Category Archives:smart grid

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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23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
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23
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.23.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA says March is 4th warmest month on record (via Climate Central)

Wall Street wants to lend you money to fight climate change (via The Atlantic)

EPA chief says fighting climate change is agency’s top priority (via The Hill)

Spending Earth Day at ground zero for climate change in America (via Time)

COAL 

Duke Energy says coal ash disposal may cost up to $10 billion (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power adds most annual capacity in one year since 1997 (via Bloomberg)

Global 2013 solar PV module production hits 40GW; Yingli is shipment leader (via Greentech Media)

Run-of-river hydropower set for big gains, predicts turbine maker (via Yale e360)

Marubeni completes 82MW solar power system, Japan’s largest (via Bloomberg)

EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013 (via The Hill)

One weird trick to power your city with 100% renewable energy (via Energy Collective)

Why aren’t Southern utilities jumping into the solar business? (via EnergyWire)

The rise of solar co-ops (via RMI Outlet)

A polluted Superfund site is now home to 36,000 solar panels (via Climate Progress)

KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it will keep Keystone XL issue alive with White House (via Reuters)

Keystone route ruling should be overturned, says Nebraska governor (via Bloomberg)

Anti-Keystone XL protest rides into DC (via Politico)

Steyer says Keystone won’t “dominate” Obama’s legacy (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China now on track to meet 2015 emissions targets, says state planner (via Reuters)

Carbon capture faces hurdles of will, not technology (via Climate Central)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Drones are becoming energy industry’s new roustabouts (via New York Times)

Electricity consumers pay less than national average in RTOs and restructured states (via COMPETE Coalition)

GRID 

Does income determine who benefits most from smart grids? (via Renew Grid)

Batteries – an expensive way to store energy (via Energy Manager Today)

“Exceptional step forward” for energy storage in New York City (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

China bans commercial logging in northern forests after widespread deforestation (via Monagbay)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New $5 million prize gives town and cities more incentives to promote energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Delaying the Keystone XL decision wasn’t all about politics (via Climate Progress)

Stopping Keystone XL: The message is getting through (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: battery, biofuel, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, duke energy, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hydropower, japan, Keystone XL, Municipal aggregation, Nebraska, New York City, News, noaa, renewables, RTO, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, Yingli
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02
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.2.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Hubei province starts China’s second-biggest carbon exchange (via Bloomberg)

India mulls low-carbon fuel standard to cut vehicle exhaust by 2021 (via Bloomberg)

US EPA carbon rule for existing power plants sent to White House (via Reuters)

Promotion of cap-and-trade money for residents downplays looming higher electricity rates (via ClimateWire)

Companies try to catch CO2 before it touches the sky (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS 

Russia tightens pressure on Ukraine with rise in natural gas prices (via New York Times)

UK could produce shale gas within four years in emergency (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

India to award 1 gigawatt of solar permits by 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Brazil planning its first solar-specific national auction (via Renewable Energy World)

Iceland’s clean energy lures metal companies from abroad (via SmartPlanet)

Senators leave Production Tax Credit out of renewable fuel proposal (via Houston Chronicle)

Crowdfunding for solar, wind reaching fevered pitch (via Sustainable Business)

Advancements in wind turbine technology improve efficiency; reduce cost (via Renewable Energy World)

BOEM publishes environmental assessment of potential Georgia offshore wind area (via Recharge)

BOEM readies Massachusetts offshore wind auction (via Recharge)

Vermont raises net metering cap to 15% (via Solar Industry)

Mystery property tycoon makes $533 million bet on solar (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

German states water down energy reform but Merkel pleased (via Reuters)

Net US energy imports in 2013 lowest in more than 20 years (via US EIA)

Hearings begin today in latest push against Ohio energy laws (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Canadian safety board urges faster phase out of oil rail tankers (via Reuters)

Crunch year ahead for Norway’s Arctic oil adventure (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Number of electric vehicles doubling every year (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf has 2nd-best sales month ever, Chevy Volt does a 2013 repeat (via Autoblog Green)

Volkswagen could bring wireless EV charging to market by 2017 (via Autoblog)

