Category Archives:oil

15
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Report: South Korea confirms carbon market launch date (via BusinessGreen)

EU carbon prices rise 4.9% as free permit handouts stall (via Thompson Reuters)

Canada’s carbon emissions predicted to soar 38% by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Under pressure, FirstEnergy agrees to study emissions (via New York Times)

CLIMATE 

EU set to scale back 2030 climate ambitions (via Thompson Reuters)

Obama administration is seen as retreating on environment in Pacific trade talks (via New York Times)

Governor Patrick unveils $50 million climate change prep plan for Massachusetts (via AP/WBUR)

Native Alaskans grapple with global warming impacts (via Roll Call)

Senate group wants climate change on Sunday talk shows (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

UN climate chief calls for tripling of clean energy investment (via BusinessGreen)

Wind power leads generation output for Denmark and Spain in 2013 (via Recharge)

Google plows $75 million into its 15th clean energy project (via SmartPlanet)

SolarCity to allow retail investors to invest in its projects (via Reuters)

Harvard team sets sights on cheap energy storage of wind and solar power (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

New regulations for oil on rail cars to come in 2015 (via Houston Chronicle)

Rail accidents seen pushing Obama to approve Keystone XL (via Bloomberg)

AFL-CIO president opposes lifting ban on crude-oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Boeing aims to seek approval for green diesel as jet fuel (via Reuters)

Toyota hybrid sales top 6 million vehicles globally (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla delivers hundreds more cars than expected last quarter (via GigaOm)

EVs pose different risks than gas models, says top US auto-safety regulator (via Bloomberg)

Tesla has Supercharger routes up, down, and around the US (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Analyst predicts world’s next shale boom will be in Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Polar vortex, winter storm predictions push up natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

China wants time-of-use pricing by 2015, one meter per home by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

Analysis offers ways for transmission line developers to ease local opposition (via Midwest Energy News)

TAR SANDS

Governor Quinn seeks statewide petcoke restrictions in Illinois (via Chicago Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s Shanghai announces new measures to curb pollution (via Reuters)

Officials start to clear West Virginia regions of chemically tainted water (via The Guardian)

West Virginia water contamination may have started weeks ago, say residents (via Climate Progress)

Governor Brown to officially declare drought in California (via CBS News)

OPINION 

Thin air: Why the odds eventually favor a PTC extension (via SNL Energy)

Ten reasons why coal is here to stay (via Houston Chronicle)

Are injection wells helping spark Texas quakes? (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: AFL-CIO, alaska, australia, biodiesel, biofuel, boeing, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Christiana Figures, climate, Climate Change, coal, denmark, deval patrick, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, ev charging, FirstEnergy, google, grid, hybrid, Illinois, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, massachusetts, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Pat Quinn, Petcoke, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Richard Trumka, Shale gas, Shanghai, smart meter, solar, SolarCity, South Korea, Spain, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, texas, Time of use pricing, TOU pricing, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, West Virginia, wind
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14
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Top global emitter China best on climate change, Figures says (via Bloomberg)

After years of decline, US carbon emissions rose 2% in 2013 (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Google buys Nest for $3.2 billion (via Forbes)

Seattle energy benchmarking finds $90 million potential annual utility bill savings (via CleanTechnica)

Net zero at unprecedented scale on Illinois campus (via EarthTechling)

Nest gives Google its next big data play: Energy (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

UK solar panels reach half a million rooftop milestone (via BusinessGreen)

How the new US-China trade case could change the American solar market (via Greentech Media)

UK renewable energy firms “looking to hire more staff” (via BBC News)

Clean tech venture investment is on the rise, says report (via GreenBiz)

Solar City takes 32% of 2013 3Q US residential PV marker as utilities squirm (via CleanTechnica)

Ethanol mandate unlikely to face repeal in 2014 (via Argus Leader/Gannett)

North Carolina to join California as top 10 global PV “country” in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Coal-dependent Michigan ready to make the switch to clean energy (via EnergyWire)

New ACORE head outlines renewable energy priorities (via National Journal)

COAL 

Japan’s Tepco doubled coal burning on nuclear shutdown (via Bloomberg)

Coal reliance puts Australia second on OECD’s emissions list (via The Guardian)

China to boost annual railway coal capacity to 3 billion tons by 2020 (via Reuters)

Omnibus federal spending bill thwarts Obama on overseas coal funding limits (via National Journal)

Most states remain dependent on coal imports, draining billions from local economies (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

CLIMATE 

Massive Antarctic glacier has entered irreversible melt, could add up to 1 centimeter of sea level rise (via InsideClimate)

New assessment of climate change’s economic risks is ready for business (via Climate Progress)

