Category Archives:OPEC

29
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.29.14

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

CLIMATE 

Study: Climate change could spark conflict in emerging economies (via BusinessGreen)

EU sets ambitious 2030 climate and energy goals (via Greentech Media)

Chinese vice premier meets Obama adviser on climate change (via Xinhua)

NUCLEAR 

Japan edges back toward nuclear power with vote to restart first reactors (via BusinessGreen)

Nuclear industry touts environment benefits as it seeks to stem reactor retirements (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Poor countries tap renewables at twice the pace of rich nations (via Bloomberg)

EU on track for green energy goals, but 2030 a challenge (via Reuters)

Global PV operations and maintenance market to hit 237GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

Global hydropower to double in 20 years, but at what cost to wildlife? (via RTCC)

Millions in new investment cap record year for beyond-the-grid solar markets (via Energy Collective)

U.S. solar boom boosts European manufacturers REC and Solarworld (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

U.S. solar now 59% cheaper than analysts predicted back in 2010 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind and solar boosted California grid reliability during tough summer (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Shell seeks five more years for Arctic oil drilling drive (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s state-owned oil giant Pemex is in uncharted waters (via New York Times)

Goldman Sachs expects U.S. crude to fall to $70 next year (via Houston Chronicle)

Scientists discover huge “bathtub ring” of sea floor oil from BP spill (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Increasing ethanol use has reduced average energy content of retail gasoline (via US EIA)

2016 Chevy Volt will have more EV range, bigger battery (via Autoblog Green)

California to require new buildings to be prepped for EV charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla announces new EV leasing package (via New York Times)

Indianapolis plans to add 425 EVs to municipal fleet by 2016 (via Green Car Congress)

GM to build Volt electric drive in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

U.S. banks deny fund to coal port near Great Barrier Reef (via RTCC)

Coal ash rule heads to White House for final review (via The Hill)

As rail congestion crimps coal supplies, expansion calls grow louder (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Australian government wins backing for compromise emissions scheme (via Reuters)

Drying Amazon could be major carbon concern (via Climate Central)

Climate change concerns push Chile to forefront of carbon tax movement (via New York Times)

EPA quietly revamps policy for alleged major air polluters, ends “watch list” (via SNL Energy)

Four carbon cap-tax hybrids (via Sightline Daily)

Oil-price plunge gives new ammo to divestment activists (via InsideClimate News)

Sen. Whitehouse to push carbon price bill (via The Hill)

GRID 

Europe blackout threat looms amid power supply risks, says study (via Bloomberg)

Sandia evaluates batteries for modular grid energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

Alevo unstealthed: New gigawatt-scale grid battery contender (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED retail participants on the rise (via Environmental Leader)

30% of building managers use no energy saving technology (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Most Canadians say environment trumps energy prices (via Bloomberg)

Environmental groups spending an unprecedented $85 million in 2014 elections (via Washington Post)

Millennials could make a difference on climate, if they voted (via Grist)

NextGen targets GOP Senate hopefuls in Michigan, Iowa (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Can OPEC survive the oil industry’s new economics? (via Bloomberg)

It’s not perfect, but EU energy and climate deal is great news for green economy (via BusinessGreen)

Liebreich: Nuclear – the thin end of a failing wedge (via Bloomberg)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alevo, amazon, arctic, australia, battery, Blackout, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon tax, chevy volt, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal exports, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, europe, European Union, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, Gasoline, GM, Great Barrier Reef, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, Indianapolis, Iowa, japan, LEED, mexico, michigan, News, NextGen, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Pemex, renewables, Sheldon Whitehouse, Shell, solar, Tesla, Transportation, wind
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21
Oct

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, Brazil, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Demand response, denmark, Dilma Rousseff, Divestment, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, European Union, ev, Ford Focus, Fossil fuel divestment, geothermal, global warming, Green Climate Fund, grid, Indonesia, ISIS, japan, Louisiana, Miami, Mosaic, natural gas, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Peabody, renewables, Russia, San Antonio, Shale oil, solar, Sungage, Sweden, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, wind
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09
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN sets six-month deadline for delivery of draft climate agreement (via RTCC)

EU nations mull funds to aid clean energy in 2030 climate deal (via Bloomberg)

EU 2030 compromise could weaken climate action (via RTCC)

NOAA: Antarctic sea ice growth linked to loss of land ice (via Climate Progress)

Prepare for climate change or risk loss of funds, says FEMA (via Sustainable Business)

