renewable portfolio standard | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.13 share

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Government shutdown affects weather, climate programs (via Climate Central)

Federal shutdown vexes greens, pleases industry (via Politico)

Solar decathlon launches despite US government shutdown (via Renewable Energy World)

FRACKING

US fracking industry has used 250 billion gallons of water since 2005 (via Oil Price)

ENERGY POLICY

US surpasses Russia as world’s top oil and natural gas producer (via The Guardian)

94% of utilities say distributed generation is a “game changer” (via BusinessGreen)

Embattled DOE clean energy loan program restarts under new management (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES

OECD-FAO projects global ethanol production to increase 67% over next 10 years to 44 billion gallons (via Green Car Congress)

Cost of PV cells drops 99% since 1977, bringing solar to grid parity (via Climate Progress)

Russia backs 504MW of wind and solar in first clean power auction (via CleanTechnica)

India invites national solar bids after 2-year gap (via Bloomberg)

South Pacific island nation becomes first to 100% renewables (via Facts of the Day)

As Sun shines on solar industry, power companies fret (via National Journal)

Wind turbine bird threat overstated, study suggests (via EarthTechling)

Florida utility offers $9 million in solar rebates (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Consumers Energy closing in on Michigan’s RPS (via Renew Grid)

OIL

Economist: US jobs climb along with oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

BP trial to focus on scientists’ spill estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

Court orders closer scrutiny of oil-spill claims against BP (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Putting all 20,000 electric car charging stations on the map (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

US gas prices drop 14 cents over past 2 weeks (via Houston Chronicle)

Volkswagen XL1, world’s most efficient car, makes its US debut (via CleanTechnica)

Hertz starts renting Tesla Model S electric cars (via Breaking Energy)

Ford doubles US electric drive market share from 2012 to 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS

IPCC report contains “grave” carbon budget message (via Climate Central)

EU carbon advances as policy makers consider supply flexibility (via Bloomberg)

US Supreme Court today may decide whether to hear greenhouse gas case (via Bloomberg BNA)

World’s carbon budget to be spent in three decades (via CleanTechnica)

Harvard won’t divest from fossil fuels, Faust says (via Bloomberg)

“Cynical” market shrugs off latest climate warning on fossil fuels (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT

Scientists call for more controlled burns in West’s forests (via Los Angeles Times)

Let it burn: Changing firefighting techniques for a warming world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Solar heating and cooling could save $61 billion in energy costs (via Energy Manager Today)

Popularity of federal energy efficiency program among farmers put it at risk (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Walmart sells LEDs for less than $10 (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL

Q2 2013 coal export trends: Shipments fall nationally, rise in West (via Sightline Daily)

POLITICS

German Greens mull new identity and coalition with Merkel (via Reuters)

Tony Abbott may have enough support to repeal Australian carbon tax (via ABC News)

FERC front-runner may be clean slate Obama’s looking for (via Greenwire)

Debt ceiling isn’t place for climate fight, says House Republican (via The Hill)

Decades in decline, issue of coal is in crosshairs for Virginia governors race (via Washington Post)

OPINION

For insurers, climate risk is becoming a matter of policy (via GreenBiz)

When will we reach an electric vehicle tipping point? (via Greentech Media)

Hawaii’s smart grid a matter of necessity (via Navigant Research)

Is fossil fuel divestment a sound financial play? (via Triple Pundit)

Posted: | Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, BP, cap and trade, Carbon budget, coal, Coal exports, Consumers Energy, distributed generation, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, FERC, Florida, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gasoline, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Harvard, Hawaii, Hertz, hybrid, india, IPCC, LED, michigan, natural gas, News, oil, oil spill, renewable portfolio standard, Russia, solar, Solar cooling, Solar Decathlon, Solar heating, solar pv, Tesla Model S, Tony Abbott, Transportation, virginia, Volkswagen, Walmart, wildfires, wind

Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.27.13 share

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

IPCC REPORT

IPCC: Global warming “extremely likely” man-made (via AP)

Climate panel’s fifth report clarifies humanity’s choices (via New York Times)

Six things we’ve learned from the IPCC climate report (via The Guardian)

Why has geoengineering been legitimized by the IPCC? (via The Guardian)

IPCC climate change report by the numbers (via The Guardian)

