Category Archives:renewables

12
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.12.14

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

EMISSIONS

UN climate summit set for major carbon pricing announcement (via RTCC)

Carbon market volatility to jump on EU overhaul talks (via Bloomberg)

China plans $65 billion carbon market at around $18/tonne (via Renew Economy)

$29 billion Australian super fund to quit thermal coal investments (via Renew Economy)

States suing to stop CO2 cuts prep for them anyway (via Climate Central)

Exxon accused of downplaying carbon bubble risks (via BusinessGreen)

COAL 

China bid to curb coal output seen lifting prices 10% (via Bloomberg)

Disputing a study on coal exports and climate (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Hope for clean economy as $20 billion in green bonds issued in 2014 (via The Guardian)

World’s biggest development banks pledge to scale up climate finance (via Business Green)

Can REthinking power generation create a renewable energy future? (via CleanTechnica)

India offshore wind policy to target 1GW by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

IHS says Central America to see 1.5GW new solar PV by 2018 (via PV Tech)

Ontario grid hits 35% renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Be prepared for a lot more solar by 2025 (via The Energy Collective)

Oil group says EPA may raise ethanol quote based on E85 demand (via Bloomberg)

Is a solar development boom about to begin in Texas? (via Greentech Media)

California encourages West-facing solar panels (via Renewable Energy World)

Missouri Supreme Court to hear arguments in solar policy dispute (via EnergyWire)

Cleveland becomes clean tech leader as Ohio backtracks on renewables (via Climate Central)

Cellulosic ethanol: Firsts, failures, myths, and risks (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Warmer air caused ice shelf collapse off Antarctica (via Reuters)

Downed tropical forests exacerbate climate change (via Scientific American)

New EU climate chief must deal with global warming and energy, a difficult job (via ClimateWire)

The good and bad climate news from permafrost melt (via Climate Central)

Rising seas force landowners to embrace once-reviled “living shorelines” (via Greenwire)

Climate controversy pushing scientists to become better communicators (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Judge bars former EPA official from testifying in coal emissions enforcement suit (via Greenwire)

OIL 

IEA notes “remarkable” oil demand growth fall (via Financial Times)

Environmental groups sue DOT over oil trains (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cities cut emissions through car sharing (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla Model X reservations 20,000 strong and counting (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

East Europe stocks up on gas as Ukraine crisis drags on (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Morgan Stanley bullish on energy storage (via Breaking Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

More than half U.S. companies project increased energy efficiency investment in 2015 (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How sustainability improves shareholder value (via GreenBiz)

Green jobs on the rise: Will growth continue? (via NRDC Switchboard)

ENVIRONMENT 

Brazilian Amazon deforestation jumps by 29%, says government (via Yale e360)

Western governors form drought study forum (via Review-Journal/AP)

POLITICS 

Will GOP control of the Senate affect energy policy? (via The Hill)

Oil industry accuses administration of political motive in ethanol rules (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

2030 outlook: A trillion dollar taxpayer bailout for electrical utilities (via Renewable Energy World)

China shows there’s more to renewable energy than fighting climate change (via Renew Economy)

Will U.S. oil exports grease the path to economic growth? (via Forbes)

What can small cities do to fight climate change? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: amazon, australia, Brazil, california, Car sharing, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, cellulosic ethanol, China, Cleveland, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, Department of Transportation, Divestment, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Union, Exxon, Fossil fuel divestment, global warming, Green bonds, green business, green jobs, grid, IEA, india, Missouri, Morgan Stanley, natural gas, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil trains, ontario, Permafrost, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, Tesla Model X, texas, Transportation, Ukraine
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11
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, cellulosic ethanol, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, department of energy, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Union, EVs, Exxon, green business, grid, hillary clinton, japan, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net zero buildings, Nevada, News, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil trains, Opower, oregon, Ozone layer, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shell, Siemens, solar, statoil, SwissRe, tar sands, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, Transportation, Ukraine, Unilever, Vladimir Putin, wyoming
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11
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.14

