Category Archives:Oil exports

07
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

UN climate talks grapple with regional carbon market integration: IEA (via Bloomberg)

China plans to cap carbon emissions from steel, cement producers by 2020 (via ClimateWire)

Election shifts Oregon closer to carbon tax, not so much for Washington (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

COAL 

Coal’s defender-in-chief tries to shift debate about fuel (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables now cheaper than fossil fuels in developing countries (via Energy Collective)

UK utility-scale solar boom on tap for 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar doesn’t pay right now in Germany (via Renewables International)

UK solar companies lose legal battle over subsidy cuts (via BusinessGreen)

Republicans urged to reject wind tax credit in lame duck (via Houston Chronicle)

First Wind closes $254 million financing for Texas wind farm (via Bloomberg)

40% renewable energy integration no trouble for Midwest (via CleanTechnica)

UC-Irvine adding 3.2MW of solar canopies (via Energy Manager Today)

Vestas upgrades sales, margins forecast as profit surges (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows (via The Guardian)

Brazil wants richer countries to step up on climate (via The Hill)

New global warming remedy: Turn rangelands into carbon vacuums (via California Magazine)

Shrimp depletion in Gulf of Maine part of a global pattern (via Portland Press-Herald)

Republican gains in Washington state legislature spoil plans for West Coast bloc of climate action states (via ClimateWire)

Tech company SAP severs ties with ALEC (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS 

DOJ subpoenas Chesapeake Energy over royalty complaints (via StateImpact Texas)

Illinois lawmakers approve fracking rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

GRID 

EU’s bank to loan Britain’s power grid $2.4 billion (via Reuters)

Battery storage will replace many peaker spinning reserve plants (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Testing U.S. oil export ban carries some risks (via Reuters)

Federal Appeals Court reaffirms BP is liable in Gulf oil spill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

White House would “consider” Keystone bill (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Which EV makers are serious? U.S. sales show top three (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla projecting years of 50% growth sparks share rise (via Bloomberg)

EPA says more fuel-efficient cars available in 2015 (via The Hill)

Tesla Model X delayed thanks to Model S production lessons (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

U.S. weather forecaster slightly reduces El Nino outlook (via Reuters)

No recovery, but a sliver of drought gain for California (via Climate Central)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Commercial and industrial demand response poised for major growth (via Renew Grid)

Arizona energy efficiency programs in jeopardy (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Republican wave unlikely to wash away Obama’s major rules (via Greenwire)

House to vote on EPA “secret science” bills (via The Hill)

Republican sweep highlights climate change politics in Alaska (via NPR)

National Democrats yanking Louisiana ad buy as Landrieu faces runoff (via Bloomberg)

Meager returns for the Democrats’ biggest donor (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Six renewable energy trends to watch for in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Do Americans really want a hard right turn on climate and renewables? (via The Hill)

Can SolarCity crack the code of boosting business beyond solar homes? (via Forbes)

Election special: What the Republican takeover means for clean energy (via Greentech Media)

President Obama has stalled on Keystone for years. Now he has to make a decision. (via Slate)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, battery, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chesapeake Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, First Wind, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Illinois, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mary Landrieu, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, oregon, production tax credit, renewables, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, UC Irvine, united kingdom, vestas, Washington State, wind
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03
Nov

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.3.14

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

UN IPCC REPORT 

UN climate report rings alarm, offers guidance (via Climate Central)

IPCC final report: We’ve blown two-thirds of our carbon budget (via Weather Underground)

UN warns planet headed toward “irreversible” climate damage (via The Hill)

10 things you need to know from the new IPCC climate report (via Grist)

RENEWABLES 

PSE&G building largest solar farm to date (via Renew Grid)

Emerging markets are leading the way on clean energy growth (via Forbes)

Brazil’s first solar PV power auction sets very low $86.79/MWh mark (via PV Tech)

German solar PV installations may undershoot target (via Recharge News)

Germany to reach more than 30% renewable power by 2015 (via Renewables International)