ENERGY POLICY

Merkel looks left to rescue Germany’s energy revolution (via Reuters)

Multiple factors push Western Europe to use less natural gas and more coal (via US EIA)

US energy independence by 2020 won’t mean isolationism (via Houston Chronicle)

National Parks will close to public but stay open to drilling if government shuts down (via Think Progress)

RENEWABLES

Annual global solar installations to beat wind for first time (via Bloomberg)

South Africa “ideal” for wind turbine export hub (via Recharge)

UK renewable generation increases 56% since 2012 (via RTCC)

German researchers hit 44.7% solar cell efficiency record (via Climate Progress)

Largest US wind farm proposed for West Texas (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Making renewables connect to the military’s energy security framework (via Greentech Media)

Can solar be a differentiator in deregulated electricity markets? (via Greentech Media)

State renewable portfolio standards survive conservative attacks (via EarthTechling)

Analyst: SunShot goals unachievable even with new solar technology (via Renewable Energy World)

California renewables rise and the grid survives (via EarthTechling)

Report says California net metering costs all utility customers (via Reuters)

NREL releases roadmap to reducing solar PV “soft costs” by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

KEYSTONE XL

Canadian PM on Keystone XL fight: It’s over when we’ve won (via The Hill)

CLIMATE

China’s plan to clean up air pollution could be a climate disaster (via Washington Post)

White House, Kerry: UN report makes case for climate action (via The Hill)

First-ever bulk freighter to pass through Artic was carrying coal (via Climate Progress)

OIL

Interior gets ball rolling on new Arctic drilling auction (via The Hill)

After the floods in Colorado, a deluge of worry about leaking oil (via New York Times)

North Dakota regulators say oil production to double by 2017 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION

US backs market scheme for aviation emissions from 2020 (via Reuters)

Monthly EV sales shatter US records (via Energy.gov)

NATURAL GAS

Boom in unregulated natural gas pipelines poses new risk (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS

World’s carbon budget to be spent in three decades (via WRI Insights)

China and UK forge ties on carbon capture (via BusinessGreen)

State Department: Obama climate plan hits emissions reduction target (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Is Europe emerging as a major demand response market? (via Renew Grid)

Scotland sets energy efficiency building standards (via BusinessGreen)

POLITICS

UN climate report to fuel political battles (via The Hill)

White House seeking replacement for faltering energy nominee Binz (via The Hill)

OPINION

10 things to know about the IPCC climate panel (via AP)

The science of global warming has changed in 25 years – the basic conclusions haven’t (via Washington Post)

Poll: two-thirds want Keystone pipeline, carbon limits (via The Hill)

Climate scientists issue their report, now it’s our turn (via Time)

What happens if you add lots of wind and solar to the grid? (via Washington Post)

Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.9.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

Japan ramps up deals in carbon credits within more emerging economies (via TriplePundit)

Ukraine to come under fire for $500 million carbon permit deal (via Reuters Point Carbon)

California’s cap and trade isn’t a game – except when it is (via CleanTechnica)

Cut emissions? Congress itself keeps burning dirtier fuel (via New York Times)

COAL

Global coal consumption up 50% in 10 years (via Facts of the Day)

Goldman Sachs: window for profitable investment in coal mining is closing (via Climate Progress)

US coal exports growing (via Huffington Post)

Coal lobbyists bend White House hear on carbon rule (via The Hill)

Coalition aims to get Nebraska utility off coal (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES

EPA maps renewable power potential on scarred land (via EarthTechling)

Using technology to get more renewable energy onto the grid (via Breaking Energy)

Western US utilities call for widespread adoption of smart solar inverters (via Renew Grid)

State renewable-energy laws turn out to be incredibly hard to repeal (via Washington Post)

Sewage-powered biofuels plant claims major breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)

Small wind turbines harnessing gusts of solar’s lease success (via Bloomberg)

Renewable diesels could score big thanks to renewable fuel standard fight (via Greentech Media)

Bill would let Kansas utilities buy renewable energy credits (via Wichita Eagle)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Leak at Alberta tar sands project heightens conservationists’ concerns (via New York Times)

How shoddy science almost led one agency to use flawed map in Keystone XL review (via Greenwire)

Industry report says Keystone XL won’t impact greenhouse gas emissions (via The Hill)

Enbridge asks EPA for extension to finish oil spill dredging (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

