Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.4.14

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

EMISSIONS 

U.S. presses India for greater carbon cuts (via BusinessGreen)

California and Mexico sign agreement to reduce emissions (via Green Car Congress)

A dozen states file suit against new EPA coal rules (via New York Times)

EPA hearings put Pittsburgh in crosshairs of climate war (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

COAL 

Shipping rates drop as China hydropower cuts coal demand (via Bloomberg)

New coal dust rules take effect (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

U.S.-China solar fight lurches forward (via National Geographic)

Global biodiesel market to grow 8.1% annually from 2013-2018 (via Environmental Leader)

SunPower sees energy storage commercial market in Australia in 2015 (via Renew Economy)

Non-hydro renewables now routinely surpass U.S. hydropower generation (via US EIA)

Obama’s delay on renewable fuel puts producers in bind (via Bloomberg)

As small hydropower expands, so does caution on its impacts (via Yale e360)

SunPower plans new factory to gain share as demand surges (via Bloomberg)

NYSERDA opens data on thousands of solar projects (via Environmental leader)

New York utility proposes community solar, microgrids-as-a-service (via Greentech Media)

How much money will California solar customers save with net metering? (via Greentech Media)

Solar City achieves $201.5 million securitization (via CleanTechnica)

Ohio utilities take net metering fight to state Supreme Court (via Midwest Energy News)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco set to miss target for Fukushima radioactive water cleanup (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires, “biomass burning” bigger climate threats than previously thought (via International Business Times)

As oysters die in Pacific Northwest, climate policy goes on the stump (via New York Times)

Idaho shifts policy behavior in response to climate change (via Idaho Statesman)

Sen. Murray tells Dems to push fiscal impacts of climate change (via The Hill)

World’s top PR companies rule out working with climate deniers (via The Guardian)

Will fiction influence how we react to climate change? (via New York Times)

OIL 

Mexico lower house passes final oil bills, sends them to Senate (via Houston Chronicle)

Nigeria, Shell not cleaning oil pollution, report charges (via Houston Chronicle)

Big Oil companies pay just an 11.7% tax rate, finds report (via Climate Progress)

Comment period starts for oil-train rules (via The Hill)

Oil industry works on blowout preventers for deeper depths (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla selling like gangbusters in China (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf hits 3,000 sales in July, Chevy Volt climbs over 2,000 (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla announces plan to boost production in 2015 (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla breaks ground near Reno for battery Gigafactory (via Bloomberg)

Tesla, Panasonic reach Gigafactory investment deal (via Energy Manager Today)

Tesla says it plans to have Model X prototypes next week (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Pennsylvania AG looking into claims state willfully ignores fracking-related health complaints (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Setting rivers free: As dams are torn down, nature quickly recovers (via Christian Science Monitor)

Bee-killing neonictinoids found in Midwest rivers (via Wired Science)

Gov. Brown declares state of emergency over California wildfires (via Los Angeles Times)

California drought watering restrictions may leave trees high and dry (via Sacramento Bee)

14 big wildfires scorching California (via Los Angeles Times)

Farming practices and climate change at root of Lake Erie water pollution (via The Guardian)

OPINION 

What do U.S. sanctions mean for Exxon’s close friendship with Russia in the Arctic? (via National Journal)

Six eye-catchers in 2030 picture of world energy (via Bloomberg)

EPA’s climate change plan fills void as Congress does nothing (via Washington Post)

Replant after wildfire or let nature take over? (via Bloomberg/AP)

The really scary thing about those Siberian craters (via Climate Progress)

Is Illinois becoming the third coast of clean tech? (via Midwest Energy News)

How yieldcos are changing renewables investment paradigm (via Renew Economy)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Extreme weather disasters have cost Earth $2.4 trillion since 1971 (via Climate Central)

Japan meteorological agency reports hottest March-June on record globally (via ClimateProgress)

Germany pledges $1 billion to UN climate change fund (via The Guardian)

White House unveils climate change initiatives (via New York Times)

Taking to the pulpit against climate change (via USA Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan readies atomic restarts as regulator signals approval (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China to smash target of 150GW installed wind by 2017 (via Recharge)

India targets 35% renewable energy share in installed capacity mix by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

