Category Archives:renewables

09
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL 

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL 

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID 

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Posted:   |   Categories: apple, arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuels, biomass, cap and trade, Chevron, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, CREZ, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enphase, environment, EU, European Union, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, fracking, France, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, india, japan, Joe Manchin, Kentucky, Keystone XL, Microgrid, Mosaic, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil shale, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Sugnevity, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Ukraine, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind
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08
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.8.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN proposes building blocks of new climate deal (via Bloomberg)

U.S. and China set for latest climate change discussions (via RTCC)

France and India pledge cooperation at UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Lessons from a drowning nation (via Washington Post)

Climate change up close (via Ensia)

BBC cuts airtime for climate skeptics (via The Hill)

COAL 

Indian power plants running out of coal, imports to surge (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy’s share of China power generation to reach 20% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Clean energy investment rebounds to highest level since 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy share in UK electricity generation inches closer to 20% (via CleanTechnica)

Deutsche Bank lends $1 billion in Japan’s solar gold rush (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

India exploring desert-based renewable energy strategy (via BusinessGreen)

UK Crown Estate approves marine power sites, test zones (via Bloomberg)

Offshore wind energy traversing regulatory, financial currents (via Forbes)

Growing green bond market raises $20 billion in six months (via RTCC)

Four residential solar trends to watch in second half 2014 (via Greentech Media)

CitiBank official: ITC drop “beyond huge” (via Recharge)

Here’s a way to get utilities to embrace solar and batteries: Let them own the inverter (via Greentech Media)

Florida utilities working to crush nascent solar industry (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU’s united front on Russia falling amid gas needs (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ukraine-Europe gas link to run at full capacity this winter (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Aramco pulls the rug out from under U.S. natural gas industry (via CleanTechnica)

How are energy boom states dealing with fracking-related health complaints? (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Fracking fears grow as Oklahoma hit by more earthquakes than California (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canadians are eating tar sands pollution (via Grist)

Lake Mead, largest U.S. reservoir, to reach record low this week (via Climate Progress)

NRDC petitions EPA to cancel neonicotinoid pesticides (via NRDC Switchboard)

A California oil field yields another prized commodity – water (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

More Chargepoint chargers than McDonalds now in U.S. (via CleanTechnica)

Why cars remain so appealing even in cities with decent public transit (via Washington Post)

A designer fuel for the environmentally-conscious supercar enthusiast (via Breaking Energy)

EMISSIONS 

Emissions reduction efforts gather steam (via Navigant Research)

EPA refutes charge NRDC played key role in emissions rule (via The Hill)

GRID 

Big microgrid savings from replacing diesel with energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Researchers developing supercomputer to tackle grid challenges (via Renewable Energy World)

Maine utilities to strengthen grid, provide renewables access (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

Outside groups spent lavishly on top DOE officials’ global travels (via Greenwire)

Behind Harry Reid’s war against the Koch Brothers (via Politico)

OPINION 

Primer on Beijing’s slice-and-dice approach to energy and climate reform (via Center for American Progress)

Picking the lesser of two climate evils (via New York Times)

Ignore the climate change deniers (via Politico)

Should Wall Street care about global warming? (via National Journal)

Climate pricing and strange bedfellows (via Energy Collective)

Could California’s climate revolution change the national conversation? (via Huffington Post)

Jerry Brown on clean energy: The hard part is yet to come (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: Batteries, BBC, california, canada, ChargePoint, China, Citibank, climate, Climate Change, coal, Deutsche Bank, diesel, DOE, drought, earthquakes, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, European Union, ev charging, Florida, fracking, France, Green bonds, grid, harry reid, india, itc, japan, Jerry Brown, Kiribati, Koch Brothers, Lake Mead, Maine, Marine power, Microgrid, natural gas, News, nrdc, offshore wind, oklahoma, Public transit, renewables, Russia, Saudi Aramco, Sea level rise, solar, tar sands, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, united nations, wind
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07
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

Australia sees little consensus among G20 for new climate action (via The Hill)

Report says UK climate change policies have not harmed economy (via The Guardian)

Hawaii, Rhode Island, Vermont take serious climate adaptation action (via CleanTechnica)

Ceres: half of America’s largest companies don’t report on climate risk (via Triple Pundit)

Meet the scientist who might end the climate culture wars (via Popular Science)

RENEWABLES 

Lessons in solar development for the Latin American market (via Renewable Energy World)

Brazil planning local-content rules for solar industry (via Bloomberg)

