Category Archives:South Africa

06
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.6.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon market to hit €70 billion this year (via BusinessGreen)

Climate change groups split on fossil fuel divestment (via Financial Times)

KEYSTONE XL 

House to vote on Keystone XL bill Friday (via The Hill)

Democrats plan Keystone XL counterattack (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Egypt picks firms to develop 4.3GW of renewable energy projects (via Recharge)

Germany solar undershoots government target (via Recharge)

South Africa considers rooftop solar electricity credits (via Renewable Energy World)

UK and Germany smash wind power records (via Climate Progress)

India’s solar initiative could tip carbon scales favorably (via GreenBiz)

Scotland saw a “massive year” of renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)

Small and medium wind power installations expected to total over 3.2GW globally from 2014 through 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Reduced U.S.-China tariff rates weaken SolarWorld’s negotiating position, says Roth Capital (via PV Tech)

Chinese solar firms boosted by reduced 2012 U.S. trade tariffs (via PV Tech)

California Governor Jerry Brown calls for 50% renewables by 2030 (via Greentech Media)

New materials could boost solar panel efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia seeks to calm internal oil price fears (via The Hill)

Oilfield write-downs loom as plummeting prices gut drilling values (via Bloomberg)

Oil prices at $50: Why a barrel of crude costs less than your shoes (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Automakers challenged by low gas prices (via USA Today)

Nissan sold 30,200 Leafs in U.S. in 2014, up 33.6% from 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

California governor calls for 50% reduction in petroleum use in cars and trucks from today’s levels by 2030 (via Green Car Congress)

CLIMATE 

One for the record books: 2014 officially hottest year on record (via Climate Central)

Pope Francis plants a flag in the ground on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS 

Massive spike in Oklahoma earthquakes may be due to fracking (via Washington Post)

Against the grain: Minnesota’s long slog toward dealing with frack sand (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

Revenue from grid-scale energy storage expected total more than $68 billion from 2014-2024 (via Navigant Research)

Monitoring wind conditions can improve transmission performance (via Breaking Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

The most energy-efficient states in America (via Forbes)

DOE pushes for zero-energy building standards (via The Hill)

Sen. Shaheen doesn’t want energy efficiency bill tied to Keystone XL (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why India’s cuts to rooftop solar subsidies could be a good thing (via PV Tech)

The big question: What do proposed EPA regulations mean for the energy industry? (via Renewable Energy World)

The seven most attractive nations for renewable investments: Part one – America (via CleanTechnica)

Why are these clean tech venture capital investors smiling? (via Greentech Media)

Beyond the cliché: Why energy efficiency needs success stories, not catchphrases (via Greentech Media)

Wind and solar – the perfect partnership (via Recharge)

Six renewable energy trends to watch in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

New York State Public Service Commission action will help tenants, low-income customers, others lacking rooftop access go solar (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: california, Carbon market, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, department of energy, Divestment, DOE, Egypt, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, feed-in tariff, Fossil fuel divestment, Frack sand, germany, global warming, grid, india, Jeanne Shaheen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, minnesota, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, oil, oklahoma, Pope Francis, Renewable energy credit, renewables, saudi arabia, Scotland, Shaheen-Portman, small wind, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, South Africa, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, Zero-energy building
0
05
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.5.15

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

EMISSIONS 

Global carbon emissions to rise 2.5% in 2015 (via RTCC)

Four questions for global carbon markets in 2015 (via The Energy Collective)

Aviation industry set to triple emissions by 2050 (via EcoWatch)

California cap-and-trade now covers transportation fuel retailers (via CleanTechnica)

Former Obama advisor calls for carbon tax (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS 

China struggles to find prospective blocks for third shale auction (via Reuters)

Interior Secretary Jewell criticizes fracking bans (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar announces construction of four Pacific island PV projects (via PV Tech)

Scotland’s power grid could be fossil fuel free by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

2015 outlook: Brazil gets serious about solar (via Recharge)

UK wind power up 15%, smashes annual output record (via BusinessGreen)

Egypt’s first renewable energy tender twice oversubscribed on solar projects (via PV Tech)

SolarWorld speaks out against latest EU trade case on solar glass (via PV Tech)

Santander, Gamesa request permits for Mexico wind (via Bloomberg)

La Paz, Mexico to be 100% solar powered (via CleanTechnica)

A setback for SolarWorld, a trade case win for Chinese solar manufacturers (via Greentech Media)

Hanwha SolarOne says it can provide 600MW of tariff-free PV modules to U.S. in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)

Community and home solar remain great investments (via CleanTechnica)