World Trade Organization tells U.S. to reconsider solar panel tariffs (via Renewable Energy World)

Big EU banks pile into green bonds, China poised to follow (via Renew Economy)

Alternative-energy funds see renewed buying by investors (via Wall Street Journal)

United Kingdom approves EON offshore wind farm to power 450,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

German development bank issues €1.5 billion green bond (via BusinessGreen)

European wind industry warns of offshore slowdown (via BusinessGreen)

World’s biggest wave energy projects sinks without a trace (via Renew Economy)

4.9GW new offshore wind capacity under construction in Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Shinsei Bank plans $2 billion of clean energy loans in Japan (via Bloomberg)

DOE awards $6 million to advance drop-in biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

California keeps crushing America’s clean energy and tech rankings (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

Businesses say South Korea carbon market to cost $27 billion, should be delayed (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. oil export ban won’t be lifted this year, says Upton (via Bloomberg)

Older oil train tank cars to be phased out under industry proposal (via Bloomberg)

Enhanced oil recovery techniques limited in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell announces new 100 million barrel of oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

New pipeline would carry Bakken oil from North Dakota to Illinois through Iowa (via ClimateProgress)

Without fracking boom, U.S. would face oil crisis, says Yergin (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW doubles down on electric vehicles (via The Hill)

Elon Musk reveals details of new Tesla vehicle (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS 

Tar sands development threaten world’s largest boreal forest (via World Resources Institute)

ENVIRONMENT 

63% of paper consumed in U.S. is recycled, says report (via Environmental Leader)

Drought, drilling, and wildfires have cut mule deer population by two-thirds (via ClimateProgress)

Drought will cost California $2.2 billion in agriculture losses this year (via Wall Street Journal)

For first time, California gets ready for mandatory water restrictions (via ClimateProgress)

Groundwater is drought lifeline for California farmers (via Climate Central)

Battle lines form in California: Farms v. solar v. high-speed rail (via Greenwire)

As jellyfish come in waves off Maine coast, questions follow (via Portland Press-Herald)

NATURAL GAS 

Chile eyes use of U.S. shale gas by early 2016 (via Reuters)

Google project spotlights natural gas pipeline leaks under city streets (via Houston Chronicle)

Push to ban fracking in Colorado falls short (via The Hill)

GRID 

Revenue streams are key to cost-effective energy storage (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

California grid faces renewable energy “oversupply” (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

U.S. Senate confirms two FERC nominees (via The Hill)

Florida scientists press Gov. Rick Scott on climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

OPINION 

Companies don’t care anymore that you don’t care anymore about this sustainability thing (via Bloomberg)

New York’s utility reform plan will usher in a new era of consumer choice (via Greentech Media)

Cap and trade’s moment of truth (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

Extreme weather disasters have cost Earth $2.4 trillion since 1971 (via Climate Central)

Japan meteorological agency reports hottest March-June on record globally (via ClimateProgress)

Germany pledges $1 billion to UN climate change fund (via The Guardian)

White House unveils climate change initiatives (via New York Times)

Taking to the pulpit against climate change (via USA Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan readies atomic restarts as regulator signals approval (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

China to smash target of 150GW installed wind by 2017 (via Recharge)

India targets 35% renewable energy share in installed capacity mix by 2050 (via CleanTechnica)

World Trade Organization tells U.S. to reconsider solar panel tariffs (via Renewable Energy World)

Big EU banks pile into green bonds, China poised to follow (via Renew Economy)

Alternative-energy funds see renewed buying by investors (via Wall Street Journal)

United Kingdom approves EON offshore wind farm to power 450,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

German development bank issues €1.5 billion green bond (via BusinessGreen)

European wind industry warns of offshore slowdown (via BusinessGreen)

World’s biggest wave energy projects sinks without a trace (via Renew Economy)

4.9GW new offshore wind capacity under construction in Europe (via Renewable Energy World)

Shinsei Bank plans $2 billion of clean energy loans in Japan (via Bloomberg)

DOE awards $6 million to advance drop-in biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

California keeps crushing America’s clean energy and tech rankings (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

Businesses say South Korea carbon market to cost $27 billion, should be delayed (via Reuters)

OIL 

U.S. oil export ban won’t be lifted this year, says Upton (via Bloomberg)