For cellulosic ethanol makers, the road ahead is still uphill (via Yale e360)

CLIMATE 

Climate change is making it harder to get to space (via National Journal)

U.S. Postal Service is worried about what climate change will mean for mail (via Huffington Post)

COAL 

Australia coal mining marks challenge for UN green push (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Rio 2016 to offset Olympic Games’ entire carbon footprint (via Environmental Leader)

OIL 

Crude exports and re-exports continue to rise; some volumes sent to Europe and Asia (via U.S. EIA)

Hedge funds cut bullish oil bets on rising global output (via Bloomberg)

Public opposition has cost tar sands industry $17 billion, says report (via The Guardian)

Oil sands seen reaching Gulf without Keystone XL (via Bloomberg)

BOEM increases Arctic oil estimates in move to appease court (via The Hill)

For Texas farmers, drilling boom comes with a cost (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Were small cars exactly the wrong way to launch EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

More cities experiment with electric buses and other clean mass transit (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

U.S. leads demand response, but not for long (via Energy Manager Today)

Superstorm Sandy motivates New York to explore microgrids (via Climate Central)

The next big opportunity to drop balance-of-system costs: Battery storage (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Energy issues play role in Tuesday elections (via Houston Chronicle)

Coal, carpetbaggers, and Congressional candidates (via Forbes)

Post-Election Day tax extenders will be a bipartisan opportunity (via Energy Collective)

What a Republican-controlled Senate would mean for the climate (via Climate Progress)

Why oil and gas giants are trying to buy three local elections in California (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

The UN just gave us an 85-year deadline on global warming (via National Journal)

Enough with the fat climate change reports already (via Bloomberg)

EIA study removes final barrier to U.S. oil exports (via Reuters)

The struggle to combine energy efficiency and solar power (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Millennials: Core of the green economy or overhyped as the green generation? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: AR5, arctic, australia, battery, biofuels, BOEM, Brazil, california, Carbon budget, cellulosic ethanol, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, ev, fracking, germany, grid, Gulf of Mexico, IPCC, Keystone XL, Microgrids, new york state, News, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, Olympics, PSE&G, public transportation, renewables, solar, tar sands, texas, Transportation, UN, united nations
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20
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuels, Brazil, CARB, cellulosic ethanol, chicago, China, climate, coal, Connie Hedeegard, Dilma Rouseff, Divestment, Dow, electric vehicles, emissions, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, EVs, Florida, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gasoline, GM, Green bank, grid, Iowa, LED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, methane, Mountaintop coal removal, natural gas, Neonictinoids, News, north dakota, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Pesticide, Petcoke, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, wind, Zero waste
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16
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

New study details alarming acceleration in sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Smart cities are driving change across the energy sector (via Navigant Research)

Evidence connects quakes to oil, natural gas boom (via Climate Central)

Lockheed claims breakthrough on fusion energy project (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

German clean-energy costs drop for first time (via Bloomberg)

U.S. residential solar demand could approach 1GW annually (via Renewable Energy World)

Refiners press Obama to lower renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

Retailers, seeking out bargains, continue to lead on solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Georgia the latest state to produce dirt-cheap power (via Greentech Media)

Hawaiian utility targets 92% renewable energy by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Wisconsin: America’s latest solar energy battleground (via The Energy Collective)

SolarCity offers bonds, wants everybody to invest in solar (via Forbes)

OIL 

Plummeting oil prices sting Russia, other “Petro States” (via U.S. News & World Report)

Report: Oil exports could drive manufacturing renaissance (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump could lead to production cuts, shakeouts at shale companies (via EnergyWire)

North Dakota oil formations produce 1 billion cumulative barrels (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen: Plug-in hybrids a “bridge” to pure electric cars in future (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline prices fall to lowest average since 2011 (via The Hill)

Automakers, utilities studying how to manage electric vehicles (via Houston Chronicle)

California high court clears way for more bullet train work (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla face possible sales prohibition in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