Renewables over 13% of U.S. electricity production Jan-Oct 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Xcel doubling renewable energy generation in Minnesota (via Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Future of wind farms cloudy in Ohio (via Columbus Dispatch)

Solar-powered EV charging initiative aids San Francisco apartment dwellers (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE

2014 was hottest year on record globally, says Japan meteorological agency (via Climate Progress)

2014 was UK’s “warmest year on record,” confirms Met Office (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

Oil below $60 tests economics of U.S. shale boom (via Bloomberg)

U.S. Senate panel to introduce Keystone XL bill Thursday (via Reuters)

GOP prepares Keystone blitz (via The Hill)

Alaska Governor Walker bracing for budget crisis amid oil price crash (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to extend new EV subsidies through 2020 (via Inside EVs)

Mexico to re-launch $3.75 billion high-speed train tender January 14 (via Reuters)

By 2017, under 50% of new cars will use conventional gas engines (via Autoblog)

Nissan Leaf set U.S. EV sales record in 2014 (via Climate Progress)

First hybrid-electric airplane uses 30% less fuel (via CleanTechnica)

Lower fuel prices could save U.S. motorists $80 billion in 2015 (via Autoblog)

December 2014 plug-in EV sales report card (via Inside EVs)

Tesla Model S demand continues to outstrip supply (via Inside EVs)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

U.S. office buildings and schools to save $15 billion with new DOE standards (via Energy Manager Today)

Green buildings cost 25% less to operate (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Government confirms £960 million cost of capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

Massachusetts cities get $18.4 million for energy resiliency projects (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY POLICY 

Voters give Obama, Congress poor grades on energy (via The Hill)

New Senate chairmen aim to undo Obama’s policies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Sen. Thune leaves wiggle room on gas tax (via The Hill)

EPA says Google, Kohl’s, REI reflect trends in green power (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

South Africa faces looming water crisis, says newspaper (via Bloomberg) 

Pacific Coast sea bird die-off puzzles scientists (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

The top ten electricity stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

The year of concentrating solar power: Five new plants to power America with clean energy (via Breaking Energy)

The Sol-Wind IPO: Can a renewable YieldCo win master limited partnership benefits? (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Brazil, california, cap and trade, Capacity auction, carbon markets, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, community solar, Concentrating solar power, drought, Egypt, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA. Google, ev, Extinction, global warming, green building, grid, high speed rail, japan, Jim Inhofe, John Thune, Kohl's, masdar, massachusetts, mexico, minnesota, natural gas, News, nissan LEAF, Ohio, oil, REI, renewables, Sally Jewell, Scotland, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Solar trade war, Solarworld, South Africa, Tesla Model S, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, xcel, YieldCo
0
22
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.22.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Regulators want to change fossil fuel pricing rules for federal land (via The Hill)

Oil price plunge and clean energy – the real impact (via Bloomberg)

Ohio Governor Kasich says more regulation needed on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

D.C. coalition emerges to oppose Exelon-Pepco merger (via Washington Post)

Portland considers energy benchmarking policy for large commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

India to fund $158 million for 1GW of new solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Germany to help finance Chile’s first solar-thermal power plant (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

Indian solar plant will equal almost all the solar capacity installed in the U.S in 2010 (via Treehugger)

Kyocera venture to build 13.4MW floating solar plant in Japan (via Bloomberg)

Solar-friendly rate for commercial customers adopted in California (via Energy Manager Today)

Arizona utilities get approval to own rooftop solar (via Greentech Media)

Maximizing the value of installed solar assets (via Forbes)

Upcoming auctions for solar PV: A legal perspective (via Renewables International)

Utilities and solar groups both claim victory in Arizona rooftop showdown (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Geopolitics key to South Africa’s $100 billion nuclear plan (via Bloomberg)

First of four Fukushima reactors cleared of nuclear fuel (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

Four legal battles this year that were all about climate change (via Climate Progress)

The military, energy, and preparing for climate change (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

Cuban oil may prove a boon for U.S. companies (via Climate Progress)

Saudi oil chief: No conspiracy behind oil prices (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Shale debt crunch could intensify in April (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone “not even nominal benefit” to U.S. consumers, says Obama (via The Hill)

Good times for Texas to North Dakota may turn bad on oil-price drop (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs hurt most in renewables industry from oil’s slump (via Bloomberg)

DOE report evaluates EV charging impacts on grid and charging behaviors (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla Model S drivers travel more miles than Nissan Leaf owners (via Autoblog)

Tesla battery swap now working in beta in California (via GigaOm)

COAL 

Is China’s demand for coal going to keep rising? Don’t count on it. (via Grist)