Older oil train tank cars to be phased out under industry proposal (via Bloomberg)

Enhanced oil recovery techniques limited in shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell announces new 100 million barrel of oil discovery in Gulf of Mexico (via Houston Chronicle)

New pipeline would carry Bakken oil from North Dakota to Illinois through Iowa (via ClimateProgress)

Without fracking boom, U.S. would face oil crisis, says Yergin (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW doubles down on electric vehicles (via The Hill)

Elon Musk reveals details of new Tesla vehicle (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS 

Tar sands development threaten world’s largest boreal forest (via World Resources Institute)

ENVIRONMENT 

63% of paper consumed in U.S. is recycled, says report (via Environmental Leader)

Drought, drilling, and wildfires have cut mule deer population by two-thirds (via ClimateProgress)

Drought will cost California $2.2 billion in agriculture losses this year (via Wall Street Journal)

For first time, California gets ready for mandatory water restrictions (via ClimateProgress)

Groundwater is drought lifeline for California farmers (via Climate Central)

Battle lines form in California: Farms v. solar v. high-speed rail (via Greenwire)

As jellyfish come in waves off Maine coast, questions follow (via Portland Press-Herald)

NATURAL GAS 

Chile eyes use of U.S. shale gas by early 2016 (via Reuters)

Google project spotlights natural gas pipeline leaks under city streets (via Houston Chronicle)

Push to ban fracking in Colorado falls short (via The Hill)

GRID 

Revenue streams are key to cost-effective energy storage (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

California grid faces renewable energy “oversupply” (via Recharge)

POLITICS 

U.S. Senate confirms two FERC nominees (via The Hill)

Florida scientists press Gov. Rick Scott on climate change (via Tampa Bay Times)

OPINION 

Companies don’t care anymore that you don’t care anymore about this sustainability thing (via Bloomberg)

New York’s utility reform plan will usher in a new era of consumer choice (via Greentech Media)

Cap and trade’s moment of truth (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.14

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China and Russia sign huge natural gas supply deal, pricing unclear (via Reuters)

EU tells Putin Russia is responsible for ensuring European natural gas supply (via Reuters)

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut rush to keep fracking wastewater out (via Climate Progress)

Drilling and water interests clash on Texas disposal wells (via Texas Tribune)

North Dakota natural gas plant opening will significantly reduce methane flaring (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

GRID 

Hawaii passes the point of no return on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

Duke-PJM drama raises more questions about energy market alignment (via EnergyWire)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil aims to complete delayed wind farms (via Recharge)

Enel Green Power building 100MW of new Chile solar PV (via Recharge)

World’s first community-owned tidal energy device powers up (via BusinessGreen)

Green bonds from companies seen doubling to $20 billion in 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Global solar PV monitoring deployments outpace plant installations in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Australia wind power shown to slash wholesale power prices, cut network volatility (via Renew Economy)

China’s new private equity investment giant eyes solar (via Renewable Energy World)

South Africa is primed for major solar development (via Renewable Energy World)

Cumulative US solar PV market to approach 20GW by end of 2014 (via NPD Solarbuzz)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via AP)

Look to everything but hardware to reduce cost of solar (via GigaOm)

Ohio poised to break from U.S. push for renewable energy (via Bloomberg)

Solazyme produces algae-based lubricant for cleaner fracking (via Triple Pundit)

CLIMATE 

April 2014 tied for Earth’s warmest April on record (via Weather Underground)

Global warming threatens more deadly Everest-like avalanches (via NBC News)

The climate context for “unprecedented” Balkans flooding (via Climate Central)

Biggest loser: Thawing Greenland competes with collapsing Antarctic for fastest ice loss (via Climate Progress)

El Nino alert remains as Australia expects pattern by August (via Bloomberg)

Climategate had only fleeting effect on global warming skepticism (via The Guardian)

Climate change hurts shipping industry (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

China’s thirst for coal is drying up (via Huffington Post)

EMISSIONS 

UK urged to fast track carbon-capture plans (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Water goes “missing” with snow loss (via BBC News)

Stumpy Brazil cane crop signaling global sugar deficit (via Bloomberg)

PwC: Stockholm, Sydney top sustainable city ranking (via Environmental Leader)