Battery storage breakthrough allows recharge in two minutes (via Renew Economy)

NATURAL GAS 

Long after fracking stops, the noise lives on (via NPR)

EMISSIONS 

Exxon, Shell carbon emissions rise even as output drops (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

In South Korea, an energy storage bonanza (via Navigant Research)

Giant energy storage project aims at renewable energy’s holy grail (via Renewable Energy World)

The opportunity of time-of-use pricing (via RMI Outlet)

OPINION 

Why natural gas won’t help save the planet (via National Journal)

Coal industry still in denial over prices, regulation (via Reuters)

Are Wal-Mart’s owners really a threat to distributed energy? (via Greentech Media)

Can a low-carbon fuels standard work in Washington? (via Washington State Wire)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bakken Shale, battery, california, climate, Climate Change, coal, earthquakes, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, ev, Exxon, fracking, Fusion, gas prices, Georgia, germany, Hawaii, HECO, high speed rail, hybrid, Lockheed Martin, Low carbon fuels standard, natural gas, News, north dakota, oil, Oil exports, Renewable fuel mandate, renewables, RFS, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, Shell, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Transportation, Volkswagen, wal-mart, Washington State, Wisconsin
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10
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.10.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican opposition party clears first hurdle in bid for energy referendum (via Wall Street Journal)

Net U.S. energy imports as share of consumption lowest in 29 years (via U.S. EIA)

CEOs tout reserves of oil and gas but revealed to be less in federal reports (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

China coal tariff sends message to cut supply (via Reuters)

China coal tariffs add to pressure on Australian producers (via Bloomberg)

Cheap natural gas and emission rules darker future of U.S. coal (via Financial Times)

EMISSIONS 

Forest fragmentation’s carbon bomb: 736 million tonnes CO2 annually (via Mongabay)

Huge methane emissions “hot spot” found in U.S. (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Scotland approves four offshore wind farms with 2.2GW capacity (via BusinessGreen)

Germany’s KfW issues largest-ever U.S. green bond - $1.5 billion (via Renew Economy)

Australians copy solar garden idea (via Energy Manager Today)

Yieldcos “big” for U.S. offshore wind (via Recharge)

Amid PV boom, solar thermal systems often overlooked (via Midwest Energy News)

Battle lines drawn over Colorado net metering dispute (via PV Tech)

SunEdison yieldco makes third-party acquisition (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE

Few U.S. states preparing for climate change, says study (via Los Angeles Times)

White House pushes climate protections for natural resources (via The Hill)

DOE Secretary says climate change will affect Gulf energy facilities (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Venezuela, in a quiet shift, gives foreign partners more control in oil ventures (via New York Times)

Crude oil prices fall to lowest levels in years as market pressures converge (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil companies quietly prepare for a future of carbon pricing (via GreenBiz)

Green groups sue over expansion of California crude by rail (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Unmoved by oil export proponents, Americans still fear gasoline spike (via Reuters)

Tesla unveils all-wheel drive Model D (via San Francisco Chronicle)

310- to 373-mile EV range by 2020, says Volkswagen executive (via CleanTechnica)

GM confirms 200-mile range EV (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking setback in Poland dims hope for less Russian gas (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains over the last decade saved more energy than China consumed in 2011 (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PJM Interconnection offers bid to salvage demand response (via EnergyWire)

Texas power grid has first rotating outages since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

China pollution levels hit 20 times safe limit (via The Guardian)

U.S. weather forecaster says El Nino expected to begin in 1-2 months (via Reuters)

Atlantic hurricane season making late threat (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Silva not yet read to endorse Neves in runoff (via Reuters)

GOP flails about looking for climate denial alternatives (via Grist)

California’s top power regulator to exit amid criticism (via ABC News/AP)

Oil and gas industry “soul searching” over Landrieu (via Politico)

OPINION 

Our planet is going to blow past the “2 degrees” climate limit (via The New Republic)