U.S. plans to shut royalty loophole on coal exports (via Reuters)

Environmentalists split with the Obama administration over coal ash rules (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Will EU emission trading remain a major source of low carbon finance? (via CleanTechnica)

Alberta extends climate change rules, including $15/tonne carbon levy (via Huffington Post/Canadian Press)

Study recommends Massachusetts carbon tax to fight climate change (via Boston Globe)

OPINION 

Why Russia should ally with China and India on carbon rules (via RTCC)

Obama sounds like he’s about to reject the Keystone pipeline (via Mother Jones)

Five questions to help us understand how commercial solar may grow in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Who will get caught when the oil debt bubble pops? (via Forbes)

How oil’s decline could spatter North Dakota (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Continuing Maryland’s energy boom (via Washington Post)

Who really has grassroots support? Wind energy (via The Hill)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arizona, california, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal exports, Cuba, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, EU ETS, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exelon, fracking, fukushima, germany, india, japan, Keystone XL, Kyocera, maryland, massachusetts, News, nissan LEAF, north dakota, nuclear, Ohio, OPEC, Pepco, portland, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, wind
0
19
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.19.14

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

CLIMATE

Climate change could cut global food production 18% by 2050 (via BusinessGreen)

Major coral bleaching in Pacific may become worst die-off in 20 years (via The Guardian)

NASA satellite sends back most detailed view yet of CO2 (via Climate Central)

Much of coastal U.S. will see over 30 days of flooding due to sea level rise, projects NOAA (via Huffington Post)

White House floats new climate guidelines for energy, infrastructure development (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

China solar exports may face increase in EU duties (via Bloomberg)

Japan’s new FiT rules draw criticism from Japan Renewable Energy Foundation (via PV Tech)

India’s biggest wind company plans to enter solar market (via Greentech Media)

This new finance policy tweak boosts India solar energy (via CleanTechnica)

BNDES approves $222 million in loans for Brazil ethanol plant (via Bloomberg)

EBRD backs Polish wind farm with €23.8 million (via Bloomberg)

South Africa fights blackouts with concentrating solar power (via TriplePundit)

GE ships first Brazil wind turbine nacelle under tough local-content rules (via Recharge News)

U.S power sector employment declines, except for renewable electricity generators (via U.S EIA)

U.S. solar-plus-storage market to surpass $1 billion by 2018 (via Greentech Media)

EIA expects 2014 U.S. wind installations to total less than 5GW (via Recharge)

New money coming home: Investors likely to continue backing residential solar in 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power (via Treehugger)

Businesses get solar at no upfront cost, encourage customers and employees to invest (via Treehugger)

Duke prepares South Carolina distributed solar program (via Renewable Energy World)

Coalition plans push to expand Minnesota’s renewable energy standard in 2015 (via Star-Tribune)

Illinois solar gets closer to game time (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL

U.S. EPA set to issue long-anticipated rules for coal ash disposal (via Reuters)

Coal ash waste about to be federally regulated for the first time (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS

Polluting is getting expensive again in Europe: Carbon & climate (via Bloomberg)

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral (via National Journal)

OIL

Bankers see $1 trillion in investments stranded in the oil fields (via Bloomberg)

Oil price bloodbath to spark energy sector buying spree (via Reuters)

Nebraska Supreme Court decision on Keystone XL punted to 2015 (via The Hill)

Oil crunch could cost Texas 128,000 jobs, says Fed model (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

U.S. gasoline drops below $2.50 in U.S. for first time in 2009 (via Bloomberg)

Tax breaks for EV charging, natural gas cars back through end of 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Analyst slashes Tesla sales forecast 40% due to fuel prices (via Autoblog)

2016 Chevy Volt to add on-demand regenerative braking (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY

German energy use sinks to lowest level since reunification (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. power sector needs $2.1 trillion in investment by 2035, says EIA (via Greentech Media)

EBay just became the latest tech company to leave conservative group ALEC (via Climate Progress)

GRID

Smart thermostat programs roll on in Texas, Arizona, Maryland (via Greentech Media)

Alaska leads the world in microgrid deployments (via Navigant Research)

NATURAL GAS

The state of shale (via Phys.org)

Here's the grassroots political story behind the New York fracking ban (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT

Companies pay $9.7 million in EPA enforcement actions (via Environmental Leader)

OPINION

The top five energy and climate stories of 2014 (via Forbes)

Global biofuels industry: A promising future (via Navigant Research)

Three ways renewables could benefit from low oil prices (via Forbes)

Will coal plant retirements and fracking threaten electric reliability? (via Navigant Research)

