Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.28.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Britain calls for EU target to halve emissions by 2030 (via The Independent)

California’s third cap and trade auction sells out at record price (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Rail picks up steam as a way to move crude (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Better Place announces bankruptcy, board “stands by original vision” (via Autoblog Green)

What Better Place’s bankruptcy tells us about the future of electric cars (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Europe-China solar trade talks end bitterly (via New York Times)

Russia approves 6GW renewables plan (via Recharge)

Brazil prepares for 2014 World Cup with 7 solar stadiums (via Renewable Energy World)

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Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.24.13

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

COAL 

Chinese coal demand falling as Pacific Northwest considers export terminals (via Bellingham Herald)

ENVIRONMENT 

World faces “self-inflicted” water shortages within a generation (via BusinessGreen)

NOAA predicts between 7-11 Atlantic hurricanes for US in 2013 (via Reuters)

Study finds amphibians declining at alarming rate around US (via Washington Post)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Quebec to do own review of Enbridge pipeline project (via Reuters)

Keystone makes TransCanada more cautious about future US forays, say execs (via The Tyee)

Environmental movement goes from Beltway to grassroots to defeat Keystone (via InsideClimate News)

First 100,000 Keystone comments posted by State Department reveal intensity of fight (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV market to boom, reach $155 billion by 2018 (via Energy Manager Today)

EU denies breakdown in solar panel talks (via Reuters)

US offshore wind fact sheet (via Greentech Media)

Minnesota’s new solar law: looking beyond percentages (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

Researchers say carbon capture in Europe a “farce” (via BusinessGreen)

Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture increased 13% from 1990-2010 (via Farmers Guardian)

Higher emissions linked to coal-fired power plants in Texas and other states (via Houston Chronicle)

Seven thrilling facts about carbon taxes from the CBO (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

Russia evacuates Arctic research station as ice below melts (via Phys.org)

Will great wines be a moveable feat in a warming climate?pol (via ClimateWire)

The 10 best cities to ride out climate change (via Grist)

Tesla CEO Musk: “reframe” climate argument (via The Hill)

Gov. Christie’s climate change remarks get him in hot water with infrastructure experts (via ClimateWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Germany brewers warn fracking could hurt beer industry (via Reuters)

FracFocus drillers’ registry to create US chemicals database (via Houston Chronicle)

Senators, environmental groups spar on fracking (via The Hill)

GRID 

Microgrids: a utility’s best friend or worst enemy? (via Greentech Media)

Can energy storage make wind and solar energy as reliable as coal? (via Energy Collective)

PG&E, California Energy Commission launch 4MW energy storage pilot (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

New global sustainability reporting guidelines focus on material issues (via Bloomberg BNA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Buildings in national efficiency challenge cut energy use, save $58 million (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Seattle municipal efficiency measures save $1.25 million (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Merger will create world’s largest EV driver community (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

Billionaire’s super PAC on offense in Massachusetts (via Politico)

OPINION 

A mission on climate change (via Washington Post)

Germany must curb runaway retail prices for sake of green power (via Reuters)

Why we need competitive electricity markets (via Grist)

Tornadoes were just the beginning – this hurricane season is going to be stormy (via Time)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.22.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China agrees to impose carbon reduction targets by 2016 (via The Independent)

California carbon permits sell for record high price (via Reuters)

64 companies follow Wal-Mart’s effort to reduce supplier emissions (via ClimateWire)

Infographic: where are all our carbon emissions being stored? (via Inhabitat)

NAUTRAL GAS/FRACKING 

DOE Secretary Moniz vows review of natural gas exports (via The Hill)

Lawmakers press Interior Department to slow down fracking rules (via The Hill)

BNSF Railway launches rail loop for fracking sand (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES

EU and US not coordinating on China solar dispute (via Reuters)

Global solar manufacturers poised to make come back (via Sustainable Business)

Goldman Sachs to invest $486 million in Japan renewable energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Study finds marine life unhindered by offshore wind farm (via Renewable Energy World)

