Category Archives:smart meters

11
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.11.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Markets bet on Australian carbon repeal…and a new carbon price (via Renew Economy)

EU Parliament votes to tackle biofuel emissions from 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Biggest polluters in US ranked by emissions in new report (via Huffington Post)

California cap-and-trade may be hurt as emissions drop off (via San Francisco Chronicle)

Oil industry touts $81 billion in carbon-cutting efforts (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Batteries and plug-ins dominate Frankfurt Auto Show (via Climate Progress)

CA, NY, WA, FL will lead US in plug-in EV sales through 2022 (via Navigant Research)

Average fuel economy for new US vehicles hits high of 24.9 mpg (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES 

Development banks lend record $108.9 billion to clean energy in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

Report: Offshore wind can be installed in deeper waters at cheaper cost (via Greentech Media)

China to back 50MW Kazakhstan wind farm (via Recharge)

3D-printing robots could enable solar arrays to self-fabricate in space (via Treehugger)

Coupled solar and energy storage market to grow (via Renewable Energy World)

Talking windmills herald gust of US productivity growth (via Bloomberg)

Cuomo starts $1 billion New York State green bank for energy lending (via Bloomberg)

Energy bill in California gets a rooftop solar-friendly makeover (via Renewable Energy World)

North Dakota county approves $350-million wind farm (via Bismarck Tribune)

Minnesota opens state’s first community solar installation (via Minnesota Public Radio)

From sunlight to farm waste, small Minnesota cities create energy from what’s on hand (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Greensburg, Kansas: A high-renewables tomorrow today (via RMI Outlet)

Solar Decathlon 2013: Raising more than just walls (via Energy.gov)

NFL goes solar, who’s in the lead? (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar panel is next granite countertop for homebuilders (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Renewable energy boom could create $90 billion global HVDC transmission market (via BusinessGreen)

London Array to sell its substations and cables for £459 million (via BusinessGreen)

In Germany, a yellow light for smart meters (via Navigant Research)

USDA provides new funding for grid improvements in eight states (via Renew Grid)

CPUC proposes 1.325GW energy storage target by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Hawaii governor vows to link islands via undersea cable despite opposition (via Star-Advertiser)

CLIMATE 

EU limbers up for fight over new climate targets (via Renew Economy)

Australian military: Climate change will “exacerbate existing problems” (via ABC)

Drought helped cause Syria’s war – will climate change bring more like it? (via Washington Post)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Secrets of fracking fluids pave way for cleaner recipe (via Nature)

Gas flaring responsible for 42% of black carbon in the Arctic (via RTCC)

North Dakota senators seek state exemption from Interior Department fracking rules (via The Hill)

As gas continues to go up in the air, North Dakota moves to tighten loose flaring rules (via EnergyWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline likely to slip to 2014 (via Reuters)

No Keystone, no problem: TransCanada pushing another tar sands pipeline (via Climate Progress)

Neil Young on tar sands: “Fort McMurray looks like Hiroshima” (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Moody’s: Bankruptcy of Energy Future Holdings is imminent (via Houston Chronicle)

California lawmakers close to passing energy reform bill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy management app turns off the heat when you leave the house (via Treehugger)

LED streetlights save Las Vegas $2 million per year (via Energy Manager Today)

NUCLEAR 

Japan ponders Fukushima options, but Tepco too big to fail (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

As drought continues, Texas reservoirs could hit all-time lows (via StateImpact Texas)

OPINION 

Australia proposal to ditch carbon pricing is another nail in cap and trade (via Reuters)

Coalition wants US EIA to revamp renewable energy estimates (via Platts)

Why utilities and EV owners need demand response (via Navigant Research)

Imagining a cyberattack on the US power grid (via New York Times)

New York’s ongoing wind energy mistakes (via Breaking Energy)

How the West Texas drilling boom could go bust again (via StateImpact Texas)

