Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.13.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
COAL
Washington State coal export project to get sweeping enviro review, including climate change impacts (via InsideClimate News/AP)
Columbia River coal export terminal gets key state permits, but a new hurdle is added (via The Oregonian)
North Carolina regulators seek delay on Duke Energy deal after coal ash spill (via Los Angeles Time)
North Carolina to create coal ash task force (via Charlotte Observer)
ENVIRONMENT
Drought could make Brazil lower 2014 fiscal goal (via Reuters)
Coral off Western Australia suffers shocking damage from marine heat waves (via The Guardian)
RENEWABLES
China confirms 14GW of solar incentives for 2014 (via Greentech Media)
Solar storage from used EV batteries set for testing in Japan (via Renew Economy)
Interior Department releases first national interactive map of onshore wind turbines (via Anchorage Daily News)
Five incubators shaping the future of green business (via EcoBusiness)
Report: Ethanol’s role could diminish as biofuels grow (via Houston Chronicle)
Giant wind farm plan raises alarm about eagle deaths (via National Journal)
U.S. solar sector jobs rest on a foundation of low-cost solar panels (via Solar Industry)
The non-impact of wind turbines on property values (via EarthTechling)
Solar industry a winning bet for $1.3 billion Skagen Fund (via Bloomberg)
Hawaii’s interconnection nightmare and why it matters to the U.S. residential PV industry (via Renewable Energy World)
Solar Coin – a crypto currency designed to stimulate solar energy production (via Resilience)
NASCAR on a green roll with new ACORE partnership (via CleanTechnica)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Keystone comments rushing into State Department (via Houston Chronicle)
Keystone XL pipeline records sought in Sierra Club suit (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Church of England vows to fight “great demon” of climate change (via The Guardian)
Olympians speak out on climate change as Sochi warms up (via USA Today)
Are big banks fueling global warming? (via National Journal)
Despite costs, most Americans want action on climate change, says report (via Yale e360)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
EPA steps into fray over fracking with diesel (via National Journal)
EMISSIONS
Danish parties back 40% carbon reduction target (via RTCC)
New poll: Most Republicans want to regulate carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)
Chevrolet starts buying carbon credits from colleges if they lower emissions (via Climate Progress)
It’s lonely in the carbon tax trenches, but a warrior digs in (via ClimateWire)
OIL
North Dakota oil spill cleanup to last at least two more years (via Bismarck Tribune)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
New York State rolls out energy efficiency innovation collaborative (via Breaking Energy)
Opower has quietly filed for its long-awaited IPO (via GigaOm)
POLITICS
New head of Senate Energy Committee has environmentalists seeing red (via Washington Post)
OPINION
The right risk partner makes the difference in renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)
Is Keystone worth the fight? (via New York Times)
Mapping the United States’ wind turbines (via Renewable Energy World)