The surprising link between what makes us happy and what saves energy (via Washington Post)

Solyndra? Solyndra! The legacy of government loan guarantees beyond politics (via Greentech Media)

Six lessons learned from the front lines of the climate fight (via Huffington Post)

Solar tariffs: Throttling America’s biggest job creation machine (via Renewable Energy World)

How Denmark and Texas became wind energy kings (via StateImpact Texas)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, ALEC, arizona, biofuels, BNDES, Brazil, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coral bleaching, denmark, duke energy, ebay, EBRD, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, environment, ethanol, European Union, ev, ev charging, feed-in tariff, Flooding, fracking, GE, germany, Illinois, india, japan, maryland, Microgrid, minnesota, National Hockey League, natural gas, new york state, News, noaa, oil, Poland, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sea level rise, Shale gas, solar, Solar concentrating power, solyndra, South Africa, south carolina, suzlon, Tesla, texas, wind
0
11
Dec

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.11.14

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

CLIMATE

Six ways climate change threw the animal world into disarray this year (via Climate Progress)

John Kerry: Climate change is now a security issue (via The Guardian)

Top scientists to media: Stop using “skeptic” to describe deniers (via Climate Progress)

NATURAL GAS

Poll: Majority of U.S. voters back regulating methane emissions (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES

Distributed solar PV poised to reach its potential in Africa (via Navigant Research)

India uses coal tax to help fund 21GW new solar development (via PV Tech)

South Africa plans to triple renewables output to curb blackouts (via Blomberg)

Australia adds another 75MW rooftop solar in November (via Renew Economy)

World’s largest coal miner announces 1GW solar power plan (via CleanTechnica)

Climate Bonds Initiative lifts lid on green bond market (via BusinessGreen)

US-China solar trade deal still possible despite breakdown claims (via PV Tech)

Over a third of new U.S. electricity came from solar this year (via GigaOm)

Off-grid solar companies closed $64 million in 2014: Start of a bigger trend? (via Greentech Media)

Lawmakers frustrated at EPA over ethanol mandate delay (via The Hill)

First Solar gives U.S. residential market another try (via Forbes)

A small-town Kansas bank is helping lead a solar revolution (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY POLICY

Coal wins, sage grouse loses in $1.1 trillion U.S. budget deal (via Bloomberg)

SDG&E: Utilities need to set “proper price signals” to manage distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

OIL

Oil price hit by OPEC numbers as Saudis stand firm on output (via Houston Chronicle)

Alaska faces $3.5 billion deficit amid lower oil prices (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

China offers billions to subsidize EV charging build-out (via Bloomberg)

Several states are adding or increasing incentives for EV charging stations (via US EIA)

Boeing completes first flight powered with “green diesel” (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

Nuclear poised to be winner as Abe eyes broader Japan majority (via Bloomberg)

DOE announces $12.5 billion in loans for advanced nuclear (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficient buildings expected to reach nearly $623 billion annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Database showcases 37 net-zero energy buildings across U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

New Honda “Green Dealer Guide” spells out energy efficiency for dealership buildings (via Green Car Reports)

GRID

Microgrids create energy-resilient communities (via Renewable Energy World)

Broaching the baseload issue: Finding hybrid solutions to stabilize the grid (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS

Visualizing the rise of carbon pricing around the world (via Fast Company)

ENVIRONMENT

Study shows 270,000 tons of plastic float in the ocean (via Huffington Post)

OPINION

Is cellulosic ethanol all it’s cracked up to be? (via Breaking Energy)

Cheap oil’s make-or-break moment for clean energy (via Huffington Post)

Will new technologies give a critical boost to solar power? (via Yale e360)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, australia, boeing, Carbon pricing, cellulosic ethanol, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, ev charging, First Solar, Green bonds, grid, honda, india, japan, john kerry, kansas, methane, Microgrid, natural gas, Net zero, News, nuclear, oil, OPEC, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, SDG&E, Shinzo Abe, solar, Solar trade war, South Africa
0
17
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.17.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Russia’s Putin threatens to reduce European gas supplies (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

Winter unlikely to see repeat of frigid polar vortex (via Climate Central)

NUCLEAR 

France signs agreement to build nuclear reactors in South Africa (via Yahoo! News/AFP)

UK’s Hinkley nuclear deal to face National Audit Office probe (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

Europe’s biggest solar bonds downgraded on Italy’s policy (via Bloomberg)

As Japan eyes nuclear restarts, renewables get shut out of grid (via Reuters)

India announces 15GW solar power purchase program (via Renewable Energy World)

China to phase out financial support for solar sector by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

