Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.24.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
GRID
India’s $10B roadmap for smart grid transformation (via Greentech Media)
MISO grid adding four new electric utility territories in December (via US EIA)
New Jersey’s grid defense debate continues a year after Sandy’s knockout blow (via EnergyWire)
OIL
Interior close to floating new offshore drilling rule (via The Hill)
Watchdog report finds pipeline regulators spend more time at industry conferences than at oil spills (via Huffington Post)
As pipeline concerns mount, focus returns to Great Lakes (via Midwest Energy News)
North Dakota pipeline spill raises questions amid state’s oil boom (via Los Angeles Times)
Environmentalists slam Coke, Pepsi for tar sands use in trucks (via Politico)
RENEWABLES
Deutsche Bank says solar PV market could reach 50GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)
Ethiopia signs $4 billion geothermal deal (via Phys.org)
Record year blows UK small wind installations past 102MW (via CleanTechnica)
US has 11 offshore wind farms in the works - sort of (via EarthTechling)
Algae biofuel gets Congressional caucus (via Sustainable Business)
Vivint Solar raises $540 million new funding for home solar leasing (via CleanTechnica)
Meet the Kickstarter of solar energy (via National Journal)
Long Island Power Authority seeks 280MW of renewable capacity (via Recharge)
CLIMATE
Australia, UN spar over wildfires and climate change (via Reuters)
Pacific nations “very disappointed” by Australian PM’s climate skepticism (via The Guardian)
IPCC’s carbon budget will not drive Warsaw talks, says UN climate chief (via The Guardian)
Climate change cost you the McDonald’s dollar menu (via Quartz)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Fracking fight focuses on a New York town’s ban (via New York Times)
ENVIRONMENT
Ozone hole over South Pole shrinks by 6%, scientists credit warm upper air (via Washington Post/AP)
House shows it can unite by passing mammoth water bill (via National Journal)
GREEN BUILDING
UK to invest £40 billion in green infrastructure projects (via RTCC)
Five US cities that are taking climate preparation seriously (via Climate Progress)
TRANSPORTATION
VW calls Germany’s 1 million EV by 2020 goal achievable (via Bloomberg)
EV charging networks start to unify (via Plugin Cars)
DC looks to reduce traffic, improve air quality with 2040 plan (via ClimateWire)
NUCLEAR
Britain, India go nuclear as Japan struggles to contain radiation (via Sustainable Business)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Revival planned for Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)
NREL develops energy audit tool (via Energy Manager Today)
EMISSIONS
China to send air pollution inspection teams to provinces (via Reuters)
EPA hits the road to seek input on power plant emission rules (via Reuters)
Texas remains top US carbon polluter despite declines (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
Australia’s bushfires and the role of climate change (via Climate Central)
Hot topic: The science of global warming and the public disconnect (via U-T San Diego)
The dark forces lined up against renewables in Australia (via Renew Economy)
How carmakers like Ford will spark changes on the grid’s edge (via Greentech Media)
The dangerous bargain Harvard’s president has made with fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)