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

EMISSIONS

Ozone layer to recover by mid-century, say scientists (via RTCC)

China sees big drop in carbon emissions (via China Daily)

COAL 

China’s coal imports drop for first time since country became net coal importer (via Huffington Post)

Wyoming appeals Oregon’s coal port denial (via Union Bulletin/AP)

RENEWABLES 

World’s poorest regions get a boost in renewable energy financing (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: EVs are missing link in making solar power competitive with fossil fuels (via Autoblog Green)

Brazil expands tax credit to ethanol, sugar exporters (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s METI says 1,820MW of solar projects cancelled (via Bloomberg)

Brazilian rooftop solar PV market stagnating (via Recharge News)

Australian-owned solar technology makes storage breakthrough (via Renew Economy)

New solar capacity beats natural gas in first have of 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Four cellulosic ethanol breakthroughs (via Breaking Energy)

NATURAL GAS 

New Russian, Ukraine, EU gas talks set for September 20 (via Reuters)

DOE clears natural gas exports at two sites (via The Hill)

Shale boom boosts diverse group of refining, LNG, petrochemical interests (via Houston Chronicle)

Statoil, partners expand effort to put flared natural gas to use (via Houston Chronicle)

McAuliffe: No fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Times Dispatch/AP)

CLIMATE 

How climate change may disrupt the tranquil U.S.-Canada border (via ClimateWire)

Climate change accelerating death of Western forests (via USA Today)

California plans nation’s most detailed sea level rise database (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Blocked on all other sides, tar sands could cross the Arctic (via Climate Progress)

Oil sands companies to adopt voluntary environmental commitments in Canada (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

U.S. grid safe from large-scale attack, say experts (via Politico)

USDA invests $518 billion more in rural grid improvements (via Renew Grid)

Indoor marijuana growers create big demand for energy in Northwest (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Energy storage: Progress and promise (via Renewable Energy World)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe dominates zero-energy buildings market (via Energy Manager Today)

Opower’s five principles of how to design for energy customers (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Despite decline in some regions, world oil consumption still rising (via U.S. EIA)

Putin’s oil deals with Exxon, Shell imperiled by sanctions (via Bloomberg)

U.S., EU ready new sanctions to stop oil exploration in Russia (via Reuters)

Treasury Department to step up efforts against ISIS oil sales (via The Hill)

Canada vs. U.S on oil train standards (via Sightline Daily)

45-year high U.S. oil output may cut pump price, imports (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla in Nevada: Auto dealers give OK to direct sales (via Los Angeles Times)

Nevada bets $1.3 billion on Tesla to push beyond gambling (via Bloomberg)

Tesla Gigafactory could produce 20% more electricity than it needs (via CleanTechnica)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Siemens, Unilever, SwissRe named world’s most sustainable companies (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists say the ozone layer is recovering (via AP)

The oceans are acidifying faster than in 300 million years – how bad could it get? (via Vox)

California’s water-starved farmers stymied by fish protections (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

GOP says regulators’ oil-train safety push could be climate-change policy in disguise (via National Journal)

Here’s the GOP’s best shot at derailing Obama’s new climate plan (via The New Republic)

Democrats, Republicans spar over “climate denier” label at House hearing on EPA carbon rule (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Pursuing a global climate treaty: Next stop, New York (via Resources for the Future)

How Hillary Clinton’s State Department sold fracking to the world (via Grist)

How two guys, a lobster boat, and a district attorney just made climate history (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, cellulosic ethanol, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, department of energy, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Union, EVs, Exxon, green business, grid, hillary clinton, japan, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net zero buildings, Nevada, News, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil trains, Opower, oregon, Ozone layer, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shell, Siemens, solar, statoil, SwissRe, tar sands, Terry McAuliffe, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, Transportation, Ukraine, Unilever, Vladimir Putin, wyoming
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10
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.10.14

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

EMISSIONS

PwC: Five-fold rise in pace of carbon emissions cuts needed (via Triple Pundit)

Fossil fuels stir debate at university endowments (via Wall Street Journal)