The $9.7 trillion problem: Cyclones and climate change (via Climate Central)

Latin America needs good data to plan for water stress and climate change (via WRI Insights)

Why climate litigation could soon go global (via Globe and Mail)

The Keystone killer environmentalists didn’t see coming (via Bloomberg)

Google is gone, but ALEC is still winning (via National Journal)

The bell tolls for KiOR (via Energy Trends Insider)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, australia, biofuel, Blackout, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, deforestation, Demand response, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, ev, Extreme weather, fracking, germany, GM, google, Green bond, grid, Hurricane, Keystone XL, KiOR, methane, mexico, natural gas, Net metering, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, Poland, renewables, Russia, Scotland, solar, solar garden, Solar Thermal, SunEdison, Tesla, Tesla Model D, texas, Transportation, Volkswagen, YieldCo
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08
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

Ocean acidification to cost global economy $1 trillion by 2100 (via BusinessGreen)

Sea level rise making floods routine for U.S. coastal cities (via Climate Central)

Canada’s federal watchdog says it will fail to meet climate goals without new policies (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Less severe weather means lower expected household heating bills this winter (via U.S. EIA)

Texas uses the most electricity, burns nearly the most fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Solar to beat wind to wholesale grid parity in Europe (via PV Tech)

Chile top renewables market on sunny desert, windy shores (via Bloomberg)

UK confirms cuts to large-scale solar support (via PV Tech)

Study: Renewables as green as you’d expect (via Climate Central)

Solar debt financing on pace to reach highest mark since 2010 (via Bloomberg)

DOE study finds offshore wind can save U.S. billions on electricity (via NRDC Switchboard)

Drought reveals water-energy connection, cutting California hydropower in half (via Greentech Media)

Massachusetts offshore wind auction coming in 2014 (via Recharge News)

Massachusetts raises solar net metering cap for businesses, municipalities (via Renewable Energy World)

Bill to repeal Michigan renewable energy standard faces long odds (via Midwest Energy News)

Novozymes looks beyond “fantasy fuel” it helped turn into reality (via Retuers)

SolarCity to finance rooftop panels in shift from leasing (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity loan deal could propel rooftop market (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

SolarCity CEO: Half of new business by end of 2015 could be solar loans (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

Judge dismisses Nebraska lawsuit against EPA (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

OIL 

EIA sees lower OPEC output, weaker demand growth in 2015 (via Reuters)

Lower demand, higher supply drive oil prices to lowest level since 2012 (via U.S. EIA)

Shale boom tested as sub-$90 oil threatens U.S. drillers (via Bloomberg)

Keystone XL be darned: Canada finds oil route around Obama (via Bloomberg)

Crude oil export studies coming soon, says U.S. EIA (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Lamborghini unveils first plug-in hybrid at Paris Motor Show (via Inhabitat)

Airlines fly the skies on a sugar high (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Pennsylvania pursues record $4.5 million fine against gas driller (via AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Global energy efficiency market worth $310 billion and growing, says IEA (via BusinessGreen)

Energy efficiency remains hottest sector within clean tech (via Energy Manager Today)

ThyssenKrupp reduces manufacturing energy use 38% in 3 years (via Energy Manager Today)

Constellation, Comverge plan to merge their C&I demand response offerings (via Greentech Media)

ENVIRONMENT

Californians make big cuts in water usage, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

Drought a ”slow-motion disaster” for Western states (via Arizona Republic) 

OPINION 

Australia crushes its renewable energy industry (via Sustainable Business)

While critics debate Energiewende, Germany gains a global advantage (via The Energy Collective)

Four reasons pay-as-you-go solar financing is unlocking energy access for all (via Huffington Post)

