Category Archives:Shale oil

23
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

West Antarctic ice collapse “could drown Middle East and Asia crops” (via The Guardian)

Australia’s pollution U-turn threatening UN climate talks (via Bloomberg)

Saudis accused of deleting part of UN climate science report (via RTCC)

Global warming linked to frigid U.S. winter, say scientists (via NBC News)

Cold U.S. winter caused by warm tropical waters? (via Climate Central)

COAL 

Deutsche Bank won’t fund Australia coal port expansion near reef (via Reuters)

EPA reaches deal with Duke Energy over coal ash spill (via The Guardian)

Petitioners ask Gov. Nixon to halt Missouri coal ash landfill construction (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Over 600 local elected officials back Obama’s coal rules (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

India hits US, China with solar imports & anti-dumping duties (via Reuters)

A brief history of ethanol in Brazil (via Green Car Reports)

Abengoa says CSP with storage will beat baseload gas by 2020 (via Renew Economy)

5 trends illustrating the resurgence of solar suppliers in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Ohio kicks RPS vote to next week (via Recharge)

400-mile transmission line could expand Texas wind market (via Houston Chronicle)

South Carolina prepares for solar revolution with historic vote (via EcoWatch)

Can yieldcos reduce the risk of solar financing? (via Renewable Energy World)

NUCLEAR 

Russia may build eight nuclear reactors for Iran (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Building efficiency upgrades save $730 million across U.S. (via Greenbang)

Lighting is a “gateway drug to energy efficiency” (via Breaking Energy)

Google won’t serve ads to your Nest, but will find you elsewhere (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

UK says South England holds billions of barrels of shale oil (via Bloomberg)

North Dakota governor warns oil producers on gas flaring (via Bismarck Tribune/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Energy consumption falling in the transportation sector (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

U.S. utility’s control system was hacked, says Homeland Security (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Russia-China deal to damp LNG prices as output rises (via Bloomberg)

Obama faces fracking protesters on New York visit (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

How does your state rank on climate emissions? (via Sustainable Business)

California carbon auction sells all allowances (via Environmental Leader)

17 things to know about California’s carbon cap (via Sightline Daily)

Does working from home grow your carbon footprint? (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

First shipment of Canadian tar sands heads toward EU shores (via RTCC)

TransCanada eyes “bridge” to Keystone XL pipeline approval (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

Red state, blue state, hot state, cold state: Mapping the politics of climate change (via Politico)

League of Conservation Voters raises $3 million for campaign contributions (via The Hill)

Climate change is on the ballot (via Huffington Post)

Ohio churches fight to save renewables and energy efficiency (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

When China became the world’s workshop it inherited the world’s air pollution, too (via Grist)

How fossil fuel interests attack renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Dust Bowl days: Will we cut carbon fast enough to prevent permanent droughts? (via Climate Progress)

How green energy won out over fossil fuels in a red state (via National Journal)

The real reason why no one cares about CNN’s climate stories (via Climate Progress)

Why “ratepayer” is a dirty word (via Greentech Media)

Defending clean energy in Ohio and beyond (via Grist)

Why owning your own power plant might not be crazy (via RMI Outlet)

Posted:   |   Categories: abengoa, Antarctica. Australia, Brazil, california, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal export, Concentrating solar power, Deutsche Bank, drought, duke energy, Dust Bowl, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, fracking, global warming, google, Great Barrier Reef, grid, india, iran, Jay Nixon, Keystone XL, League of Conservation Voters, LED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, LNG export, methane, Methane flaring, Missouri, natural gas, Nest, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, oil, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, Russia, Saudi Araba, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, south carolina, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, united nations, wind, Yieldcos
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22
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.14

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

GRID 

Utility spending on smart grid as a service will total $57.6 billion from 2014 through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Will utilities heed the grid defection alarm? (via Energy Collective)

When will smart meters’ day come? (via EnergyWire)

Solar paired with energy storage scores a regulatory win in California (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

EPA is readying climate rule for existing power plants as deadline approaches (via Washington Post)