Exiting RGGI system cost New Jersey $114 million (via Bergen Record)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU pushes for urgent energy deal in U.S. trade pact (via Reuters)

Energy-hungry Japan waits as U.S. debates exports (via Greenwire)

EDF invests $515 million into new Paris energy R&D facility (via Reuters)

U.S. EIA projects world liquid fuels to rise 38% by 2040 (via Green Car Congress)

Five Keystone XLs: The carbon in Northwest fossil fuel export plans (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil to invest $14.9 billion in wind energy between 2015 and 2018 (via Latin American Herald Tribune)

India pushes ultra-mega scheme to scale solar PV (via Forbes)

Gamesa raises $304 million to expand emerging-market wind energy (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Energy Collective)

EU forecasts green jobs boom (via Recharge News)

German consumers can expect green power surcharges to fall next year (via Reuters)

U.S. and China hold almost half of PV pipeline, but only 3.7GW in China (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. solar generation, output surge in first half of 2014 (via PV Tech)

New U.S. large-scale solar, wind capacity soars (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Obama’s international climate strategy: More grease for renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

California clean energy bill could open door for homeowners, small businesses (via Breaking Energy)

University of California signs major solar deal (via Washington Post)

Google to invest $145 million in California solar project (via The Hill)

OIL 

U.S. boost 2015 oil forecast as shale power push to 10 million barrels per day (via Reuters)

OPEC cuts demand outlook by most in three years on shale surge (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rosneft struggles to grow as sanctions hit Russia’s oil champion (via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia tells OPEC it cut output in August as oil nears $100 (via Reuters)

Feds move to prevent runaway oil trains (via The Hill)

Think tank charges policymakers with 70’s mindset on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

EIA’s 2014 gasoline use forecast has risen 2 billion gallons in past 10 months (via U.S. EIA)

China and UC-Davis partner to put zero-emission vehicles on fast track (via UC Davis)

California electric vehicle sales pass major milestone (via San Francisco Chronicle)

2016 Chevy Volt spy shots highlight much-needed fixes (via Yahoo! Auto)

Tesla expects another high-volume deal with Toyota in next few years (via Autoblog)

COAL 

South Africa’s coal-fired power stations carry heavy health costs (via The Guardian) 

CLIMATE 

UN climate chief says 125 world leaders confirmed for New York summit (via RTCC)

How global warming is already worsening extreme deluges in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Royal Dutch Shell CEO: Climate change discussion “has gone into la-la land” (via Washington Post)

America’s heartland wilts under climate change onslaught (via RTCC)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to restart two nuclear reactors (via The Guardian/AFP)

Russia to build eight nuclear power plants in Iran (via Trend)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental group sues Feds for Keystone XL documents (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Zero-energy building revenue set to exceed $1.4 trillion annually by 2035 (via Navigant Research)

IEA calls on policymakers to deliver “multiple benefits” of energy efficiency (via BusinessGreen)

Four ways to play the LED boom (via Forbes)

This deep dive into 10 years of LEED unearths surprises (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS 

Poland looks to import natural gas from U.S., Canada (via Reuters)

Natural gas industry unveils infrastructure security program (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of people near fracking wells report health woes (via USA Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean acidification may dull sharks’ ability to smell prey, finds study (via Yale e360)

Rocky Mountains facing unprecedented assault from insects, fires, heat, drought (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

California water use drops statewide (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Kochs backing out of blue-state Senate races (via Grist)

Obama’s brain drain (via Politico)

Interior Secretary: GOP information requests cost millions (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Whether it’s green growth, green economy, or creative economy, it’s all about green jobs (via Huffington Post)

Are carbon capture and biomass indispensible in the climate change fight? (via Energy Collective)

Another year, another record high for greenhouse gases (via Climate Central)

How ISIS smuggles oil to fund its campaign (via NPR)

How fracking bought the Buffalo Bills (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, edf, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gamesa, Gasoline, germany, global warming, google, green jobs, IEA, india, interior department, iran, ISIS, japan, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, OPEC, Pipeline, Poland, renewables, rggi, Rosneft, Royal Dutch Shell, Russia, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Tesla, Toyota, Transportation, University of California, Wildfire, wind
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09
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.9.14