Posted:   |   Categories: Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, battery, biofuel, Black carbon, california, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, China, climate, Climate Change, community solar, CPUC, Cyberattack, Demand response, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Future Holdings, energy storage, EU, European Union, ev, Florida, fracking, Fuel Economy, fukushima, gas flaring, germany, Green bank, grid, Hawaii, Home energy management, HVDC, investment, japan, kansas, Kazakhstan, Keystone XL, Las Vegas, LED, minnesota, Moody's, natural gas, new york state, News, NFL, north dakota, nuclear, offshore wind, Pipeline, renewables, smart meters, solar, Solar Decathlon, solar pv, Syria, tar sands, Tepco, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, usda, Washington, wind
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05
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.5.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Four nations ask EU to consider more flexible CO2 market (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Australia emissions could rise 9% if Tony Abbott is elected (via RTCC)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU agrees on deal to pare back CO2 curbs on aviation (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Trans-Pacific flights create most amount of ozone (via Phys.org)

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf both set new monthly sales records (via Autoblog Green)

DOE pumps $33 million into EV batteries and other green car tech (via CleanTechnica)

ARPA-E takes innovative approach to EV batteries (via Energy.gov)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables generated 14% of America’s electricity in first half of 2013 (via EarthTechling)

US adds 976MW new solar PV capacity in 2Q as California sets record (via CleanTechnica)

Higher wind generation in Southwest Power Pool reducing use of baseload capacity (via US EIA)

Interior Department touts offshore wind auction results, promises more (via The Hill)

Report: Ohio renewable energy law cuts costs, emissions (via Midwest Energy News)

Las Vegas welcome sign to go solar by January 1 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Scientists call for overhaul of UN “blockbuster” climate reports (via The Guardian)

Climate change reframed: China, World Bank prioritize pollution (via Sustainable Business)

What’s motivating sport fishermen to become climate advocates? (via Climate Progress)

Heartland Institute behind latest climate change denier campaign (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Oil’s dwindling role in Middle East affairs (via Christian Science Monitor)

America’s oil boom won’t make it energy-independent from Middle East madness (via Time)

Hawaiian utility to deactivate Honolulu oil-fired power plant (via Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

20-story Vienna office building is first passive high rise (via EarthTechling)

US home energy management systems market to pass $4 billion by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

43% of energy leaders will invest more in efficiency next year (via Data Center Journal)

NYSERDA completes 50,000 home energy efficiency projects (via Breaking Energy)

COAL 

Nordic countries join US push against coal plant financing (via The Hill)

Demand cools as fight rages over coal-export terminals (via Seattle Times)

GRID 

Greenpeace launches solar-powered microgrid in India (via India Blooms)

Smart meters are getting smarter at distributing electricity (via Houston Chronicle)

California sets terms of 1.3GW energy storage mandate (via Greentech Media)

The perils of electricity capacity markets (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking fights spread to Europe (via Grist)

POLITICS 

Australia’s federal election just couldn’t face up to climate change (via The Guardian)

EPA, DOE chiefs to appear at House climate hearing (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why Obama just named Sweden as a model for energy policy (via Climate Progress)

Barack Obama should practice what he preaches on climate change (via The Guardian)

Budget gridlock risks international climate and renewable investments (via Center for American Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: ARPA-E, australia, barack obama, battery, california, cap and trade, Capacity market, Carbon market, coal, Coal export, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, EU ETS, ev, fracking, green building, greenpeace, grid, Hawaii, HECO, Home energy management, Honolulu, india, interior department, Las Vegas, Microgrid, middle east, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, NYSERDA, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, renewables, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Southwest Power Pool, Sweden, Tony Abbott, Transportation Chevy Volt, wind
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05
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.5.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Four nations ask EU to consider more flexible CO2 market (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Australia emissions could rise 9% if Tony Abbott is elected (via RTCC)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU agrees on deal to pare back CO2 curbs on aviation (via Reuters Point Carbon)

Trans-Pacific flights create most amount of ozone (via Phys.org)

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf both set new monthly sales records (via Autoblog Green)