JinkoSolar adds 200MW to China PV project pipeline (via PV Tech)

GTM Research expects equivalent of 25GW new polysilicon production by 2016 (via PV Tech)

Minneapolis utility fight ends with unique clean-energy deal (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Pacific islanders blockade Australian coal port to protest rising sea levels (via The Guardian)

Britain’s battered coal industry sees glimmer of hope in carbon capture (via Reuters)

For $20 million, a coal utility bought an Ohio town and a clean conscience (via The Atlantic)

EMISSIONS 

Qingdao prepares China’s 8th regional carbon market (via RTCC)

Sweden calls on EU to agree to 50% carbon cuts for 2030 (via RTCC)

Texas plant to capture, then reuse carbon (via New York Times)

OIL 

Falling oil prices shake up global economies (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

As oil prices plummet, Saudi Arabia faces a test of strategy (via New York Times)

Oil-by-rail fuels record U.S. imports of Canadian oil (via DeSmogBlog)

Shale oil boom helping American consumers like never before (via Bloomberg)

U.S. moves ahead with central Gulf of Mexico offshore auction (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Americans could waste $2.8 trillion stuck in traffic by 2030 (via Autoblog)

Tesla says first battery-swapping site will go live in December (via Green Car Reports)

11 more GM facilities worldwide go landfill-free; total rises to 122 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

FERC investigating polar vortex impact on grid (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sao Paulo running out of water unless reserve tapped now (via Bloomberg)

U.S. plastic bottle recycling increases for 24th year (via Environmental Leader)

Whole Foods launches environmental ratings for its produce (via BusinessGreen)

Tornadoes increasingly coming in swarms in U.S., study says (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Neves closing campaign cash gap thanks to banks and ethanol (via Reuters)

OPINION 

PJM’s capacity market: Model to copy or avoid? (via Breaking Energy)

Why you should question the value proposition of energy storage (via Greentech Media)

We don’t, and can’t know how much it will cost to tackle climate change (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Brazil, canada, Capacity market, carbon capture, Carbon market, China, climate, coal, drought, emissions, energy storage, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, FERC, France, gas prices, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, italy, japan, JinkoSolar, Minneapolis, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, Oil train, PJM Interconnection, Polar vortex, Qingdao, Recycling, renewables, Russia, Sao Paulo, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Sweden, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Vladimir Putin, Whole Foods
0
10
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.10.14

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

EMISSIONS

PwC: Five-fold rise in pace of carbon emissions cuts needed (via Triple Pundit)

Fossil fuels stir debate at university endowments (via Wall Street Journal)

Exiting RGGI system cost New Jersey $114 million (via Bergen Record)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU pushes for urgent energy deal in U.S. trade pact (via Reuters)

Energy-hungry Japan waits as U.S. debates exports (via Greenwire)

EDF invests $515 million into new Paris energy R&D facility (via Reuters)

U.S. EIA projects world liquid fuels to rise 38% by 2040 (via Green Car Congress)

Five Keystone XLs: The carbon in Northwest fossil fuel export plans (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil to invest $14.9 billion in wind energy between 2015 and 2018 (via Latin American Herald Tribune)

India pushes ultra-mega scheme to scale solar PV (via Forbes)

Gamesa raises $304 million to expand emerging-market wind energy (via Bloomberg)

Mexico’s new power industry law: Implications for clean energy (via Energy Collective)

EU forecasts green jobs boom (via Recharge News)

German consumers can expect green power surcharges to fall next year (via Reuters)

U.S. and China hold almost half of PV pipeline, but only 3.7GW in China (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. solar generation, output surge in first half of 2014 (via PV Tech)

New U.S. large-scale solar, wind capacity soars (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Obama’s international climate strategy: More grease for renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

California clean energy bill could open door for homeowners, small businesses (via Breaking Energy)

University of California signs major solar deal (via Washington Post)

Google to invest $145 million in California solar project (via The Hill)

OIL 

U.S. boost 2015 oil forecast as shale power push to 10 million barrels per day (via Reuters)

OPEC cuts demand outlook by most in three years on shale surge (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rosneft struggles to grow as sanctions hit Russia’s oil champion (via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia tells OPEC it cut output in August as oil nears $100 (via Reuters)

Feds move to prevent runaway oil trains (via The Hill)

Think tank charges policymakers with 70’s mindset on oil exports (via National Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

EIA’s 2014 gasoline use forecast has risen 2 billion gallons in past 10 months (via U.S. EIA)

China and UC-Davis partner to put zero-emission vehicles on fast track (via UC Davis)

California electric vehicle sales pass major milestone (via San Francisco Chronicle)

