Category Archives:Ron Binz

12
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.12.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia can achieve 25% emissions cut by 2020, says report (via RTCC)

Obama’s regulations chief plunges into carbon policy fray (via The Hill)

California to hold carbon auction as it considers giving away more allowances for free (via Bloomberg BNA)

GRID 

Flexible grid is the key to a clean energy future (via CleanTechnica)

633 energy storage projects now underway worldwide (via CleanTechnica)

White House calls for increased grid spending (via AP)

Ten years after northeast blackout, US power grid smarter and sturdier (via Reuters)

California aims to “bottle sunlight” in energy storage push (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Solar shipments surge in second quarter as demand rises in Asia (via Bloomberg)

Western Australia backs down on solar feed-in tariff (via Renewable Energy World)

Honda goes solar in Japan, will sell renewable energy in 2015 (via Autoblog Green)

Interior Department halfway to its renewables goal, but hurdles remain (via Center for American Progress)

Bid to repeal ethanol mandate seen diluted by EPA change (via Bloomberg)

US wind power prices down to $0.04 per kWh (via CleanTechnica)

Small wind makes big gains in US (via EarthTechling)

Wind power company Pattern Energy to seek IPO (via EarthTechling)

Stained glass windows on cathedral are solar panels (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

Switch to coal power held back in gas-starved India (via Reuters)

EPA confirms coal ash contaminates water across the country (via Climate Progress)

Interior Department proposes changes to royalties, land restrictions for coal mines (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Arctic sea ice loss dramatically slows, record minimum unlikely in 2013 (via Washington Post)

Antarctic ozone layer hole may be adding to global warming (via NBC News)

Tiny Pacific islands make big plans for climate resilience (via ClimateWire)

Agriculture assets face $8 trillion risk from climate change, water scarcity (via Environmental Leader)

How two reservoirs have become billboards for what climate change is doing to the American West (via Climate Progress)

Prepare buildings to withstand climate change, says Boston study (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

California legislature faces bills on fracking (via Los Angeles Times)

Methane leaks could be big business (via Wyoming Star-Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

China plans to spend more to tackle environmental pollution (via Reuters)

Half of the US is under threat of floods (via ABC News)

To save water, parched southwest cities ask homeowners to lose the lawn (via New York Times)

OIL 

Mexico moves to relax decades-old grip on oil (via Houston Chronicle)

Is peak oil demand just around the corner? (via Washington Post)

Amid pipeline debate, two costly oil spill cleanups forever change towns (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Model S hits the European market (via CleanTechnica)

Japan moves to become a plug-in EV leader (via Navigant Research)

Southern California utility girds for 350,000 electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

States pressure feds to cut energy efficiency backlog (via Stateline)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea warns of power shortages amid nuclear shut downs (via Reuters)

Taiwan says nuclear water still leaking inside power plant (via Bloomberg)

Florida residents angered over scrapped nuclear plant (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ENERGY POLICY 

German utilities hammered in market favoring renewables (via Bloomberg)

Finally, the US considers a national energy bill (via Navigant Research)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Oil sands industry turns to algae to appease Obama (via Bloomberg)

Exxon knew its Arkansas pipeline was old, defective and brittle, but still added new stresses (via InsideClimate News)

Who really discovered the 2011 Keystone leak? (via EnergyWire)

POLITICS 

In his second term, Obama becomes bolder on the environment (via Washington Post)

League of Conservation Voters launch $2 million campaign targeting climate change skeptics (via The Hill)

Ex-FERC commissioners defend nominee Binz (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why the World Bank is taking on climate change (via National Journal)

Three ways ALEC will push its fossil fuel agenda this year (via Climate Progress)

Massive demand for solar in Asia shows us where the industry is headed (via Climate Progress)

