Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.26.13
GRID
Hackers hit energy companies more than others (via Houston Chronicle)
Opower putting energy monitoring to work in New Zealand (via Renew Grid)
Why California will lead the world on microgrids (via Navigant Research)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Shell says China approves shale deal, plans more drilling (via Reuters)
New panel to advise EPA on fracking (via The Hill)
Over half of US natural gas pipeline projects in 2012 were in the Northeast (via US EIA)
States deciding note to consider seismic risks of shale drilling (via EnergyWire)
RENEWABLES
Report: Europe losing its edge in clean tech market (via BusinessGreen)
France expects new wind tender to attract $4.5 billion (via Recharge)
Wind power peaks in UK, Denmark, US (via Renewable Energy World)
Scientists hail bio-batteries breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)
NRG skirts utilities taking solar panels to US rooftops (via Bloomberg)
The biggest fight over renewable energy is now in the states (via Washington Post)
Numbers from the war on state renewable standards (via Greentech Media)
Stunning fact: Iowa and South Dakota get nearly 25% their electricity from wind (via Facts of the Day)
In Iowa, another view on how to solve wind’s variability (via Midwest Energy News)
ENVIRONMENT
Humans killed over 10% of world’s bird species when they colonized Pacific Islands (via Mongabay)
White House declares five national monuments (via The Hill)
TRANSPORTATION
France’s electric car push presents power grid challenge (via Reuters)
Boeing tests Dreamliner battery fix with Japan first in line (via Bloomberg)
Better route planning cuts fuel use in freight sector (via Reuters)
Tesla to expand Supercharger network in Northwest, Texas, Florida, Northeast (via Green Car Reports)
OIL
Exxon fined $1.7 million over Yellowstone River oil spill (via CNBC)
Tiny Dallas oil company scores two giant deepwater discoveries in one week (via Forbes)
CLIMATE
Scientists link frozen spring to dramatic Arctic sea ice loss (via The Guardian)
New research confirms global warming has accelerated (via Skeptical Science)
Climate change will bring greater extreme weather, warns UK’s chief scientific advisor (via The Independent)
Obama’s Achilles’ heel on climate: Senate Democrats (via Politico)
EMISSIONS
Global carbon market volume set to rise 14 percent (via BusinessGreen)
Palo Alto takes leap to 100% carbon-neutral electricity (via Sustainable Business)
OPINION
Can we shift to renewable energy? Yes, as to how… (via Grist)
How to rebuild green after natural disasters (via Environmental Leader)
Will NRG Energy be the next ten-ton gorilla in solar leasing? (via GigaOm)
Why Google is spending billions on renewable energy (via Christian Science Monitor)