2016 Chevy Volt spy shots highlight much-needed fixes (via Yahoo! Auto)

Tesla expects another high-volume deal with Toyota in next few years (via Autoblog)

COAL 

South Africa’s coal-fired power stations carry heavy health costs (via The Guardian) 

CLIMATE 

UN climate chief says 125 world leaders confirmed for New York summit (via RTCC)

How global warming is already worsening extreme deluges in the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Royal Dutch Shell CEO: Climate change discussion “has gone into la-la land” (via Washington Post)

America’s heartland wilts under climate change onslaught (via RTCC)

NUCLEAR 

Japan to restart two nuclear reactors (via The Guardian/AFP)

Russia to build eight nuclear power plants in Iran (via Trend)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmental group sues Feds for Keystone XL documents (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Zero-energy building revenue set to exceed $1.4 trillion annually by 2035 (via Navigant Research)

IEA calls on policymakers to deliver “multiple benefits” of energy efficiency (via BusinessGreen)

Four ways to play the LED boom (via Forbes)

This deep dive into 10 years of LEED unearths surprises (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS 

Poland looks to import natural gas from U.S., Canada (via Reuters)

Natural gas industry unveils infrastructure security program (via Houston Chronicle)

40% of people near fracking wells report health woes (via USA Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Ocean acidification may dull sharks’ ability to smell prey, finds study (via Yale e360)

Rocky Mountains facing unprecedented assault from insects, fires, heat, drought (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

California water use drops statewide (via San Jose Mercury News)

POLITICS 

Kochs backing out of blue-state Senate races (via Grist)

Obama’s brain drain (via Politico)

Interior Secretary: GOP information requests cost millions (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Whether it’s green growth, green economy, or creative economy, it’s all about green jobs (via Huffington Post)

Are carbon capture and biomass indispensible in the climate change fight? (via Energy Collective)

Another year, another record high for greenhouse gases (via Climate Central)

How ISIS smuggles oil to fund its campaign (via NPR)

How fracking bought the Buffalo Bills (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: biomass, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, edf, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, European Union, EVs, Extreme weather, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gamesa, Gasoline, germany, global warming, google, green jobs, IEA, india, interior department, iran, ISIS, japan, Keystone XL, LED, LEED, mexico, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new jersey, News, nuclear, Ocean acidification, oil, Oil exports, Oil trains, OPEC, Pipeline, Poland, renewables, rggi, Rosneft, Royal Dutch Shell, Russia, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Shale oil, solar, South Africa, Tesla, Toyota, Transportation, University of California, Wildfire, wind
0
27
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Irreversible damage seen from climate change in UN leak (via Bloomberg)

Obama pushing climate accord in lieu of treaty (via New York Times)

WHO urges action on climate change to protect health (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

Ukraine PM says Russia plans to block gas flows to Europe (via Reuters)

As Japan pushes power deregulation, Tepco moves in on rivals’ turf (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar market to exceed 65GW in 2019 (via Energy Manager Today)

Clean energy investment at risk as Australia reconsiders targets (via Bloomberg)

South Africa energy minister to “intervene” over renewable deal delays (via Bloomberg)

11.7GW of solar PV to be installed across U.S. in 2019 (via Recharge)

Trina Solar could surpass Yingli Green to market leadership in 2014 (via PV Tech)

Yingli Green loss narrows on rising panel demand (via Reuters)

New bill could make residential solar in California a lot cheaper (via Climate Progress)

Hawaii to triple rooftop solar installations by 2030 (via PV Tech)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese public seen as biggest obstacle to nuclear restart (via Bloomberg)

NRC finalizes nuclear waste rule, lets licensing decisions resume (via Greenwire)

California earthquakes may pose threat to nuclear plant (via Christian Science Monitor)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the majority of data centers are failing at energy efficiency (via GreenBiz)

Americans love paying extra to stay at LEED-certified hotels (via CleanTechnica)

COAL 

New coal power stations a threat to EU’s emissions target (via The Guardian)

Coal to be hardest hit by fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Forbes)

Coal mining expansion sparks demonstrations along Germany-Poland border (via Greenwire)

EMISSIONS 

Cap-and-trade saves 10x its cost in health benefits (via CleanTechnica)

Environmentalists target Pope Francis in fossil fuel divestment campaign (via Houston Chronicle)

University of Sydney joins coal divestment movement (via BusinessGreen)

Nespresso pledges £330 million to become “carbon neutral” by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

OIL 

S&P: Lifting U.S. oil export ban will lift sector credit scores (via Reuters)

Who needs Keystone XL? Oil sands flow to U.S. via loophole (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla Supercharger network grows in Europe and Asia (via CleanTechnica)