California forms waiting list for electric car rebates (via Plugin Cars)

Tesla to use North American materials amid pollution worry (via Bloomberg)

Koch Brothers quietly seek to ban new mass transit in Tennessee (via Climate Progress)

TAR SANDS 

Oil sands link to health concerns, says Canadian report (via Globe and Mail)

CLIMATE 

Climate change responses to shape Asia’s future (via Washington Post)

China and EU pledge joint climate action (via BusinessGreen)

Biofuels might hold back progress combating climate change (via Scientific American)

NUCLEAR 

Japan may only be able to restart one-third of its nuclear reactors (via Reuters)

Utility Exelon wants to kill wind and solar subsidies while keeping nukes (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Utility spending on smart grid IT systems will total nearly $140 billion from 2014 through 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Unique state models offer a glimpse of New England’s microgrid future (via Greentech Media)

Maine Public Utilities Commission: Smart meters are safe (via Renew Grid)

RES Americas launch 8MW energy storage system in PJM (via Energy Manager Today)

Grid Edge 20: Companies transforming the US power sector (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Chinese coal firms creak under heavy debt, tumbling prices (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Meager snowpack bad news for drought-parched California (via USA Today)

Rains won’t quell California wildfire season (via Climate Central)

OPINION 

Climate change: Is anybody listening? (via Newsweek)

Global warming and the developing world (via New York Times)

Will Oregon cook up a carbon tax? (via Sightline Daily)

Rumsfeldian climate risks (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, biofuels, BOEM, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Exelon, Georgia, geothermal, germany, grid, Hubei, Iceland, india, japan, Koch Brothers, Maine, mass transit, massachusetts, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, norway, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, Oil train, oregon, PJM Interconnection, production tax credit, renewables, RES Americas, Russia, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meters, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, Tesla, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, united kingdom, vermont, Volkswagen, Wildfire, wind
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18
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.18.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change is putting world at risk of irreversible changes, warns AAAS (via The Guardian)

Global warming may double Japan’s heat-related deaths, says study (via Bloomberg)

42% of Americans think global warming exaggerated, suggests poll (via The Hill)

Study: Rockies’ wildflower season 35 days longer from climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

White House to host climate change resilience event (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

China mandates firms must start reporting carbon emissions (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

37GW of new solar capacity installed worldwide in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

African Renewable Energy Fund secures $100 million for Sub-Saharan renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

UK invests $6.6 million to cut offshore wind costs (via Recharge)

India cuts renewable funds, impeding solar rooftop growth (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels production drives growth in overall US biomass energy use since 2002 (via US EIA)

US ethanol profits in 2013 second highest on record (via Des Moines Register)

Oceans stand to deliver abundant carbon-free energy (via Climate Central)

States look to green banks to leverage private clean tech investment (via Energy Collective)

Kansas co-op plans state’s largest solar array (via Midwest Energy News)

First Solar seeking growth to replace giant desert plants (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Tweak to North Carolina law protected Duke’s coal ash pits (via ABC News/AP)

William Koch, pessimistic about coal’s future in US, gets out of the business (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

Japan launches battery storage subsidy for homes, businesses (via Renew Economy)

Ontario grid operator issues RFP for up to 35MW energy storage (via Renew Grid)

Midwest wind power transmission line plan irks farmers (via Huffington Post/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

New Jersey eyes ban on fracking waste from any state (via Sacramento Bee/AP)

Ohio’s earthquake average has risen since 2010 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Not into fracking? How about some nuclear waste? (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Who will emerge as the Opower of commercial building efficiency? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

US Department of Energy releases results from Strategic Petroleum Reserve sale (via Reuters)

Alaska sues Obama administration for rejecting Arctic drilling plan (via The Hill)

Oil spill reaches Missouri River in North Dakota (via Bismarck Tribune/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

How more EV sales in America hurts China’s environment (via Autoblog)

GM executive chief EV engineer says reducing cost of plug-in vehicles “huge priority” (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

60% of pro-Keystone XL comments tied to industry, says group (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Warmest winter on record worsens California drought (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