Deutsche Bank predicts big increase in publicly traded solar-based Yieldcos (via CleanTechnica)

Global solar jobs surge to 2.3 million in 2013 (via Recharge)

Solar thin-film panels reach 11-month high on trade war (via Bloomberg)

World Bank to invest $775 million in clean energy across India (via Economic Times)

Renewables jump to 31% in Germany for first half 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil’s national development bank loans $251 for wind projects (via Recharge)

Insurers to cover European withdrawal of solar and wind subsidies (via Financial Times)

Gamesa and Areva ink deal to form offshore wind giant (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. weighs offshore wind tourism impact (via Recharge)

Two federal agencies side with Cape Wind on environmental issues (via Cape Cod Times)

North Carolina utilities panel will delve into cost of renewable power (via Charlotte News Observer)

Michigan PSC says state could boost solar at no cost to utility customers (via Environmental Law & Policy Center)

Lessons from the making of Massachusetts’ solar compromise bill (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Modi’s power pledge set to lift coal imports to record (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

U.S. Ex-Im Bank weighs loan to major India coal project (via Reuters)

Coal poised for rare win over Obama in Ex-Im Bank fight (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

U.S. pension funds ignore divestment calls, keep fossil fuels burning (via Financial Times)

Taking oil industry cue, environmentalists drew emissions blueprint (via New York Times)

California Democrat introduces bill to delay cap-and-trade expansion (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. now world’s biggest oil producer after overtaking Saudi Arabia (via Bloomberg)

Lac Megantic, Quebec still recovering from deadly oil train disaster (via Huffington Post)

US Commerce Secretary says “serious conversations” underway on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Model S earns top score in industry for total quality (via Green Car Reports)

Toyota to offer wireless charging on next-generation Prius in 2016 (via Plug-in Cars)

Data shows why EV owners are so different from the rest of us (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Germany drafting anti-shale fracking rules on public opposition (via Bloomberg)

Research links Oklahoma quakes to drilling activity (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy companies say disposal wells central to Oklahoma’s oil, gas operations (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reed faces ravaging from expected El Nino (via The Guardian)

Nearly 80% of California now under “extreme” drought conditions (via Los Angeles Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Homebuilders, restaurants herald cracks in Japan’s power market (via Bloomberg)

DOE issuing up to $4 billion in loan guarantees for energy, efficiency projects (via Green Car Congress)

A hot July energy legislation forecast on Capitol Hill (via National Journal)

The future of batteries: Q&A with director of national laboratory battery hub (via Phys.org)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Utilities reveal just how much customers are saving with energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Biggest hospital in North America to feature a green roof with medicinal herbs (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

World Bank email leaks reveal internal row over power project loans (via The Guardian)

Green bond market is growing, but what makes a bond green? (via The Economist)

Here’s why the forecast for microgrids looks so sunny (via GreenBiz)

Why carbon market participants want more corporate involvement (via GreenBiz)

Congress’s head-in-the sand approach to climate change (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Areva, australia, Batteries, Brazil, cap and trade, cape wind, Carbon market, Ceres, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, DOE, drought, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, g20, Gamesa, germany, Great Barrier Reef, Green bond, green jobs, green roof, Hawaii, india, japan, Latin America, massachusetts, michigan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, Oil exports, Oil train, oklahoma, Quebec, renewables, rhode island, saudi arabia, solar, Solar trade war, Subsidies, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Toyota, Toyota prius, Transportation, united kingdom, vermont, Wastewater disposal wells, wind, World Bank, Yieldcos
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03
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.3.14

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

COAL 

Port wants to load coal between ships in middle of Great Barrier Reef (via The Guardian)

Study: Mountaintop removal reduces fish population (via Charleston Gazette)

Vanishing coal jobs weigh on U.S.-backed pension plans (via Bloomberg)

Manchin Ex-Im bill proposes rolling back coal restrictions (via The Hill)

Wyoming sticks by coal despite upheaval (via Wall Street Journal)

RENEWABLES 

India plans world’s largest floating solar power project at 50MW (via CleanTechnica)

Australia’s $10 billion clean-energy bank to announce solar deals (via Bloomberg)

Holland: Pioneering sustainable district heating innovations (via Energy Collective)

China’s second-biggest hydropower plant completed (via Reuters)

Desertec’s second wind (via Recharge)

EPA qualifies new biogas, electricity pathways for cellulosic biofuel requirement under RFS (via Green Car Congress)

Will offshore wind pick up speed? (via Huffington Post)

