Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.3.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Carbon offsets bring over $600 a ton of benefits to local communities (via Business Green)
Air pollution regulations over last decade in Chinese city has halved health costs (via Green Car Congress)
House panels to hear from regulators on carbon rule (via The Hill)
NATURAL GAS
Limited water presents challenge for natural gas fracking (via Los Angeles Times)
EPA chief pushes economic case of capturing methane (via The Hill)
Scientists find “alarming” amount of arsenic in groundwater near Texas fracking sites (via Climate Progress)
RENEWABLES
Lux predicts solar industry to grow 75% worldwide by 2019 (via CleanTechnica)
EPA’s renewable fuel quota may rise as gasoline sales climb (via Bloomberg)
Renewable energy jobs continue to grow in U.S. (via EcoWatch)
Better, cheaper loans challenging the solar leasing model? (via Greentech Media)
Green bonds come to retail investors (via Sustainable Business)
ENERGY POLICY
EU energy chief not ruling out “worst case scenarios” on energy security (via Reuters)
Where does Hillary Clinton stand on energy? (via National Journal)
CLIMATE
Study links polar vortex chills to melting sea ice (via AP)
Developing nations assert wealth nations are resigned to more risky climate changes (via ClimateWire)
Canadian provinces bypass Harper to make climate a “priority” (via RTCC)
Global warming could reduce Sierra Nevada runoff by 25% (via Summit County Citizens Voice)
As extreme weather harms Great Lakes, funding and research for climate change adaptation comes slowly (via ClimateWire)
OIL
From Seoul to Mexico City, pressure mounts to ease U.S. oil export ban (via Reuters)
Halliburton to pay $1.1 billion to settle damages in Gulf of Mexico oil spill (via New York Times)
Keystone redux haunts Trans Mountain as flight shifts to climate (via Bloomberg)
TRANSPORTATION
China adds even more EV incentives – mostly for local brands (via Green Car Reports)
California clean air initiative: Cash in a clunker, buy an EV (via Green Car Reports)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Berkeley lab brings energy management to small commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)
GRID
Global smart meter shipments expected to peak at 116 million units annually in 2023 (via Navigant Research)
Wind and solar boosting power line investment (via Climate Central)
Texas grid operator says it will be able to keep up with fall, winter electricity demand (via Houston Chronicle)
How to make a community microgrid? Follow San Francisco (via GreenBiz)
ENVIRONMENT
Six strategies could end global water stress by 2050, say scientists (via Yale e360)
Unilever, WRI partner to end tropical deforestation (via Environmental Leader)
OPINION
Now is the time to act on climate change (via Huffington Post)
Do coal investors really care about exports? (via Sightline Daily)
A rarely tapped city strategy for boosting local renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)