Category Archives:tar sands

24
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.24.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Japan’s 2012 LNG imports at record high on nuclear woes (via Reuters)

White House starts review of revised gas “fracking” rule (via The Hill)

GAO says regulators need to improve natural gas pipeline incident response data (via Washington Post/AP)

Dow Chemical fights ally Exxon’s natural gas export push (via Bloomberg)

Pennsylvania fracking wastewater might overwhelm Ohio injection wells (via Akron Beacon Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electrifying auto fleets could cut company fuel costs by 75% (via BusinessGreen)

Plug-in readiness reports show wide difference between California regions (via Green Car Congress)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Majority of US senators back Keystone XL pipeline (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Sting operations reveal mafia involvement in Italian renewable energy (via Washington Post)

Expensive loans dim prospects for renewable energy in India (via Forbes)

Big funders bought wind in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

Mitsubishi Heavy seeks 10% share of global offshore wind market (via Bloomberg)

Latin American solar markets poised for 66% growth through 2017 (via Greentech Media)

Report: lack of consistent policy holding back clean energy industry (via Midwest Energy News)

North America’s largest wind energy storage facility goes online in Texas (via CleanTechnica)

VW starts up largest solar park at US auto factory in Tennessee (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

Japan ready to ditch emissions reduction target (via Phys.org)

Beijing to scrap old cars and swap coal-burners in clean air bid (via Bloomberg)

Greenhouse gas emissions dip in Minnesota, but future is uncertain (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Deutsche Bank pays $1.6 million to end US energy market trading probe (via Bloomberg)

Study: college endowments triple returns on fossil fuel stocks (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

China to cap electricity growth at 8% through 2015 (via Bloomberg)

Smart grid may be shortest route to Obama’s green energy goals (via Forbes)

The importance, challenge, and future of smart grid data analytics (via Renew Grid)

Duke completes battery storage project at Texas wind farm (via Renew Grid)

New aggregation programs drive consumer participation in Illinois energy choice (via US EIA)

NUCLEAR 

Japan faces nuclear shutdown for second time since Fukushima (via Reuters)

Funding no problem for German shift from nuclear energy (via Reuters)

Fracking for uranium (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Companies call on EU to deliver 2030 energy efficiency goals (via BusinessGreen)

Surge expected for utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs (via Renew Grid)

Does your state lead in LEED? (via Greentech Media)

How energy literate are you? (via Mapawatt)

CLIMATE 

Why Greenland’s melting could be the biggest climate disaster of all (via Mother Jones)

Andes glaciers melting at record rates (via Christian Science Monitor/Reuters)

Analysis: Obama’s next climate steps apt to be temperate (via Reuters)

Derek Jeter steps to the plate for climate change (via Politico)

Climate change bill readied for 2013 Utah state legislative session (via Salt Lake Tribune)

OIL 

Alaskans want role in US Arctic offshore drilling probe (via Houston Chronicle)

POLITICS 

Obama’s covert plans for climate (via Politico)

Tracking the changes at EPA in Obama’s second term (via AOL Energy)

Ashton Carter said to be leading contender for US Energy Secretary (via Bloomberg)

Sen. Kerry to divest financial holdings to avoid conflicts of interest (via Boston Globe)

Sen. Murkowski to release “comprehensive” energy blueprint next week (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Why are greens so defensive about the rebound effect? (via Grist)

Uncertainty about climate change is reason for more aggressive action (via Grist)

Breaking down the Federal clean energy innovation budget: demonstration projects (via Innovation Files)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Ashton Carter, barack obama, Beijing, california, China, climate, Climate Change, Derek Jeter, Deutsche Bank, Divestment, Dow Chemical, Duke, Electric Vehicle, Electricity aggregation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy industry, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Exxon, fracking, Fracking wastewater, fukushima, GAO, germany, glaciers, greenland, grid, Illinois, india, Injection wells, italy, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, Latin America, LEED, Lisa Murkowski, LNG imports, minnesota, mitsubishi, Municipal aggregation, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, Pipelines, Rebound effect, renewables, Sea level rise, smart grid, solar, tar sands, Tennessee, texas, Transportation, uranium, utah, Volkswagen, wind
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23
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Nebraska governor approves new Keystone XL route (via New York Times)