Obama divides power industry with emissions rule utilities accept (via Bloomberg)

States pressing EPA for energy efficiency credits in power plant regulations, says Moniz (via Greenwire)

IDIOCY 

Pat Sajak: Climate change tweet “parody” (via Politico)

RENEWABLES 

China solar makers seek talks to resolve trade dispute with U.S. (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

European utility says wind now cheapest form of generation (via Renew Economy)

Biofuels for road transportation will reach $338 billion in annual revenue by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Connecticut agency closes on $30 million PACE financing deal (via New Haven Register)

Innovative farm methane energy projects clash with Wisconsin policy (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

China curbs capital’s coal consumption to combat smog (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

UN climate fund agrees to rules, paving way to raise capital (via Bloomberg)

Climate change is single most divisive issue, says poll (via Huffington Post)

North Carolina wants to nominate climate deniers to study sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

How South Florida is ignoring the state’s leading politicians to take on climate change (via Climate Progress)

Pope Francis on climate change: “If we destroy creation, creation will destroy us” (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

$400 billion gas deal shows Russia looking to China to replace western money (via Forbes)

Venezuela plans first shale gas exploration project (via Reuters)

Kerry says Russia-China gas deal not linked to Ukraine (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Will ads run on your Nest thermostat one day? (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Write-down on two-thirds of US shale oil explodes fracking myth (via The Guardian)

Oil climbs to $104 as U.S. supplies drop sharply (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

BP lodges Supreme Court appeal to limit Gulf of Mexico oil spill settlement (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU aims to put brake on truck emissions with new regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Nissan’s electric vehicle free-charging program hits speed bump (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GM has installed 401 EV charge stations at US facilities, 5,900 at dealerships (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nebraska Supreme Court to weigh Keystone XL by October (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT 

California drought threatens US food supply; collapsing aquifer sinking the land (via Weather Channel)

373,000 Colorado homes at high wildfire risk (via Coloradoan)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima Daiichi begins pumping groundwater into Pacific (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

The House Science Committee has held more hearings on aliens than climate change (via National Journal)

Steyer’s PAC targets seven races for November (via Politico)

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate opposes anti-green energy bill (via Toledo Blade)

OPINION 

Crimea oil and gas will not come easy for Russia (via Christian Science Monitor)

Climate change and the American economy (via The Hill)

How green spaces could stop cities from overheating (via The Guardian)

Monterey Shale: Fracking’s great moment of derp (via CleanTechnica)

Meet me in New York, says Bill McKibben – it’s time to get arrested (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bill McKibben, biofuels, BP, california, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Connecticut, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, Florida, fracking, fukushima, GM, grid, Grid defection, Gulf of Mexico, john kerry, Keystone XL, methane, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Nebraska, Nest, new york, News, Nissan, North Carolina, nuclear, Ohio, oil, oil spill, PACE, Pat Sajack, Pope Francis, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meters, Smog, solar, Solar trade war, Tom Steyer, Transportation, Ukraine, UN, united nations, Venzuela, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin
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15
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Fossil-free investment portfolios soared 50% in 2013 (via RTCC)

Obama said to put personal push behind EPA emission rules (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

LNG, power demand driving shift in U.S. gas flow (via Houston Chronicle)

Overwhelming vote advances extenders bill, but hurdles remain (via E&E Daily)

Ohio’s manufacturers on both sides of debate over efficiency and renewables (via Plain-Dealer)

RENEWABLES 

Bangladesh leads the world in small solar power home installations (via Mashable)

Is 3,000MW of new Nigeria solar power a model to end energy poverty? (via CleanTechnica)

India may back solar duties after probe finds dumping (via Bloomberg)

Netherlands’ largest offshore wind farm powers forward (via BusinessGreen)

80% of British support renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

US biodiesel producers hit hard by policy uncertainty (via Biodiesel.org)

Senate debates wind tax credit extension (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Delays on climate change have cost us $8 trillion, says IEA (via New Scientist)

IPCC reports “diluted” under “political pressure” to protect fossil fuel interests (via The Guardian)