1,500-year-old Antarctic moss brought back to life (via Scientific American)

OPINION 

China’s “solar bubble” may be a coal bubble in disguise (via Navigant Research)

Is Canada the next energy superpower? (via Christian Science Monitor)

The US can’t really undermine Russia by exporting gas (via MIT Technology Review)

Shielding the transmission grid means protecting the economy (via Forbes)

Transparent utility pricing will make the smart grid smarter (via Greentech Media)

Could Minnesota’s “value of solar” make everyone a winner? (via Grist)

What is PACE financing? (via Energy Collective)

POLITICS 

Democrats’ anti-Koch strategy is risky (via Washington Post)

Solar industry worries Wyden’s ties to SolarWorld may affect China trade case, ITC (via SNL Energy)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, alaska, Antarctic, arctic, battery, biofuels, biomass, california, canada, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, DOE, drought, earthquake, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, First Solar, fracking, global warming, GM, Green bank, grid, india, japan, kansas, Keystone XL, minnesota, Missouri River, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, ontario, Opower, PACE, renewables, Ron Wyden, Russia, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, strategic petroleum reserve, tidal energy, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom
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28
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.28.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Social cost of carbon emissions rising but still underestimated, warn experts (via Thompson Reuters)

Group offers plan to meet new EPA power plant emission rules (via Reuters)

Global carbon market could reach $87 billion in 2014 (via RTCC) 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate duo debuts “new and improved” energy efficiency bill (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power on verge of taking off in Japan (via Japan Times)

Wind energy cut electricity prices by 40% in Australian heatwaves (via Renew Economy)

NREL maps solar policy for 48 states (via Energy Manager Today)

After a hiatus, DOE’s clean energy loan program will be back in action (via Greentech Media)

Solar industry employs a surprisingly high percentage of US veterans (via Climate Progress)

Massachusetts has 409MW of wind power coming its way (via Renew Grid)

Utility scale solar energy: North Carolina’s emergent success (via Energy Collective)

Wisconsin state legislators propose 30% by 2030 renewable energy target (via Journal-Sentinel)

CLIMATE 

Global warming slowdown likely to be brief, say US & UK science bodies (via Reuters)

UN report sees $1.45 trillion in global warming costs (via Economic Times/AFP)

US falling behind as other countries pass climate laws, survey shows (via Climate Progress)

Decline of Bronze Age “megacities” linked to climate change (via Science Daily)

NASA’s new climate satellite hopes to save lives – and maybe the planet (via National Journal)

Mexico, China led on climate action in 2013 (via The Hill)

California companies call climate change “economic opportunity” (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

US rules would allow “seismic air guns” in search for offshore oil, gas (via Washington Post)

Dusty federal rules complicate water management in parched West (via Greenwire)

New Mexico facing “extremely destructive” wildfire season (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Global smart meter market to top $22 billion by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Smart grids, energy storage key to $1.5 trillion smart city market (via Renew Grid)

ComEd’s Chicago 4 million smart meter installations to be completed by 2017 (via Chicago Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

India’s diesel subsidy spurs pollution worse than Beijing (via Bloomberg)

California report explains who buys plug-in cars and why (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline substitute made from plant waste developed by UC-Davis (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

Bright prospects? China’s rooftop solar goal looks too ambitious (via Reuters)

Denying climate science in multiple dimensions (via Science Blogs)

Is the solution to climate change in Vancouver? (via Climate Progress)

Just another solar deal, or the future of mid-size project financing? (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Beijing, biofuel, california, carbon markets, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, ComEd, diesel, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, global warming, grid, india, japan, massachusetts, mexico, natural gas, New Mexico, News, North Carolina, NREL, offshore drilling, oil, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Shaheen-Portman, smart grid, smart meter, Social cost of carbon, solar, Transportation, wind, Wisconsin
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27
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.27.14

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen, Portman finalize latest version of bill ahead of release (Via E&E Daily)

Opower’s evolution: Will the efficiency firm soon be a solar and EV integrator? (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

IG: State Dept did not break rules when hiring consultant for Keystone XL report (via Washington Post)

