Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.8.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Global carbon market value to gain 15% in 2014 on EU surplus fix (via Bloomberg)
China’s state utilities move on preferential rules in carbon offset market (via Reuters)
Pollution seen costlier after EU intervention (via Bloomberg)
US carbon emissions increase 2.1% in 2013, may rise again in 2014 (via Facts of the Day)
EPA to publish emission rules for new power plants after delay (via Huffington Post)
America’s forest carbon sink is shrinking, says government report (via InsideClimate News)
Suburbs offset low-carbon footprints of major US cities, study finds (via Yale e360)
NJ environmentalists get their day in court over RGGI withdrawal (via EnviroPolitics Blog)
RENEWABLES
China on world’s “biggest push” for wind power (via BBC News)
Japan set for offshore wind feed-in tariff (via Recharge)
Chinese solar firms face “total eclipse” in the US (via Xinhua)
Is solar PV on the brink of a second “gold rush”? (via BusinessGreen)
DOE launces national clean energy incubator initiative (via Sustainable Business)
Solar net metering war: Casualty-free, for now (via EarthTechling)
Utility holding company Integrys moves into residential solar (via Greentech Media)
Enzyme with big appetite could boost biofuels (via EarthTechling)
Midwest might be prime real estate for airborne wind power (via Midwest Energy News)
Blue Planet Foundation sees Hawaii energy 100% renewable by 2050 (via Pacific Business News)
Solar popularity continues to grow in Massachusetts (via Renewable Energy World)
COAL
China’s solution to smog-choked cities is to boost coal production six-fold (via Quartz)
Temporary rebound expected for US coal mining in 2014 (via ABC News/AP)
Goldman Sachs pulls out of Washington State coal export project (via National Journal)
Exports keeping coal industry alive despite surge in natural gas (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)
CLIMATE
Climate change could cause deep water die-off (via Scientific American)
New Year brings more extreme weather and flooding for storm-weary UK (via Climate Progress)
Climate change brings an uncertain future to one of world’s finest teas (via ClimateWire)
Polar freeze: It’s weather, not climate (via Politico)
In much of US, extreme cold is becoming more rare (via Climate Central)
Los Angeles storms to get more severe as sea level rises, study says (via Los Angeles Times)
OIL
Oil prices may fall on oversupply in 2014, Moody’s says (via Houston Chronicle)
US oil output to reach 43-year record in 2015, says EIA (via Reuters)
Murkowski calls for end to US crude export ban (via The Hill)
Top oil lobby to throw muscle into 2014 races (via The Hill)
North Dakota Republican calls for oil boom slowdown after train crash (via Prairie Business)
TRANSPORTATION
More than 35 million EVs will be on roads worldwide by 2022 (via Navigant Research)
Research: EV drivers respond to range anxiety in distinct ways (via Plugin Cars)
EV sales up 229% in 2013 across US (via CleanTechnica)
EVs integrating with the smart grid (via Plugin Cars)
GRID
Report: Japan plans national smart meter roll out (via BusinessGreen)
Report forecasts global fuel cell market (via Energy Manager Today)
With increasing barriers to federal funding, electric co-ops turn to capital markets (via Renew Grid)
Polar vortex drives record winter energy use in PJM (via Greentech Media)
ENVIRONMENT
Geoengineering could bring severe drought to the tropics, research shows (via The Guardian)
Slowly, Asia’s factories begin to turn green (via New York Times)
GREEN BUILDING
Federal government approves Defense Department funds for LEED Gold, Platinum certifications (via Environmental Leader)
OPINION
America’s trade deficit is shrinking – thank fracking (via Washington Post)
Seven things you think you know about energy (via Christian Science Monitor)
An open invitation to 60 Minutes to discuss energy (via GigaOm)
Low-carbon investments in a “virtuous circle” in California (via Energy Manager Today)