Warming shifting hurricane impacts away from tropics (via Climate Central)

Japan, Australia urge developing countries to do more on climate (via RTCC)

Kerry to warn of national security climate threats in speech (via The Hill)

Insurance company sues Illinois cities for climate damage (via ClimateWire)

Raging California wildfires fueled by unusually hot May weather (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

U.S. crude output advances to 28-year high on shale boom (via Bloomberg)

Expert: White House likely to lift oil export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors pressuring oil industry over $1.1 trillion exposure to high-cost projects (via Forbes)

California’s thirst shapes debate over fracking (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

White House urges Congress to shore up depleted Highway Trust Fund (via Autoblog)

2015 Chevy Spark will have lighter, smaller battery (via Autoblog Green)

Elon Musk says yes to The Oatmeal’s $8 million request for Nikola Tesla museum (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

National Grid to spend more in U.S. for storm protection (via Reuters)

Three U.S. grid facilities you should know about (via Energy.gov)

COAL 

Beginning of end for coal? Citi sees structural decline (via Renew Economy)

Coal missing boom as climate foes clean Asia’s backyard (via Bloomberg)

GREEN BUILDING 

Enviros bash industry-backed “green” building program (via Grist)

POLITICS 

Steyer targets Rubio, 2016 hopefuls on climate (via The Hill)

Scott Brown urged GOP senators to kill Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency bill (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The first climate tipping point has arrived: Will it be the last? (via Huffington Post)

The $4 trillion mistake: Climate action delayed is climate action denied (via Climate Progress)

Is the White House worried about a Republican president overturning Obama’s climate legacy? (via Bloomberg BNA)

Time to act on U.S. natural gas exports (via CNBC)

Florida already feeling effects of climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bangladesh, battery, biodiesel, california, Chevy Spark, Citibank, climate, Climate Change, Climate resiliency, coal, Divestment, drought, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, Florida, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, global warming, green building, grid, Highway Trust Fund, IEA, Illinois, india, IPCC, japan, Jeanne Shaheen, john kerry, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Marco Rubio, national grid, Natural gas exports, Netherlands, News, nigeria, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, production tax credit, ptc, scott brown, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires
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07
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change is harming economy, says report (via Wall Street Journal)

US climate report says global warming impact already severe (via Washington Post)

Almost 200,000 glaciers mapped in global inventory baseline for study of global warming effects (via Treehugger)

Industry sees costly rules after Obama climate report (via Bloomberg)

The tech trends to watch while America is boiling, storming, burning, & drying up (via GigaOm)

Climate change in the US – eight compelling charts (via Climate Central)

COAL 

Indiana leads nation in coal ash ponds, raising toxin concerns (via Indy Star)

Stanford University divestment is a warning to coal industry (via RTCC)

Has Wyoming passed peak coal? (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Annual wind power capacity installations in key emerging markets will double by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

With a little help, Africa could become a renewable energy powerhouse (via Climate Progress)

Brazil tests suggest more ethanol means more local smog (via Autoblog Green)

Court upholds EPA’s 2013 renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

Ohio’s renewable energy industries spent $1 billion, employed 3,500 (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

The promise of shared renewables: Will California’s SB 43 bring solar for all? (via Energy Collective)

Top 10 things you didn’t know about offshore wind energy (via Energy.gov)

EMISSIONS 

EU proposes shield for 175 industries in carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Carbon tax goes into effect in France (via Sustainable Business)

Stanford to purge $18 billion endowment of coal stock (via New York Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA releases complete Annual Energy Outlook 2014 report (via US EIA)

Why utilities need to get real about distributed energy (via GreenBiz)

Five climate charts that should deeply worry the electricity sector (via Greentech Media)

Experts: Cost gap between renewables and natural gas “is closing” (via Greentech Media)

Earthquake potential could cause shale sector to lose footing (via Forbes)

Ohio’s efficiency and renewable energy standards would be kept in compromise (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

ENVIRONMENT 

In China, 64% say they are environmentalists (via Reuters)