Vertical axis wind turbines make a return (via Navigant Research)

Solar’s growing role in the US military (via Sustainable Business)

Federal government will build its largest wind farm to power nuclear assembly plant (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Businesses urge EU to adopt energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Moniz vows to advance efficiency bill, sees “real chance” (via The Hill)

30% energy efficiency gain would create $275 billion US tech market (via Energy Manager Today)

Hospitals can reduce energy consumption 62% (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

European coal’s record slump poised to end on output cuts (via Houston Chronicle)

The two faces of coal power (via EnergyBiz)

Southern Company’s coal gasification plant balloons over $4 billion to $7 per watt (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

Widespread Greenland melting a sign of things to come (via Climate Central)

70% of Americans say global warming should be a priority (via Yale e360)

Tornado-proofing cities in the age of extreme weather (via Time)

GRID

Smart meter shipments for commercial and industrial markets will reach 12.7 million annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

US grid balancing could go further to increase renewables (via Reuters)

Report finds US grid vulnerable to cyber-attacks (via Politico)

The smart meter stimulus-cash-to-integration equation (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid program created 2,700 jobs in Q1 (via Renew Grid)

Some US utilities say they’re under constant cyber attack (via Reuters)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ban Ki-Moon: world on course to run out of water (via RTCC)

Corn-producing states face high water-shortage risk (via Environmental Leader)

Ogallala Aquifer in Texas panhandle suffers big drop (via Texas Tribune)

NOAA still planning to furlough storm forecasters (via Politico)

Wolves in US won’t lose protections, for now (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment campaign’s victory in Australia will be a moral one (via The Guardian)

Can local Chambers of Commerce be clean energy catalysts? (via GreenBiz)

Tesla repaying loan gives Obama a green win (via Bloomberg)

Oklahoma tornado: is climate change to blame? (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

On climate change, Obama faces an attack from his left flank (via Washington Post)

White House threatens veto of Keystone bill (via The Hill)

NJ Gov. Christie: no proof climate change caused Sandy (via The Hill)

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)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Survey finds 97% of climate science papers agree global warming is man-made (via The Guardian)

North Pole wanders, thanks to climate change (via Grist)

GAO: Feds should improve help to local governments on climate change (via The Hill)

Climate-related disasters cost American taxpayers $96 billion last year (via Grist) 

ConocoPhillips CEO: humans accelerating climate change (via Houston Chronicle)

SEC upholds shareholder vote on efficiency measure over climate concerns (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla could raise $830M through new stock offering (via GigaOm)

DOE to award $62.5M over 5 years to accelerate development of next-generation EV batteries (via Green Car Congress)

Ford taps AeroVironment for home-charging systems (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

China says EU solar duties to “seriously harm” trade ties (via Reuters)

Brazil auction rules may boost price of cheap wind power (via Bloomberg)

UK offshore wind body starts work (via Recharge)

US holds tests to solve wind farm effects on radar (via Airport World)

Which states use the most green energy? (via Mother Jones)

Study: doubling wind will cut rates for PJM customers (via Greentech Media)

Solar carve-out wins another vote in Minnesota (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico debates opening its doors for shale development (via Houston Chronicle)

Quebec proposes law to ban fracking (via Houston Chronicle)

Floating terminals are wave of the future for LNG (via Houston Chronicle)

Survey finds fracking brings economic boost, concerns over environmental risks (via Phys.org)

Compromise reached on Illinois fracking legislation (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Inquiry on potential oil price manipulation intensifies (via New York Times)

Transocean to see a dust-up at annual shareholder meeting (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Arctic Council sets 2015 goal for climate pact (via Politico)

Canada pushes development as it takes over Arctic Council (via Phys.org)

GRID 

PJM has 11.2GW of demand response for this summer (via Renew Grid)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Major business group backs Shaheen-Portman energy efficiency plan (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

Good news, bad news from new EIA emissions analysis (via Climate Central)

California governor proposes to borrow $500M from cap-and-trade revenue (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS 