California leads U.S. on climate change preparation, says 50-state tool (via USA Today)

RENEWABLES 

Solar’s $30 billion splurge proves too much for Japan’s grid (via Bloomberg)

China solar demand in doubt as rooftop installations lag target (via Reuters)

Solar outlook in Ontario promising despite FiT cut (via PV Tech)

Ukraine wants 1GW of wind by 2016 (via Recharge News)

UK energy minister sets sights on “subsidy-free” solar by 2020 (via PV Tech)

Brazil eliminates taxes on wind parts to spur turbine production (via Bloomberg)

Mercom reports strong quarterly solar financing activity (via Solar Industry)

Slow-growing geothermal seeks bigger piece of U.S. renewable energy pie (via Breaking Energy)

Honda, SolarCity expand sun-powered partnership with new $50 million fund (via Autoblog Green)

Buying renewable power for data centers poses major challenges for Internet companies (via Greentech Media)

Wind energy innovation: Hybrid concrete and steel towers (via Navigant Research)

Proposed U.S. solar trade tariff changes “illegal” (via PV Tech)

Massachusetts offshore wind auction to include 4-5 zones (via Recharge News)

Renexia plans 500MW offshore wind for Maryland coast (via Recharge News)

NUCLEAR 

EU approves plan for new nuclear power station in UK (via New York Times)

Federal inspector faults regulator on San Onofre nuclear plant review (via CBS Los Angeles)

EMISSIONS 

Glasgow University to ditch £18 million fossil fuel investments (via BusinessGreen)

EPA sends ozone regulation for White House review (via The Hill)

California moves to revoke carbon credits after inquiry (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Canadian crude exports to U.S. top 3 million bpd for first time (via Reuters)

Oil bulls keep faith Saudi supply cuts will revive price (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

In the U.S., a turning point in the flow of oil (via New York Times)

Environmental groups ramp up crude-by-rail fight in courtroom (via Breaking Energy)

Lego scraps Shell deal after Arctic drilling protest (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK invests £11 million to get hydrogen cars on the road (via BusinessGreen)

Tesla sets up shop in Japan, sells first EVs (via Green Car Reports)

EPA says 24.1-mpg new car average is best ever (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency worth more than renewables at $310 billion, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Which states have the most efficient cars and homes? Study ranks them (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

Canadian support for joint U.S. energy policy falls (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

New Hampshire could be the next state to take on microgrids (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sugar shortage seen looming amid drought in Brazil (via Bloomberg)

Beijing raises smog alert as pollution envelops North China (via Bloomberg)

Obama to declare national monument in San Gabriels (via Los Angeles Times)

California’s firefighting air tanker fleet grounded after deadly Yosemite crash (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment: A brief history (via The Guardian)

2014 extreme weather: looking for climate ties (via Climate Central)

Fourth quarter PV installation forecasts turning into a lottery (via PV Tech)

Advanced ethanol makers trying to give Big Oil a run for its money (via Forbes)

The big problem with letting small railroads haul oil (via Sightline)

Firsthand lessons on public charging for EVs (via Energy Collective)

California’s drought is so bad it’s literally moving mountains (via National Journal)

Documentary “The Overnighters” shows dark side of North Dakota oil boom (via Reuters)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctica, arctic, Beijing, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, FEMA, Fossil fuel divestment, geothermal, global warming, grid, honda, hydrogen, japan, Lego, maryland, massachusetts, Mercom, New Hampshire, News, noaa, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, ontario, OPEC, renewables, San Onofre, Sea ice, Shell, solar, Solar trade war, SolarCity, Tesla, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, Wildfire, wind
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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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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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19
Sep

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: al gore, alaska, australia, biofuels, Brazil, california, cap and trade, China, Chris Christie, Clean Power Plan, climate, coal, Coal exports, Demand response, Dilma Rousseff, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev charging, Extreme weather, FERC, France, Frank Pallone, GE, germany, global warming, green jobs, grid, IRS, Jamaica, Keystone XL, LEED, methane, MISO, natural gas, new jersey, News, Ohio, oil, oklahoma, OPEC, Oxfam, Quebec, renewables, Russ Girling, Scotland, SEC, solar, Superstorm Sandy, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, Vivint Solar, Wildfire, wind
0
17
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.17.14

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

COAL 

China coal restrictions may have little impact on imports (via Reuters)

Coal sector eyes salvation in green bond market (via RTCC)