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

EMISSIONS

Greenhouse gas surge to impact atmosphere and oceans, says WMO (via Bloomberg)

World Bank to expand plan to buy emission project credits (via Bloomberg)

EU nations make little headway on carbon market reforms (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Obama to launch climate contest for U.S. cities (via The Hill)

With groundbreaking, large-scale carbon capture finds a home in Texas oil patch (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY POLICY 

Power plants heading out to sea in post-Fukishima Japan (via Bloomberg)

Natural gas, solar, wind lead power plant capacity additions in first-half 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

RENEWABLES 

Norway losing out to Sweden in $6 billion wind power boom (via Bloomberg)

Adapt or perish: Global shift to renewables inevitable, says IRENA (via Renew Economy)

The return of small commercial solar? (via Greentech Media)

U.S. DOE awards grant to study wind turbines’ impact on birds and bats (via Think Progress)

Power clashes cloud solar’s future in Washington State (via Seattle Times)

Five clean energy YieldCos you may not have heard about (via Greentech Media)

Ten clean energy stocks for 2014: September update (via Renewable Energy World)

NATURAL GAS 

Nine countries that could hold the next big shale play (via Houston Chronicle)

Amid Ukraine crisis, Europe weighs fracking (via Christian Science Monitor)

A tale of three countries: Water risks to global shale development (via World Resources Institute)

Fracking in China: Just add water (via Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE 

Research shows surprise global warming “hiatus” could have been forecast (via The Guardian)

Climate change may drastically increase forest fires in Europe (via Science World Report)

U.K. to reveal strategy for climate change talks (via The Guardian)

Mosquito-borne viruses hit Japan and the U.S. (via New York Times)

Hundreds of bird species at risk due to climate change (via USA Today)

Cities prepare for warmer climate without saying so (via Seattle Times/AP)

Prosecutors side with coal blockaders on climate defense, drop charges (via Climate Central)

OIL 

U.K. government lends hand to BP in U.S. Gulf oil spill rulings (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Germany to cut transport emissions as it pushes electric cars (via Bloomberg)

Californians propel plug-in car sales with 40% of market (via Bloomberg)

UC-Riverside team shows new eco-routing navigation tool can cut EV energy use up to 51% (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europe’s dependency on Russian gas may be cut amid energy efficiency focus (via The Guardian)

Utility customers respond to variable pricing (via Navigant Research)

Opower enters rare partnership with FirstFuel to expand into commercial building efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

DOE to fund $8 million in microgrid projects across U.S. (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

Environmental groups hit $4 million for election campaigns (via The Hill)

Report says “green” businesses donate millions to congressional climate deniers (via EcoWatch)

White House threatens to veto bill to kill EPA water rule (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Should we curb air pollution from air travel? (via National Journal)

Why a carbon tax can help climate change and the economy (via Forbes)

Yale University ducks on fossil fuel divestment – and fails Leadership 101 (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: BP, california, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Demand response, department of energy, Divestment, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, europe, European Union, ev, FirstFuel, Forest fire, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, IRENA, japan, Microgrid, natural gas, News, norway, oil, oil spill, Opower, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, solar, Sweden, texas, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, Variable pricing, Washington State, wind, World Bank, World Meteorological Organization, Yale University, YieldCo
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08
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.8.14

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

EMISSIONS

Shanghai opens carbon market to trading pros to boost liquidity (via Bloomberg)

U.S. carbon markets just dropped $400 million on clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

Aircraft emissions may be next for U.S. climate rules (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Scotland independence vote seen risking $23 billion in power projects (via Bloomberg)

Brazil delays power auction to attract more hydro, gas proposals (via Bloomberg)

It’s not just oil – power industry due to be overhauled in Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

China spurs rooftop solar projects in world’s top market with call for higher subsidy (via Bloomberg)

