Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.5.15
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Global carbon emissions to rise 2.5% in 2015 (via RTCC)
Four questions for global carbon markets in 2015 (via The Energy Collective)
Aviation industry set to triple emissions by 2050 (via EcoWatch)
California cap-and-trade now covers transportation fuel retailers (via CleanTechnica)
Former Obama advisor calls for carbon tax (via The Hill)
NATURAL GAS
China struggles to find prospective blocks for third shale auction (via Reuters)
Interior Secretary Jewell criticizes fracking bans (via The Hill)
RENEWABLES
Masdar announces construction of four Pacific island PV projects (via PV Tech)
Scotland’s power grid could be fossil fuel free by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)
2015 outlook: Brazil gets serious about solar (via Recharge)
UK wind power up 15%, smashes annual output record (via BusinessGreen)
Egypt’s first renewable energy tender twice oversubscribed on solar projects (via PV Tech)
SolarWorld speaks out against latest EU trade case on solar glass (via PV Tech)
Santander, Gamesa request permits for Mexico wind (via Bloomberg)
La Paz, Mexico to be 100% solar powered (via CleanTechnica)
A setback for SolarWorld, a trade case win for Chinese solar manufacturers (via Greentech Media)
Hanwha SolarOne says it can provide 600MW of tariff-free PV modules to U.S. in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)
Community and home solar remain great investments (via CleanTechnica)
Renewables over 13% of U.S. electricity production Jan-Oct 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
Xcel doubling renewable energy generation in Minnesota (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Future of wind farms cloudy in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)
Solar-powered EV charging initiative aids San Francisco apartment dwellers (via CleanTechnica)
CLIMATE
2014 was hottest year on record globally, says Japan meteorological agency (via Climate Progress)
2014 was UK’s “warmest year on record,” confirms Met Office (via BusinessGreen)
OIL
Oil below $60 tests economics of U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)
U.S. Senate panel to introduce Keystone XL bill Thursday (via Reuters)
GOP prepares Keystone blitz (via The Hill)
Alaska Governor Walker bracing for budget crisis amid oil price crash (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
China to extend new EV subsidies through 2020 (via Inside EVs)
Mexico to re-launch $3.75 billion high-speed train tender January 14 (via Reuters)
By 2017, under 50% of new cars will use conventional gas engines (via Autoblog)
Nissan Leaf set U.S. EV sales record in 2014 (via Climate Progress)
First hybrid-electric airplane uses 30% less fuel (via CleanTechnica)
Lower fuel prices could save U.S. motorists $80 billion in 2015 (via Autoblog)
December 2014 plug-in EV sales report card (via Inside EVs)
Tesla Model S demand continues to outstrip supply (via Inside EVs)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
U.S. office buildings and schools to save $15 billion with new DOE standards (via Energy Manager Today)
Green buildings cost 25% less to operate (via Environmental Leader)
GRID
Government confirms £960 million cost of capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)
Massachusetts cities get $18.4 million for energy resiliency projects (via Energy Manager Today)
ENERGY POLICY
Voters give Obama, Congress poor grades on energy (via The Hill)
New Senate chairmen aim to undo Obama’s policies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
Sen. Thune leaves wiggle room on gas tax (via The Hill)
EPA says Google, Kohl’s, REI reflect trends in green power (via GreenBiz)
ENVIRONMENT
South Africa faces looming water crisis, says newspaper (via Bloomberg)
Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists (via Huffington Post)
OPINION
The top ten electricity stories of 2014 (via Forbes)
The year of concentrating solar power: Five new plants to power America with clean energy (via Breaking Energy)
The Sol-Wind IPO: Can a renewable YieldCo win master limited partnership benefits? (via Greentech Media)