DOE pumps $33 million into EV batteries and other green car tech (via CleanTechnica)

ARPA-E takes innovative approach to EV batteries (via Energy.gov)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables generated 14% of America’s electricity in first half of 2013 (via EarthTechling)

US adds 976MW new solar PV capacity in 2Q as California sets record (via CleanTechnica)

Higher wind generation in Southwest Power Pool reducing use of baseload capacity (via US EIA)

Interior Department touts offshore wind auction results, promises more (via The Hill)

Report: Ohio renewable energy law cuts costs, emissions (via Midwest Energy News)

Las Vegas welcome sign to go solar by January 1 (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Scientists call for overhaul of UN “blockbuster” climate reports (via The Guardian)

Climate change reframed: China, World Bank prioritize pollution (via Sustainable Business)

What’s motivating sport fishermen to become climate advocates? (via Climate Progress)

Heartland Institute behind latest climate change denier campaign (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Oil’s dwindling role in Middle East affairs (via Christian Science Monitor)

America’s oil boom won’t make it energy-independent from Middle East madness (via Time)

Hawaiian utility to deactivate Honolulu oil-fired power plant (via Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

20-story Vienna office building is first passive high rise (via EarthTechling)

US home energy management systems market to pass $4 billion by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

43% of energy leaders will invest more in efficiency next year (via Data Center Journal)

NYSERDA completes 50,000 home energy efficiency projects (via Breaking Energy)

COAL 

Nordic countries join US push against coal plant financing (via The Hill)

Demand cools as fight rages over coal-export terminals (via Seattle Times)

GRID 

Greenpeace launches solar-powered microgrid in India (via India Blooms)

Smart meters are getting smarter at distributing electricity (via Houston Chronicle)

California sets terms of 1.3GW energy storage mandate (via Greentech Media)

The perils of electricity capacity markets (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking fights spread to Europe (via Grist)

POLITICS 

Australia’s federal election just couldn’t face up to climate change (via The Guardian)

EPA, DOE chiefs to appear at House climate hearing (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why Obama just named Sweden as a model for energy policy (via Climate Progress)

Barack Obama should practice what he preaches on climate change (via The Guardian)

Budget gridlock risks international climate and renewable investments (via Center for American Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: ARPA-E, australia, barack obama, battery, california, cap and trade, Capacity market, Carbon market, coal, Coal export, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, EU, EU ETS, ev, fracking, green building, greenpeace, grid, Hawaii, HECO, Home energy management, Honolulu, india, interior department, Las Vegas, Microgrid, middle east, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, NYSERDA, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, renewables, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Southwest Power Pool, Sweden, Tony Abbott, Transportation Chevy Volt, wind
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04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
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04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
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07
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.7.13

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: 2012 shows climate change in record sea-level rise, Arctic melting, heated oceans (via Washington Post/AP)

Study questions nature’s ability to “self-correct” climate change (via Phys.org)

NOAA report says Arctic sea ice disappearing at unprecedented pace (via The Guardian)

2012 one of 10 warmest years on record, report says (via Los Angeles Times)

Investors see climate change as risk that influences decisions (via Bloomberg)

Climate change softens up already-vulnerable Louisiana (via USA Today)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon tops €4.50 on strong auction results (via Reuters Point Carbon)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese government to help stabilize nuclear plant after leaks (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Grid-parity era now underway for global solar markets (via Renewable Energy World)

EU won’t impose provisional duties on Chinese solar panels (via Reuters)

Index shows global PV market upswing in June (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Europe explores floating wind turbines to expand offshore power (via ClimateWire)

Britain opens world’s second-largest offshore wind farm (via Reuters)

Rollercoaster policy threatens US wind energy’s record-setting pace (via CleanTechnica)

More homeowners going solar for electricity, but uncertainty and cost stops others (via Washington Post/AP)

GE abandons plans for largest US solar panel plant near Denver (via Denver Post)

East Bay cities announce streamlined process for solar permits (via San Jose Mercury News)