Climate change pace now fastest in 65 million years (via Facts of the Day)

Research suggests manmade emissions may have very long-term impacts (via ClimateWire)

Rebranding climate change as a public health issue (via Time)

The trouble with beekeeping in the Anthropocene (via Time)

OIL

China poised to become the world’s largest net oil importer this year (via US EIA)

North American oil boom eases OPEC supply problems (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

Conventional hybrids better for climate than EVs in most states (via Yale e360)

Average US vehicle now 11.4 years old, oldest since WWII (via Green Car Reports)

Electric roads could make plugging in your EV a thing of the past (via Grist)

Tesla stock surges as company beats the odds (via Christian Science Monitor)

As GM cuts Volt price, EV bargains multiply (via Navigant Research)

GRID

Japanese battery trial seeks to transform how grids work (via Bloomberg)

Nearly 40 new advanced energy storage projects kicked off in first half 2013 (via Navigant Research)

Building public support for power cables (via Reuters)

Texas power use hits summer high, third-highest ever (via Houston Chronicle)

FOSSIL FUEL POLICY

Mexico energy reform to target deepwater oil and gas (via Reuters)

US EIA: oil and gas jobs up 40% since 2007 (via The Hill)

California lawmakers seek probe of hydraulic fracturing offshore (via Houston Chronicle)

Colorado fracking stresses regulators as permit bids soar (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Research says lack of energy efficiency holds back entire economy (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT

NOAA trims forecast for busy hurricane season (via New York Times)

Heavy rains unleash deadly flooding in Midwest (via USA Today)

New Mexico is the driest of the dry (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION

Should the US have a natural gas sovereign wealth fund? (via Washington Post)

3 key initiatives from Australia’s climate change policy (via WRI Insights)

What will it take for airline emissions reductions to get off the ground? (via GreenBiz)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, Anthropocene, australia, battery, biofuel, california, cap and trade, carbon trading, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, Flooding, GM, Goldman Sachs, grid, Grid integration, Hurricane, hybrid, japan, kansas, Keystone XL, mexico, michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, News, noaa, Offshore drilling Colorado, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, REC, Renewable energy credit, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, Renewables integration, rps, small wind, solar, Solar inverters, solar leasing, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine

Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.11.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

US, China agree on climate steps to curb emissions (via Washington Post)

Australia carbon emissions fell 7% in first year of carbon tax (via Platts)

A new one-stop shop for greenhouse gas emissions data (via WRI Insights)

Use of coal to generate power rises; greenhouse gas emissions next? (via Los Angeles Times)

Nanomaterials could accelerate CO2 removal from coal power plants (via RTCC)

Two more financial institutions divest from fossil fuels (via Energy Collective)

NATURAL GAS

China wants bigger share of US shale revolution (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

Clean energy investment rises 22% led by US, China (via Bloomberg)

Wind to double and solar to triple in 6 years, says IEA (via Greentech Media)

Worldwide solar PV market will pass $134 billion in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

HSBC: wind at parity with new coal in India, solar to join by 2018 (via Renew Economy)

Peru to use solar panels to provide electricity to 2 million people (via Latin American Herald Tribune)

EU parliament approve proposals to reduce biofuels emissions (via BusinessGreen)

Uncertainty over Australian Renewable Energy Target delays 1GW new wind (via Recharge)

State RPSs hold steady or expand in 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)

DoD, Interior inch closer to cooperation on renewable energy projects (via Federal Times)

Six Sioux tribes collaborate on biggest US wind farm (via Sustainable Business)

$1 billion cost to meet Colorado’s renewable-energy goal (via Denver Business Journal)

Rooftop solar takes off across California as costs come down (via San Jose Mercury News)

New York awards $54 million for 79 solar projects (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Texas A&M plans world’s largest solar testing center (via Sustainable Business)

OIL

IEA says US oil boom to erode OPEC market share in 2014 (via Reuters)

Russia to lift oil exports to Asia at expense of Europe (via Reuters)

Report says feds should expand damage assessment of BP oil spill (via Greenwire)

Canadian officials: death toll from train crash presumed at 50 (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION

China widens car-purchase restrictions to fight pollution (via Bloomberg)

Upgraded urban travel could save $70 trillion by 2050 (via Phys.org)