Historic black colleges leading climate change advocacy (via Huffington Post)

The flood next time: Grappling with sea level rise sooner not later (via New York Times)

Massachusetts governor to unveil climate change prep plan today (via Boston Herald/AP)

Washington DC’s water utility takes lead in preparing for warming world (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

Trains will still move oil despite wrecks, Keystone XL (via Climate Central)

Federal report says 400,000 gallons of oil spilled in North Dakota train derailment (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 2.6 million EVs will be sold in the US between 2013 and 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Ford F150 truck trail blazes new green technologies (via TriplePundit)

Annual North Carolina fee on electric vehicles starts this month (via Winston-Salem Journal)

Inslee won’t rule out low-carbon fuel standards in Washington State (via Washington State Wire)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone XL: Texas high court gives hope to landowners in eminent domain fight (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

West Virginia chemical crisis: The latest (via National Journal)

Water restrictions lifted on day five of West Virginia chemical spill (via The Hill)

GRID 

A123 installs 3MWh grid storage solution in Spain (via Renew Grid)

Upper Great Plains Region looking to join Southwest Power Pool grid (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY POLICY 

How one utility giant created its own pipeline of skilled workers (via National Journal)

Has shale gas really reduced US carbon emissions? The problem of coal exports (via Energy Collective)

OPINION 

Keep up the pressure, climate activists (via Washington Post)

Infrastructure snags: What’s so hard about moving energy? (via National Journal)

Why Nest could be a nightmare for Google (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, ACORE, Antarctica, australia, california, China, Christiana Figueres, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deval patrick, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, Ford, Ford F150, google, grid, Illinois, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, massachusetts, Michael Browner, michigan, Nest, Net zero, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Oil train, PGE, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, RFS, Rick Snyder, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, solar, SolarCity, Southwest Power Pool, Spain, SPP, Tepco, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington DC, Washington State, West Virginia
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13
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.13.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s water squeeze worsens as wetlands shrink 9% since 2003 (via Reuters)

Federal authorities to investigate West Virginia chemical spill (via The Guardian)

West Virginia river chemical leak far larger than previously estimated (via Climate Progress)

MIT study: 52% of projected 2050 global population will live in water-stressed areas (via Green Car Congress)

Drought may pressure California power utilities (via Fitch Ratings)

GREEN BUILDING 

LEED certification’s impact on America: By the numbers (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Solar faceoff: Feed-in tariff versus net metering (via Energy Collective)

Over 11,000 comments filed on EPA’s ethanol rules (via Autoblog Green)

Solar dropping wholesale electricity prices like a bad habit (via CleanTechnica)

Fate of New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm in hands of regulators (via Atlantic City Press)

Massachusetts reviving SREC program to promote solar growth (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

France’s Total to invest in Britain’s shale gas quest (via Reuters)

UK “going all out for shale” with 40 fracking sites in pipeline (via RTCC)

Manufacturers call for halt on natural gas export approvals (via Houston Chronicle)

New Jersey Pinelands gas pipeline plan is defeated (via Asbury Park Press)

CLIMATE 

EU commissioners clash over 2030 climate goals (via The Guardian)

Public’s climate change concerns “shaped by weather outside” (via RTCC)

In flood insurance fight, Congress wants easy win, not tough solutions (via ClimateWire)

Federal government investigating Christie’s use of Sandy relief funds (via CNN)

OIL 

Canada expects safety standard action on oil train cars “fairly soon” (via Reuters)

Wetland contamination can be predicted by oil boom states (via Los Angeles Times)

Can the oil industry save a threatened species? Texas tries it out (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Study: Air travel outpacing driving in fuel efficiency gains (via Midwest Energy News)

Congress fails to renew important EV tax credits (via Plugin Cars)

Electric vehicle consumers – beyond early adopters (via Center for Climate and Energy Solutions)

Fuel economy of vehicles sold last year at record-high (via Phys.org)

TAR SANDS 

Canadian government to spend $22 million green washing tar sands (via Autoblog Green)

Posted:   |   Categories: Britain, california, canada, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, drought, electric vehicles, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, feed-in tariff, Flood, France, fuel-efficiency, green building, LEED, massachusetts, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, new jersey, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, Pipeline, renewables, Shale gas, solar, SREC, tar sands, Total, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity, weather, West Virginia
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10
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.10.14

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

CLIMATE 

Scientists: Americans are becoming weather wimps (via AP)

Senate Democrats to launch climate offensive (via National Journal)

Boxer and Whitehouse: Dem leaders back new climate change push (via National Journal)

The front lines of climate change: Charleston’s struggle (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