Corporation exploiting major loophole to quickly build 600-mile tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Canadian crude now moving through Keystone XL’s southern leg (via Houston Chronicle)

Kerry feels Keystone XL pressure from all sides (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer raises health concerns about Keystone XL (via USA Today)

Youth plan major White House protest against Keystone XL (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Solar set for record global expansion in 2014, led by China (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany must scrap its green energy law, say experts (via Reuters)

UK wind power output grew 38 percent in 2013 (via BusinessGreen)

IEA says wind, solar can carry bulk of energy transformation (via Recharge)

Midsize EPCs squeezed globally while the US and China nurture top firms (via Solar Industry)

Morocco opens final tender on wind farms worth $1.7 billion (via Reuters)

Large offshore wind farms could soften blow of hurricanes (via Yale e360)

Report: Solar paired with storage is a “real, near, and present” threat to utilities (via Greentech Media)

Oregon Senate passes bill to protect state renewable energy mandates (via The Oregonian)

Cape Wind expects to wrap financing in Q3 (via Recharge)

OIL 

Dream of US oil independence slams against shale costs (via Bloomberg)

Accidents spur US to mandate tests of oil by train (via Reuters)

Seismic troubles stir up trouble in offshore drilling debate (via National Journal)

Shippers confused by new federal order on oil transport (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Obama proposed $302 billion transportation bill (via Washington Post)

Tesla Gigafactory will be capable of supplying 500,000 EVs a year (via Autoblog Green)

Honda to halt production of Insight hybrid vehicle (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

US, UK science academies say climate change is real (via Economic Times/Agence France-Presse)

Emerging economies lead climate action, says global study (via Bloomberg)

Climate change is increasing extreme heat globally (via Climate Central)

Report finds almost 500 laws to tackle climate change across world (via The Guardian)

COAL

Dollar value of US net coal exports has increase more than three-fold since 2005 (via US EIA)

ENVIRONMENT 

Radioactive water from Fukushima reaches Canada (via United Press International)

Ikea suspended by Forest Stewardship Council for illegal logging (via Environmental Leader)

California’s drought is extreme, but the government is making it worse (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Light-duty natural gas vehicles worldwide will reach nearly 40 million by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

LA and California lawmakers move to impose fracking moratoriums (via Grist)

GRID 

Smart grid benefits could bypass consumers, warns report (via Phys.org)

Threats to power sector gleaned from other industries’ attacks (via EnergyWire)

OPINION 

Obama’s pipeline (via New York Times)

Reuters’ climate coverage continues to decline under “skeptic” editor (via Media Matters for America)

Are high natural gas prices here to stay? (via National Journal)

Stunning map shows what a worst case climate change scenario might look like (via Business Insider)

Posted:   |   Categories: california, canada, cape wind, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, deforestation, drought, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ev, Extreme weather, forest stewardship council, fracking, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, honda, IEA, Ikea, john kerry, Keystone XL, los angeles, Morocco, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Oil train, Opower, oregon, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shaheen-Portman, smart grid, solar, State Department, Subsidy, tar sands, Tesla, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
0
21
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS 

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL 

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID 

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION 

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, amazon, barack obama, biomass, BNSF, Brazil, canada, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, denmark, Duke, ecuador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, green building, grid, Illinois, interior department, japan, John Kaisich, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, los angeles, Marcia McNutt, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, NREL, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, tar sands, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, usda, Wildfire, wind, wind turbine
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21
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS 

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL 

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID 

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION 

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, amazon, barack obama, biomass, BNSF, Brazil, canada, Chile, China, Clean Line, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, deforestation, denmark, Duke, ecuador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, green building, grid, Illinois, interior department, japan, John Kaisich, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, los angeles, Marcia McNutt, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, NREL, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, State Department, tar sands, Tom Steyer, TransCanada, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, usda, Wildfire, wind, wind turbine
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31
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.31.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL review “to say pipeline will not appreciably increase emissions” (via The Guardian)

Oil sands opponents file challenge against European Commission (via Reuters)