The cellulosic ethanol industry faces big challenges (via MIT Technology Review)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, algae, Antarctic, arctic, Arkansas, australia, Blackout, california, cap and trade, cellulosic ethanol, climate, Climate Change, Climate resilience, coal, coal ash, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exxon, feed-in tariff, FERC, Flood, Florida, fracking, germany, green building, grid, honda, india, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, methane, Methane leakage, mexico, natural gas, News, nuclear, oil, oil spill, Ozone layer, Pattern Energy, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Ron Binz, Sea ice melt, small wind, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, solar, South Korea, Taiwan, tar sands, Water scarcity, wind, World Bank
0
02
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China’s CO2 growth has turned a corner (via Reuters)

EU ministers urge ETS yes vote (via Recharge)

EPA sends climate rule to White House (via Politico)

New Jersey may rejoin Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia taps new oil areas in plan to preserve capacity (via Reuters)

Moniz: CO2 could enhance US oil production by millions of barrels a day (via Houston Chronicle)

Big lenders wary of following oil money to North Dakota (via Reuters)

Two major lawsuits filed against ExxonMobil for Arkansas tar sands spill (via DeSmog Blog)

RENEWABLES 

California advances pioneering shared renewables bill (via Climate Progress)

Is anything stopping a massive build-out of desert solar? (via Scientific American)

Germany to add 6.5GW of renewable energy this year (via Recharge)

Can Europe meet its 2020 offshore wind targets? (via Renewable Energy World)

Rise in wind and solar expected to boost energy storage market (via Renew Grid)

Austin Energy adds 570MW to wind portfolio (via Renew Grid)

Tennessee public schools to generate nearly $1 million with solar (via Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE 

Obama seeks to reassert US role in climate debate (via New York Times)

Ocean acidification threatens billion-dollar oyster business (via Climate Central)

Climate change driving more active El Nino cycles (via Yale e360)

Cities lead: preparing for climate change impacts (via EcoAffect)

The climate context behind the deadly Arizona wildfire (via Climate Central)

NRDC releases online tool to track local effects of climate change (via Inhabitat)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas exporters to defend pricing as courts reject oil link (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas production remains stable despite low price (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle drive motor revenue will surpass $2.8 billion annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Airbus and Rolls-Royce to build plane powered by algae (via International Business Times)

Biodiesel production nears record output (via Facts of the Day)

Tesla officially gets behind White House petition to allow direct EV sales (via Autoblog Green)

DOE to award up to $13 million to four advanced biofuels projects (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

As China’s demand for coal soars, so does its water scarcity (via ClimateWire)

Deadly heat wave in the West brings fires and travel delays (via New York Times)

Experts see new normal as a hotter, drier West faces more huge fires (via New York Times)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Do green jobs come in any other color? (via Renewable Energy World)

Half of all US retail and hotel projects to be green buildings by 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

New coalition aims to accelerate sustainable purchasing (via Sustainable Industries)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Wireless control systems for smart buildings will reach nearly $295 million in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

8 surprising energy hogs in your home (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Obama says ravages of climate change is make-or-break issue (via AP)

Koch pledge tied to Congressional climate inaction (via The New Yorker)

Conservatives seek alternatives to climate denialism, come up short (via Grist)

OPINION 

Kevin Rudd needs to seize the moment on climate (via Renew Economy)

How Obama could approve Keystone (via National Journal)

Can Obama’s Africa power plan hold a candle to China? (via Reuters)

Ron Binz will continue FERC’s leadership toward a clean energy future (via Climate Progress)

New Jersey’s new development bill could endanger families, businesses, and first responders (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Airbus, arizona, Arkansas, Austin Energy, australia, barack obama, biodiesel, biofuel, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Concentrating solar power, csp, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EOR, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, EU ETS, europe, European Union, EVs, ExxonMobil, FERC, germany, green building, green business, green jobs, Heat wave, kevin rudd, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, north dakota, nrdc, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Ron Binz, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shared renewables, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, Tesla, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind
0
02
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.2.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China’s CO2 growth has turned a corner (via Reuters)

EU ministers urge ETS yes vote (via Recharge)

EPA sends climate rule to White House (via Politico)

New Jersey may rejoin Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia taps new oil areas in plan to preserve capacity (via Reuters)

Moniz: CO2 could enhance US oil production by millions of barrels a day (via Houston Chronicle)