Australian government increasingly divided over plan to scrap renewable energy target (via The Guardian)

U.K. leading offshore wind power market (via CleanTechnica)

$71 trillion in net savings by 2050 from transition to renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

Ontario set for 1.7GW wind binge by end of 2015 (via Recharge News)

U.S., China account for over half the world’s solar PV pipeline (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. solar industry nears 16GW installed capacity (via Greentech Media)

Buoyed by business deals, solar dominates new U.S. clean tech jobs (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Banner second quarter for new U.S. solar PV installations (via Recharge News)

California solar projects plan undergoing major overhaul (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Ohio clean energy rules favored by voters, poll finds (via Plain-Dealer)

SolarCity bolsters operations in seven states (via PV Tech)

OIL 

BP lashes out at journalists, “opportunistic” environmentalists (via Mother Jones)

BP oil spill penalty could reach 15% of company’s market cap (via Breaking Energy)

BP “grossly negligent” in 2010 oil spill, says judge (via Christian Science Monitor)

BP can absorb new oil spill fine, say analysts (via Reuters)

Ending oil export ban drawing more talk on Capitol Hill (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electrified car sales stall as buyers back away from hybrids (via Los Angeles Times)

London’s double decker buses get updated with wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

U.S. vehicle fuel economy at record high (via Phys.org)

Nevada lures Tesla Gigafactory with $1.3 billion in tax breaks, expects $100 billion economic impact (via Bloomberg)

California may have shot at second Tesla Gigafactory (via San Francisco Chronicle)

COAL 

America’s coal-fired divide (via National Journal)

North Carolina says Duke Energy coal ash dams are high hazard risk (via News Observer)

CLIMATE 

World on track for 4 degrees Celsius warming by 2100 because of missed carbon targets (via The Guardian)

UN banking on business to drive climate negotiations (via RTCC)

Activists promise biggest climate march in history (via The Guardian)

Extreme snowfall events will continue even in global warming, says study (via Washington Post)

How climate change is affecting the world’s biggest food company (via Washington Post)

Yale fund takes aim at climate change (via New York Times)

NATURAL GAS 

U.S. economy has gotten a lift by going deep to retrieve natural gas (via Forbes)

Poorly understood fracking wastewater is analyzed for first time (via InsideClimate News)

Ohio halts injections at two fracking wastewater wells after earthquake (via Columbus Dispatch/AP)

GRID 

US electricity transmission investments vary by region (via U.S. EIA)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court examines governor’s role in blessing Keystone XL (via The Guardian)

ENVIRONMENT 

8% of world’s remaining pristine forests degraded since 2000 (via World Resources Institute)

100 die in five days of flooding in Northern India (via New York Times)

Canada tops world in forest degradation thanks to climate change, logging, energy development (via Climate Progress)

Dramatic proof California’s drought is one of the worst ever (via KHON/CNN)

California governor to sign plastic bag ban measure (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

Hillary Clinton and Rand Paul just kicked off 2016’s climate battle (via National Journal)

League of Conservation Voters expects huge jump in midterm election spending (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How the U.S. government is saving taxpayer money with clean energy (via Greentech Media)

Republicans say gas prices are rising – they’re not (via National Journal)

How methane wrecked Obama’s fracking habit (via Mother Jones)

Anthony Foxx takes futurist turn at U.S. Department of Transportation (via National Journal)

Tesla mines gold in Nevada with Gigafactory decision (via Los Angeles Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: Anthony Foxx, australia, BP, Brazil, california, canada, Carbon market, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, Divestment, drought, duke energy, electric vehicles, emissions, environment, ev, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, green jobs, grid, hillary clinton, Hybrids, Hydropower, india, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, London, methane, mexico, natural gas, Nebraska, Nevada, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, ontario, Rand Paul, renewables, Scotland, solar, SolarCity, Tesla, Tesla Gigafactory, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, united nations, wind, Yale
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03
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.3.14

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

EMISSIONS

Carbon offsets bring over $600 a ton of benefits to local communities (via Business Green)