US wildfires pose new budget challenge (via Politico)

EPA finalizes power plant water intake rules to save billions of aquatic animals every year (via Climate Progress)

EPA rule on fish kills at power plants angers environmentalists (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Norway loses reputation as stable investment as oil firms recoil (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA cuts estimate of recoverable Monterey Shale oil by 96% (via Los Angeles Times)

Bank loan standards bending for oil companies amid Texas shale rush (via Houston Chronicle)

Shell hits back at “carbon bubble” claims (via The Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION 

U.S. fuel-efficiency loan program looking beyond Big Three automakers (via Midwest Energy News)

California Air Resources Board scraps plan for $60,000 limit on EV rebates (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR 

Japan court rules against nuclear restart in rare ruling (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philips LED down to $1.97 some places, CREE LED down to $6.97 at Home Depot (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Senators aim to divide Obama appointees over global warming plan (via National Journal)

Cape Wind pours hundreds of thousands of dollars into key lawmaker campaigns (via Boston Herald)

Green groups implore Hillary Clinton to oppose Keystone XL (via Politico)

OPINION 

Australia’s extreme budget meets extreme climate (via The Guardian)

This summer’s politics of climate change will be worse than Obamacare’s (via New York Magazine)

Levelized cost of energy: A limited metric (via GreenBiz)

Solar grid parity – why Australia leads the world (via Renew Economy)

When can we call the U.S. shale boom a bubble? (via Bloomberg)

Keeping cool in a hotter United States (via Center for American Progress)

First Solar CTO: Dos and Don’ts of boosting solar market growth (via Forbes)

If Ohio eases green-energy rules, will it spark national trend? (via Columbus Dispatch)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.20.14

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

EMISSIONS

Shell says fossil fuel reserves won’t be “stranded” by climate regulation (via Reuters)

Emissions from 10 food and drink companies “higher than Scandinavia” (via BusinessGreen)

EPA carbon curbs to reach beyond power plant “fence,” aiding cap-and-trade (via Reuters)

Pundits weigh risks, benefits of Obama himself rolling out power plant rule (via Greenwire)

IEA graphic shows how to radically reduce CO2 (via Climate Central)

RGGI carbon market monitor releases report (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

UK will be largest solar PV market in Europe in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

German lesson for renewable power policies (via Energy Collective)

GE has invested $10 billion in clean energy (via CleanTechnica)

8GW of new US solar PV expected in 2014-2015 (via Recharge)

EPA mulls ethanol change as industry profits soar (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Maryland’s $200 million wind energy project will move forward thanks to governor’s veto (via Climate Progress)

When solar property taxes get personal (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

Inslee wants to wean electric utilities off coal (via The Columbian)

The coal ash sludge in North Carolina’s Dan River is finally getting vacuumed up (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

Doubling of Antarctic ice loss revealed by European satellite (via The Guardian)

Greenland ice sheet melt could occur yearly by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Reports say collapse of West Antarctic Ice Sheet is unstoppable, may cause great flood (via Elite Daily)

North Korea: An unlikely champion in the fight against climate change (via The Guardian)

Vancouver wants review to examine economic effects of climate change (via Vancouver Sun)

Many U.S. landmarks threatened by climate change (via Gannett News)

Local leaders call for U.S. help to deal with climate change (via Bloomberg)

Study says cities depending on snowmelt for water could face problems (via Christian Science Monitor)

In landmark class action, Farmers Insurance sues local governments for ignoring climate change (via Climate Progress)

Kerry calls on U.S. college graduates to face down climate change (via Reuters)

ENERGY POLICY 

Chile gets an energy agenda, Costa Rica saves electricity, Mexico wants more renewables (via NRDC Switchboard)

Integrated resources planning in India could help with electricity shortages (via World Resources Institute)

Read the secret trade memo calling for more fracking and offshore drilling (via Huffington Post)

Former Mexican President calls for global green growth push (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Did scientists just solve the bee collapse mystery? (via Mother Jones)

Obama to declare largest national monument in his tenure in New Mexico (via Washington Post)

Drought could cost California Central Valley farms $1.7 billion and 14,500 jobs (via Los Angeles Times)

California governor on drought, wildfires: “Humanity is on a collision course with nature” (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