Natural gas truck sales struggle to gain traction in North America (via Wall Street Journal)

Tesla Gigafactory competition a “race to the bottom?” (via San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID 

Smart grid as a service will reach $11.2 billion in annual revenue by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

Winter blackouts a danger in “rapid transition” from coal, warns PJM Interconnection (via Columbus Business First)

POLITICS 

How Harry Reid holds veto power over Obama (via Politico)

OPINION 

Liebreich: Climate change talks – the rocky road to Paris (via Bloomberg)

Why investors’ fossil-fuel addiction is tough to kick (via National Journal)

A climate for change: EPA limits on emissions are important but not enough (via Washington Post)

Why the Washington Post is running an editorial series on climate change (via Media Matters for America)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, cap and trade, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, European Union, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, green building, grid, harry reid, Hawaii, japan, Keystone XL, LEED certification, Michael Liebreich, natural gas, Nespresso, News, nuclear, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, oil, Oil exports, PJM Interconnection, Poland, Pope Francis, renewables, Russia, smart grid, solar, South Africa, Tepco, Tesla Gigafactory, Tesla Supercharger, Transportation, Trina Solar, Ukraine, united nations, University of Sydney, World Health Organization, Yingli Green
0
22
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.21.14

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

EMISSIONS 

China to let foreign investors trade in Shenzen carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Architects from 124 countries make “zero-carbon cities” pledge (via RTCC)

EPA report shows progress reducing urban air toxics across U.S.; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990 (via Green Car Congress)

Reducing NYC’s carbon emissions one building at a time (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

Coal gas boom in China holds climate change risks (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Canada’s largest port approves $15 million coal transfer project (via Reuters)

Oregon coal terminal decision highlights exports’ emissions (via Climate Central)

North Carolina lawmakers pass coal ash restrictions (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Africa to add more renewables in 2014 than in past 14 years (via Bloomberg)

South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya lead renewables spurt in Africa (via Bloomberg)

Solar power poses lower risk to birds than cats or cars (via Bloomberg)

Renewable energy could hit 36% of global energy, but there’s a biomass catch (via The Energy Collective)

Solar PV helps eliminate kerosene lamps in Africa (via Navigant Research)

“World’s biggest” tidal array gets go ahead in Scotland (via BusinessGreen)

Japan to support PV on landfill sites (via Recharge)

Renewable energy accounts for 100% of all new U.S. power in July (via Renew Grid)

As small hydropower swells, so does caution over its impacts (via GreenBiz)

Are reverse auctions key to reforming solar energy subsidies? (via The Energy Collective)

How one wonky court decision could unlock our renewable energy future (via CleanTechnica)

ABB unveils cable innovation to increase offshore wind efficiency (via Reuters)

Vestas heads for 1st dividend in decade after turnaround (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Tepco concedes failure of Fukushima ice wall (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Antarctica and Greenland losing ice at fastest rate ever recorded (via Yale e360)

Study says answer to global warming slowdown lies in depths of Atlantic Ocean (via The Guardian)

Food and drink companies respond to consumer pressure on climate change (via The Guardian)

NATURAL GAS 

China’s natural gas production falls short in China (via New York Times)

Study to explore economic potential of Mexican shale (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy industry looks to develop better methane monitors (via Houston Chronicle)

At least 10 percent of fracking fluid is toxic, says LBNL analysis (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Smart grid technology revenue will be $70.2 billion by 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

A comeback for community energy storage (via Navigant Research)

Where is distributed energy storage being deployed in the U.S.? (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Russia said to be near oil tax plan that may cost state $6.6 billion (via Bloomberg)

Western Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling lease sale results in $110 million in bids on 400,000 acres (via Green Car Congress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Epic drought in U.S. West is literally moving mountains (via Climate Central)

63 trillion gallons of groundwater lost in Western U.S. drought (via Los Angeles Times)

California has given out rights to five times more water than it actually has (via Climate Progress)

Drought weighing you down? It’s lifting America up. (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands bitumen set to eclipse pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

Canada’s $24 million Keystone XL ad campaign falls flat (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Apple produces 134 out of 135 entries in EPEAT’s new green tablet registry (via Treehugger)

OPINION 

Could shale revive China’s flagging oil fields? (via Reuters)

Brace yourself for Solargeddon, Australia (via The Energy Collective)

Why EVs will make solar viable without subsidies (via Renew Economy)

Here’s why Solar City will move into Mexico (via Greentech Media)

Toyota could be wrong about the high cost of hydrogen (via CleanTechnica)