Harper seeks to build Keystone XL support on US visit (via Bloomberg)

After upset British Columbia election, tar sands route to Pacific still open (via InsideClimate News)

First green party candidate elected to British Columbia legislature (via Yahoo! News)

OPINION 

3 reasons PG&E is reaching its California solar initiative targets (via Greentech Media)

Utilities vs. rooftop solar: what the fight is about (via Grist)

Three recommendations for the new US-China climate change working group (via Huffington Post)

How New York Times, NPR, and Wall Street Journal print fossil fuel talking points without full disclosure (via Climate Progress)

Climate hawks should aggressively support America COMPETES act (via Innovation Files)

The economic case for divesting from fossil fuels (via Renewable Energy World)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.15.13

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

CLIMATE 

Sea levels may rise 27 inches through 2100 on ice melt (via Bloomberg)

UN says natural disasters cost $2.5 trillion since 2000 (via Phys.org)

Visiting Sweden, Kerry offers “regret” US hasn’t done more on climate (via The Hill)

Rockefeller Foundation launches $100 million resilient cities initiative (via BusinessGreen)

Sea levels rising so fast London faces significant flooding risk this century (via The Independent)

For insurers, no doubts on climate change (via New York Times)

GRID 

More than 1,300 demand response programs underway worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid efforts to thrive in Asia-Pacific (via Renew Grid)

RENEWABLES 

China gives environmental approval to country’s biggest hydro dam (via Reuters)

Greece announces drastic solar FIT cuts (via PV Magazine)

Fighting blackouts: Japan residential PV and energy storage market flourishing (via Renewable Energy World)

Morocco begins construction of world’s largest concentrating solar plant (via Sustainable Business)

China wants dialogue with EU in solar trade war (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Acting DOE chief: US not backing down on India solar trade war (via The Hill)

Clean tech incubators join forces across the Atlantic (via Sustainable Business)

Proposed bill would add natural gas-based ethanol to US biofuels mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Study: Arizona solar energy provides millions in ratepayer benefits (via Solar Industry Magazine)

OIL 

Oil majors under EU investigation over alleged oil and biofuel price fixing (via BusinessGreen)

Report: most nations lack safeguards in oil, mining oversight (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Will your next car join the “revolution” in information technology? (via ClimateWire)

Proposed law would stop Tesla electric car sales in North Carolina (via News & Observer)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senate energy chairman seeks May floor action for efficiency bill (via The Hill)

California plans to force cuts in power use by computers, electronics, and appliances (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Industrialized fishing has forced seabirds to change what they eat (via Mongabay)

China granted observer seat on Arctic Council (via Reuters)

Amazon flood/drought cycle becoming more extreme, less predictable (via Mongabay)

POLITICS 

Merkel’s green challenger seeks CO2 price rise to ditch coal (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Clean energy learns to compete in Europe (via New York Times)

Christie’s broken climate promise (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

South Korea to launch world’s most ambitious carbon trading scheme (via BusinessGreen)

Clock is ticking, slowly, on rules for coal-fired power plants (via Los Angeles Times)

EIA releases report on CO2 emissions by state (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainability “highly important” to 42% of supply chains (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY POLICY 

Wyoming governor unveils state energy policy 2 years in making (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Germany disputes hard EU stance on China solar panel duties (via Reuters)

5 achievements from Germany’s “Energiewende” (via WRI Insights)

Consumer support for wind and solar energy fell in 2012 (via Navigant Research)

Big Data will provide accurate analysis of wind-wildlife impacts (via Treehugger)

Feds study Gulf wildlife to make way for wind turbines (via Houston Chronicle)

Sharper computer models clear the way for more wind power (via MIT Technology Review)

In Solyndra wake, US solar industry sees chance to go from niche to mainstream (via Greenwire)

DOE’s high-impact energy innovation incubator program (via Energy Collective)

SolarCity shares up 200% since IPO (via Recharge)

Illinois renewable energy fund lacks power to fulfill purpose (via Chicago Tribune)