COAL 

China’s carbon goal shows coal growth has peaked (via Reuters)

Kosovo groups ask for US help to stop coal power project (via Reuters)

Report: Plenty of growth for coal sector – in power plant decommissioning (via BusinessGreen)

The coal export bubble (via Sightline)

Wyoming dominates sales of coal produced from federal and Indian lands (via US EIA)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexico’s energy debate approaches fever pitch (via Forbes)

BIOFUELS 

EPA gives refiners more time to meet renewable mandate (via Bloomberg)

EPA slashes this year’s cellulosic targets (via Greenwire)

Almost eight months late, EPA sets 2013 biofuel blend requirement (via The Hill)

EPA lowers target for cellulosic biofuels in gasoline (via Houston Chronicle)

US refiners, plagued by RINsanity, see “half step” on biofuels (via Reuters)

OIL 

Interior Secretary tours Bakken Shale (via Grand Forks Herald)

Interior Secretary commends efforts to cut pollution in booming Bakken (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Your car’s “big data” is worth $1,400 a year (via Autoblog)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Methane leaking in Utah suggests higher national rate (via Climate Central)

How much does a shale gas well cost? “It depends” (via Breaking Energy)

Controversial coal-to-gas plant shuts down six days after opening (via Indianapolis Star)

Chesapeake drops energy leases in fracking-shy New York State (via Reuters)

GRID 

Smart meters to save Pakistan 100MW of electricity (via The Nation)

Utility executives: Major cyberattack on power grid is inevitable (via Houston Chronicle)

KEYSTONE XL 

Keystone contractor probe energizes pipeline opponents (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Inquiry into State Department’s environmental contractor could jeopardize Keystone XL decision timeline (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Are investors confident enough to invest billions in efficiency projects? (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Will sustainability reporting standards change the way business does business? (via The Guardian)

Los Angeles gets first chief sustainability officer (via Sustainable Industries)

ENVIRONMENT 

California governor struggles to win support for water plan (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Trouble in fracking paradise (via SmartPlanet)

Bold leadership needed from US insurers to tackle climate change (via The Guardian)

Wind energy: curtailment by any other name would be ordinary (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Britain, Carbon market, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Coal-to-gas, colorado, Curtailment, CurtailmentClimate, Cyberattack, denver, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, fracking, fukushima, GE, global warming, green business, grid, Grid Parity, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, los angeles, Louisiana, methane, Methane leakage, mexico, natural gas, new york state, News, noaa, nuclear, offshore wind, oil, pakistan, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, Sally Jewell, Sea ice melt, smart meters, solar, Solar permitting, Solar trade war, State Department, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, utah, wyoming
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01
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.1.13

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

COAL 

Environmentalists sue Export-Import Bank over loan to domestic coal broker (via Washington Post)

New US coal plants built in 1H 2013 will generate more than new wind and solar combined (via Facts of the Day)

Scope of export proposal analysis is bad news for the coal industry (via Sightline Daily)

ENERGY POLICY 

Germany boosts energy research funding 77% to $938 million (via Bloomberg)

McKinsey: Shale, related industries could add $700 billion to US economy by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Maryland’s new climate plan could lower energy costs (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Wind and solar lead global renewables pack (via Recharge)

Morocco to tender 2 solar plants totaling 300MW (via Reuters)

German solar subsidy to drop to a third of Japan’s on installs (via Bloomberg)

Ireland to set wind energy export rules (via Recharge)

US wind industry poised for robust recovery (via BusinessGreen)

Deepwater Wind wins auction for first US offshore wind leases (via Bloomberg)

Regulators avoid the ire of solar proponents (via Breaking Energy)

Property taxes could be the next obstacle for solar PV (via Greentech Media)

Sediment trapped behind dams makes them emissions “hot spots” (via Phys.org)

New solar energy index ranks yields on residential solar investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China fracking quake-prone province shows zeal for gas (via Bloomberg)

Marcellus Shale hospitals claw toward better data on gas field health issues (via EnergyWire)