Canada regulator approves Enbridge’s Alberta oil pipeline plan (via Reuters)

Obama Administration prepared to show cards on Keystone (via National Journal)

Keystone foes say two pipelines are worse than one (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

10 cities making massive emissions cuts through energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)

Northeast, Mid-Atlantic invested $2.5 billion in energy efficiency during 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)

The ultimate guide to efficient light bulbs (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

China installed record amounts of solar in 2013 – but coal is still winning (via Washington Post)

MoU signed for enormous 4,000MW solar project in India (via CleanTechnica)

Goldman Sachs sees “transformational moment” in renewables investment (via Renew Economy)

U.S. installed 1.08GW wind in 2013 (via Recharge)

Wind power supporters push Congress to revive expired tax credit (via Washington Post)

Renewable energy finance outlook for 2014: Where will the cash flow? (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds carbon intensity of corn ethanol to be 43-60% lower than oil by 2022 (via Green Car Congress)

Biodiesel boom continues with eight straight months above 100 million gallons (via Facts of the Day)

Texas tops nation in new wind power construction (via Houston Chronicle)

Rooftop solar and net metering win big in Colorado (via Greentech Media)

Why New Jersey’s solar market just got hot again (via Renewable Energy World)

Eagle permits: A way forward for wind or a license to kill? (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

South Korea confirms 30% carbon reduction target by 2020 (via RTCC)

China unhappy with “carbon budget” reference in IPCC review (via RTCC)

EU panel votes to limit concessions on airline carbon curbs (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

New US generation capacity falls 54% in 2013 as new wind plunges (via Facts of the Day)

Energy Secretary: ability to transport U.S. oil, gas lags booming output (via Reuters)

White House taps Norman Bay to head FERC (via Politico)

EPA prepares hundreds of regional buyouts in sweeping workforce overhaul (via Greenwire)

CLIMATE 

Lima talks should deliver first draft of 2015 UN climate deal, says Peru minister (via The Guardian)

Obama’s agenda: EPA leading the charge on climate change (via Politico)

EPA chief: Climate change regulation “done deal” despite Supreme Court review (via National Journal)

Green groups: Obama not doing enough on climate (via AP)

Business groups form multi-million dollar campaign to fight Obama climate plan (via Washington Post)

Bloomberg tapped to be UN cities, climate change envoy (via Reuters)

OIL 

White House willing to explore “policy options” on crude oil exports (via National Journal)

OPEC oil output rises in January from 2 ½-year low (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

White House releases plan to make Arctic shipping safer (via Reuters)

House Democrats demand better fuel efficiency from USPS vehicles (via The Hill)

Which state has the highest percentage of EVs? No, not California (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

Its great lake shriveled, Iran confronts water supply crisis (via New York Times)

California may have hit its driest point in 500 years, and the effects are frightening (via Huffington Post)

For California, more wildfires mean more pollution and long-lasting health problems (via ClimateWire)

California snowpack hits record low (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

Return on investment from smart grid deployment is top priority for public power utilities (via Renew Grid)

OPINION 

The extraordinary climate and environmental legacy of Henry Waxman (via Climate Progress)

Supporters, opponents of Waxman’s climate agenda lament retirement (via SNL Energy)

Enlightened power: New eco warriors are really well armed (via Bloomberg)

Extreme weather is a reality – the insurance industry must adapt (via The Guardian)

Two things to know about Indonesia’s forest moratorium (via World Resources Institute)

Four insights on unlocking finance for clean energy access in Africa (via World Resources Institute)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arctic, biodiesel, biofuels, california, canada, Carbon budget, CFL, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, deforestation, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, European Commission, EVs, Extreme weather, FERC, fuel-efficiency, Gina McCarthy, Goldman Sachs, grid, Henry Waxman, india, Indonesia, IPCC, iran, Keystone XL, LED, Michael Bloomberg, Net metering, new jersey, News, Norman Bay, oil, Oil exports, OPEC, Pipeline, production tax credit, renewables, smart grid, solar, South Korea, tar sands, texas, Transportation, USPS, wildfires, wind
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