Air pollution regulations over last decade in Chinese city has halved health costs (via Green Car Congress)

House panels to hear from regulators on carbon rule (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

Limited water presents challenge for natural gas fracking (via Los Angeles Times)

EPA chief pushes economic case of capturing methane (via The Hill)

Scientists find “alarming” amount of arsenic in groundwater near Texas fracking sites (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Lux predicts solar industry to grow 75% worldwide by 2019 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA’s renewable fuel quota may rise as gasoline sales climb (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy jobs continue to grow in U.S. (via EcoWatch)

Better, cheaper loans challenging the solar leasing model? (via Greentech Media)

Green bonds come to retail investors (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU energy chief not ruling out “worst case scenarios” on energy security (via Reuters)

Where does Hillary Clinton stand on energy? (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Study links polar vortex chills to melting sea ice (via AP)

Developing nations assert wealth nations are resigned to more risky climate changes (via ClimateWire)

Canadian provinces bypass Harper to make climate a “priority” (via RTCC)

Global warming could reduce Sierra Nevada runoff by 25% (via Summit County Citizens Voice)

As extreme weather harms Great Lakes, funding and research for climate change adaptation comes slowly (via ClimateWire)

OIL 

From Seoul to Mexico City, pressure mounts to ease U.S. oil export ban (via Reuters)

Halliburton to pay $1.1 billion to settle damages in Gulf of Mexico oil spill (via New York Times)

Keystone redux haunts Trans Mountain as flight shifts to climate (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China adds even more EV incentives – mostly for local brands (via Green Car Reports)

California clean air initiative: Cash in a clunker, buy an EV (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berkeley lab brings energy management to small commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

GRID 

Global smart meter shipments expected to peak at 116 million units annually in 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Wind and solar boosting power line investment (via Climate Central)

Texas grid operator says it will be able to keep up with fall, winter electricity demand (via Houston Chronicle)

How to make a community microgrid? Follow San Francisco (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

Six strategies could end global water stress by 2050, say scientists (via Yale e360)

Unilever, WRI partner to end tropical deforestation (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

Now is the time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)

Do coal investors really care about exports? (via Sightline Daily)

A rarely tapped city strategy for boosting local renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: Berkeley, biofuels, california, canada, carbon offsets, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy management, EPA, ERCOT, European Union, ev, fracking, Gina McCarthy, global warming, Great Lakes, Green bonds, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, hillary clinton, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, Microgrid, natural gas, News, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Polar vortex, renewables, Russia, san francisco, Seoul, Sierra Nevada, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, Stephen Harper, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, Unilever, wind
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28
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

World’s existing power plants will emit 300 billion tons of CO2 in their lifetimes (via Climate Progress)

Chile set to pass Latin America’s second carbon tax (via RTCC)

Divesting from fossil fuels would cost $5 trillion (via CleanTechnica)

Study: Open trash burning significantly worsening global air pollution; unaccounted for in emission inventories (via Green Car Congress)

COAL 

Why abundant coal may have “cursed” the Appalachian economy (via Washington Post)

America’s coal heartland is in economic free fall – but only the most desperate are fleeing (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

IEA sees $1.6 trillion in clean energy investments through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Scalable solar a good match for South America, says DuPont (via PV Tech)

Cost of solar panels in Australia to rise by half if renewables target chopped (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Renewable energy report recommends cutting Australia’s target (via Bloomberg)

GE to add 1.5GW Brazil wind by 2016 (via Recharge)

Chile, US navies working on drop-in alternative fuels (via Green Car Congress)

EIA report: U.S. PV generation more than doubles over last year’s output (via PV Tech)

How a new group is helping West Virginia nonprofits get solar for just $1 (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

State Dept. denies seeking alternative to climate treaty, but has been doing so since 2009 (via Huffington Post)

What global warming might mean for extreme snowfalls (via Climate Central)

How climate change could ruin your Hawaii vacation (via Christian Science Monitor)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia denies plans to block natural gas transit to Europe (via Reuters)