Ohio state forest fracking plan halted for now (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

California could set the bar for America with 15 new efficiency standards (via Greentech Media)

Los Angeles completes world’s largest LED street light retrofit (via Forbes)

Sacramento unveils nation’s largest clean energy PACE retrofit (via Forbes)

CLIMATE CHANGE

Small businesses especially vulnerable to climate change impacts (via TriplePundit)

GRID 

Japan to test large-capacity electricity storage system (via Jiji Press)

Germany makes big industry pay more for power grid (via Reuters)

North America, Asia names government-backed energy storage hot spots (via Energy Manager Today)

Growth slows for smart meters in North America but overall trend is still upward (via Energy Manager Today)

Smart meters for commercial and industrial markets will total $19.1B in revenue from 2012-2020 (via Navigant Research)

New tools to help grid operators keep the lights on (via New York Times)

Microgrids: very expensive, seriously necessary (via Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION 

American driving may have peaked in 2004 (via Autoblog)

Texas energy provider gives free power at night to EV owners (via Plugin Cars)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Setting sustainability goals “improves bottom line” for firms (via Environmental Leader)

Will campus activism reach the C-suite? (via GreenBiz)

Harvard endowment hires environment head amid divestment demands (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

House set for carbon tax showdown (via The Hill)

Obama emphasizes Keystone XL emissions potential with Senate Dems (via The Hill)

Conservatives ID next confirmation fight: FERC (via Politico)

5 things you don’t know about EPA’s Gina McCarthy but should (via Washington Post)

OPINION

We are consigning hundreds of coastal cities to destruction – who cares? (via Grist)

What we can learn from the world’s greenest companies (via Environmental Leader)

Spain’s offshore wind win is Virginia’s loss (via Breaking Energy)

Microgrids can help developing nations leapfrog the landline (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: barack obama, carbon tax, China, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Dams, deepwater wind, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ev, Ex-Im Bank, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, germany, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Harvard, Hydropower, Ireland, japan, Keystone XL, LED, los angeles, maryland, McKinsey, Microgrid, Morocco, natural gas, News, offshore wind, Ohio, PACE, Property taxes, renewables, Sacramento, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Spain, Synchrophasors, Transportation, TXU, virginia, wind
0
01
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.1.13

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

CLIMATE 

Obama plan could define 2015 UN climate deal (via RTCC)

Climate change poses grave threat to security: UK military commander (via BusinessGreen)

Climate change not something insurance is likely to cover (via EarthTechling)

Federal community-resilience investments swamped by disaster damages (via Climate Progress)

A new industry is born for the frontlines of climate change (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal-fired retrofit market “$523 billion by 2020” (via Environmental Leader)

In 2013, coal is winning the war on coal: generation jumps 13% as natural gas falls 10% (via Facts of The Day)

DOE Secretary Moniz rebuts “war on coal” (via The Hill)

Coal trains raise concerns in congested Northwest US cities (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

India’s renewable energy potential remains untapped (via Triple Pundit)

Tensions laid bare as Desertec exits industrial solar consortium (via BusinessGreen)

Congress may change or even repeal 2007 ethanol mandate (via Autoblog Green)

Western governors unveil 10-year energy “vision” (via Houston Chronicle)

ACORE looks at how to scale US renewable energy investments (via Renewable Energy World)

World’s first wind-current generator could produce double the power (via TreeHugger)

Making small wind work takes big planning (via EarthTechling)

SolarCity plans solar power storage solution due in 2015 (via Los Angeles Times)

Connecticut Green Bank closes on $60 million solar lease financing (via Hartford Courant)

South Carolina regulators to re-examine solar power rules (via The State)

OIL 

Cheaper Canadian oil for Midwest refiners not reflected in price at the pump (via InsideClimate News)

BP report says Gulf oil spill only half as big as government claims (via Forbes)

Report shows ExxonMobil pipeline that spilled oil in Arkansas had at least 13 prior leaks (via The Republic)

TRANSPORTATION 

The future of solar and wind powered shipping (via MIT Technology Review)