IHS says EV sales are better than you think (via Autoblog Green)

FTC staff comes out in favor of Tesla, direct vehicle sales (via Autoblog Green)

GM reduced energy and carbon intensity 3.5% per vehicle in 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

New Fisker owner ready to go broke building EVs, challenging Tesla (via Autoblog Green)

GRID

Solar and storage are pushing the market for distributed resource management tools (via Greentech Media)

UC San Diego is building the “Motel 6” of microgrids (via Greentech Media)

Ohio looks to fuel cells as economic catalyst (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Opower expands behavioral demand response to one million customers (via Greentech Media)

Keep your cool: Top five myths of summer energy efficiency (via Greentech Media)

Freezing Ohio energy efficiency standards will mean higher bills for customers (via Columbus Business First)

POLITICS 

Ontario election holds renewable energy impact (via Recharge)

The most interesting climate policy debate you haven’t heard of (via Climate Progress)

In Alaska senate race, fierce competition to prove who knows less about climate science (via Climate Progress)

Climate activist Members of Congress to “sound alarm” on Capitol Hill (via The Hill)

Biden to attend fundraiser with Keystone XL opponent Steyer (via Reuters)

OPINION 

Climate change: Get ready or get sued (via Washington Post)

Carbon pricing vs. regulation (via Energy Collective)

Trains and crude oil are too often an accident waiting to happen (via Los Angeles Times)

What the Farmers Insurance suit tells us about climate change (via NRDC Switchboard)

Where should the investors divest? (via Resilience)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.9.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

US used more energy in 2013 than 2012, but efficiency is up too (via National Geographic)

Grandfather utilities threatened by spreading renewables (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Wyden aims for energy parity in overhaul to “rotting” tax code (via E&E Daily)

CLIMATE 

414 cities report over 4,000 climate actions (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

El Nino odds seen at more than 70% as Pacific warms (via Bloomberg)

Data shows low snowpack years will happen more frequently in Pacific Northwest (via EarthFix)

Virginia governor to revive climate change panel (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy installations to rise 37% by 2015, says BNEF (via Bloomberg)

Enel Green sees Africa as “next big place” for renewables (via Bloomberg)

India’s solar power capacity tops 2.6GW (via CleanTechnica)

Solar, wind no longer face high capital costs, says Shah (via Bloomberg)

Solar jumps to 22% of new US generation capacity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Crowdfunding seen topping $5 billion for rooftop solar (via Bloomberg)

Fishermen’s Energy appeals BPU offshore wind project rejection (via Recharge)

Clean energy victory bond could generate $150 billion in financing, 1 million jobs (via Business Journals)

COAL 

Duke Energy, North Carolina appeal coal ash ruling (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost “accelerating global warming” (via International Business Times)

Many nations wary of extracting carbon from air to fix climate (via Reuters)

Shell, Unilever, 68 others seek 1 trillion-ton limit on CO2 output (via Bloomberg)

Chile plans to enact the first carbon tax in South America (via Climate Progress)

Utilities disagree on how EPA should regulate emissions (via Climate Central)

Carbon divestment activists claim victory as Harvard adopts green code (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Fracking moratorium proposal advances in California State Senate (via Los Angeles Times)

Scientists, oil industry still probing fracking-earthquake link (via The Oklahoman)

TRANSPORTATION 

Debunked: Hybrid vehicle myths and truths (via Breaking Energy)

GM investing $449 million for advanced EV and battery manufacturing (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Toronto’s “Race to Reduce” garners 9% energy efficiency cut (via Energy Manager Today)

Indonesia gets world’s first net-zero energy skyscraper (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

5 market trends that will drive microgrids into the mainstream (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

The geopolitical potential of the US energy boom (via Council on Foreign Relations)

How the US power grid is like a big pile of sand (via National Journal)

What made Vermont’s net metering expansion process so unique? (via Greentech Media)

If “value of solar” is optional, will Minnesota utilities adopt it? (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.7.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN says time running out to meet global warming target (via Reuters)

US seeks changes to “skewed” data in UN climate draft (via Bloomberg)

Forest fires arrive early as Siberia sees record high temperatures (via Siberian Times)

Climate change could turn focus on Canadian Prairies for food production (via Calgary Herald)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gazprom stops courting US investors after Crimea crisis (via Houston Chronicle)