Plenty of reserves left in Marcellus Shale, says report (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan advances electricity market reform (via Recharge)

OIL 

You’re welcome, world: U.S. fracking surge picks up slack for global disruption (via National Journal)

Dearth of oil finds threatens long-term supplies, price (via Reuters)

Rail deliveries of U.S. oil continue increasing in 2014 (via U.S. EIA)

Fracking foes force some oil drillers to tread lightly (via Bloomberg)

North Dakota universities crumble as oil cash pours in (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

China’s electric and hybrid vehicle production up 280% (via CleanTechnica)

Main path to better fuel efficiency: Lighter vehicles, say automakers (via Green Car Reports)

California first to give extra funds to low-income EV buyers (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

Grid perfection, not defection: A new microgrid landscape in the making (via Greentech Media)

What Americans really want from their smart homes (via Greentech Media)

Grid infrastructure upgrades mean Texas no longer wastes wind power (via Renewable Energy World)

Illinois grapples with question of who owns energy data from smart meters (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Spending on energy efficient buildings in Europe to total $800 billion through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

What’s moving capital back into energy efficiency? (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

ENVIRONMENT 

Big wins elusive for EPA in Clean Water Act showdowns (via Greenwire)

Reminder: The terrible drought in California is still really, really terrible (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

The head-on politics of going around Congress on climate change (via National Journal)

An inside look at how ALEC ‘s plans to undo environmental legislation (via Toronto Star)

In audio recording, McConnell envisions using budget to undo Obama initiatives (via New York Times)

Climate change a central issue in tight Florida governor’s race (via InsideClimate News)

Vulnerable Dem slams Obama over UN climate change effort (via The Hill)

One Democrat’s gamble on climate change (via Politico)

OPINION 

These revolutionary technologies promised to help save us from climate change – so what happened? (via Washington Post)

A climate for change: A solution conservatives could accept (via Washington Post)

Why Republicans won’t back a carbon tax (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, Appalachia, australia, biofuel, Brazil, california, carbon tax, Chile, Clean Water Act, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, DuPont, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, fuel-efficiency, GE, global warming, grid, Hawaii, Illinois, International Energy Agency, japan, marcellus shale, Microgrid, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, News, north dakota, oil, Oil train, renewables, Russia, smart meters, solar, texas, Transportation, West Virginia, wind
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27
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Irreversible damage seen from climate change in UN leak (via Bloomberg)

Obama pushing climate accord in lieu of treaty (via New York Times)

WHO urges action on climate change to protect health (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

Ukraine PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe (via Reuters)

As Japan pushes power deregulation, Tepco moves in on rivals’ turf (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar market to exceed 65GW in 2019 (via Energy Manager Today)

Clean energy investment at risk as Australia reconsiders targets (via Bloomberg)

South Africa energy minister to “intervene” over renewable deal delays (via Bloomberg)

11.7GW of solar PV to be installed across U.S. in 2019 (via Recharge)

Trina Solar could surpass Yingli Green to market leadership in 2014 (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green loss narrows on rising panel demand (via Reuters)

New bill could make residential solar in California a lot cheaper (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii to triple rooftop solar installations by 2030 (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese public seen as biggest obstacle to nuclear restart (via Bloomberg)

NRC finalizes nuclear waste rule, lets licensing decisions resume (via Greenwire)

California earthquakes may pose threat to nuclear plant (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the majority of data centers are failing at energy efficiency (via GreenBiz)

Americans love paying extra to stay at LEED-certified hotels (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

New coal power stations a threat to EU’s emissions target (via The Guardian)

Coal to be hardest hit by fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Forbes)

Coal mining expansion sparks demonstrations along Germany-Poland border (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

Cap-and-trade saves 10x its cost in health benefits (via CleanTechnica)

Environmentalists target Pope Francis in fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Houston Chronicle)

University of Sydney joins coal divestment movement (via BusinessGreen)

Nespresso pledges £330 million to become “carbon neutral” by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

S&P: Lifting U.S. oil export ban will lift sector credit scores (via Reuters)