European Commission launches $1.8 billion fuel cell and hydrogen research initiative (via Green Car Congress)

Ford refocuses, cuts price of 2014 electric car by 10% (via NBC News/Reuters)

GRID

Climate change will cause more energy system breakdowns, warns US (via New York Times)

Power grids to spend $64 billion on new gear by 2020 (via Reuters)

Japan sets up hydrogen “task force” to advance fuel-cell infrastructure (via Autoblog Green)

Canada represents $7 billion in smart grid potential (via Renew Grid)

Continuous test operation begins for large-format Li-ion energy storage system (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE

New report tracks decades of climate change (via Rolling Stone)

Study says some trees use less water amid rising carbon dioxide (via New York Times)

A scientific storm is brewing over the hurricane-climate connection (via Mother Jones)

Dangerous global warming could be reversed, say scientists (via The Guardian)

Chicago-sized iceberg calves off Antarctic glacier (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR

Japanese nuclear plant may have been leaking for two years (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

New EIA inventory tracks state energy efficiency programs (via US EIA)

House votes to block light bulb efficiency standards (via Climate Progress)

Nest and Opower talk strategy for residential demand response (via Greentech Media)

Curtailing energy during “peak power hour” reduces next year’s rates (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS

Carbon Trust unveils supplier directory for green businesses (via BusinessGreen)

Report: reducing emissions and increasing manufacturing can go hand in hand (via Greentech media)

Nike’s new “Making” app shows sustainability of clothing material (via Inhabitat)

Sustainability exchange for cities to collaborate on best practices (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS

Battle rages over Obama’s climate standards for Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

What David Vitter got for blocking Gina McCarthy (via Politico)

Conservative climate hawks to GOP: wake the hell up (via Mother Jones)

GOP aide writing anonymously: party should “reclaim” climate debate (via The Hill)

House panel approves bill curtailing EPA power on climate regulations (via The Hill)

OPINION

Bad news: fossil fuels are more than keeping up with clean energy (via Washington Post)

The money behind fossil fuel exports (via Sightline Daily)

Green energy policy matters in selling EVs (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted: | Categories: Antarctic, australia, barack obama, biofuels, BP, california, California Solar Initiative, canada, carbon capture, carbon tax, Carbon Trust, China, Climate Change, coal, colorado, David Vitter, Defense Department, Demand response, distributed generation, Divestment, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fuel cell, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, HSBC, hydrogen, IEA, india, interior department, International Energy Agency, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Nanomaterials, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nest, new york state, News, nike, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, OPEC, Opower, Peru, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rooftop solar, rps, Russia, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Texas A&M, Transportation, wind

Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.20.13 share

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

EMISSIONS

Revised EU carbon market fix passes first hurdle (via RTCC)

Obama readying emissions limits on power plants (via New York Times)

Energy risk: the forgotten half of America’s carbon cuts (via Energy Collective)

GOP senators slam significant change to “social cost” of carbon (via The Hill)

US Forest Services study finds urban trees remove air pollution, save lives (via Phys.org)

NUCLEAR

Japanese nuclear regulator announces safety guidelines overhaul (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

NREL provides open-source system for large-scale energy data collection (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy performance of 60,000 buildings now open to public (via Sustainable Business)

Energy use in US apartments drops nearly 40% (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES

Top wind power countries in world per capita (via CleanTechnica)

China and Japan drive Africa renewables investment (via Bloomberg)

Renewables offer least-cost option for Africa energy shortages (via Renew Economy)

Germany energy storage incentive could push PV market further (via Renewable Energy World)

Siemens to develop biofuel from steel industry gases (via BusinessGreen)

Optimizing small wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)

US state-level renewables push is waning (via Reuters)

2013 state solar policy rankings show most solar-friendly states (via CleanTechnica)

COAL

NW residents’ support for coal dropping (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

CLIMATE

Global warming threatens Africa food, Asia water within lifetime (via Bloomberg)

Germany insurance claims for flood damage may hit $8 billion (via Reuters)

New US climate strategy coming within weeks (via Reuters)

Ancient pollen in Brazilian rainforest offers climate clues (via BBC News)

Recent trends in climate change indicators (via Energy Collective)

6 of the world’s most extensive climate change adaptation plans (via InsideClimate News)