The rise of residential solar PV customers (via Renewable Energy World)

Distributed wind energy: The new cash crop (via Renewable Energy World)

Interior Department to auction site off Maryland for offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

New York State fracking ruling leaves shale industry weary (via Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE 

Researchers say costs of climate change being massively underestimated (via CleanTechnica)

Climate-driven wildfires consume forest service budget (via Bloomberg)

New storm surge maps debut with TS Arthur (via Climate Central)

Why New York City might need canals to survive (via Fast Company)

Sea-level rise cuts across political divide in Norfolk, Virginia (via World Resources Institute)

OIL 

Oil prices decline, despite bullish oil inventory data (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP says we have 53.3 years of oil left (via Autoblog)

EMISSIONS 

Glasgow University could ditch £19 million in fossil fuel assets (via RTCC)

EPA moves to slash methane at landfills, oil wells (via Climate Central)

EPA adds hearings on power plan carbon regulations (via The Hill)

Four carbon-pricing pitfalls to avoid (via Sightline Daily)

ENVIRONMENT 

The disaster we’ve wrought on the world’s oceans may be irrevocable (via Newsweek)

UN green fund to seek cash in November; poor nations want $15 billion (via Reuters)

UK take from environmental taxes reaches £43 billion in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

The costly lobbying war over America’s dying honeybees (via National Journal)

As their yards go brown, Californians pocket the green (via Greenwire)

California drought: America’s golden state runs dry and its farmers are struggling to survive (via The Independent)

POLITICS 

Iraq violence has restarted Bernie Sanders’ gas-price fight with Wall Street

Australian prime minister attempts to undermine global climate action (via EcoWatch)

League of Conservation Voters beefs up with hiring of climate veteran (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How climate change could foil China’s smog-fighting efforts (via New York Times)

Peak coal: Why the industry’s days are numbered (via GreenBiz)

Three signs clean tech is booming in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Is divestment at catholic universities a climate game changer? (via Huffington Post)

America needs to raise the gas tax – and then get rid of it (via Washington Post)

David Crane’s green vision for carbon-belching NRG Energy (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bernie sanders, biofuels, Biogas, BP, california, Carbon pricing, Cellulosic biofuel, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, David Crane, Desertec, Distributed wind, District heating, Divestment, drought, emissions, environment, EPA, Export-Import bank, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, gas prices, Gas tax, Glasgow University, Great Barrier Reef, Holland, Hydropower, india, interior department, iraq, Joe Manchin, League of Conservation Voters, maryland, methane, mountaintop removal, natural gas, New York City, new york state, News, NRG Energy, offshore wind, oil, oil prices, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Tony Abbott, united kingdom, virginia, wildfires, wind, wyoming
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01
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.1.14

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

CLIMATE 

India plans to overhaul approach to UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Besieged by rising tides of climate change, Kiribati buys land in Fiji (via The Guardian)

Pentagon to escalate global warming preparations for bases (via U.S. News & World Report)

Wall Street’s climate war intensifies with new weapons (via National Journal)

The fine line between sugarcoating and panic on climate change (via Washington Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands expansion cools down without Keystone XL (via NRDC Switchboard)

RENEWABLES 

EU states avoid green energy overhaul after court backs Swedish scheme (via Reuters)

Renewables to get most of $7.7 trillion new power plant investments by 2030 (via Bloomberg)

China becomes world’s largest solar PV market (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy saves Fortune 500 companies over $1 billion (via CleanTechnica)

Bangladesh to receive $78.4 million from World Bank for solar home systems (via Shanghai Daily)

The rise of Big Solar in Chile (via Forbes)

Solar companies sue to stop property taxes on leased rooftop panels (via Arizona Republic)

Six trailblazers banking on clean energy finance (via GreenBiz)

NRG Yield adds new solar assets (via Recharge)

Two-bladed wind turbines make a comeback (via MIT Technology Review)

Illinois putting $30 million into solar investments (via Southern Illinoisan)

Receding Lake Mead poses challenges to Hoover Dam’s power output (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China fuels new boom in natural gas (via ClimateWire)

New York’s top court says towns can ban fracking (via Financial Post/Reuters)

Fracking study finds new natural gas wells leak more than older ones (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

FERC approves second LNG export project (via Breaking Energy)

Shale’s junk debt at risk if Fed raises rates (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon has best quarter in six years amid EU permit-supply curbs (via Bloomberg)