The risks to US water resources from climate change (via Science Blogs)

Energy companies warned about water availability (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Asia is most vulnerable to Mideast oil supply shock, says report (via Reuters)

Researcher: BP oil becoming “part of the geological record” of the sea floor (via Climate Progress)

New offshore decommissioning requirements coming (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar-powered oil production could shake up California carbon rule (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

China leans on automakers to produce EVs, but infrastructure lags (via Green Car Reports)

KEYSTONE XL 

It’s game over for the Keystone XL pipeline (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Still no deal on amendments as test vote planned for Shaheen-Portman (via E&E Daily)

Ten smart building myths busted (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

Obama’s global warming talk is beside the point (via National Journal)

Climate change affects us all – so what’s stopping us from joining forces? (via The Guardian)

States and cities need to act now on climate change (via Washington Post)

Bill Clinton, Barack Obama weather déjà vu (via Politico)

The top ten global warming skeptic arguments answered (via The Guardian)

John Podesta: Congress won’t stop EPA’s climate rules (via Politico)

Six tips for communicating about the National Climate Assessment (via EcoAffect)

From grid defected to grid connected (via RMI Outlet)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Asia, biofuel, BP, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, distributed generation, Divestment, drought, earthquake, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Fossil fuel divestment, France, global warming, grid, Gulf of Mexico, indiana, Keystone XL, National Climate Assessment, natural gas, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Peak coal, Renewable energy standard, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, Shale gas, Shale oil, Shared renewables, Smart buildings, Stanford University, Transportation, wind, wyoming
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

Indian monsoons becoming more erratic (via RTCC)

Climate change “making extreme rainfall in England more likely” (via The Guardian)

Las Vegas burning: Lessons in resilience from the nation’s driest big city (via Grist)

Oyster reefs could provide “dynamic” sea walls that outpace sea-level rise (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Supreme Court OKs EPA pollution rules: Another blow for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

Is underground coal gasification the new fracking? (via Renew Economy)

RENEWABLES 

China hits EU with final duties on polysilicon imports (via Reuters)

Germans installing far fewer solar panels in 2014 (via Reuters)

China fuels highest solar silicon demand since 2011 (via Bloomberg)

Concerns escalate over fresh UK solar subsidy reforms (via BusinessGreen)

Pension funds hold a key to renewable energy finance (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable electricity projections show growth under carbon market assumptions (via US EIA)

Americans are more concerned about clean energy than climate change (via EcoAffect)

ORNL assessment finds >65GW untapped hydropower in US rivers and streams (via Green Car Congress)

World’s largest solar panel farm is completed and live in Arizona (via GigaOm)

SunEdison closes financing on 60MW California solar farm (via Bloomberg)

US regulations push wave-energy project to Australia (via Houston Chronicle)

Tricky political tides challenge East Coast offshore wind projects (via ClimateWire)

Landfill area becoming solar site (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico expected to present energy reform laws today (via Reuters)

Report: Alstom to accept GE’s $13 billion offer (via Greentech Media)

Exelon expands again, reportedly buys Pepco for $5.4 billion (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

April becomes 1st month with CO2 levels above 400 PPM (via Climate Central)

Ending Australia’s carbon tax could deliver $40 billion budget hit (via Renew Economy)

China could expand carbon market to big-polluting industrial regions (via Reuters)

UK political uncertainty undermining carbon targets (via RTCC)

Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay (via Politico)

EPA’s powers upheld by Supreme Court with climate rules on deck (via Bloomberg)

Washington State’s governor unveils carbon reduction plan (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Harry Reid leaves door open to Keystone XL pipeline vote (via Reuters)

GRID 

Military advances energy independence with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

Tax credits for energy storage would advance renewable energy technology (via Energy Manager Today)

New York State gets to work on “grid of the future” with sweeping changes to come (via EnergyWire)

Extreme weather topples 38 TVA transmission towers (via Times Free Press)

OIL 

Bakken oil fields market billionth barrel of oil (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK to invest $841 million from 2015-2020 to boost ultra-low emission vehicle industry (via Green Car Congress)