Report: building resilience to climate-fueled extreme weather “woefully underfunded” (via The Hill)

Mayors launch fight for climate change resiliency (via Energy Collective)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Israel to keep most its natural gas for domestic use (via Reuters)

Shale gas long-term US success poses interim challenges (via EnergyWire)

US gas reserves down amid shale boom (via Breaking Energy)

3.5MW of new US generation capacity added in May, 72% is natural gas (via Facts of the Day)

Study finds consensus on shale drilling’s biggest risks (via Phys.org/Akron Beacon Journal)

ENVIRONMENT

Philippines financial capital bans plastic bags (via Phys.org)

Study maps likely wildlife migration corridors as climate warms (via Yale e360)

Biologists worried by starving migratory birds tied to climate change (via Washington Post)

Wind-wildlife group begins building bird-death database (via Midwest Energy News)

Seabirds face big problems as sea levels rise (via Mongabay)

Southwest US mega-drought: a bad omen for global forests (via Yale e360)

TRANSPORTATION

New gas mileage rules will reshape what Americans drive (via Green Car Reports)

Power consumption on Ecotricity’s UK’s electric highway increases 45-fold (via CILT-UK)

Why Tesla thinks it can make battery swapping work (via MIT Technology Review)

US researchers create “green” battery using wood (via United Press International)

OIL

Norway opens Arctic border area to oil drilling (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

GRID

EPRI software quantifies value of energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

Will summer blackouts doom the Texas boom? (via Forbes)

GREEN BUSINESS

Americans buy green to save money, not the climate (via Mother Jones)

OPINION

Is Japan solar’s real deal? (via Renewable Energy World)

The time for climate action is now (via Los Angeles Times)

Increased “social cost” of carbon could affect Keystone XL (via CBC News)

The 10 dumbest things ever said about global warming (via Rolling Stone)

Four ways the government subsidizes risky coastal rebuilding (via ProPublica)

Is NYC’s climate plan enough to win the race against rising seas? (via InsideClimate News)

Posted: | Categories: africa, arctic, barack obama, battery, Battery swapping, biofuel, Brazil, CAFE standards, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, Climate change adaptation, Climate change resiliency, coal, Coal export, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPRI, ERCOT, EU, EU ETS, European Union, ev, ev charging, Extinction, Extreme weather, Floods, fracking, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Israel, japan, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, natural gas, New York City, News, norway, NREL, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, oregon, Philippines, Plastic bag ban, Renewable energy standards, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Siemens, small wind, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, Tesla, texas, Transportation, US Forest Service, USFS, wildlife, wind

Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.7.13 share

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

GRID

Utilities outline smarter, more resilient grid to cope with future storms (via ClimateWire)

During major storms, utilities turn to technology (via Navigant Research)

What municipal utilities want from the smart grid (via Greentech Media)

COAL

Global coal consumption booms nearly 60% as China consumes 47% of total (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES

US mulling solar trade agreement with EU, China (via Reuters)

Major global markets continue to determine wind’s path (via Renewable Energy World)

Feed-in tariff spurs Japan solar power boom (via Washington Post)

North America and Asia-Pacific lead geothermal market (via Navigant Research)

Tidal energy could be next big wave (via Forbes)

Report shows US solar annual capacity passed 2GW in 2012 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Ethanol leading to a corn-based bubble (via Houston Chronicle)

DOE launches geothermal regulatory roadmap for project developers (via CleanTechnica)

NREL announces 2012 utility green power program leaders (via Renew Grid)

Nebraska governor signs wind incentive bill into law (via Recharge)

Connecticut governor signs bill amending RPS to include hydropower (via Renew Grid)

Solar Foundation releases solar guide for homeowner associations (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL

Interior Secretary says no new oil drilling in Atlantic as GOP forges ahead (via The Hill)

Gulf oil wells have been leaking since 2004 hurricane (via Grist)

Oil boom masks technological limits that could stifle long-term Bakken potential (via EnergyWire)

Few objections to fracking rule from oil industry, says Interior Secretary (via The Hill)

Oil industry drove economic booms in North Dakota, Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

Arctic summers could be nearly ice-free in seven years (via Grist)

UN beats $30 billion goal to fund climate aid in poorer nations (via Bloomberg)

Slicing open stalagmites to reveal climate secrets (via Mother Jones)