Court blocks Arch Coal mine expansion for not counting costs of carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Basis for EPA Clean Power Plan cuts a “mystery” (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Here’s where solar, storage, and microgrids are taking hold in the U.S. (via Greentech Media)

Symantec warns of hacker threat against energy companies (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Capacity of U.S. petroleum refineries increases by 101,000 barrels per day (via Environmental Leader)

North Dakota and Texas now provide nearly half U.S. crude oil production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Supreme Court won’t hear dispute over California fuel standard (via Greenwire)

2015 Toyota Prius launch pushed back six months: Report (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic debris widespread on ocean surface, finds study (via Huffington Post)

Indonesia now has the highest rate of deforestation in the world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU leaders divided on 2030 energy efficiency target (via RTCC)

Energy efficiency investments create 17 jobs per one million dollars in U.S. Southeast (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Report: Voters more likely to back climate-friendly candidate (via The Hill)

All policy is local: 2014 Congressional races defined by energy issues (via Politico)

Coal fires up West Virginia House of Representatives race (via Politico)

Sen. Beigich talks climate change (via KCAW)

FERC Commissioner Norris expects not to seek another term (via SNL Energy)

OPINION 

U.S. steps toward more China solar tariffs – for the wrong reasons? (via Breaking Energy)

Happy birthday carbon tax….been god to know you (via Renew Economy)

Is climate change destabilizing Iraq? (via Mother Jones)

Closing the renewable energy investment gap (via WRI Insights)

What’s next for U.S. oil exports? (via National Journal)

Australia Institute director says Gore-Palmer ploy reset climate debate (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arch Coal, australia, Bangladesh, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, FERC, fracking, grid, Hoover Dam, Hydropower, Illinois, india, Indonesia, iraq, John Norris, Keystone XL, Lake Mead, LNG, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Mark Beigich, methane, Microgrids, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, oil, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, Solar trade war, Sweden, tar sands, texas, Toyota prius, Transportation, West Virginia, wind, World Bank, YieldCo
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30
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

World Bank: Tacking climate change will grow the economy (via Climate Central)

Leading insurer closing its climate change office, leaving industry “mute” (via ClimateWire)

Mexico eyes economic benefits of landmark climate law (via RTCC)

The high cost of climate change inaction in two new studies (via NRDC Switchboard)

Wheat breeders planning for climate change (via The Western Producer)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Scotland primed for shale gas exploration (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

IRENA says world needs $550 billion of renewables investment a year (via RTCC)

Last week, wind energy was the new baseload in Australia (via Renew Economy)

German lawmakers vote to reduce renewable energy subsidies (via Bloomberg)

SunEdison closes $190 million financing for Chile solar project (via Bloomberg)

Silver lining for China’s carbon-financed wind power boom (via Forbes)

Columbia River Basin provides more than 40% total U.S. hydroelectric generation (via U.S. EIA)

Michigan’s wind industry soaring (via Detroit Free-Press)

Growing number of solar panels a concern for Wisconsin utilities (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Boston trying out solar-powered “smart benches” in parks (via Boston Globe)

GM adds three acres of solar arrays at Michigan facilities (via Green Car Congress)

SunPower to add storage to solar in new homes (via Greentech Media)

NextEra Energy prices yieldco IPO (via Recharge)

EMISSIONS 

Australia carbon tax moves closer to repeal after vote in lower house (via Reuters)

Caribbean needs $30 billion investment to cut fossil-fuel use (via Bloomberg)

Shanghai firms meet carbon targets after last-day permit auction (via Reuters)

DOE-sponsored project captures one millionth metric ton of CO2 (via Breaking Energy)

NASA to launch CO2-tracking satellite (via The Guardian)

Los Angeles councilman to propose emissions reduction measure (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought has drillers running after shrinking California water supply (via NPR)

Map shows when summer heat will peak in your town (via Climate Central)

OIL 

The other battle for Canada’s oil sands (via Houston Chronicle)

Following long ban, U.S. could dominate global light oil supply (via Reuters)

Feds, lawmakers warn of fire risk from oil trains (via The Hill)

Oil boom meets bust in Texas: Above sea of oil, poverty digs in (via New York Times)

BP seeks return of millions in oil spill damage payments (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China only sold 7,000 electric automobiles in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Lukewarm automaker interest in open Tesla EV patents (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan prices replacement Leaf battery at $5,500 (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

MSHA issues 147 citations during coal mine inspections (via Washington Post)

GRID 

UK seeks to avoid “energy crunch” with 53GW capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