US rollout of electric vehicle charging stations slowing down (via RTCC)

Winners and losers in EPA fuel economy scores (via Navigant Research)

Tesla making plans for Gigafactory in at least two states (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT 

Reporter travels to Brazil’s Amazon: Can the battle against deforestation be won? (via InsideClimate News)

Almost half of Americans live with unhealthy levels of air pollution (via The Guardian)

Triple digits expected in California and Texas during early spring heat wave (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS 

Congressional supporters optimistic about natural gas export bill (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency bill may face roadblocks beyond Keystone XL (via Greenwire)

Maryland county becomes first in US to enact energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Big donor secrecy: “Irony, but it’s not hypocrisy” (via Politico)

Steyer explores involvement in Colorado contests (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

EPA is on a legal winning streak (via National Journal)

The reality of a hotter world is already here (via Smithsonian)

George Will knocks out another instant climate classic (via Bloomberg)

What the Supreme Court’s latest air pollution ruling means (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, Alstom, amazon, arizona, australia, Bakken Shale, Benchmarking, Brazil, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, coal, Coal gasification, Cross state air pollution rule, deforestation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, England, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, Extreme weather, Fuel Economy, GE, germany, Gigafactory, global warming, grid, harry reid, Hydropower, india, jay inslee, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, maryland, mexico, Microgrid, Monsoon, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Pepco, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, SunEdison, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, Washington State, Wave energy
0
25
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.25.14

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

OIL 

Shale boom sends US crude oil supply to highest level since 1930 (via Bloomberg)

US regulators to propose enhanced oil tank car standards (via Reuters)

US pipeline and oil-by-rail regulator making 9% staff cut, confounding experts (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

FTC officials back Tesla’s direct-to-consumer car sales model (via Reuters)

Consumer Reports finds plug-in retail experience underwhelming (via Autoblog Green)

Is Tesla planning another electric vehicle factory in California? (via Los Angeles Times)

Improving the performance of hybrid powertrains (via Navigant Research)

RENEWABLES 

UK onshore wind power will lose subsidies, say conservatives (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Central Asian hydroelectric water wars heat up (via Huffington Post)

Solar PV set to surge 50% in Africa and Middle East in 2014 (via Recharge)

GE renewable investments exceed $10 billion (via BusinessWire)

US solar energy capacity grew an astounding 418% from 2010-2014 (via CleanTechnica)

EPA releases list of top 100 US organizations using renewable energy (via Solar Industry)

Financing lessons residential solar can teach the commercial and industrial sector (via Renewable Energy World)

Google and Apple announce new renewable energy investments (via RTCC)

New York State pledges $1 billion for solar through 2023 (via Bloomberg)

SunPower lands another strong quarter, launches new solar holding company (via Greentech Media)

Fisherman’s Energy to file legal appeal for New Jersey offshore wind rejection (via Recharge)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

GE said to be in talks to buy France’s Alstom (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Why electric utilities have an image problem (via Navigant Research)

Battle between fossil fuels & solar intensifies (via Sustainable Business)

50,000 Pennsylvania electric customers switch suppliers on price swings (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

CLIMATE 

Corals may withstand higher temperatures, says study (via RTCC)

Top 12 ways the world can eliminate agriculture’s climate footprint (via Phys.org)

UK supermarket: 95% of fresh produce already at risk from climate change (via The Guardian)

Study links polar vortex, California drought to climate change (via The Hill)

84,000 lives threatened by sea level rise in New England (via Climate Progress)

Lower Manhattan 20x more likely to flood than in 1844 (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Putin, Merkel call for gas talks over Ukraine (via Reuters)

Trade implication of US energy policy and LNG exports (via Center for American Progress)

Baker Hughes to reveal all hydraulic fracturing chemicals (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

USGBC launches real-time green building tool (via Environmental Leader)

Following pipeline delay, KXL politics may derail energy efficiency bill (via Greenwire)

Think you’re better at saving energy? Three charts suggest a reality check. (via Outlier)