More pieces of global warming puzzle assembled by recent research (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR

NRC orders owners of 31 US nuclear reactors to toughen vents (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

European demand for voluntary offsets surges in private sector (via GreenBiz)

Germany in new push against EU car emissions plan (via Reuters)

Measuring carbon in soil takes a leap forward (via Phys.org)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Detroit’s huge petcoke pile makes its way back to Canada (via New York Times)

Harry Reid says Keystone XL vote coming in US Senate (via The Hill)

Obama dogged by Keystone XL protesters during Bay Area visit (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT

US irrigation subsidies leading to more water use (via New York Times)

Time for US to rely less on shovels, hoses, retardant in fighting wildfires? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Dell pledges waste-free packaging by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Federal government give industry, environmentalists more time to study drilling rule (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will drive Model S from LA to New York (via Green Car Reports)

Want to boost fuel economy? Stop thinking about miles per gallon. (via Washington Post)

POLITICS

Obama officials face tough questions on oil drilling, land access (via Houston Chronicle)

A bipartisan energy committee stuck in a partisan Senate (via National Journal)

OPINION

How “tower power” is breaking open the rural clean energy market (via Greentech Media)

Distributed solar has arrived (via Navigant Research)

Posted: | Categories: arctic, Bakken Shale, barack obama, canada, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, Dell, department of energy, Detroit, distributed generation, DOE, drought, Elon Musk, emissions, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, FIT, fracking, Fuel Economy, geothermal, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, harry reid, Hydropower, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, natural gas, Nebraska, News, north dakota, NRC, NREL, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Offsets, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Petcoke, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Sally Jewell, Severe weather, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, Solar Foundation, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tesla, texas, tidal energy, Transportation, UN, united nations, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind

May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.31.13 share

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

OIL/NATURAL GAS

OPEC maintains 30 million bpd oil output target for 2013 (via Retuers)

Texas leads US in drilling activity with 47.7% of all rigs (via Houston Chronicle)

California lawmakers turn down fracking moratorium (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS

Carbon offsets rise 4% in 2012 (via Phys.org)

Forest and soil carbon important, but does not offset fossil fuel emissions (via Phys.org)

ENVIRONMENT

Green groups hail sustainable EU fisheries deal (via BusinessGreen)

The latest casualty of drought may be US aquifers (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES

Japan set to overtake Germany as world’s biggest solar market in 2013 (via Recharge)

Australia approaches 22% renewables by 2020, 51% by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

US favors net-metering while Europe, Japan like feed-in tariffs (via Energy Manager Today)

Japanese domestic solar shipments increase by most in 30 years (via Bloomberg)

Big dams are booming business, but politics remain difficult (via ClimateWire)

Ontario set to overhaul its renewables support policies, end feed-in tariff (via Recharge)

Polish offshore wind energy could be worth €17.5 billion by 2025 (via Renewable Energy World)

Google invests in 96MW South African solar project (via GigaOm)

Q1 2013 clean tech venture investments hit lowest point in 4 years (via Greentech Media)

FERC report says 33MW of new solar added in US during April (via Solar Industry Magazine)

First North American offshore wind turbine rises in Maine (via CleanTechnica)

Connecticut’s renewable portfolio standard set to include more hydropower (via Renew Grid)

North Carolina fights back against anti-solar bills (via Renewable Energy World)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone XL protesters seek dismissal of lawsuit preventing protests (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION

Renault takes Better Place bankruptcy in stride, says EVs still a focus (via Autoblog Green)

Should the US government have made more money off Tesla? (via Washington Post)

Honda cuts US lease price for Fit EV to $259/month (via Green Car Congress)

GRID

North American smart grid sensor market set to double by 2014 (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS

GOP US Senator praises solar, warns of human-caused climate change (via Greentech Media)

OPINION

How China may have just changed the climate game (via Climate Progress)

EU energy and climate change policy after 2020 (via Energy Collective)

Coming off fossil fuels is akin to quitting smoking – only harder (via The Guardian)

Coal is the enemy of the human race, video edition (via Grist)

How battery technology killed better place (via Environmental Leader)