Hertz 24/7 will make car-sharing available to most Americans by 2016 (via Autoblog Green)

Midwest seen as proving ground for biofuel-powered airliners (via Midwest Energy News)

California high-speed rail is moving forward (via Inhabitat)

Tesla Motors conquers North Carolina (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

China backs off shale gas targets (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Electricity market analytics could cut data center emissions 99% (via Energy Manager Today)

Energy Star updates Portfolio Manager for buildings (via GreenBiz)

Chicago to require benchmarking in large commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

5 ways to engage low-income customers in efficiency (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Algorithm identifies most danger power grid risks amid millions of possible failures (via Phys.org)

What’s the real cost of smart meters in Maine? (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

Is carbon pricing reducing Australia’s emissions? (via Renew Economy)

99% of Australian businesses back emissions trading scheme (via RTCC)

Some climate advocates open to idea of dumping Australian carbon tax (via The Guardian)

GREEN BUILDING 

Study: smart growth reduces risk of mortgage default (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

At Fort Bliss, an Army vision for a new shade of green (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Butterfly decline signals trouble in environment (via Washington Post)

In Texas, a push to show farmers how to save water (via Texas Tribune)

POLITICS 

Obama calls on voters to demand climate action at the ballot box (via The Hill)

Two insiders take the reins on Obama’s climate effort (via Greenwire)

Moderate Democrats, facing hard midterm elections, treat climate plan carefully (via ClimateWire)

Senate leans toward Gina McCarthy confirmation for EPA (via Politico)

OPINION 

Scientists predicted a decade ago Artic ice loss would worsen Western droughts – is that happening already? (via Climate Progress)

Obama’s Lincoln moment? (via Grist)

The biggest oversight in Obama’s climate plan is a doozy (via Grist)

Google’s green search (via Recharge)

The myriad benefits of a carbon tax (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACORE, Arctic ice melt, Arkansas, australia, barack obama, biofuel, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, chicago, China, climate, Climate adaptation, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal retrofit, Connecticut, department of energy, Desertec, DOE, drought, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy star, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, Extinction, ExxonMobil, Gina McCarthy, Green bank, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hertz, high speed rail, india, natural gas, News, North Carolina, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Resilience, rooftop solar, Shale gas, small wind, Smart growth, smart meters, solar, solar leasing, SolarCity, south carolina, Tesla Motors, texas, Tidal, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, War on Coal, water conservation, Water scarcity, wind
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17
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.17.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China sets new rules aimed at curbing air pollution (via New York Times)

Shenzen to launch China’s first carbon trading market (via BusinessGreen)

EPA nominee confirmation delay raises questions about US carbon rules (via Reuters)

White House, EPA at odds over savings from emissions regulations (via The Hill)

COAL 

Coal reaches 29.9% global market share, highest since 1970 (via Facts of the Day)

Coal industry pins hopes on exports as US markets shrinks (via New York Times)

US Capitol power plant becoming cogeneration, quitting coal (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

Solar power shines in oil-rich Saudi Arabia (via Christian Science Monitor)

Hydrogen plant starts storing wind energy in Germany (via Houston Chronicle)

China pledges support for domestic solar industry (via Reuters)

3GW of new solar PV plants being developed in China by Yingli (via CleanTechnica)

Is concentrating solar power the technology that saves humanity? (via CleanTechnica)

Is the IRS considering solar REITs? (via Renewable Energy World)

Wind contracts may push Austin Energy to 35% renewable energy goal (via Austin American-Statesman)

CLIMATE 

Losing fight vs. climate change, cities around the world find ways to live with it (via Washington Post/AP)

UN global climate talks blocked by Russia set back six months (via Bloomberg)

UN climate talks make “concrete progress” toward global deal at Bonn (via BusinessGreen)

Climate science debate has cost Australia precious time, warns expert (via The Guardian)

Obama leaves climate change-fighting tool on shelf for now (via Reuters)

