Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.21.15
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
KEYSTONE XL
Keystone XL pipeline battle begins in Senate as Dems push trio of amendments to GOP-backed bill (via International Business Times)
Nebraskans file new lawsuits to stop Keystone XL pipeline (via Climate Progress)
Keystone XL builder files for eminent domain for pipeline route (via The Hill)
EMISSIONS
Study downgrades climate impact of wood burning (via Climate Central)
Global coal lobby downplays divestment fears (via RTCC)
$48 million to help states cut emissions (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Sleeping giants wake to give utility-scale solar yet another record year (via Renew Economy)
PV installations in China could top 15GW in 2015, says China investment bank (via PV Tech)
Badly located renewable power plants cost Europe $100 billion: Davos report (via Reuters)
Austria crosses 2GW threshold for installed wind (via Renewables International)
Chile sees 1.2 solar PV, wind in 2014 (via Recharge)
Japan could cut solar tariffs as much as 18% following cost drop (via Bloomberg)
Egypt to produce 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020 (via Ahram Online)
Australia installs more than 800MW small-scale solar capacity in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)
Clean energy bond investors want full buffet of options (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)
Abengoa to build world’s largest solar desalination plant (via Bloomberg)
Hawaiian Electric Company plans to reduce customer solar net metering credits (via Star-Advertiser)
Portland produces “in-pipe” energy from water pipeline (via Energy Manager Today)
CLIMATE
The unlikely climate allies bridging divides in UN talks (via RTCC)
OIL
U.S. won’t intervene in global oil market (via The Hill)
BP, U.S. attorneys clash in oil spill trial opening statements (via Houston Chronicle)
Falling oil investment will hit U.S. economy (via Reuters)
Coalition of investors to pressure oil firms to go green (via The Independent)
U.S. shale oil growth hurts Canadians as well as OPEC (via Bloomberg)
Shareholders challenge BP to confront climate change risk (via The Guardian)
TRANSPORTATION
CCM forecasts 5-fold growth in China Li-ion market by 2017 to meet EV demand (via Green Car Congress)
New automotive propulsion technology patent activities surge six-fold in five years (via Green Car Congress)
STATE OF THE UNION
Obama: Climate change is greatest threat to future generations (via The Hill)
Obama touts climate action, mocks “I’m not a scientist” caucus (via Climate Progress)
State of the Union 2015 fact check (via National Journal)
ENVIRONMENT
After December rains, California comes up dry (via Climate Central)
High, wide sand dunes worked during Hurricane Sandy, finds report (via Huffington Post)
OPINION
Why India can’t stop at 100GW of solar (via Greentech Media)
How Australia could become a battery storage manufacturing hub (via Renew Economy)
EVs won’t die because of low gas prices (via Autoblog)
How the rise of a mega solar farm shows us the future of energy (via GigaOm)
Four things to watch for in 2015 energy storage market (via Greentech Media)
Uncovering green alternative energy mutual funds (via Renewable Energy World)
Could Keystone XL poison the Senate’s energy plans? (via Politico)