz)

Green jobs on the rise: Will growth continue? (via NRDC Switchboard)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazilian Amazon deforestation jumps by 29%, says government (via Yale e360)

Western governors form drought study forum (via Review-Journal/AP)

POLITICS 

Will GOP control of the Senate affect energy policy? (via The Hill)

Oil industry accuses administration of political motive in ethanol rules (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

2030 outlook: A trillion dollar taxpayer bailout for electrical utilities (via Renewable Energy World)

China shows there’s more to renewable energy than fighting climate change (via Renew Economy)

Will U.S. oil exports grease the path to economic growth? (via Forbes)

What can small cities do to fight climate change? (via Grist)