NREL supercomputer tackles grid challenges (via Intelligent Utility)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berg Insights predicts 36 million smart homes worldwide by 2017 (via GigaOm)

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance starts financing network (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

OPINION 

Australia risks G20 isolation by scrapping carbon tax (via Financial Times)

The American West’s water crisis (via New York Times)

How carbon pricing can boost the bottom line (via Environmental Leader)

Time to buy shares in a yieldco? (via Sustainable Business)

Will Governor Christie re-embrace cap-and-trade in wake of EPA rule? (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Boston, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Capacity auction, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, Caribbean, Chile, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, germany, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, IRENA, los angeles, mexico, michigan, NASA, natural gas, News, NextEra Energy, Nissan, nissan LEAF, NREL, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Scotland, SEEA, Shale gas, Shanghai, Smart home Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, solar, Subsidy, SunEdison, SunPower, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, Wisconsin, World Bank, YieldCo
0
27
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Green bonds show path to $1 trillion market for climate (via Bloomberg)

Wall Street: Your climate war has arrived (via National Journal)

What are schools teaching your kids about global warming? (via National Journal)

New mapping technology shows whether global warming will drown your town (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

French proposal on 2030 EU energy goals could ease gridlock (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Denmark to establish $1 billion green fund (via Energy Manager Today)

China boosts solar exports to developing countries as trade tension mounts with U.S. (via BusinessGreen)

UK audit questions $28 billion in clean energy projects (via Bloomberg)

El Salvador awards contracts for 94MW of solar (via Bloomberg)

Utilities move to kick rooftop solar off the grid in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Brazil to retain transmission and distribution discount on wind energy (via Recharge)

CBO says U.S. gas prices to rise if biofuel mandate not cut (via Reuters)

Distributed renewable energy comes under fire (via CleanTechnica)

As Ohio shuts down clean energy, businesses say they want more renewables (via Greentech Media)

Wisconsin electric cooperative unveils state’s first community solar project (via Madison.com)

EMISSIONS 

EU seen curbing coal use by quadrupling carbon price (via Bloomberg)

Beijing emitters trade 1.6 million carbon permits in fist seven months of pilot program (via Reuters)

Abbott “optimistic” on carbon tax repeal despite crossbench senator’s concerns (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S. produced most oil in 2013, says BP report (via Christian Science Monitor)

Federal officials say oil train dangers extend past Bakken shipments (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil boom fuels drop in average age of Great Plains states (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota plans to double pipeline capacity in just two years (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs get support in Canada with tax incentives, wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s patent giveaway paves the EV freeway (via Navigant Research)

Will Georgia’s $5,000 EV tax credit be axed in 2015? (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

U.S. shale spurs record investments by foreign chemical makers (via Bloomberg)

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas exploring possible connections between fracking, earthquakes (via Topeka Capital-Journal)

Goldman says shale gas boom driving fear from market (via Bloomberg)

Air pollution spikes in homes near fracking wells (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

High-tech firms focus on energy efficiency to confront climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

LEED for roads: Greener infrastructure gains momentum (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Support for Keystone XL is almost universal (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

Indonesia seeks $5 billion to cut CO2 from deforestation (via Bloomberg)

Battle gets underway for control of .eco domain name (via The Guardian)

California wind farm first in U.S. to avoid penalty for dead eagles (via Wall Street Journal)

NASA shows big drop in air pollution over D.C., I-95 corridor since 2005 (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

Obama has a response to GOP “I am not a scientist” line (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Scorched farms, flooded homes, lower productivity: The cost of doing nothing (via The Economist)

Solar tariffs seem certain to hurt U.S. installation market (via Solar Industry Magazine)

How solar finance is driving solar businesses to change (via CleanTechnica)

The oil boom in one slick infographic (via Grist)

How climate change ate conservatism’s smartest thinkers (via The Week)

Lessons from Rhode Island: How to pass climate laws in the U.S. (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bakken Shale, barack obama, Beijing, biofuels, BP, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon price, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, deforestation, denmark, Eagle take, earthquakes, El Salvador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, European Union, ev, Flooding, fracking, France, gas prices, Georgia, global warming, Green bonds, Indonesia, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, NASA, natural gas, News, north dakota, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Tesla, texas, Tony Abbott, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, wildfires, wind, wireless charging, Wisconsin
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26
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bjorn lomborg, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, Daryl Issa, Desertification, DOE, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, France, germany, grid, harry reid, Houston, india, japan, John Boehner, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, plug-in America, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rhode island, solar, Solar trade war, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Superchargers, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Yieldcos
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26
Jun