Ukraine in emergency talks with EU neighbors on natural gas imports (via Reuters)

Interior Department works through millions of comments on fracking rules (via Bloomberg)

Exxon Mobil to reveal fracking data (via Time)

Wyoming to start plugging old methane wells (via Billings Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global trends in renewable energy investment 2014 (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new energy policy stops short of setting renewables targets (via Bloomberg)

Britain embraces distributed solar (via Forbes)

Solar capacity in India crosses 2.6GW (via Panchabuta)

Fastest quarterly growth in polysilicon prices since 2010 (via Greentech Media)

Wind power has cut US CO2 emissions 4.4%, says report (via Huffington Post)

Wind power is reducing electricity rates: Repays tax credit 17x over (via TriplePundit)

Policy headwinds for the wind industry (via Navigant Research)

Deeper data dives yield more certainty on solar jobs (via Solar Industry)

Study touts benefits of wood pellets for energy (via Houston Chronicle)

Kansas lawmakers pass net metering plan in defeat for ALEC (via Midwest Energy News)

Home Depot launches the next generation of outdoor power (via EarthTechling)

Women are key residential solar energy customers (via Energy Collective)

Criticism of 2008 law part of new debate over Ohio green energy bill (via Columbus Dispatch)

Tackling energy poverty with renewables? (via Breaking Energy)

OIL 

Canada can move faster than US on oil rail cars, says Transport Minister (via Reuters)

Interior says Atlantic offshore drilling tests could begin this year (via The Hill)

Coast Guard report criticizes Shell’s judgment in Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

California regulations block state shale oil boom (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Solar, hydrogen, and aluminum: A guide to the latest advanced vehicle technology (via Climate Progress)

Electricity pricing and the economics of EVs (via Navigant Research)

NUCLEAR 

Dozens of nuclear reactors must prove safety under revised quake estimates (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Opower makes public market debut, gives hope to other green tech startups (via Forbes)

TAR SANDS

Mounting evidence of health concerns near tar sands development (via Energy Collective)

Enbridge first to confirm re-exports of Canadian crude via US (via Reuters)

Is Minnesota the next tar sands fight battleground? (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

Enabling remote microgrids in the developing world (via Navigant Research)

Texas blackouts rise, rank second in nation (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Declare a California fracking moratorium now (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Must-see video: Showtime climate series “Years of Living Dangerously” (via Climate Progress)

Can “Generation Hot” avoid its fate? (via The Daily Beast)

Should the wind production tax credit be revived? (via National Journal)

Opower IPO is a sign that “intelligent efficiency” truly matters (via Greentech Media)

Why Norway has embraced Tesla and other EVs (via Renew Economy)

Louisiana’s coastline is disappearing – here’s why it’s so hard to escape (via Washington Post)

Is Tesla Motors a carmaker, or really a grid-storage company? (via Green Car Reports)

What does “winning” the clean energy race even mean? (via Greentech Media)

Can complexities of sugarcane ethanol imports lead to increased carbon emissions? (via Energy Collective)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.20.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s Senate rejects carbon tax repeal bill (via Reuters)

EU lawmakers reject deal to exempt foreign flights from emission charges (via Reuters)

COAL 

Planned coal-fired power plant retirements continue to increase (via US EIA)

Duke Energy eyes closing more coal plants in response to Dan River spill (via Charlotte Business Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Japan added 7GW of clean energy capacity since July 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Concentrated solar to top 1GW capacity by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Scotland approves two major offshore wind farm projects (via Reuters)

Solar usage shattering records in California as new capacity comes online (via Greentech Media)

New Jersey rejects offshore wind project’s subsidy plan (via Recharge)

Net metering in the air: Solar energy progress in Massachusetts and other states (via Energy Collective)

Native American tribe could soon build a billion-dollar wind farm with Interior Department funding (via Climate Progress)

Clearing up cloudy understanding on solar output (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Climate change fuelled storms, rising seas cost China $2.6 billion in 2013 (via Reuters)

EU leaders to set October deadline to agree on 2030 climate goals (via Reuters)

A cold US winter, but 8th warmest globally (via Climate Central)