Coal industry market value contracting again after brief rebound (via SNL Energy)

Peabody Energy to be removed from S&P 500 index (via Post-Dispatch)

U.S. Corps of Engineers halts Oregon coal terminal review pending permit outcome (via The Oregonian)

RENEWABLES 

China wind sector braces for feed-in tariff cuts (via Recharge News)

Funding released to accelerate 740MW of new renewables in Chile (via PV Tech)

UK solar farm issues Europe’s first certified climate bonds (via BusinessGreen)

PV industry loses $500 million a year through supply chain (via PV Tech)

Chile to get net metering for PV plants under 100kW (via PV Tech)

USDA Secretary expects 2014 biofuel use targets to rise (via Reuters)

When the power’s out, solar panels may not keep the lights on (via NPR)

Some see garbage, others see opportunity: Installing solar on landfills (via RMI Outlet)

Preliminary OK for large California concentrated solar project sparks debate over impact to birds (via Greenwire)

Burlington, Vermont’s electricity now 100% renewable (via The Week)

CLIMATE 

Natural disasters displaced more people than war in 2013, finds study (via The Guardian)

Rising sea levels a “sleeping giant” that could cost $226 billion, says report (via The Guardian)

Antarctic Peninsula glacier recession “unprecedented” (via BBC)

Climate change may add billions to wildfire costs, study says (via Los Angeles Times)

Mapping the future of sea-level rise on the Potomac, the Chesapeake, and the Atlantic (via Washington Post)

Drought-hit California faces future trouble as warming reduces water (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS 

Study links increased drilling with earthquakes (via Wall Street Journal)

Study: Bad fracking techniques let methane flow into drinking water (via Washington Post)

Leaky wells spur call for stricter rules on gas drilling (via Bloomberg)

Fracking ban enrages Coloradans sitting on energy riches (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Natural gas company seeks federal approval for Massachusetts pipeline (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

EMISSIONS 

Businesses double down on carbon pricing while Capitol Hill idles (via GreenBiz)

EPA delays key power plant rule of signature climate change plan (via The Guardian)

White House partners with industry to tackle refrigerant greenhouse gas (via Reuters)

EPA extends climate rule comment period (via The Hill)

Broad carbon tax outlines get positive legislative response (via The Oregonian)

OIL 

Oil prices rise on prospect of OPEC output cut (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Deeper Saudi oil cuts seen after biggest drop since 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Can the U.S. cut off Islamic State’s oil sales? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Feds reveal details on Shell’s Arctic ambitions (via Houston Chronicle)

TransCanada sees itself in oil train business regardless of Keystone XL (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs are cleaner, but still not a magic bullet (via New York Times)

GM learning from current Chevy Volt owners as it works on next-gen model (via Autoblog Green)

Report suggests Tesla Model 3 to cost $50,000 or more (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla “ecosystem” changing the face of Silicon Valley (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

PG&E tops in U.S. smart meter deployments (via Energy Manager Today)

50 million U.S. smart meters and counting (via Greentech Media)

Demand response capacity expected to increase more than six-fold by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Unilever aims to end deforestation (via Sustainable Business)

Drought-stricken California gets landmark groundwater legislation (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

Obama welcomes report saying fighting climate change can be low cost (via The Guardian)

Bobby Jindal: White House are “science deniers” (via Politico)

Markey to seek halt on federal coal leases (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Fighting climate change makes economic sense; cities should take the lead (via Huffington Post)

Measuring up: How to assess the upcoming UN climate summit (via Climate Progress)

By the numbers: The new climate economy (via WRI Insights)

Mexico has reformed its energy sector, now what? (via Forbes)

Bobby Jindal’s soft climate-change skepticism (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: Antarctic, arctic, biofuel, Bobby Jindal, Burlington, california, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, chevy volt, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate bonds, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, concentrated solar power, deforestation, Demand response, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, EPA, EVs, Extreme weather, fracking, GM, Green bonds, Greenhouse gases, grid, Keystone XL, massachusetts, methane, mexico, natural gas, Net metering, News, offshore drilling, oil, Oil train, OPEC, oregon, Peabody Energy, PGE, Pipeline, renewables, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shell, smart meter, solar, Tesla, Tesla Model 3, Tom Vilsack, TransCanada, Transportation, Unilever, united kingdom, vermont, wildfires, wind
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16
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.16.14

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

COAL 

China bans coal with high ash or sulfur to fight smog (via Bloomberg)

