Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
TAR SANDS
“Nobody understands” spills at Alberta oil sands operation (via The Star)
State Department approves US-Canada pipeline – it’s not Keystone XL (via Christian Science Monitor)
EMISSIONS
Trees absorb lower levels of pollution in hot weather (via RTCC)
EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown (via The Hill)
GRID
Which states are leading in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)
FERC’s energy storage ruling could jump-start big batteries (via Greentech Media)
The challenge and cost of interconnecting power projects to the grid (via Greentech Media)
RENEWABLES
Global biofuels production infrastructure will attract $69 billion in capital investment between 2013-2023 (via Navigant Research)
India may expand solar dumping probe to EU, Japan cells (via Bloomberg)
Bedouin tribe talks a risk in Saudi solar drive (via Bloomberg)
Coal-heavy South Africa eyes wind and solar additions (via RTCC)
Canada to add 450MW of new solar PV in next five years (via Recharge)
UK energy companies paying a heavy price for shunning renewables (via The Guardian)
Solar module costs down 20% in 2013 (via Renew Economy)
Renewables provide 25% of new US electrical generating capacity in first half 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)
Excel, Interior Department approvals add almost 2GW of wind (via Sustainable Business)
Oil companies break with trade group on renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)
Plan for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm rejected by regulators (via Star-Ledger)
Texas A&M launches world’s biggest solar photovoltaic R&D facility (via CleanTechnica)
OIL
Canadian oil storage hubs set to expand 25% by 2015 (via Reuters)
US, Canada chug ahead with oil shipments by rail despite risks (via Washington Post)
WTI oil reaches highest price in 16 months (via Houston Chronicle)
Judge denies BP effort to halt Gulf spill claim payouts (via Reuters)
New platforms rise to meet Gulf of Mexico drilling boom (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
UK government committing additional $763 million to support EVs through 2020 (via Green Car Congress)
Why not a plug-in hybrid minivan? (via Plugin Cars)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Federal study finds natural gas fracking chemicals didn’t spread to aquifers (via Washington Post/AP)
North Carolina fracking moratorium remains in place (via Charlotte Observer)
California fracking moratorium regulations near approval (NBC News)
Fracking filmmakers reflect unusual political twists in gas drilling debate (via Washington Post/AP)
CLIMATE
Forest fires expected to worsen as climate warms (via The Good Human)
Continuing heat, drought, flooding make up this year’s weather story (via ClimateWire)
Waxman: climate regulations won’t revive legislation (via The Hill)
Vulnerable Maryland weighs threat of sea-level rise (via Washington Post)
COAL
UK consumers to pay “dirty” coal power subsidies for years (via The Independent)
As EPA head, McCarthy will focus on coal. Oil and gas, not so much (via Triple Pundit)
GREEN BUILDING
Top 6 cities leading the green building revolution (via EarthTechling)
A new concept: sustainability incubator for cities (via Sustainable Business)
NUCLEAR
Germany rebuffs European nuclear power subsidy proposal (via Reuters)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
California non-residential building owners must disclose energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)
POLITICS
The case against EPA political bias (via Politico)
Ernest Moniz to restructure top leadership at Energy Department (via Politico)
OPINION
Shouldn’t climate scientists try harder to communicate their findings? (via The Guardian)
Putting more wind power on the grid (via Los Angeles Times)
US playing game of catch-up in rapidly changing Arctic (via Climate Central)
Why it’s hard for the US government to create green jobs (via Washington Post)
Why new EPA chief Gina McCarthy will be so important to cleantech (via Greentech Media)
When will utilities get a clue about social media? (via Greentech Media)
How do we use electricity? (via Grist)