Rift over new EU energy and climate policy deepens (via Reuters)

President Obama orders sweeping energy infrastructure review (via The Hill)

Sen. Inhofe wants EPA to report economic impact of regulations (via The Hill)

Report says drilling industry could add 44,000 jobs in Midwest by 2025 (via Columbus Business Journal)

RENEWABLES 

US solar industry installs 1.4GW in 4th Quarter 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

Study finds ethanol credits not responsible for higher gasoline prices (via Des Moines Register)

2014: The maturation of clean tech (via Huffington Post)

Technique may lower biofuel production cost (via Environmental Leader)

New Mexico renewable energy rule to get a third review (via Santa Fe New Mexican)

New York Governor Cuomo announces $1 billion, 3GW solar initiative (via Facts of the Day)

OIL 

Regulators face growing pressure after oil-by-rail accidents (via National Journal)

How a group of parents ended Radio Disney’s oil-funded educational tour (via Climate Progress)

North Dakota lawmakers meet with top regulators on oil railcar safety (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chinese vehicle sales soar past 20 million, making smog worse than ever (via Green Car Reports)

Battery development may extend range of electric cars (via Phys.org)

Nissan’s Ghosn wants to double US Leaf sales after 2013 surge (via Bloomberg)

Popularity soaring, Uber faces a backlash (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EPA to require California fracking reports (via USA Today/AP)

USGS says it may learn cause of Texas quakes within months (via EnergyWire)

100 local fracking activists receive grants from MoveOn.org (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Marines are molding energy savings along with young troops (via ClimateWire)

Seattle building owners poised to save millions (via Energy Manager Today)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone pipeline approval snag spurs oil to rail tankers (via Bloomberg)

State Department Keystone consultant lobbied for trade group linked to TransCanada (via Politico)

EMISSIONS 

Report: China to offer cash rewards to regions that cut smog (via BusinessGreen)

Gov. Brown diverts California cap-and-trade money again, to cheers rather than jeers (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

Microgrid market will reach nearly $20 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

New York plans $40 million in prizes for storm-resilient microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Under pressure, utilities look to self-healing grids (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

China mulls national pollution permit trading system (via Reuters)

We’re losing the war against e-waste, says new report (via TreeHugger)

OPINION 

New steps to strengthen the nation’s energy infrastructure (via Energy.gov)

In 2014, utilities must adapt or retreat (via Navigant Research)

Reimagining New York for a New Reality (via Sustainable Business)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, biofuel, california, cap and trade, Charleston, China, climate, Climate Change, e-waste, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, fracking, gas prices, Gasoline, grid, Jerry Brown, Jim Inhofe, Keystone XL, Microgrid, MoveOn.org, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, north dakota, oil, Oil train, Quadrennial Energy Review, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, seattle, Sheldon Whitehouse, Smog, solar, State Department, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, usgs
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09
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

Europe’s floods trump Haiyan as costliest natural disaster of 2013 (via RTCC)

Australia heat wave sets records across continent (via Huffington Post/AP)

Flooding could cost UK insurance industry £400 million (via RTCC)

US cold snap inspires climate change denial, while scientists see little room for doubt (via National Geographic)

White House says polar temperatures part of climate change (via The Hill)

Why some mushrooms may be magic for climate change (via Time)

OIL 

Unforeseen US oil boom upends markets as drilling spreads (via Bloomberg)

US oil exports have been banned for 40 years – is it time for that to change? (via Washington Post)

Train carrying oil derails, catches fire in Canada (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

New German solar PV installations fall by half to 3.3GW in 2013 (via Recharge)

Austria adds record 309MW new wind energy capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australia reaches two million small-scale solar systems (via Renew Economy)

US installed record 4.2GW solar PV in 2013 (via Recharge)

DOE’s $3 million clean energy incubator funding is very NIICE (via CleanTechnica)

CRS report outlines PTC phase-out allowing wind, gas parity (via E&E Daily)

New battery material could help wind power go big (via MIT Technology Review)

Wind aids grid as cold hits conventional power (via EarthTechling)

Thanks to wind energy, Texans didn’t lose power during polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

Solar gardens grow in Colorado (via CleanTechnica)

California leads clean energy patent pack (via Energy Manager Today)

Political activism at the grid’s edge: Ethical Electric scores $11 million (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity: Taking on and powering big companies around the world (via The Guardian)

Company pushing massive tar sands pipeline drops $200 million on Texas mega-wind project (via Climate Progress)

COAL 

Wall Street backs away from Washington coal export facility (via Huffington Post)

GRID 

FERC’s new “fast track” interconnection rules will make clean energy development easier (via Greentech Media)