GAO: More coal power plants to retire than previously thought (via The Hill)

Coal power shows zero growth in 2014, report shows (via Climate Central)

In mining country, “war on coal” hard to see (via Boston Globe)

Study: Black lung at historically high levels in Appalachia (via Charleston Daily Mail)

EMISSIONS 

Big corporations leading the way on climate change with carbon pricing (via the Guardian)

Study: Urban air pollution may affect brains of young children (via Yale e360)

RENEWABLES 

Global renewable energy capacity grows more than ever before (via Christian Science Monitor)

Yingli drops Q2 solar module manufacturing costs to less than 50 cents per watt (via Greentech Media)

India to up solar target fivefold to 15 gigawatts (via Bloomberg)

Musk solar strategy used as model for record investments (via Bloomberg)

Duke spends $500 million to expand North Carolina solar power (via Bloomberg)

DOE National Labs can also be regional economic hubs (via Energy Collective)

Block Island offshore wind farm receives final federal approval (via Breaking Energy)

New study reveals truth about wind turbines and bird deaths (via Inhabitat)

NATURAL GAS 

Nigeria to triple natural gas output for power supply (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas drilling is polluting water, but don’t blame fracking (via National Journal)

Fracking gives U.S. energy boom plenty of room to run (via Wall Street Journal)

Gas production blamed for rise in Colorado, New Mexico earthquakes (via Reuters)

North Dakota meets first benchmark to reduce flaring (via Bismarck Tribune)

CLIMATE 

NASA ranks August 2014 as warmest on record (via Climate Central)

Fixing climate change may add no costs, says report (via New York Times)

Coca Cola, Heinz, other major food companies warn climate change threatens businesses (via Climate Progress)

Ocean algae can evolve fast to tackle climate change, says study (via Reuters)

OIL 

OPEC expected to lower oil output target in November (via Reuters)

Russia says did not discuss coordination with OPEC on oil prices (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Autonomous and connected car technologies may progressively curb emissions (via ClimateWire)

Morgan Stanley: Tesla stock up “for the wrong reasons?” (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

German clean-energy shift can do without storage, says study (via Bloomberg)

Homeowners to invest over $25 billion in generation and storage from 2014 to 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Capacity markets: Future of European demand response? (via Greentech Media)

Storing renewable energy in a thousand basements (via EnergyWire)

Stem banks $100 million for no-money-down energy storage (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

DOE pushing new energy efficiency rules for hotel heating and cooling (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought threatens sushi, too (via Politico)

OPINION 

How fighting climate change could save the planet and rebuild the economy (via Washington Post)

China, the climate, and the fate of the planet (via Rolling Stone)

Preventing climate change and adapting to it are not morally equivalent (via Grist)

Has the great climate change migration already begun? (via The Guardian)

UN Climate Summit: What’s in it for cities? (via World Resources Institute)

Posted:   |   Categories: Black lung, california, Capacity market, Carbon pricing, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, department of energy, drought, duke energy, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, europe, fracking, GAO, germany, global warming, grid, india, methane, Morgan Stanley, natural gas, New Mexico, News, nigeria, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore wind, oil, OPEC, renewables, Russia, solar, Stem, Tesla, Transportation, united nations, wind, Yingli
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10
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.10.14

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

EMISSIONS

PwC: Five-fold rise in pace of carbon emissions cuts needed (via Triple Pundit)

Fossil fuels stir debate at university endowments (via Wall Street Journal)

Exiting RGGI system cost New Jersey $114 million (via Bergen Record)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU pushes for urgent energy deal in U.S. trade pact (via Reuters)

Energy-hungry Japan waits as U.S. debates exports (via Greenwire)

EDF invests $515 million into new Paris energy R&D facility (via Reuters)

U.S. EIA projects world liquid fuels to rise 38% by 2040 (via Green Car Congress)

Five Keystone XLs: The carbon in Northwest fossil fuel export plans (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil to invest $14.9 billion in wind energy between 2015 and 2018 (via Latin American Herald Tribune)

India pushes ultra-mega scheme to scale solar PV (via Forbes)

Gamesa raises $304 million to expand emerging-market wind energy (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Energy Collective)

EU forecasts green jobs boom (via Recharge News)

German consumers can expect green power surcharges to fall next year (via Reuters)

U.S. and China hold almost half of PV pipeline, but only 3.7GW in China (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. solar generation, output surge in first half of 2014 (via PV Tech)