If you can’t take the heat, get off the island (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

McConnell promises spending standoff over Obama green agenda (via National Journal)

Meet the scientists who sat Rick Scott down and explained climate change to him (via Salon)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, africa, Antarctica, apple, australia, biomass, california, canada, Carbon market, China, climate, coal, coal ash, Coal export, Coal gas, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EPEAT, Ethiopia, EVs, fracking, fukushima, global warming, greenland, grid, hydrogen, Hydropower, japan, Kenya, Keystone XL, methane, mexico, Mitch McConnell, natural gas, New York City, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oregon, renewables, Reverse auction, Rick Scott, Russia, Scotland, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, Solar City, South Africa, Subsidies, tar sands, Tepco, tidal power, Toyota, vestas, Water rights, wind
0
22
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.14

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

CLIMATE 

NOAA: June 2014 was the hottest in recorded history (via National Journal)

Climate change already having profound impacts on European lakes (via National Geographic)

Report: Higher seas mean extreme floods in South Carolina, North Carolina (via Miami Herald/AP)

Sunday TV shows cover climate change as much in 1H 2014 as in last four years combined (via Media Matters for America)

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican Senate approves bulk of pending energy legislation (via Reuters)

Energy issues playing greater role in foreign policy, says State Dept. envoy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power will deliver more than seven percent of world’s electricity by 2018 (via Navigant Research)

India seen adding wind capacity after tax credit revived (via Bloomberg)

Brazil gets $335 million wind power loan from German development bank (via Bloomberg)

Powering villages with solar instead of dirty fossil fuels (via EcoWatch)

Renewables make up over 50% of new U.S. power in First Half of 2014 (via Renew Grid)

Who finances residential solar in 2014? (via Greentech Media)

The solar industry’s tax credit conundrum (via Greentech Media)

Michigan legislators seek “energy freedom” for consumer through distributed renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

Offshore wind farms create “reef effect” perfect for marine wildlife – especially seals (via The Independent)

Renewables revolution could be in management, not technology (via Climate Central)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking opponents renew call for South African shale gas halt (via Bloomberg)

U.K. shale regulation inadequate for safety, says report (via Bloomberg)

Researchers to test how Great Plains shale reacts to fracking (via Huffington Post/AP)

California halts fracking waste injection, warns it may be contaminating aquifers (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

U.K. retains target to cut carbon emissions in half by 2025 (via Bloomberg)

Legislative attempts to block EPA standards harmful to small businesses (via The Hill)

NHL outlines plan to cut emissions, fight climate change (via The Hill)

COAL 

Dirty coal plants undermine EU climate leadership, says report (via RTCC)

China warns against “blind” rush to build coal-to-gas plants (via Reuters)

Germany, U.K., Poland top “dirty 30” list of EU coal-fired power stations (via The Guardian)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Whirlpool wants Congress to ban class action lawsuits tied to Energy Star program (via New York Times)

Florida utilities move to slash energy conservation programs (via Climate Progress)

Third-party financing was solar’s catalyst – can energy efficiency find the same model? (via Greentech Media)

Four reasons why energy efficiency programs fail (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

As U.S. leads world on oil production, East Coast opens to exploration (via Sustainable Business)

DOT Secretary: New oil train rules could have wide reach (via Houston Chronicle)

Wisconsin oil train derailment clean up underway, evacuation lifted (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Opel dropping Ampera, Europe’s Chevy Volt, because of weak sales (via Autoblog Green)

First six months of 2014 U.S. EV sales show 33% year-over-year gain (via Forbes)

ABB and Volvo partner on fast-charging system for hybrid and electric buses (via Green Car Congress)

Tesla idles California plant to retool for electric SUVs (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

Carbon repeal leaves Australia isolated and vulnerable (via Renew Economy)

Disney’s “Planes” sequel is an excuse to talk to your kids about climate change (via Grist)

Why has the response to California’s drought been so weak? (via Science Blogs)

Six reasons technology alone can’t solve water scarcity (via GreenBiz)

Utilities cry “fowl” over Duck Chart and distributed solar power (via CleanTechnica)

Why Tom Steyer’s millions won’t save the planet (via Forbes)

Posted:   |   Categories: ABB, australia, Brazil, california, chevy volt, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, distributed generation, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy star, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, EVs, Florida, fracking, Fracking wastewater, germany, global warming, india, investment tax credit, mexico, michigan, National Hockey League, natural gas, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, Oil trains, Opel Ampera, Poland, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, South Africa, south carolina, Synthetic gas, Tesla, Tom Steyer, Transportation, united kingdom, Volvo, wind, Wisconsin
0