Who needs Keystone XL? Oil sands flow to U.S. via loophole (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Supercharger network grows in Europe and Asia (via CleanTechnica)

Natural gas truck sales struggle to gain traction in North America (via Wall Street Journal)

Tesla Gigafactory competition a “race to the bottom?” (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart grid as a service will reach $11.2 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Winter blackouts a danger in “rapid transition” from coal, warns PJM Interconnection (via Columbus Business First)

POLITICS 

How Harry Reid holds veto power over Obama (via Politico)

OPINION 

Liebreich: Climate change talks – the rocky road to Paris (via Bloomberg)

Why investors’ fossil-fuel addiction is tough to kick (via National Journal)

A climate for change: EPA limits on emissions are important but not enough (via Washington Post)

Why the Washington Post is running an editorial series on climate change (via Media Matters for America)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, cap and trade, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, European Union, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, green building, grid, harry reid, Hawaii, japan, Keystone XL, LEED certification, Michael Liebreich, natural gas, Nespresso, News, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, Poland, Pope Francis, renewables, Russia, smart grid, solar, South Africa, Tepco, Tesla Gigafactory, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation, Trina Solar, Ukraine, united nations, University of Sydney, World Health Organization, Yingli Green
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26
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

13 states say EPA climate regulations illegally left out data (via The Hill)

GAO finds no fault with “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment: A $5 trillion challenge (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

UBS analysts: “Large-scale power stations could be on path to extinction” (via Greentech Media)

“Major investment cycle” and rapidly changing U.S. energy markets pose challenges for FERC, says new chairman (via EnergyWire)

One electric utility is carbon neutral, today (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

India plans to add 10,000MW wind energy capacity every year (via CleanTechnica)

Pattern turns to solar after building top Chile wind farm (via Bloomberg)

Verizon to boost solar by $40 million, almost doubling its clean energy (via GigaOm)

SolarWorld wins trade case but faces sliding stock, parts recall, and more (via Greentech Media)

Trina Solar posts profit as module shipments jump (via Reuters)

Retail vs. wholesale energy pricing: One reason it’s easy for rooftop solar to be cost effective (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Enbridge case reflects broader effort to fast-track pipelines (via Midwest Energy News)

Grain piles up, waiting for a ride, as trains move North Dakota oil (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

China said to consider $16 billion EV-charging fund (via Bloomberg)

Are the EPA’s MPGe ratings hurting EV sales? (via Autoblog Green)

The story of Elon Musk and GM’s race to build the first mass-market EV (via Quartz)

NATURAL GAS 

Labour party attempts to strengthen UK fracking industry regulation (via BusinessGreen)

Fracking link to birth defects probed in early research (via Bloomberg)

Drilling underway at Pittsburgh International Airport (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

CLIMATE 

Small island states, facing rising seas, seek economic overhaul (via Reuters)

Health benefits offset costs of climate policies: MIT study (via Greenwire)

Visualize it: Old weather data feeds new climate models (via Climate Central)

Scientists go beyond science to explain their climate terror (via National Journal)

GRID 

Investment in U.S. electricity transmission infrastructure shows steady increase (via U.S. EIA)

The Catch-22 of energy storage (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Chart: How many birds are killed by wind, solar, oil, and coal? (via Climate Progress)

San Joaquin is America’s most endangered river (via EcoWatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sustainability standard developed for home appliances (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

In race for solar power, China is winning (via Christian Science Monitor)

Europe is burning our forests for “renewable” energy. Wait, what? (via Grist)

A climate for change: America should not wait while the world warms (via Washington Post)

How WWI killed the dream of a solar-powered world (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, Cheryl LaFleur, Chile, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, Divestment, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Enbridge, energy storage, EPA, europe, ev, ev charging, FERC, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, GM, grid, india, natural gas, News, north dakota, oil, Pattern Energy, Pipelines, Pittsburgh, renewables, San Joaquin River, Sea level rise, Shale oil, Social cost of carbon, solar, Solarworld, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, Trina Solar, united kingdom, verizon, wind
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