Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.2.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Hubei province starts China’s second-biggest carbon exchange (via Bloomberg)
India mulls low-carbon fuel standard to cut vehicle exhaust by 2021 (via Bloomberg)
US EPA carbon rule for existing power plants sent to White House (via Reuters)
Promotion of cap-and-trade money for residents downplays looming higher electricity rates (via ClimateWire)
Companies try to catch CO2 before it touches the sky (via Bloomberg)
NATURAL GAS
Russia tightens pressure on Ukraine with rise in natural gas prices (via New York Times)
UK could produce shale gas within four years in emergency (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
India to award 1 gigawatt of solar permits by 2015 (via Bloomberg)
Brazil planning its first solar-specific national auction (via Renewable Energy World)
Iceland’s clean energy lures metal companies from abroad (via SmartPlanet)
Senators leave Production Tax Credit out of renewable fuel proposal (via Houston Chronicle)
Crowdfunding for solar, wind reaching fevered pitch (via Sustainable Business)
Advancements in wind turbine technology improve efficiency; reduce cost (via Renewable Energy World)
BOEM publishes environmental assessment of potential Georgia offshore wind area (via Recharge)
BOEM readies Massachusetts offshore wind auction (via Recharge)
Vermont raises net metering cap to 15% (via Solar Industry)
Mystery property tycoon makes $533 million bet on solar (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY POLICY
German states water down energy reform but Merkel pleased (via Reuters)
Net US energy imports in 2013 lowest in more than 20 years (via US EIA)
Hearings begin today in latest push against Ohio energy laws (via Midwest Energy News)
OIL
Canadian safety board urges faster phase out of oil rail tankers (via Reuters)
Crunch year ahead for Norway’s Arctic oil adventure (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Number of electric vehicles doubling every year (via Autoblog Green)
Nissan Leaf has 2nd-best sales month ever, Chevy Volt does a 2013 repeat (via Autoblog Green)
Volkswagen could bring wireless EV charging to market by 2017 (via Autoblog)
California forms waiting list for electric car rebates (via Plugin Cars)
Tesla to use North American materials amid pollution worry (via Bloomberg)
Koch Brothers quietly seek to ban new mass transit in Tennessee (via Climate Progress)
TAR SANDS
Oil sands link to health concerns, says Canadian report (via Globe and Mail)
CLIMATE
Climate change responses to shape Asia’s future (via Washington Post)
China and EU pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)
Biofuels might hold back progress combating climate change (via Scientific American)
NUCLEAR
Japan may only be able to restart one-third of its nuclear reactors (via Reuters)
Utility Exelon wants to kill wind and solar subsidies while keeping nukes (via Greentech Media)
GRID
Utility spending on smart grid IT systems will total nearly $140 billion from 2014 through 2022 (via Navigant Research)
Unique state models offer a glimpse of New England’s microgrid future (via Greentech Media)
Maine Public Utilities Commission: Smart meters are safe (via Renew Grid)
RES Americas launch 8MW energy storage system in PJM (via Energy Manager Today)
Grid Edge 20: Companies transforming the US power sector (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Chinese coal firms creak under heavy debt, tumbling prices (via Reuters)
ENVIRONMENT
Meager snowpack bad news for drought-parched California (via USA Today)
Rains won’t quell California wildfire season (via Climate Central)
OPINION
Climate change: Is anybody listening? (via Newsweek)
Global warming and the developing world (via New York Times)
Will Oregon cook up a carbon tax? (via Sightline Daily)
Rumsfeldian climate risks (via Energy Collective)