Pentagon bracing for public dissent over climate and energy shocks (via The Guardian)

Dwindling snow – thanks to climate change – might dry out Los Angeles (via Time)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Chevron’s $10 billion Angola LNG export plant ships first cargo (via Bloomberg)

Study says exports will have significant impact on US natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking fuels water battles in driest US states (via Politico/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Ford says its regenerative brakes have saved 100 million gallons of gas (via Autoblog Green)

Consumer Reports says higher CAFÉ standards will save car buyers $4,600 (via Autoblog Green)

GM still talking about 300-mile EVs with high-density batteries (via AutoblogGreen)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK Green Deal energy efficiency makeover could boost property values £16,000 (via BusinessGreen)

MEETS could be most innovative energy efficiency financing tool yet (via Greentech Media)

14 ways to slim your power bill this summer (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

IEA chief economist: climate change a financial threat to oil companies (via Houston Chronicle)

Australia to boost offshore oil exploration (via Yahoo! News/IANS)

Northern Alberta pipeline was only five years old before toxic spill (via Globe and Mail)

North Dakota shale oil production continues record pace (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ENVIRONMENT 

World’s biggest marine sanctuary could be declared in Antarctic (via The Guardian)

After Supreme Court water ruling, what’s next for Texas? (via StateImpact Texas)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear plants, old and uncompetitive, closing earlier than expected (via New York Times)

GRID 

Explaining how a capacity market works (via Energy Collective)

Smart meters save California Navy base $35,000 annually (via Energy Manager Today)

The microgrid solution (via Resilience)

POLITICS 

Obama’s Keystone silence is driving away green activists (via Bloomberg)

Senate Energy Chairman Ron Wyden has broad agenda and an eye toward a dream job (via National Journal)

Baucus sees “creeping” interest in carbon tax (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What to do about climate change (via Washington Post)

The big green business opportunity for America’s economy (via CleanTechnica)

Heartland Institute’s Chinese Academy of Sciences fantasy (via Climate Progress)

CAP report “300 Engines of Growth” features clean energy and climate solutions (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, Alberta, Angola, Antarctic, Austin Energy, australia, barack obama, battery, cafe, california, cap and trade, Capacity market, carbon tax, center for american progress, Chevron, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cogeneration, Concentrating solar power, Consumer Reports, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ev, Faith Birol, Ford, fracking, fuel economy standards, Gasoline, General Motors, germany, Gina McCarthy, GM, green business, grid, Heartland Institute, hydrogen, IEA, IRS, Keystone XL, LNG, los angeles, Max Baucus, Microgrid, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, north dakota, nuclear, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, REIT, renewables, Ron Wyden, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, smart meters, solar, Transportation, uk, UN, united kingdom, wind, Yingli
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21
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.21.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea may launch world’s most ambitious cap and trade market (via CleanTechnica)

Carbon capture faces scale dilemma (via Reuters)

UK unwraps energy-intensive industry carbon price compensation package (via BusinessGreen)

CLIMATE 

World’s largest cities say time to adapt to climate change (via RTCC)

Glacier melt causes a third of all sea-level rise (via ABC Science)

Climate change pushes farmers in India to tipping point (via The Guardian)

Scientists agree on climate change, so why doesn’t everyone else? (via Washington Post)

Weatherproofing cities to face future Sandys (via Council on Foreign Relation)

RENEWABLES 

Solar has barely scratched the surface of a $2 trillion market (via Renew Economy)

2012 a record-breaking year for global wind power (via DW)

Solar industry groups urge US, EU, China to avert trade war (via Washington Post)

US and EU set to negotiate settlements in Chinese solar panel cases (via New York Times)

EU tariffs on Chinese solar imports “a grave mistake” says German minister (via BusinessGreen)

US military on track to reach 3GW of solar by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

95% of US energy executives predict more renewables investment (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Ethanol production stagnates as biofuel mandates grow (via Houston Chronicle)

The advantages of developing solar on brownfields (via Greentech Media)