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)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, bjorn lomborg, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, carbon tax, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, colorado, Daryl Issa, Desertification, DOE, drought, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, France, germany, grid, harry reid, Houston, india, japan, John Boehner, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, oil, Oil exports, plug-in America, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rhode island, solar, Solar trade war, Tepco, Tesla, Tesla Superchargers, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Yieldcos
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25
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.25.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australian Senate leader to support carbon-price repeal (via Bloomberg)

EPA’s first carbon regs nearly unscathed after years of litigation (via Greenwire)

Congressional observers doubt GOP can blog funding for EPA carbon rules (via SNL Energy)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

First Nations being courted to back tar sands refineries on their land (via InsideClimate News)

Republicans renew push for Keystone vote in Senate (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Over 7GW new solar PV capacity installed in Japan last fiscal year (via CleanTechnica)

U.K. solar industry set to hit 9GW in rush to meet subsidy deadline (via BusinessGreen)

Sustainable district heating from seawater? It’s happening in Holland (via CleanTechnica)

Concentrated solar power could compete with natural gas, says study (via Yale e360)

U.S. financial sector lags in clean energy investment (via Energy Manager Today)

Challenges to financing renewable energy projects on U.S. military sites (via Renewable Energy World)

NRG CEO says residential solar competitive with utility power in 25 states next year (via Green Car Reports)

Southern California Edison seems 290MW in small-scale renewables (via Solar Industry Magazine)

SunPower and SolarCity emerge as fierce solar roof rivals (via GigaOm)

Report: Michigan could expand solar without raising rates (via Midwest Energy News)

Two universities in D.C. make deal to buy solar power (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

G20 summit: Obama expected to discuss “critical issue” of climate change (via The Guardian)

May was hottest on Earth since records began (via The Guardian)

Eastern U.S.: Coldest spot on Earth so far in 2014 (via Washington Post)

Former Treasury chiefs agree: Get the SEC into the climate mix (via National Journal)

On N.C.’s Outer Banks, climate change predictions prompt change of forecast (via Washington Post)

OIL 

OPEC secretary general says no oil shortage exists (via Reuters)

U.S. ruling loosens four-decade ban on oil exports (via Wall Street Journal)

Canada’s safety board chief urges U.S. to phase out old rail cars (via Reuters)

1,250-pound tar mat discovered off Florida beach (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Japan bets big on making fuel cell cars a near-future reality (via Reuters)

California lawmakers urge change to vehicle carbon emissions plan (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

In Wyoming, going deep to draw energy from coal (via NPR)

GRID 

Fewer wind curtailments, negative power prices in Texas after CREZ grid expansion (via U.S. EIA)

Five key disruptors on the grid edge (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.K. Green Investment Bank backs £2 small business energy efficiency fund (via BusinessGreen)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Best Global Green Brands revealed, Ford leads list (via Environmental Leader)

Minneapolis announced as U.S. leader in green commercial space (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Merkel to push back against EU if Germany’s green energy subsidies questioned (via Reuters)

Report: Independent producers leading growth in U.S. oil and gas reserves (via Houston Chronicle)

Colorado suspends oil and gas wastewater disposal well after quake (via Reuters)

OPINION 

How to untangle yourself from clean energy finance jargon (via GreenBiz)

How the Gateway pipeline stokes simmering fury among British Columbia natives (via Globe and Mail)

Could Opower soon enter the community solar business? (via Greentech Media)

EPA’s clever legal trick could save its clean power plan (via Energy Collective)

POLITICS 

White House says it has “no misgivings” about Steyer meeting (via The Hill)

Joe Manchin, Sheldon Whitehouse seek middle ground on climate change (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, Carbon market, carbon tax, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal gasification, colorado, community solar, concentrated solar power, CREZ, Curtailment, David Crane, District heating, Energy Efficiency, EPA, First Nations, Florida, Ford, g20, Gateway pipeline, germany, global warming, Green bank, green building, green business, grid, Grid Parity, Holland, japan, Joe Manchin, Keystone XL, michigan, Minneapolis, natural gas, News, North Carolina, NRG, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, OPEC, Opower, renewables, Sea level rise, SEC, Sheldon Whitehouse, solar, SolarCity, southern california edison, Subsidy, SunPower, tar sands, texas, The Netherlands, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation Fuel cell, united kingdom, Washington D.C., Wastewater disposal well, wyoming
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