How grid efficiency went south (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuel, california, canada, Chile, climate, Climate Change, Comverge, Constellation, Demand response, DOE, drought, eia, emissions, Energiewende, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, fracking, germany, Grid Parity, Hydropower, Keystone XL, Lamborghini, massachusetts, michigan, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, News, Novozymes, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, OPEC, pennsylvania, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale oil, solar, SolarCity, texas, ThyssenKrupp, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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07
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, Andrew Cuomo, australia, battery, biofuel, california, carbon capture, cellulosic ethanol, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, DuPont, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, European Union, EVs, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, grid, japan, methane, natural gas, new york state, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Proctor & Gamble, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
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02
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctica, australia, Baker Hughes, california, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, DOE, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Export-Import bank, Exxon, Finland, fracking, grid, Hilton Worldwide, Hydropower, india, japan, Keystone XL, Latin America, mexico, Microgrids, Mitch McConnell, Morocco, Mountaintop coal removal, natural gas, New Jersey Transit, new york, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, Quebec, renewables, Sea ice melt, solar, South Korea, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, transmission, Transportation, Trina, united kingdom, Vivint Solar, wildfires, World Bank, Zero energy buildings
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01
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine readies for winter without Russian gas (via The Hill)

Winter season heightens Russia-Europe gas game (via Retuers)

U.S. gas boom turns global as LNG exports shake up market (via Bloomberg)

FERC approves Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export facility (via Reuters)

EPA shows 73% decline in methane emissions from fracked wells (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS 

Smog clouds Shanghai’s drive to become global financial center (via Bloomberg)

U.S. emissions increased in 2013, according to EPA (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

India will be renewables superpower, says energy minister (via The Guardian)

Germany renewables output tops coal for first time (via Bloomberg)

Japan may apply solar brakes with rate overhaul (via Bloomberg)

India to build first offshore wind power project (via Bloomberg)

Brazil study shows 30 ethanol mills near bankruptcy (via Bloomberg)

Japan to slap more restrictions on solar power (via Reuters)

Wave power finally on the horizon? (via Renewables International)

New Western U.S. real-time market aims to smooth bumps in renewable generation (via EnergyWire)

Massachusetts: 100,000 clean energy jobs (via Sustainable Business)

Vivint Solar prices IPO at $16 per share, aims for SolarCity-style ride (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal competing with oil and gas for space on rails (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Alpha Natural sees room for just 2-4 big U.S. coal miners (via Bloomberg)

For sale: Coal mines for investors willing to buck trend (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

U.S., India partner on climate resilience (via The Hill)

Six EU states cast doubt on proposed 2030 climate goals (via RTCC)

South Pacific flotilla to protest climate change inaction at Australia coal port (via Reuters)

OIL 

OPEC oil output hits highest since 2012 on Libya, Saudi (via Reuters)

Crude oil prices recover as Saudi Arabia cuts production (via Houston Chronicle)

Rising U.S. crude exports move closer to 1957 record (via Bloomberg)

U.S. could press for international Arctic drilling standards (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil, rail industries want 7 years to fix tank cars (via ABC News/AP)

Oil lobby: Rail tank car phase-out could cost $45.2 billion (via The Hill)

Enbridge delays North Dakota oil pipeline at least a year (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla breaks into Japan (via Forbes)

NUCLEAR 

DOE to offer $12.6 billion for nuke projects (via The Hill)

GRID 

California is integrating western utilities into its grid balancing market (via Greentech Media)

Dozens of developers show interest in Hawaii’s energy storage proposal (via PV Tech)

ENVIRONMENT 

North American beekeepers sue to stop pesticides (via Triple Pundit)

California governor signs plastic bag ban (via The Hill)

California burns through $209 million wildfire budget, taps $70 million more (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

An environmentalist’s calculated push toward Brazil’s presidency (via Reuters)

OPINION 

Taxes, fees: The worldwide battle between utilities and solar (via Reuters)

The world’s biggest energy hogs aren’t who you think they are (via Christian Science Monitor)

Holding out on solar? It’s time to reconsider (via GreenBiz)

Power markets and the changing color of the grid (via The Energy Collective)

Searching for the good life in the Bakken oil fields (via The Atlantic)