Posted: | Categories: australia, battery, better place, california, carbon offsets, China, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, EU, European Union, ev, feed-in tariff, FERC, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, google, grid, honda, Honda Fit, Hydropower, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Lamar Alexander, Maine, natural gas, Net metering, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, oklahoma, ontario, OPEC, Poland, Renault, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, smart grid, solar, South Africa, Tesla, texas, Transportation, Water scarcity, wind

May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.13 share

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

ENERGY POLICY

98% of DOE’s $34 billion loan portfolio is being repaid (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE

Thawing permafrost could produce lower CO2 emissions than previously thought (via ClimateWire)

New EU climate policy unlikely before 2015 (via Phys.org)

10 cities that will be hardest hit by climate change (via Grist)

Gov. Jerry Brown keeps pressing on the perils of climate change (via San Jose Mercury News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

US shale boom shapes international energy markets (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy-rich Colorado becomes setting for fracking fight (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House panel approves fracking measure (via Chicago Tribune)

Grassroots greens challenge EDF on fracking involvement (via Mother Jones)

RENEWABLES

Germany investing €50 million in solar PV innovation (via Recharge)

Switch to low-carbon energy would save UK households 1,600 (via The Independent)

White House, Pentagon at odds over biofuel refinery program (via Greenwire)

Wind potential – all about the data (via Renewable Energy World)

North Carolina renewable energy policy will remain in place (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS

China emissions cap proposal hailed as climate breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

China unveils details of pilot carbon-trading program (via The Guardian)

CBO: carbon tax an option to avoid “catastrophic” outcomes (via The Hill)

College fossil-fuel divestment movement builds (via Houston Chronicle)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

House passes bill to speed up Keystone XL, avoid Obama review (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL’s southern leg nears completion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla Motors repays its government loan in full (via Greentech Media)

Tesla Model S set to bring EVs into mainstream (via BusinessGreen)

Coalition launches EV charging station project in upstate New York (via Green Car Congress)

COAL

Coal regains some electric generation market share from natural gas (via US EIA)

Mining lobby touts economic impact of coal exports (via Charleston Gazette)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

UK government to boost energy efficiency efforts across sectors (via Energy Manager Today)

How Cree perfected the 20-year light bulb (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT

Death by a thousand cuts: coal boom could destroy Great Barrier Reef (via Spiegel)

POLITICS

The GOP’s green energy tent is slowly getting bigger (via National Journal)

Climate activists to protest at Obama group’s climate events (via Grist)

Q&A: Steven Chu on his time as US Energy Secretary (via Stanford News)

Green billionaire Steyer plans to get involved in Massachusetts Senate race (via The Hill)

Terry McAuliffe reverses course, backs bill to allow oil drilling off Virginia coast (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Europe, Australia, and the slow death of carbon trading (via Renew Economy)

Could a Chinese carbon cap pave the way for a global climate deal? (via Grist)

The impact of budget sequestration on DOD energy innovation (via Innovation Files)

May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.10.13 share

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

GRID

North America boasts 95% of demand response projects (via Energy Manager Today)

Microgrids for military bases to surpass $377 million in annual market value by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

PacifiCorp continues high-voltage transmission grid expansion (via Renew Grid)

Nest aims to shake up residential demand response (via Navigant Research)

GREEN BUSINESS

Global green trade to reach $2.2 trillion by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

How are China’s overseas investments affecting the environment? (via WRI Insights)

Patagonia’s new VC fund to invest in trailblazing green firms (via GreenBiz)

An effort to thwart sale of Tribune Company papers to the Kochs (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES

EU to hit 100+ China solar panel makers with anti-dumping tariffs (via Greentech Media)

Wind PTC secured for now, industry focuses on long-term growth (via Greenwire)

Unique floating wind turbine base could provide glimpse into future (via Bangor Daily News)

Doubling wind power could save Mid-Atlantic consumers $6.9 billion a year (via Climate Progress)

New Hampshire governor opposes Connecticut’s plans to change renewable energy standard (via New Haven Register)

Rate design matters: utility tariffs and solar project economics (via Greentech Media)

Big gust of new wind power coming Iowa’s way (via EarthTechling)

Illinois Senate backs Lake Michigan offshore wind study (via News-Gazette)

NATURAL GAS

DOE using broad criteria to judge LNG exports (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE

Studies of the past show an ice-free Arctic could be in our future (via Time)

Countries finding new ways to address climate change (via Sustainable Business)

