A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
1.5C temperature rise enough to start permafrost melt, scientists warn (via The Guardian)
Poll: one-third of US says action on climate “essential” this year (via The Hill)
Front-runner to lead EPA vows more action on climate change (via The Hill)
Top oil lobbyist: new climate bill will never reach Senate floor (via The Hill)
Inslee: Washington State must do something about climate change (via The Olympian)
PA DEP Secretary pressed on climate change stance (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)
COAL
2012 US coal exports reach record high (via Climate Progress)
ENERGY INDUSTRY
Europe to get first EU-wide offshore oil and gas law (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Saudi Arabia backs local content in 7GW renewables drive (via Recharge)
Saudi Arabia invites companies to bid for colossal renewables contracts (via BusinessGreen)
70 percent of China’s new wind is in low-speed regions (via Greentech Media)
Global solar farm capacity doubles inside 12 months (via BusinessGreen)
Renewables still seeking a level playing field (via EarthTechling)
AWEA says utilities “flocking” to wind (via Recharge)
Are local weather patterns impacted by wind farms? (via EarthTechling)
Wet December may boost hydropower output in California this year (via US EIA)
VA governor signs repeal of renewable energy incentives (via Virginian-Pilot)
Cape Wind financing moves forward (via Cape Cod Times)
Nanocrystal “solar paint” could replace panels, be applied to any surface (via The Good Human)
Solar lantern shines a light on energy poverty (via Treehugger)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Most of Europe’s natural gas supplies still linked to oil prices (via Reuters)
Death on the gas field illustrates high risks of rush to drill (via EnergyWire)
Natural gas hinders Chesapeake’s gains (via Houston Chronicle)
Alaska state regulators consider new fracking rules (via Reuters)
In Illinois, environmentalists and industry compromise on fracking bill (via Midwest Energy News)
EMISSIONS
China is getting a carbon tax, but how effective will it be? (via Washington Post)
EU carbon prices plunge after German permit auction fails second time (via Bloomberg)
Study of California cap-and-trade system suggests refinements (via Phys.org)
Researchers develop solar process to covert CO2 to methanol (via Green Car Congress)
GRID
Study says utilities handled Hurricane Sandy better than governments (via Renew Grid)
PPL investing nearly $1 billion to improve grid reliability (via Renew Grid)
TRANSPORTATION
Global lithium-ion battery sales will jump sixfold by 2019 (via Autoblog Green)
Numbers don’t lie: plug-in sales ahead of early hybrid sales (via Autoblog Green)
MIT study: fuel economy standards 6-14 times less cost effective than fuel tax for reducing gasoline use (via Green Car Congress)
One of world’s most efficient vehicles unable to enter US (via New York Times)
Colorado renewables law increases environmental benefits of EVs (via Plugin Cars)
NUCLEAR
Nuclear power another casualty of the shale gas boom (via Washington Post)
Vogtle plant is progressing but nuclear revival is not (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Forget energy efficiency: these office buildings actually make power (via Good)
Software plots how much homeowners can save on energy retrofits (via Greentech Media)
DC announces plans to be America’s greenest city (via Sustainable Cities Collective)
GREEN BUSINESS
How to get real green from your green certifications (via GreenBiz)
ENVIRONMENT
US drought to spread in California, Florida, government forecasts (via Reuters)
USDA forecasts record US corn and soy crops, lower prices (via Reuters)
Time is running out to avert a third summer of drought (via Climate Central)
Unprecedented legal verdict will help millions of birds (via Sustainable Business)
OIL
BP spill pact excluded billions in possible loss claims (via Bloomberg)
POLITICS
Senate Democrats prepare to defend Obama’s climate change rules (via National Journal)
EPA’s McCarthy mum on new job, says states to lead climate rules (via Reuters)
Interest groups gird for battle as they anticipate McCarthy pick (via Greenwire)
Latest polling finds strong support for clean energy, stricter carbon pollution standards (via Climate Progress)
LCV: 2012 House of Representatives most anti-environmental ever (via Huffington Post)
DOE Secretary Steven Chu to return to Stanford University (via Stanford Daily)
OPINION
Dirty fossil fuel exports will come back to bite Australia (via The Guardian)
Supply, demand, and activism: what should the climate movement do next? (via Grist)
Keystone XL decision will define Obama’s climate change legacy (via The Guardian)
Five reasons why the Keystone XL pipeline is bad for the economy (via Resilience)
Court the Right: advice for Obama’s next DOE chief (via Bloomberg)
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