Big lenders wary of following oil money to North Dakota (via Reuters)

Two major lawsuits filed against ExxonMobil for Arkansas tar sands spill (via DeSmog Blog)

RENEWABLES 

California advances pioneering shared renewables bill (via Climate Progress)

Is anything stopping a massive build-out of desert solar? (via Scientific American)

Germany to add 6.5GW of renewable energy this year (via Recharge)

Can Europe meet its 2020 offshore wind targets? (via Renewable Energy World)

Rise in wind and solar expected to boost energy storage market (via Renew Grid)

Austin Energy adds 570MW to wind portfolio (via Renew Grid)

Tennessee public schools to generate nearly $1 million with solar (via Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE 

Obama seeks to reassert US role in climate debate (via New York Times)

Ocean acidification threatens billion-dollar oyster business (via Climate Central)

Climate change driving more active El Nino cycles (via Yale e360)

Cities lead: preparing for climate change impacts (via EcoAffect)

The climate context behind the deadly Arizona wildfire (via Climate Central)

NRDC releases online tool to track local effects of climate change (via Inhabitat)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas exporters to defend pricing as courts reject oil link (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas production remains stable despite low price (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle drive motor revenue will surpass $2.8 billion annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Airbus and Rolls-Royce to build plane powered by algae (via International Business Times)

Biodiesel production nears record output (via Facts of the Day)

Tesla officially gets behind White House petition to allow direct EV sales (via Autoblog Green)

DOE to award up to $13 million to four advanced biofuels projects (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

As China’s demand for coal soars, so does its water scarcity (via ClimateWire)

Deadly heat wave in the West brings fires and travel delays (via New York Times)

Experts see new normal as a hotter, drier West faces more huge fires (via New York Times)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Do green jobs come in any other color? (via Renewable Energy World)

Half of all US retail and hotel projects to be green buildings by 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

New coalition aims to accelerate sustainable purchasing (via Sustainable Industries)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Wireless control systems for smart buildings will reach nearly $295 million in annual revenue by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

8 surprising energy hogs in your home (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Obama says ravages of climate change is make-or-break issue (via AP)

Koch pledge tied to Congressional climate inaction (via The New Yorker)

Conservatives seek alternatives to climate denialism, come up short (via Grist)

OPINION 

Kevin Rudd needs to seize the moment on climate (via Renew Economy)

How Obama could approve Keystone (via National Journal)

Can Obama’s Africa power plan hold a candle to China? (via Reuters)

Ron Binz will continue FERC’s leadership toward a clean energy future (via Climate Progress)

New Jersey’s new development bill could endanger families, businesses, and first responders (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, arizona, Arkansas, Austin Energy, australia, barack obama, biodiesel, biofuel, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Concentrating solar power, csp, El Nino, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EOR, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, EU ETS, europe, European Union, ExxonMobil, FERC, germany, green building, green business, green jobs, Heat wave, kevin rudd, Keystone XL, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Natural Resources Defense Council, new jersey, News, north dakota, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, rolls royce, Ron Binz, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shared renewables, solar, Sustainable purchasing, tar sands, Tennessee, Tesla, Transportation, Water scarcity, Wildfire, wind
0
28
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.28.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmentalists demand new climate analysis for Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

First Nations group calls for BC to reject Northern Gateway pipeline permits (via Vancouver Sun)

Oil sands leak on northern Alberta weapons range (via CBC News)

EMISSIONS 

World’s highest carbon price faces Australia’s new leader (via Bloomberg)

EU plans to make it mandatory for ship owners to measure carbon emissions (via The Guardian)

US CO2 emissions on the rise again (via Navigant Research)

Why a carbon tax isn’t in Obama’s climate plan (via Energy Collective)

RENEWABLES 

UK boosts Green Bank by £800 million (via Recharge)

India and Turkey to enhance cooperation on renewables (via EnergyNext)

UK green electricity generation leaps 10% (via BusinessGreen)

China plans large-scale solar PV pilot projects (via CleanTechnica)

UK shows offshore wind more costly than solar (via Reuters)

