Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.25.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
China’s coal gas plants to emit massive greenhouse gases (via The Hill)
India’s top court rules allocations of 218 coal mines illegal (via Bloomberg)
India markets slip after coal block allocations are termed illegal (via Business Standard)
British Columbia coal export terminal gets the green light (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
EMISSIONS
Hundreds of methane plumes spotted on Atlantic sea floor (via Scientific American/Nature)
California’s latest carbon auction raises $331.8 million (via Sacramento Bee)
RENEWABLES
Leading Chinese solar PV suppliers continue to increase market share despite global trade disputes (via Solarbuzz)
EPA ethanol mandate goes to White House for review (via The Hill)
Geothermal power steaming over wind and solar energies (via Forbes)
$500 million invested in Mexico distributed solar (via Energy Manager Today)
SolarCity expects Silevo 1GW factory to cost up to $450 million (via PV Tech)
New York’s solar programs merge under NY-Sun initiative (via Energy Manager Today)
Berkshire Hathaway says net metering should be “eliminated” (via Greentech Media)
CLIMATE
Climate change could happen slower for the next decade, says study (via Time)
“Incredible” rate of polar ice loss alarms scientists (via The Guardian)
Don’t even think about it: Why we are wired to ignore climate change (via GreenBiz)
OIL
Energy reform could increase Mexico’s long-term oil production 75% (via U.S. EIA)
Iraqi, Kurdistan lawyers face off in U.S. court over stranded tanker’s oil (via Houston Chronicle)
West Texas energy bills show oil boom’s unexpected costs (via Texas Tribune)
ENERGY POLICY
Obama urges renewal of U.S. Export-Import Bank (via Washington Post)
Watch six months of fracking fires blaze across America (via National Journal)
TAR SANDS
Enbridge tries new strategy to sidestep Keystone-style permitting fight (via EnergyWire)
ENVIRONMENT
Vanishing bird ignites debate over endangered species rules (via The Hill)
Ecologists just saved miles of Texas coastline using BP oil spill money (via Climate Progress)
POLITICS
Will Hispanic voters alter the politics of climate change? (via National Journal)
Steyer PAC gets just $501,000 from outside donors in July (via Politico)
OPINION
How the U.S. and Korea could work together to reduce carbon emissions (via Bloomberg Businessweek)
Generation Y have “very little interest” in challenging unsustainable investment (via Blue & Green)
Here’s what EVs need to succeed: Roaming for charging stations (via GigaOm)
Lifestyles of California’s rich and parched (via Politico)
Why the Gulf job market actually improved after the BP oil spill (via Washington Post)