White House brings together big data and climate change (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Shell pulled out of shale gas talks in Ukraine in January (via Reuters)

Crimea crisis won’t cut Russia gas flow to Europe, says IHS (via Houston Chronicle)

Simple fixes could plug methane leaks from energy industry, finds study (via National Geographic)

White House to unveil new methane strategy this month (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Up to 40% energy savings “achievable” from home energy management (via Energy Manager Today)

Detroit airport’s switch to LED lights will save $1.2 million yearly (via Detroit Free Press)

OIL 

BP set to expand Gulf of Mexico drilling (via National Journal)

Oil pipeline leaks thousands of gallons in Ohio nature preserve (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chairman says BMW will make 100,000 EVs a year by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Electric cars have a dirty little secret (via InsideClimate News)

California may cut gasoline demand 9% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Energy industry overestimated cost of pollution controls, says study (via Huffington Post)

California officials prepare for worst as historic drought deepens wildfire risk (via The Guardian)

ENERGY STORAGE 

Spurred by Japan, steady growth predicted for energy storage market (via Renewable Energy World)

Incentives for energy storage spread worldwide (via EnergyWire)

POLITICS 

John Podesta knocks greens on natural gas (via Politico)

Obama’s Keystone XL choice pits donors against at-risk Senate (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Why a melting Arctic could sink the global economy (via Center for American Progress)

The end of spring in a warming world (via Time)

A remarkably accurate global warming prediction, made in 1972 (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.25.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Backloading EU carbon market fix poised to become law (via BusinessGreen)

UN promises “bold response” to stalled carbon offset scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court questions EPA’s power on emissions controls (via National Journal)

Supreme Court justices struggle for common ground on EPA emission rules (via Greenwire)

Shell reaches landmark with world’s first industrial carbon capture project (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA threatens Pennsylvania over air pollution rule violations (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL 

Governors: Obama expects Keystone decision within months (via Politico)

Loopholes speeding Keystone XL route through Nebraska backfire on governor, TransCanada (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

China narrows gap to US in renewable energy ranking (via Bloomberg)

Greece awaits “new deal” after adding 1GW of solar in 2013 (via PV Magazine)

Netherlands connects over 600MW of PV to grid (via PV Tech)

Survival of fittest in China’s renewable energy market (via Bloomberg)

India announces 2GW worth of new large-scale solar projects (via CleanTechnica)

Non-hydro renewable sources triple electricity output in last decade (via Facts of the Day)

Powering the US with renewables: A state-by-state roadmap (via Renewable Energy World)

ALEC coordinates new attacks on renewables mandates and net metering (via Greentech Media)

Unions’ full support for offshore wind a “work in progress” (via ClimateWire)

Sugarcane converted to cold-tolerant, oil-producing crop (via Science Daily)

SolarCity says it had “an amazing year” in 2013 but delays earnings (via GigaOm)

SolarCity to install fewer panels in first quarter (via Reuters)

California startup turns old wind turbines into gold (via InsideClimate News)

North Carolina is newest net-metering battleground (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan unveils draft energy policy, with nuclear, in wake of Fukushima (via The Guardian)

Court throws out Bush Administration rule on mountaintop coal removal (via SustainableBusiness)

GE to spend another $10 billion on energy research by 2020 (via Reuters) 

Oil, coal trains, concerns likely to increase in Northwest (via Spokesman-Review)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas at heart of GE’s $10 billion Ecomagination boost (via Greentech Media)

More work needed to stop natural gas flaring at oil wells, officials say (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

UN makes future of small island states a 2014 priority (via RTCC)

Increase in Western wildfires fuels Obama’s budget move (via Climate Central)

OIL 

Oil net imports have declined since 2011, with value falling slower than volume (via US EIA)

Shell’s Arctic oil plans face shareholder scrutiny (via RTCC)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volt fleet to cross 400 million EV miles today (via GM)

OPINION 

Is it getting any easier for clean tech firms to cross the “valley of death?” (via Greentech Media)

RMI report predicts demise of existing utility business (via Energy Manager Today)

After legal setback in Nebraska, what’s next for Keystone XL? (via Climate Progress)

A $400 natural gas bill? It’s on the way (via Washington Post)

Microalgae-derived biogas a promising alternative to fossil fuels (via Phys.org)