KEYSTONE XL 

US support for Keystone hits 61% in new poll (via The Hill)

How Obama shocked Harper as Keystone Frustrator-in-Chief (via Bloomberg)

How Canada’s incoherence on climate is killing Keystone (via Rescuing the Frog)

GRID 

Britain installs first grid-scale battery (via Reuters)

Smart grid companies raise $101 million to kick off 2014 (via Renew Grid)

“LEED-like” standard launched for electric grids (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

China takes on pollution with biggest environmental law changes in 25 years (via Bloomberg)

Brazil’s coffee crop prayers for rain met with deluge threat (via Bloomberg)

Drought area expands in Plains and California (via Farm Futures)

For first time in 15 years, drought hits 100% of California (via Los Angeles Times)

Plastic bottle recycling increases 53% in 12 years (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION 

The new abolitionism (via The Nation)

Maddow: Will US energy companies disrupt Obama’s Russia policy? (via Washington Post)

The real story behind falling renewable energy investments (via World Resources Institute)

Solar power is booming but will never replace coal – here’s why (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Alstom, Angela Merkel, apple, battery, Brazil, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, Consumer Reports, drought, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, Federal Trade Commission, Fisherman's Energy, Flooding, fracking, France, FTC, GE, global warming, google, green building, grid, Hydropower, Keystone XL Stephen Harper, LEED, LNG, MENA, middle east, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, New York City, new york state, News, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, PHMSA, Polar vortex, Recycling, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, SunPower, Tesla, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, USGBC, Vladimir Putin, wind
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16
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Right wing threatens EU climate change goals (via RTCC)

Study ties epic California drought, “frigid east” to manmade climate change (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

The green case against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Jimmy Carter comes out against Keystone XL pipeline (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Clean energy investment rises 9%, led by solar power (via Bloomberg)

European Investment Bank promises €2 billion clean energy funding boost (via BusinessGreen)

India signs power contracts for 700MW of new solar capacity (via Bloomberg)

IFC backs 50MW Pakistan wind project (via Recharge)

Solar trends for Q1 of 2014 and beyond: View from Mercom Capital (via Forbes)

Department of Defense undertakes largest solar project to date (via Climate Progress)

Oil group says EPA may flip-flop on ethanol mandate (via The Hill)

Dual turning point for biofuels (via New York Times)

Tiny portable wind turbine fits in your bag, charges your gadgets (via TreeHugger)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 0.8% in 2013 (via Reuters)

Plants are key to removing 63 million tons of CO2 a year (via The Guardian)

US greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3.4% in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Federal appeals court says EPA can force power plans to cut mercury emissions (via Washington Post)

US EPA studies whether to regulate methane from oil and gas (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Pitzer College selling fossil fuel stocks in environmental move (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

Identifying the global coal industry’s water risks (via World Resources Institute)

The Pacific Rim coal bubble (via Sightline Daily)

Washington University students continue Peabody protest (via St. Louis Business Journal)

ENERGY POLICY 

American penitentiaries emphasize the need for sustainability (via TreeHugger)

BOEM announces plan to auction 21 million Gulf acres (via Houston Chronicle)

Investors urge Duke Energy to vote out directors (via News Observer)

ENVIRONMENT 

China poised to beef up national Environmental Protection Law (via BusinessGreen)

Congo deforestation could cause region to warm 3C by 2050 (via RTCC)

Pollution is substantially worse in minority neighborhoods across the US (via Washington Post)

GAO audit finds lack of data on environmental reviews (via The Hill)

A brutal allergy season is ahead – blame the polar vortex (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Radioactive waste booms with shale oil as new rules mulled by US (via Bloomberg)

BP, Coast Guard end spill cleanup on Gulf shoreline (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to stay global first in vehicle miles drive, says futurist (via Green Car Reports)

BMW lifts i3 electric car production 43% on higher demand (via Bloomberg)

Where do US electric cars save money the quickest? (via Green Car Reports)

DOE announces $10 million to upgrade technology for renewable drop-in fuels production (via Green Car Congress) 