Prince Charles: climate change skeptics are turning Earth into dying patient (via The Guardian)

Is it time to abandon the 2-degree warming target? (via RTCC)

Obama Administration rolls out climate and health data tool (via The Hill)

GREEN BUILDING

Green building now mandatory in Dubai (via Sustainable Business)

“Monumental shift” in US buildings sector may surprise you (via Greentech Media)

TRANSPORTATION

2013 Nissan Leaf named “Top Safety Pick” in IIHS crash tests (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf moves beyond early adopters to cost conscious (via Forbes)

Australian researchers more than double EV battery capacity (via Autoblog Green)

OIL

New blowout preventer mandates coming – but companies won’t have to comply overnight (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil industry: BLM preventing job creation by postponing oil, gas lease auctions (via Washington Post/AP)

BIOMASS

Europe’s new biomass satellite will map Earth’s forests to calculate carbon stores (via Inhabitat)

Does burning wood instead of fossil fuels increase GHG emissions? (via Midwest Energy News)

POLITICS

Republicans boycott vote on Obama’s EPA pick (via Mother Jones)

EPA nomination faces some hard math (via The Hill)

McCarthy’s nomination in doubt, angering Democrats (via Politico)

Major Obama donors compare Keystone decision to outlawing of slavery (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Conventional wisdom about clean energy is still way out of date (via Greentech Media)

Once more, with feeling: EPA is required to regulate carbon from existing power plants (via Grist)

Why you can’t talk about fixing the electric grid without talking about climate change (via Climate Progress)

Time to reconsider “baseload” power (via Midwest Energy News)

California’s new energy crisis centers on nuclear power (via Forbes)

Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.8.13 share

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

India seeks access to US natural gas (via The Hill)

Shale-rich Spanish region expected to vote to ban fracking (via Reuters)

Foreign investors play large role in US shale industry (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION

Cheaper electric vehicle batteries: slow and steady wins the race (via Green Car Reports)

Fisker mass layoffs trigger federal lawsuit (via Autoblog)

GREEN BUSINESS

A glimpse into the future of retailer sustainability (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES

Global biofuels production will reach nearly 62 billion gallons by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

630MW offshore wind London Array at full power (via Recharge)

Austria installed 230MW of solar in 2012 to double total capacity (via CleanTechnica)

IRS gives wind power a raise (via EarthTechling)

Sewer bonds new funding model for solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Wind energy and wildlife: science marks industry efforts (via AOL Energy)

North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard under attack (via RTCC)

EMISSIONS

China’s emissions trading scheme in line for 2020 national launch (via RTCC)

Study: fossil fuel emissions stunt coral growth (via RTCC)

Air pollution killed 1.2 million Chinese in 2010 (via Greentech Media)

US carbon emissions drop as natural gas displaces coal (via The Hill)

Total carbon emissions from natural gas may exceed coal by 2016 (via Facts of the Day)

Study: EPA rules will fuel shift away from coal (via The Hill)

OIL

Ruling against BP clears way for spill payout appeals (via Reuters)

Exxon oil spill could be 40% larger than company estimates, say EPA figures (via InsideClimate News)

Upstart pipeline company staking its future on stopping heavy oil corrosion (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Tipping point near for LED lighting (via Navigant Research)

GRID

“Battery University” aims to train a work force for next-generation energy storage (via New York Times)

Texas to double wind capacity with $6.8 billion transmission investment (via AOL Energy)

ComEd facing lawsuit connected to smart meter initiative (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS

DOE, EPA nominees face Congressional hearings this week (via The Hill)

Meet the US billionaire who wants to kill the Keystone XL pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

The man who could put climate change on Obama’s agenda (via National Journal)

Salazar looks back on a “joyful run” as Interior Secretary (via New York Times)

OPINION

Is the Keystone XL pipeline too risky? (via National Journal)

Yea or nay, White House will face backlash on Keystone (via Politico)

Why solar power company stocks are still earthbound (via New York Times)

Posted: | Categories: Arkansas, Austria, battery, biofuels, BP, cap and trade, China, coal, ComEd, Coral reef, CREZ, Denis McDonough, Dilbit, DOE, Electric battery, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ev, Exxon, Fisker, fracking, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, interior department, IRS, ken salazar, Keystone XL, LED, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Spain, Tax incentive, texas, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind

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