The explosive debate over a new natural gas pipeline through the Northeast (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alpha Natural, arctic, australia, Brazil, california, coal, Cove Point, DOE, emissions, Enbridge, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EU, FERC, germany, green jobs, grid, Hawaii, india, japan, Jerry Brown, libya, LNG, massachusetts, methane, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, OPEC, Pipeline, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shanghai, solar, Solar City, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, Vivint Solar, wave power, Wildfire
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15
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.15.14

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

COAL 

Is China finally kicking its coal addiction? (via Huffington Post)

Coal-fired generation in U.S. to fall 25% by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

Obama’s mountaintop coal mining legacy still to be determined (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

The clean energy economy: 2.7 million green jobs, 40% fewer emissions (via CleanTechnica)

Sun and wind alter global landscape, leaving utilities behind (via New York Times)

Brazil plans 3.5GW new solar by 2023 (via PV Tech)

Central America solar capacity set to explode (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment at risk from Scottish referendum vote (via Bloomberg)

EPA faces 2014 election accusations on ethanol policy (via The Hill)

Study showcases effective state renewable energy policies to help meet pending EPA rules (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Groups do last-minute jockeying on RFS rule as election day nears (via E&E Daily)

North America’s largest biomass-fueled power plant opens (via Environmental Leader)

As Oklahoma wind industry matures, some call for greater regulation (via The Oklahoman)

Push to impose extra fees on solar customers draws outrage in Wisconsin (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

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

Big corporations brace for global carbon price rollout (via Reuters)

Major corporations leading charge for robust carbon price, says CDP (via BusinessGreen)

EU polluters to land €5 billion windfall under “carbon leakage” proposal (via The Guardian)

South Korea increases emissions cap in proposed carbon trading scheme (via Reuters)

Economists dig into problem of taxing carbon emissions or trading them (via ClimateWire)

California oil marketers want cap-and-trade investigated (via Bloomberg)

Economists call for Midwest carbon tax, emissions market (via MPR News)

OIL 

New U.S. sanctions on Russia to stall Exxon’s Arctic oil plans (via New York Times)

Momentum builds to allow U.S. oil exports (via The Hill)

New petroleum technology revitalizes Powder River Basin oil production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Fuel cells will flop outside Japan, says Volkswagen (via Autoblog)

CLIMATE 

World’s six multilateral development banks promise to do more on climate (via The Hill)

Leading philanthropic foundations can create climate “tipping point” (via RTCC)

Criminal deforestation poses growing climate threat (via RTCC)

No rain for decades: Scientists warn to stand by for “megadroughts” (via The Independent)

Climate activists organize New York march ahead of UN summit (via ABC News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK Green Deal energy efficiency program called “disappointing failure” (via The Telegraph)

California delays energy disclosure program for smaller nonresidential buildings (via Breaking Energy)

GRID 

Solar storms add to growing list of issues for grid reliability monitor (via EnergyWire)

Michigan’s agriculture industry confronts aging grid infrastructure (via Midwest Energy News)

ENVIRONMENT 

What will survive in hot, acidic oceans? (via Climate Central)

Where the wildfires are: If there’s smoke, there are costly health problems (via The Guardian)

Yosemite wildfire crews also battling bears on fire lines (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

Memo lays out value in anti-Koch attacks (via Politico)

OPINION 

Should the U.S. export oil to push down prices and hurt Putin? (via Quartz)

The climate change trap (via National Journal)

A new perspective on the net metering debate (via Renewable Energy World)

Central America’s heart set on solar with new government tenders (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Another record year for CO2 (via Energy Collective)

YieldCos don’t fit the bill for many renewable energy companies (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, biomass, Brazil, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, European Union, Exxon, Fuel Cells, global warming, green jobs, grid, japan, michigan, Mountaintop coal removal, NERC, Net metering, News, Ocean acidification, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, oklahoma, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Russia, Scotland, solar, South Korea, Transportation, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, Volkswagen, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, YieldCo
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