Rural cooperatives: The next smart grid investment frontier (via Navigant Research)

As winter takes hold, plunging temperatures test utilities (via New York Times)

Cold knocks out 36.6GW of power generation in PJM, proving no power plant is 100% dispatchable (via Facts of the Day)

Energy storage company completes $55 million financing round (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Location, location, lifestyle determines global warming pollution (via Scientific American)

EPA publishes emissions rule to GOP’s dismay (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL 

Former top Obama security aide endorses Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

China sets air particulate pollution reduction goals (via The Guardian)

Tree islands more effective way to replant the world’s forests (via Mongabay)

Can America’s grasslands be saved? (via Think Progress)

Celebrating deep freeze, insect experts see a chance to kill off invasive species (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips promises to halve commercial lighting energy use with new LED tube (via BusinessGreen)

Seattle’s latest benchmarking data shows where efficiency programs should focus (via Greentech Media)

Houston boosts energy efficiency in new homes (via Texas Tribune)

NUCLEAR 

300 groups oppose top climate scientists’ call to embrace nuclear power (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Aerodynamic trailer design more than doubles fuel economy (via CleanTechnica)

OPINION 

Five reasons the clean tech industry is stronger than ever (via Renew Grid)

Four reasons California cap and trade had an extraordinary first year (via Forbes)

Oil trains: What you should be reading (via Sightline Daily)

Cap and trade throws a wrench into gears of green consumerism (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Aquion, australia, Austria, battery, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, CRS, deforestation, DOE, emissions, Enbridge, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ethical Electric, europe, Extreme weather, FERC, Flood, Fuel Economy, germany, global warming, grid, Houston, Keystone XL, LED, News, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, Philips, PJM, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, ptc, renewables, Rural electric co-operative, seattle, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, Solar gardens, solar pv, SolarCity, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, wind
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08
Jan

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Airborne wind, biofuels, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Flooding, fracking, fuel cell, Geoengineering, Goldman Sachs, green building, grid, Hawaii, Integrys, japan, LEED, Lisa Murkowski, los angeles, massachusetts, Moody's, Net metering, new jersey, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil prices, Oil trains, PJM Interconnection, Range anxiety, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, solar pv, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, V2G, Washington State, wind
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08
Jan

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: Airborne wind, biofuels, california, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, Flooding, fracking, fuel cell, Geoengineering, Goldman Sachs, green building, grid, Hawaii, Integrys, japan, LEED, Lisa Murkowski, los angeles, massachusetts, Moody's, Net metering, new jersey, News, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, oil prices, Oil trains, PJM Interconnection, Range anxiety, renewables, rggi, Sea level rise, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, solar pv, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, V2G, Washington State, wind
0
07
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.7.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

Natural disasters killed more, cost less worldwide in 2013 (via Huffington Post/AP)

COAL 

Coal surge sullies Germany’s clean energy image (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

India’s coal imports rise 20 percent to help fuel new power plants (via Reuters)

The future of coal: Appalachia’s downturn sends miners west (via Wall Street Journal)

More coal plant retirements in New England? Perhaps not so fast (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

EU urged to set 2030 renewable energy target by ministers (via The Guardian)

China’s CNOOC oil company selling wind, biofuels projects (via Thompson Reuters)

Mexico as bellwether for an unsubsidized solar future (via Greentech Media)

Wind emerges as Spain’s dominant power source in 2013 as emissions plummet (via BusinessGreen)

US consumer support for clean energy at highest level since 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

White House urged EPA restraint on 2014 RFS targets (via Greenwire)

NREL adds 5MW wind turbine test facility (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium urged by California lawmakers (via Sacramento Bee)

Sen. Schumer presses for safer crude-by-rail shipments (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nissan Leaf has record sales in 2013 as it challenges Volt for top EV spot (via Facts of the Day)

Plug-in vehicles: For utilities, more opportunity than challenge (via Navigant Research)

Jerry Brown seeks $250 million to boost California’s bullet train (via Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE 

Polar vortex may be example of global warming (via Climate Central)

Everything you wanted to know about the polar vortex (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports (via The Hill)

GRID 

First commercially operating Li-ion energy storage installation goes online in China (via Green Car Congress)

ISO-NE approves Northern Pass transmission line, other approvals needed (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top ten markets for energy efficient-lighting (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons cities neglect energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Clean energy should do without special tax breaks (via Washington Post)

The clean energy economy in three charts (via Energy.gov)

Canadian prime minister says Keystone XL pipeline will be approved (via Reuters)