New U.S. large-scale solar, wind capacity soars (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Obama’s international climate strategy: More grease for renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

California clean energy bill could open door for homeowners, small businesses (via Breaking Energy)

University of California signs major solar deal (via Washington Post)

Google to invest $145 million in California solar project (via The Hill)

OIL 

U.S. boost 2015 oil forecast as shale power push to 10 million barrels per day (via Reuters)

OPEC cuts demand outlook by most in three years on shale surge (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rosneft struggles to grow as sanctions hit Russia’s oil champion (via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia tells OPEC it cut output in August as oil nears $100 (via Reuters)

Feds move to prevent runaway oil trains (via The Hill)

Think tank charges policymakers with 70’s mindset on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

EIA’s 2014 gasoline use forecast has risen 2 billion gallons in past 10 months (via U.S. EIA)

China and UC-Davis partner to put zero-emission vehicles on fast track (via UC Davis)

California electric vehicle sales pass major milestone (via San Francisco Chronicle)

2016 Chevy Volt spy shots highlight much-needed fixes (via Yahoo! Auto)

Tesla expects another high-volume deal with Toyota in next few years (via Autoblog)

COAL 

South Africa’s coal-fired power stations carry heavy health costs (via The Guardian) 

CLIMATE 

UN climate chief says 125 world leaders confirmed for New York summit (via RTCC)

How global warming is already worsening extreme deluges in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Royal Dutch Shell CEO: Climate change discussion “has gone into la-la land” (via Washington Post)

America’s heartland wilts under climate change onslaught (via RTCC)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to restart two nuclear reactors (via The Guardian/AFP)

Russia to build eight nuclear power plants in Iran (via Trend)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental group sues Feds for Keystone XL documents (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Zero-energy building revenue set to exceed $1.4 trillion annually by 2035 (via Navigant Research)

IEA calls on policymakers to deliver “multiple benefits” of energy efficiency (via BusinessGreen)

Four ways to play the LED boom (via Forbes)

This deep dive into 10 years of LEED unearths surprises (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS 

Poland looks to import natural gas from U.S., Canada (via Reuters)

Natural gas industry unveils infrastructure security program (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of people near fracking wells report health woes (via USA Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean acidification may dull sharks’ ability to smell prey, finds study (via Yale e360)

Rocky Mountains facing unprecedented assault from insects, fires, heat, drought (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

California water use drops statewide (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Kochs backing out of blue-state Senate races (via Grist)

Obama’s brain drain (via Politico)

Interior Secretary: GOP information requests cost millions (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Whether it’s green growth, green economy, or creative economy, it’s all about green jobs (via Huffington Post)

Are carbon capture and biomass indispensible in the climate change fight? (via Energy Collective)

Another year, another record high for greenhouse gases (via Climate Central)

How ISIS smuggles oil to fund its campaign (via NPR)

How fracking bought the Buffalo Bills (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, edf, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gamesa, Gasoline, germany, global warming, google, green jobs, IEA, india, interior department, iran, ISIS, japan, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, OPEC, Pipeline, Poland, renewables, rggi, Rosneft, Royal Dutch Shell, Russia, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Tesla, Toyota, Transportation, University of California, Wildfire, wind
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14
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

New climate models predict an Australian perma-drought (via Motherboard)

Southern Australia faces water crisis by 2100 due to climate change (via The Guardian)

Carbon import tariffs could torpedo climate deal, says EU official (via Reuters)

Obama to push climate resilience at state, local level (via The Hill)

Climate change has created a new literary genre (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Beijing to enforce use of clean coal in anti-pollution drive (via Reuters)

Coal mining ruling: Another legal win for Obama EPA (via Charleston Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar module prices just reached a record low (via Climate Progress)

Global biofuel output expansion to slow by 2023, says OECD (via Reuters)

Led by Chile, Latin America solar PV pipeline nears 20GW (via Greentech Media)

BNEF: Europe to invest $1 trillion in renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Indian PM Modi doubles down on country’s solar revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Russia’s state-supported renewable energy auction heavily favored solar (via Renewable Energy World)

$1 billion geothermal project brings Costa Rica closer to 100% renewables (via Renew Economy)

Zurich Insurance to double investment in green bonds (via Bloomberg)

PV industry sees a “second gold rush” coming in solar sector (via Solar Industry Magazine)

USDA plants seed funding for rural clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar vs. utility battles heating up in Iowa, Wisconsin (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

