Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.26.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
EU global warming damages are seen reaching $259 billion (via Bloomberg)
UK infrastructure neglected, at risk from climate change, warn engineers (via The Guardian)
Five graphics showing U.S. climate change costs (via Climate Central)
White House boasts progress on climate agenda (via The Hill)
Rhode Island signs off on new climate change law (via RTCC)
Obama calls climate-change skeptics “fringe” element (via Bloomberg)
The millions behind Bjorn Lomborg’s Copenhagen Consensus Center think tank (via DeSmogBlog)
NUCLEAR
France’s proposed “cap” on nuclear electricity capacity (via Energy Collective)
Tepco faces down protest to press ahead with atomic restarts (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
Renewable electricity nears 20% of UK mix (via BusinessGreen)
German utilities struggle in a renewable world (via Navigant Research)
Yieldcos could cut renewable costs by 20%, says study (via Greentech Media)
Securitized solar PV “set for breakthrough” in US (via Recharge)
US investors fear yieldco buying frenzy (via Recharge)
California continues to set daily records for utility-scale solar energy (via U.S. EIA)
Post-2020 RPS “unlikely” for California (via Recharge)
As renewables grow in Texas, battles over fees and subsidies emerge (via StateImpact Texas)
COAL
North Carolina lawmakers order coal ash pond cleanup after Duke spill (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
Carbon capture and storage enters the twilight zone (via Renew Economy)
California earmarks quarter of its cap-and-trade revenue for environmental justice (via InsideClimate News)
OIL
How a U.S. decision to allow oil exports could change the world’s energy balance (via Quartz)
Is U.S. oil production becoming a potential foreign policy tool? (via Christian Science Monitor)
White House says no change to U.S. ban on crude oil exports (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
China reviews rules to help Tesla-like carmakers sprout (via Bloomberg)
Tesla looking to create pan-European supercharger network by end of 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
Plug-in America estimates 250,000 EV sales by September (via CleanTechnica)
Opponents of California renewable fuel law ask for U.S. Supreme Court hearing (via Reuters)
EV advocates urge New Jersey to develop charging stations, incentives (via Bergen Record)
KEYSTONE XL
Political leader says carbon incentives in Canada would help Keystone bid (via Bloomberg)
ENVIRONMENT
WMO: 80% chance of El Nino by December 2014 (via RTCC)
One quarter of India is turning into desert (via Climate Progress)
Fruit and vegetable prices rise as California drought continues (via Los Angeles Times)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
House votes to speed up natural gas exports (via The Hill)
Colorado city rejects fracking moratorium (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
GRID
U.S. microgrid capacity will exceed 1.8GW by 2018 (via Greentech Media)
America’s largest university pursues a microgrid (via RMI Outlet)
Crumbling U.S. grid gets jolt in Houston smart power system (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY EFFICENCY
Is LED lighting the next solar war with China? (via Sustainable Business)
DOE unveils efficiency standards for furnace fans (via The Hill)
Is LEED becoming the new normal? (via TriplePundit)
POLITICS
Barack Obama becomes mocker-in-chief on climate change skeptics (via Politico)
Congress the butt of Obama’s climate science jokes (via Reuters)
John Boehner wants to sue President Obama (via Washington Post)
Issa threatens EPA with contempt as Team Obama celebrates climate anniversary (via National Journal)
Harry Reid says FERC nominees to get vote when Senate returns from July 4 recess (via Bloomberg BNA)
OPINION
A carbon tax and climate change (via New York Times)
Why the U.S. needs business to save it from Congress (via Bloomberg)
With “Risky Business,” a bid to shift the climate debate (via Breaking Energy)
What does Clive Palmer’s carbon tax decision mean for Australia? (via The Guardian)