OIL 

Lower Mexican oil production contributes to lower US crude oil exports (via US EIA)

Pipelines spill three times as much oil as trains (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

US oil boom leaves OPEC sidelined from demand growth (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Mount Everest glaciers have shrunk 13% in 50 years (via Mongabay)

Melting ice opens fight over sea routes for Arctic (via Bloomberg)

Hurricane Sandy forced third-most people from homes worldwide in 2012 (via The Hill)

America’s first climate refugees (via The Guardian)

Climate resilience: deconstructing the new buzz-word (via Climate Progress)

Both sides in climate war blamed for cherry-picking attribution research (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Smart meters stumble in the UK (via Greentech Media)

How “shadow bids” could hurt the demand response market (via Greentech Media)

Insights into renewables and the grid from Congress (via Greentech Media)

Water utilities to spend $2 billion on smart meters through 2020 (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nations ponder how to handle busier, more polluted Arctic (via ClimateWire)

Fewer rainforests mean less energy for developing nations (via New York Times)

Tinderbox-dry Western US at high risk of major wildfires (via Climate Central)

Feds warn sequester cuts weakened readiness for wildfire season (via The Hill)

Do we need a better yardstick to measure severe droughts in US? (via Climatewire)

OPINION 

The myths and realities of America’s oil and gas boom (via Greentech Media)

What to expect from EV range now and over time (via Plugin Cars)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global CO2 levels pass long-feared milestone (via New York Times)

UNFCC Paris meeting projected as pivotal climate point (via USA Today)

We’ve hit 400ppm – here’s what that means (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Is Canada’s oil too dirty for Europe? (via International Herald Tribune)

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline seen dragging past summer (via Reuters)

TransCanada files lawsuit to block Keystone XL protests (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

White House outlines framework for managing Arctic (via The Hill)

Half world’s plants, third of animals threatened by climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

PwC questions EU-China solar PV tariff claims (via Recharge)

Solar module manufacturing trends in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Hyundai’s 50-acre rooftop solar system will be South Korea’s largest PV system (via Autoblog Green)

Better batteries could revolutionize solar, wind power (via USA Today)

Wind industry wants PTC extended for big piece of energy pie (via Greentech Media)

A rare bipartisan clean energy bill is ready for passage (via InsideClimate News)

Is Xcel’s top spot in US wind power in jeopardy? (via Star-Tribune)

Maine governor wants wind energy goals out of state law (via Bangor Daily News)

Rooftop solar firms launch net metering advocacy alliance (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GRID 

UK regulators defer smart meter rollout (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid revenue in China will surpass $15 billion a year by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

India’s coal import boom has limited beneficiaries (via Reuters)

Coal-export plans going off the rails in Pacific Northwest (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

Project aims to track carbon footprints of big cities (via Phys.org)

It’s not all about CO2: a plan to help cut short-term climate pollutants (via Grist)

Texas project called milestone for carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Russia plowing $32 billion into nuclear over next two years (via SmartPlanet)

Exelon waiting for pricier power (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains could cut cellphone network power use 90% (via GreenBiz)

DOE energy efficiency upgrade program nets over $41 million in savings (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION 

Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 (via Autoblog Green)

New interactive map tracks plug-in vehicle adoption in California (via Green Car Congress)

Ohio a potential hub for EV jobs (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

Global oil prices pressured by US tripling crude exports to Canada (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Tennessee Valley Authority to remain publicly owned (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas export plans stir debate (via NPR/AP)

POLITICS 

Washington politics splits Silicon Valley on Keystone XL (via Greentech Media)

150 major Democratic donors urge Obama to reject Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Elon Musk bails on Zuckerberg group after Keystone, drilling ads (via The Hill)

OPINION 

We just passed the climate’s “grim milestone” (via Mother Jones)

Should Washington go small on energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Adding an EV cut payback point of solar panel investment in half (via GigaOm)

Two conversations the wind industry must own, and soon (via Renewable Energy World)