CPUC report highlights California’s continued solar success (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Is Texas souring on wind power? (via Forbes)

Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of third-party solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Huge North Carolina solar project could “move the needle” for solar possibilities (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside Yingli, the giant Chinese solar company sponsoring the World Cup (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

China could reveal carbon cap by first quarter 2015 (via RTCC)

EU pollution permits to gain 28% as regulators cut supply glut (via Bloomberg)

London projected to fail EU air quality limits until 2030 (via Bloomberg)

Group representing half a billion Christians says it will no longer support fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Texas, U.S. leader in emissions stands vulnerable to their effects (via New York Times)

The plan to get New Jersey back into RGGI that Chris Christie can’t veto (via Climate Progress)

University of Dayton divests from fossil fuels (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

OPEC’s oil market share to shrink in 2015, despite growing demand (via Reuters)

Oil demand up fastest since 2010 on China growth, says IEA (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

China, U.S. to cooperate on strategic oil reserves (via Reuters)

Global oil exploration nears $1 trillion, but where are the finds? (via Reuters)

Crumbling roads in oil fields slow U.S. energy boom (via Bloomberg)

New York State won’t keep oil train details secret (via Huffington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

There are now more than 500,000 EVs on Earth (via Autoblog Green)

Report: Electric vehicle market to hit $500 billion by 2025 (via BusinessGreen)

China requires 30% of state vehicles use alternative energy (via Bloomberg)

Helsinki, Finland plans on making private car ownership obsolete in 10 years (via Time)

U.S. fuel economy improvements show diminishing fuel savings (via US EIA)

Tesla’s chargers now moving a gigawatt-hour of electricity per month (via GigaOm)

Bay Area governments make America’s biggest-yet EV purchase (via CleanTechnica)

Chicago wants more residents to drive electric vehicles (via Southern Illinoisan)

Audi preparing an entire lineup of PHEV models (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Seven earthquakes hit Oklahoma in less than a day – is fracking to blame? (via Time)

Ohio fracking water reuse questioned (via Columbus Dispatch)

Former Pennsylvania health secretary: State failed to address fracking concerns (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENVIRONMENT 

The soil pollution crisis in China: Cleanup presents daunting challenge (via Yale e360)

California braces as drought sparks early fire season (via Sacramento Bee)

Firefighters battling seven wildfires in Washington State (via Los Angeles Times)

New data says huge West Virginia chemical spill may have been more toxic than reported (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

India PM Modi accelerates solar revolution, doubles tax on coal (via Renew Economy)

Why were this company’s computers attacked millions of times this year? Algae. (via Washington Post)

Wells Fargo’s focus on energy shows growth strategy (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Lopsided lobbying on Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL backers want to keep pipeline in the public eye (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Data shows some energy retrofits actually increase energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

ACEEE urges EPA to add building codes to Clean Power Plan (via Environmental Leader)

NUCLEAR 

Russia signs nuclear energy deal with Argentina (via Reuters)

GRID 

Blackout-plagued India moves toward a smarter grid (via Navigant Research)

Stanford working on “reversible” fuel cells for energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

2014’s sleeper campaign issue: A bank nobody’s heard about (via Politico)

House GOP votes to thwart imaginary offshore drilling restriction (via National Journal)

Influence game: Shaping railroad safety rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Coal-reliant Pennsylvania faces election showdown over EPA, natural gas, carbon trading (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Six trends illustrating the US-China trade case’s impact on the solar market (via Greentech Media)

Here’s what the fossil fuel industry thinks of the carbon bubble (via Renew Economy)

What’s at stake with the Ex-Im Bank? (via National Journal)

Will Nissan’s free EV charging rival Tesla’s Supercharger network? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons U.S. solar installers are vertically integrating…for now (via RMI Outlet)

NY Times gets it wrong with attacks on Steyer and divestment (via EcoWatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACEEE, Algae biofuel, Argentina, audi, australia, Beijing, biofuel, BNEF, california, California Public Utilities Commission, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, chicago, Chile, China, Chris Christie, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Divestment, drought, earthquakes, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU ETS, europe, ev charging, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, Finland, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fuel Cells, Fuel Economy, geothermal, grid, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Latin America, London, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new jersey, new york state, News, Nissan, North Carolina, nuclear, OECD, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, Oil trains, oklahoma, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, Russia, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, University of Dayton, usda, Washington State, Wells Fargo, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yingli, Zurich Insurance
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