Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.30.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
World Bank: Tacking climate change will grow the economy (via Climate Central)
Leading insurer closing its climate change office, leaving industry “mute” (via ClimateWire)
Mexico eyes economic benefits of landmark climate law (via RTCC)
The high cost of climate change inaction in two new studies (via NRDC Switchboard)
Wheat breeders planning for climate change (via The Western Producer)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Scotland primed for shale gas exploration (via BusinessGreen)
RENEWABLES
IRENA says world needs $550 billion of renewables investment a year (via RTCC)
Last week, wind energy was the new baseload in Australia (via Renew Economy)
German lawmakers vote to reduce renewable energy subsidies (via Bloomberg)
SunEdison closes $190 million financing for Chile solar project (via Bloomberg)
Silver lining for China’s carbon-financed wind power boom (via Forbes)
Columbia River Basin provides more than 40% total U.S. hydroelectric generation (via U.S. EIA)
Michigan’s wind industry soaring (via Detroit Free-Press)
Growing number of solar panels a concern for Wisconsin utilities (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Boston trying out solar-powered “smart benches” in parks (via Boston Globe)
GM adds three acres of solar arrays at Michigan facilities (via Green Car Congress)
SunPower to add storage to solar in new homes (via Greentech Media)
NextEra Energy prices yieldco IPO (via Recharge)
EMISSIONS
Australia carbon tax moves closer to repeal after vote in lower house (via Reuters)
Caribbean needs $30 billion investment to cut fossil-fuel use (via Bloomberg)
Shanghai firms meet carbon targets after last-day permit auction (via Reuters)
DOE-sponsored project captures one millionth metric ton of CO2 (via Breaking Energy)
NASA to launch CO2-tracking satellite (via The Guardian)
Los Angeles councilman to propose emissions reduction measure (via Los Angeles Times)
ENVIRONMENT
Drought has drillers running after shrinking California water supply (via NPR)
Map shows when summer heat will peak in your town (via Climate Central)
OIL
The other battle for Canada’s oil sands (via Houston Chronicle)
Following long ban, U.S. could dominate global light oil supply (via Reuters)
Feds, lawmakers warn of fire risk from oil trains (via The Hill)
Oil boom meets bust in Texas: Above sea of oil, poverty digs in (via New York Times)
BP seeks return of millions in oil spill damage payments (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
China only sold 7,000 electric automobiles in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)
Lukewarm automaker interest in open Tesla EV patents (via Autoblog Green)
Nissan prices replacement Leaf battery at $5,500 (via Autoblog Green)
COAL
MSHA issues 147 citations during coal mine inspections (via Washington Post)
GRID
UK seeks to avoid “energy crunch” with 53GW capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)
NREL supercomputer tackles grid challenges (via Intelligent Utility)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Berg Insights predicts 36 million smart homes worldwide by 2017 (via GigaOm)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance starts financing network (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)
OPINION
Australia risks G20 isolation by scrapping carbon tax (via Financial Times)
The American West’s water crisis (via New York Times)
How carbon pricing can boost the bottom line (via Environmental Leader)
Time to buy shares in a yieldco? (via Sustainable Business)
Will Governor Christie re-embrace cap-and-trade in wake of EPA rule? (via InsideClimate News)