Chinese firm charged in theft of US company’s turbine software (via New York Times)

US military faces trio of renewable energy goals (via EarthTechling)

EPA says ethanol bounty may push refiners over 10% blend wall (via Bloomberg)

A whole new way of thinking about geothermal (via Greentech Media)

After much delay, US offshore wind power set to sail (via Politico)

LA launches nation’s largest solar rooftop program (via Grist)

COAL 

India to eclipse China as world’s largest coal power (via Bloomberg)

The US will stop financing coal plants abroad – that’s a huge shift (via Washington Post)

Coal exports have doubled during Obama’s so-called “war on coal” (via The Week)

Moniz sees coal’s significant role (via AP)

CLIMATE 

Researchers say global warming may affect soil microbe survival (via Phys.org)

More species at risk from climate change than thought (via CBS News)

UN climate chief welcomes Obama plan, wants US energy czar (via Reuters)

Calgary floods spotlight cities’ costly failure to plan for climate change (via CBC News)

OIL 

House advances plan to expand drilling on US-Mexico maritime border (via Houston Chronicle)

House votes to double oil revenue cap for Gulf states (via The Hill)

Deepwater drilling expansion will strain workforce, says study (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas oil output surges past North Dakota (via Reuters)

BP report could cut Gulf oil spill penalties by up to $7 billion (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU delays CO2 car targets after fierce lobbying from Germany (via BusinessGreen)

BMW forecast for doubled EV range spurs more debate than conclusions (via Autoblog Green)

Anthony Foxx, Charlotte’s transit-friendly mayor, nominated for transportation secretary (via Grist)

Nissan offers up new Leaf battery replacement program (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to add EV charging stations in Houston, nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla Motors wins in North Carolina, anti-competitive legislation dropped (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

UK nuclear expansion advances with $15 billion loan backing (via Bloomberg)

Senate OKs Macfarlane for full term as NRC chairwoman (via The Hill)

Quarrels continue over nuclear waste repository (via New York Times)

GRID 

Microgrids and energy security: the business case (via Breaking Energy)

California’s timely demand response roadmap (via Navigant Research)

Solar PV, energy storage combine in commercial-scale Maryland microgrid (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Cloud computing can reduce GHGs 95%, save $2.2 billion (via Environmental Leader)

Obama’s Better Buildings program celebrates first year (via Greentech Media)

Energy efficiency saves AT&T at least $151 million (via Mother Nature Network)

Staples reaches milestone of 500 Energy Star buildings (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama’s climate plan silent on exports but pledges support for global gas markets (via EnergyWire)

Methane scrutiny in Obama climate plan may cost drillers (via Bloomberg)

Ohio law shielding fracking chemical details may violate federal statute (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

GOP to make EPA spending bill a climate battleground (via The Hill)

Obama’s EPA nominee in jeopardy from Senate Republicans (via Reuters)

Obama to tap Colorado regulator Binz as new FERC chief (via The Hill)

Moniz optimistic on Obama’s plan to reduce emissions (via New York Times)

OPINION 

India’s EV market falling short (via Navigant Research)

Will Obama’s climate policy spur new energy technologies? (via MIT Technology Review)

US takes key climate change steps, but the world must do more (via Washington Post)

Sports world teams up against climate change (via GreenBiz)

Figures: no country doing enough on climate change (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Alison Macfarlane, Anthony Foxx, AT&T, australia, barack obama, battery, Better Buildings Program, BMW, BP, british columbia, calgary, california, Carbon price, carbon tax, China, Christiana Figueres, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, Demand response, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Extinction, federal energy regulatory commission, feed-in tariff, FERC, First Nations, Flood, fracking, Fracking fluid, geothermal, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, Green bank, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Houston, Ikea, india, kevin rudd, Keystone XL, LNG, LNG exports, los angeles, maryland, methane, mexico, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, Northern Gateway, NRC, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear waste, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Ron Binz, Shale oil, solar, Solar FIT, solar pv, Staples, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, Turkey, uk, united kingdom, wind
0