GRID 

How a small California county went grid positive (via RMI Outlet)

Home energy management grows in some mind-bending ways (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EIA: Natural gas will slash diesel’s dominance as rail fuel (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania DEP “monitoring” Ohio earthquake situation (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

Is Pennsylvania wasting its fracking wealth? (via National Journal)

New York City hotel commissions combined heat and power plant (via Energy Manager Today)

OPINION 

A backup plan for climate change (via Washington Post)

Felipe Calderon: Economic arguments needed to fight climate change (via Forbes)

The eight factors driving global industrial efficiency (via Greentech Media)

It’s okay to support nuclear power and still enjoy a movie now and then (via Bloomberg)

Why it’s a big deal that half of the Great Lakes are still covered in ice (via The Atlantic)

Energy companies need to remake their boards before activists force them to (via Forbes)

Why the great Washington University sit-in against Peabody Coal matters (via Huffington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, Allergies, australia, biofuels, BMW, BOEM, BP, california, Carbon bubble, climate, Climate Change, coal, Combined heat and power, Congo, Defense Department, deforestation, diesel, Divestment, DOE, drought, duke energy, earthquakes, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Investment Bank, European Union, ev, Felipe Calderon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, GAO, Great Lakes, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Home energy management, IFC, india, Jimmy Carter, Keystone XL, methane, natural gas, New York City, News, nuclear power, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Peabody, pennsylvania, Pitzer College, Polar vortex, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Shale oil, small wind, solar, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington University, wind
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14
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

Act fast to curb global warming or extract CO2 from air, says UN (via Reuters)

IPCC report: World must urgently switch to clean energy sources (via The Guardian)

World Bank president says fighting climate change and poverty are linked (via ClimateWire)

Shippers and seabirds clash over Arctic territory (via Alaska Dispatch)

GRID 

Weather-related blackouts doubled since 2003 (via Climate Central)

FERC says steps underway to protect grid (via AP)

DOE Inspector General: Power grid threats should have remained classified (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Northern Gateway pipeline rejected by British Columbia First Nation (via Huffington Post)

Canadians turn up the heat against Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Opponents carve massive anti-Keystone XL message into field that could hold future pipeline (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Are we halfway to market dominance for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A rising tension: Value of solar tariff versus net metering (via Greentech Media)

How much are solar Facebook fans worth? About $403 each (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

UN says world’s greenhouse gas emissions growing rapidly (via The Hill)

IPCC says major greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2050 (via Climate Central)

IMF, World Bank push for price on carbon (via Business Standard/AFP)

Greenland ice sheet samples show impact of US Clean Air Act on climate (via Austrian Tribune)

Desmond Tutu calls for anti-apartheid style boycott of fossil fuel industry (via The Guardian)

EPA held over 100 meetings, met with over 200 groups to design carbon rules (via Climate Progress)

Harvard faculty members urge university to divest from fossil fuels (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gas carousel making Spain Europe’s biggest LNG exporter (via Bloomberg)

How many jobs does fracking really create? (via National Journal)

Geologists say fracking likely cause of Ohio earthquakes (via Time) 

Early speculators let drilling leases lapse as North Carolina fracking prospects remain uncertain (via Winston-Salem Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Entire marine food chain at risk from rising CO2 levels in water (via The Guardian)

El Nino could raise meteorological hell this year (via Grist)

US drought retreats 15% in one year (via Climate Central)

OIL 

IMF says North American boom to keep oil prices low (via Christian Science Monitor)

Crude oil leak in China taints water for millions (via New York Times)

Rail transport of crude oil increases as pipelines fall short (via New York Times)

Big Oil comes up short in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Houston fills with crude oil that can’t be shipped out (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Sales of electric and alternative fuel vehicles will reach 12.4 million annually by 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Washington State’s governor signs pro-Tesla bill (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

China cuts in coal use may mean world emissions peak before 2020 (via Bloomberg)

Clean coal might work in China, but we won’t see much of it here (via Washington Post)

Chicago 30-hour ties up for Buffet’s trains slows coal (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency bill gaining momentum in US Senate (via Bloomberg BNA)