US ethanol production capacity little changed in past year (via US EIA)

Can state harvesting guidelines keep biomass sustainable? (via Midwest Energy News)

Minnesota is a governor’s signature away from 450MW of solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina creates legal framework to develop wind farms (via Recharge)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency could cut wireless data power demand 90% by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

LEED remains top choice for government buildings (via Sustainable Business)

Senate energy efficiency bill could be “poison pill” for LEED standards (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

EU to investigate environmental impact of shale gas fracking (via Reuters)

What exporting US natural gas means for the climate (via WRI Insights)

Natural gas climbs to three-week high on LNG approval, hot weather (via Bloomberg)

The fight for North Dakota’s fracking water market (via Reuters)

California’s proposed fracking moratoriums might not apply to other drilling in Monterey Shale (via EnergyWire)

161 water wells impacted by Pennsylvania gas drilling from 2008-2012 (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

More US consumers now support smart grid (via Renew Grid)

ARRA update: almost two-thirds of US smart grid funds spent (via Renew Grid)

Underwater batteries make an energy storage splash (via GigaOm)

The military microgrid as smart grid asset (via Greentech Media)

Energy storage, meet energy markets (via Greentech Media)

Texas power grid poised to be put to test again (via Texas Tribune)

Revenue at Bloom Energy falls in Q1 (via Greentech Media)

New grid switches cut 80,000 outages for ComEd (via Greentech Media)

As Texas towns say no, signs of rising resistance to smart meters (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

Oman to use solar power to get oil from old wells (via New York Times)

With US awash in oil, national interest argument for Keystone weakens (via InsideClimate News)

A black mound of Canadian oil waste is rising over Detroit (via New York Times)

Alaska’s governor launches bid to measure oil in Arctic refuge (via Los Angeles Times)

Exxon: no plans yet to reopen ruptured Arkansas pipeline, and no answers why (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plugged in: US electric car sales hit 100,000 (via EarthTechling)

Tesla to pay off US DOE loan Wednesday (via Bloomberg)

United Airlines restarts 787 Dreamliner flights (via USA Today)

Tesla’s fight with American car dealers (via CNN Money)

COAL 

In the US West, Big Coal makes its stand (via Navigant Research)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean warming means new paradigm for world’s fisheries (via Climate Progress)

A plague of deforestation sweeps across Southeast Asia (via Yale e360)

Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat (via Phys.org)

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon pacing 88% higher than 2012 (via Mongabay)

USGS: drop in US aquifer levels has accelerated (via Reuters)

Wells dry, fertile US plains turn to dust (via New York Times)

ENERGY POLICY 

Moniz era begins at Energy Department (via The Hill)

Fossil fuel divestment campaign escalates at Swarthmore (via Huffington Post)

Illinois renewable energy law fix faces opposition from utilities (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

What’s at stake with natural-gas exports? (via National Journal)

Wind and the myth of negative pricing (via Greentech Media)

“If people aren’t pissed off, it ain’t working”: a chat with Tom Steyer (via Grist)

Climate warnings, growing louder (via New York Times)

Fixing the economy may be the best way to pass a climate bill (via Washington Post)

Arizona clean energy = more jobs (via CleanTechnica)

Utilities for dummies: how they work and why that needs to change (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, alaska, amazon, anwr, arctic, arizona, Arkansas, arra, battery, biofuel, biomass, bloom energy, Boeing 787, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon price, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, deforestation, department of energy, Detroit, Divestment, Dreamliner, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy efficeincy, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EOR, ERCOT, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Exxon, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, green building, green jobs, grid, Illinois, india, investment, Keystone XL, LEED, Liquefied natural gas, LNG, Microgrid, minnesota, Monterey Shale, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Negative pricing, News, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore drilling, oil, Oil coke, oil spill, Oman, pennsylvania, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, smart grid, smart meters, solar, Solar trade war, South Korea, Superstorm Sandy, Swarthmore, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, uk, united airlines, united kingdom, usgs, Water scarcity, wind
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