Posted:   |   Categories: biofuels, california, chevy volt, Chuck Schumer, climate, CNOOC, coal, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, high speed rail, india, ISO-NE, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New England, News, nissan LEAF, Northern pass, NREL, oil, Oil trains, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, RFS, solar, Spain, Stephen Harper, Subsidies, transmission, Transportation, wind
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03
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.3.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon markets’ value dropped 38% in 2013 (via The Guardian)

EPA publishes final carbon capture regulations for coal plants (via The Hill)

GRID 

California’s grid takes two big steps to add more renewables and EVs (via CleanTechnica)

In Pacific Northwest, engineers map a power grid in flux (via ClimateWire)

Researchers find ways to minimize power grid disruptions from wind power (via Phys.org)

RENEWABLES 

New 1,000MW solar project in China marks “significant shift” for global market (via Climate Progress)

US solar manufacturer says Chinese companies evading import tariffs (via Forbes)

UK wind farms generated record electricity in December (via Bloomberg)

US biodiesel production hits record high (via Environmental Leader)

A US solar company makes a rare move: Setting up factory in China (via Forbes)

OIL 

Warning issued about oil shipped from North Dakota, Montana (via ABC News/AP)

Shares of Bakken oil producers plunge after US warning (via Reuters)

North Dakota’s explosive Bakken oil: The story behind a troubling crude (via Globe and Mail)

Barnett Shale drilling permits fall to lowest level in a decade (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Few transportation fuels surpass the energy densities of gasoline and diesel (via US EIA)

As battery cost falls, fast charging becomes key electric car issue (via Green Car Reports)

Legal setbacks slow California high-speed rail (via Stateline)

CLIMATE 

Australia endures hottest year on record (via Agence France-Presse/Google)

Climate change damage to poor countries goes far beyond money (via Scientific American/ClimateWire)

One problem with geoengineering: Once you start, you can’t really stop (via Bloomberg)

Five basic Antarctic facts for climate change skeptics (via The Guardian)

Kerry quietly makes priority of climate pact (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

All Oklahoma fracking operations now must disclose chemicals used (via Tulsa World)

Colorado ballot measure could let towns ban fracking (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic in oceans making own ecosystem, could pose threat to humans (via Los Angeles Times)

Will Congress go another year without designating new wilderness? (via Huffington Post Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency markets face financing, big data challenges in 2014 (via Energy Manager Today)

The aggressive acceleration of deep-energy retrofits (via GreenBiz)

Nest value could reach $2 billion on latest financing round (via SmartPlanet)

POLITICS 

Climate to be 2014 political battlefield (via The Hill)

448 new wind turbines in Iowa could swing the 2016 presidential election (via Business Insider)

OPINION 

Dear Donald Trump: Winter does not disprove global warming (via Mother Jones)

Oil and gas price forecast for 2014 (via SmartPlanet)

California’s pioneering spirit endures under cap and trade (via EDF/California Dream)

Favorable consumer attitudes toward clean energy have rebounded significantly in the last year (via Navigant Research)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, australia, Bakken Shale, Barnett Shale, battery, biodiesel, biofuel, Cal-ISO, california, cap and trade, carbon markets, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, donald trump, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA. Carbon capture, ev, Fraacking, Geoengineering, global warming, grid, high speed rail, Iowa, john kerry, Montana, natural gas, Nest, News, north dakota, oil, oklahoma, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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02
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.2.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Chinese researchers pin Beijing’s smog on fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

Climate change models underestimate likely temperature rise, report shows (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea nuclear regulators approve restart of three reactors shut in May (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Trina set to build giant 1GW solar farm in Western China (via BusinessGreen)

UK opposition to new EU green energy targets could risk “half a million jobs” (via The Guardian)

Brazil’s ethanol sector, once thriving, now buffeted by forces man-made & natural (via Washington Post)

Credit Suisse Projects ~85% of US energy demand growth coming from renewables through 2025 (via CleanTechnica)

Ethanol futures plunge most in two weeks as cheaper corn reduces costs (via Bloomberg)

Massive Minnesota solar project gets major legal boost (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Forget Keystone: Will Podesta put Arctic drilling in his crosshairs? (via National Journal)

North Dakota train derailment shows dark side of America’s oil boom (via Time)

TRANSPORTATION 

For 2014, many automakers already prepared for E15 (via Autoblog Green)

Ford C-Max Solar Energi concept hybrid can fully recharge from sun (via Green Car Congress)

Are Ford and SunPower about to make the grid irrelevant for EV charging? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Beijing, Brazil, China, climate, Climate Change, E15, Electric Vehicle, emissions, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Ford, green jobs, hybrid, John Podesta, Keystone XL, minnesota, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, Oil train, renewables, solar, South Korea, Transportation, Trina Solar, uk, united kingdom
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