Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.25.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
OBAMA CLIMATE PLAN
Obama’s second-term plan to address climate change (via Climate Progress)
The White House’s big new climate change plan (via Washington Post)
Obama’s climate change plan tackles power plants – not refineries (via Houston Chronicle)
Obama takes on power plant emissions as part of climate plan (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
EU emissions trading scheme oversupply may cancel out renewable gains (via The Guardian)
British Columbia plans to promote carbon taxes in other North American jurisdictions (via Globe and Mail)
US Supreme Court agrees to hear EPA appeal over air pollution rule (via Reuters)
Shadow environmental campaign ramps up to support coming power plant rules (via E&E Daily)
Massachusetts may become first state to adopt direct carbon tax (via Boston Globe)
RENEWABLES
India set to revive wind energy tax break (via Recharge)
Japan’s high renewable energy costs curb subsidy impact (via Bloomberg)
How wind and solar broke the world’s electricity markets (via Renew Economy)
Sharp hits record 44.4% efficiency for triple-junction solar cell (via Greentech Media)
State renewable energy incentives survive lobby attack (via Stateline)
Houston, Palo Alto make big renewable energy buys (via Sustainable Business)
Solar coming to 200 more Walgreens roofs (via EarthTechling)
Solar gardens give green energy access to more in Colorado (via Denver Post)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Methane found in drinking water near Pennsylvania natural gas wells (via Reuters)
CLIMATE
Insurance firms press governments on climate adaptation (via RTCC)
Air pollution may have suppressed storms in North Atlantic (via New York Times)
Hundreds of small US firms demand climate action (via GreenBiz)
Nebraska trees still dying after 2012 drought (via Lincoln Journal-Star)
OIL
Exxon to spend $3.2 billion on Russian offshore exploration (via Houston Chronicle)
The Northwest’s pipeline on rails (via Sightline)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Empire State Building exceeds energy efficiency savings (via Energy Manager Today)
Washington DC signs its first major PACE deal for efficiency and solar (via Greentech Media)
TRANSPORTATION
NREL drives toward the future with fuel cell EVs (via Renewable Energy World)
GRID
Average US residential summer 2013 electric bill expected to be lowest in four years (via US EIA)
Texas grid operator weighed down by peak electricity demand (via Houston Chronicle)
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL pipeline protesters stage largest action yet in Oklahoma (via The Oklahoman)
OPINION
President Obama’s race against time on climate (via Politico)
Obama’s energy push could loom large in 2014 elections (via Politico)
Why we need a national plan on climate change (via EarthTechling)
The one thing Obama’s climate policy can’t leave out (via CleanTechnica)
Obama tries the kitchen-sink approach to global warming (via Washington Post)
No-drama Obama unveils series of modest, sensible steps on climate change (via Grist)