Cities collaborate and compete to improve energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR 

Japan supports nuclear power in national energy plan (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Unions or greens – which Keystone XL player is doing more to keep the Senate blue? (via E&E Daily)

NRDC, LCV create environmental political alliance (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Is protecting the grid a matter of national security? (via National Journal)

Three most sobering graphics from UN’s new climate report (via Climate Progress)

400ppm: The milestone that puts Earth in the “danger zone” (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, Blackout, british columbia, canada, China, clean air act, clean coal, climate, Climate Change, coal, Desmond Tutu, Divestment, DOE, drought, earthquakes, El Nino, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, europe, ev, Extreme weather, facebook, FERC, First Nations, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenland, grid, Harvard, Houston, IMF, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LCV, LNG exports, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, News, North Carolina, Northern Gateway, nrdc, nuclear, Ocean acidification, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, Pipeline, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, Shale oil, solar, Spain, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, UN, UN IPCC, Value of solar tariff, Washington State, World Bank
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26
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.26.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric CO2 concentrations hit 400ppm 2 months early this year (via ClimateWire)

Visualizing the global carbon budget (via WRI Insights)

Christie administration improperly pulled NJ out of RGGI (via Bergen Record)

ENVIRONMENT 

EPA proposes greater protections for streams, wetlands under Clean Water Act (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US energy efficiency programs cost 2 cents per kilowatt-hour saved (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Japan cuts subsidy for solar power, boosts offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

India could cut wind farm subsidies by up to 78% (via Bloomberg)

UK’s offshore wind vital amid Russian tensions, says energy secretary (via The Guardian)

Greece proposes more cuts to renewable energy feed-in tariff (Renewable Energy World)

China loses rare earth export trade dispute, says US (via Reuters)

Siemens to invest $264 million in UK wind turbine manufacturing project (via New York Times)

Top 50 PV module manufacturers to add 10GW in module capacity in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Solar extends net metering win streak with Vermont decision (via PR Newswire)

California will enable residential PACE through property tax bill (via Solar Industry)

Solar rivals Sungevity, Sunrun form alliance (via San Francisco Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS 

US expands gas exports in bid to punish Putin for Crimea (via The Guardian)

CLIMATE 

UN climate science report will highlight “limits to adaptation” (via RTCC)

Asia’s great cities face rising flooding risks in warming world (via RTCC)

UK Met Office: Deadly heat wave summers to become the norm by 2040 (via The Independent)

OIL 

Kremlin oil partnership places BP at risk in Russia crisis (via Bloomberg)

Crimea crisis pushes Russian energy to China from Europe (via Bloomberg)

Transport limits causing “serious logistical challenge” for shale boom (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon, PHMSA withholding key documents on Pegasus pipeline as restart nears (via InsideClimate News)

BP confirms oil spill into Lake Michigan from refinery (via Chicago Tribune)

Ohio pipeline spill twice as large as original estimate (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volvo testing flywheel energy capture with 25% fuel savings (via Green Car Reports)

COAL 

House votes to stop Obama’s new coal mining rules (via The Hill)

Duke Energy: Cleaning up coal ash “is going to take time” (via The State)

GRID 

Where will the next $400 billion in grid investment come from? (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage hits the rails in California and Nevada (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Why climate change will make mudslides more common (via Salon)

Grid parity: Why electric utilities should struggle to sleep at night (via Washington Post)

PACE financing for California’s clean energy future: Expanding the residential market (via Breaking Energy)

Hot air about American natural gas won’t scare Putin (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, BP, california, Carbon budget, China, Chris Christie, Clean Water Act, coal, coal ash, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, Exxon, feed-in tariff, FIT, Flywheel, Greece, grid, Grid Parity, india, japan, Lake Michigan, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Oil train, PACE, PHMSA, Pipeline, Rare earths, renewables, rggi, Russia, Shale oil, Siemens, solar, solar pv, south carolina, Sungevity, Sunrun, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, vermont, Vladimir Putin, Volvo, wind
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