Nebraska approval puts Keystone pipeline decision squarely on Obama (via Globe and Mail)

US State Department: no Keystone decision before end of Q1 2013 (via Reuters)

Obama’s own words turn up heat on Keystone decision (via Politico)

Sierra Club to engage in civil disobedience for first time in opposition to Keystone XL (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Four of five British have not heard of government’s energy efficiency Green Deal (via BusinessGreen)

Senate bill targets energy efficiency for climate strategy (via Politico)

DC, Virginia, Colorado top US in 2012 LEED certifications (via Energy Manager Today)

Berkeley Lab predicts more energy efficiency incentives in South, Midwest (via Energy Manager Today)

California to invest $2.5 billion retrofitting energy-wasting schools (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

China’s solar market boomed in Q4, accounting for third of global demand (via Forbes)

Japan’s solar tariff may drop 12% as costs sink, BNEF estimates (via Bloomberg)

Global insurers see opportunity in renewable energy (via Recharge)

EU proposes duties on US bioethanol imports (via Reuters)

Chinese solar panel imports drop amid new US tariffs (via Houston Chronicle)

Total solar scenario for Earth: plenty, with room to spare (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to double spending on renewable energy to $4 billion (via Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg) 

Taller wind turbines boost state energy self-reliance (via CleanTechnica)

New bill proposed for Maryland offshore wind (via Recharge)

Wind farm towers: taller and slower with more power (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Wind energy company could be required to track, protect condors (via Bakersfield Californian)

EMISSIONS 

Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to EPA pollution rule (via The Hill)

Court ruling casts doubt on future of EPA monitoring program (via Greenwire)

California greenhouse gas emissions drop for 3rd year (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION 

A123 expects Wanxiang sale to be finished by Feb 1 (via Autoblog Green)

Lux Research: Boeing “should have used a safer battery” (via Environmental Leader)

More electric car charging stations open in Atlanta (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

COAL 

Sen. Rockefeller reshaping his federal mine safety legislation (via Register-Herald)

Coal trains: what is the impact? (via Skagit Valley Herald)

The people and process behind Bellingham’s coal port decision (via Crosscut)

Iowa utility agrees to stop using coal at five generators (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Betting on Indiana coal: Duke wants ratepayers to fund retrofits, enviros cry foul (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

Australian utilities reluctant to invest in smart grid (via Renew Grid)

How much electric supply capacity is needed to keep US electricity grids reliable? (via US EIA)

In fuel cells, the US plays catch-up (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE 

Poll shows country split on climate change (via The Hill)

In inaugural address, Obama makes a moral case for action on climate change (via Washington Post)

Obama signals new executive authority focus on climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

Obama could bypass Congress to fulfill climate pledge (via Bloomberg)

Death from above: Chicago’s bird casualties offer clues on climate change (via Grist)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Shareholders challenge Exxon, Chevron over climate risks (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas vehicles remain less prevalent in US than elsewhere (via Houston Chronicle)

Huntsman Corp. joins campaign against US natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

An early nuclear warning: was it for naught? (via New York Times)

Fish caught near Fukushima shows radiation level 2,500 above safety standards (via Daily Mail)

OPINION 

A quick, awesome must-read on climate change (via Mother Jones)

Will Germany banish fossil fuels before the US? (via Grist)

Enough with our cult of the presidency – the climate’s fate rests with Congress (via Grist)

The climate change endgame (via New York Times)

The 14 fossil-fuel projects poised to f*ck up the climate (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, Atlanta, australia, barack obama, battery, Berkeley Lab, biofuel, boeing, Boeing Dreamliner, california, Chevron, chicago, China, climate, coal, Coal export, Coal train, colorado, Congress, Dave Heineman, duke energy, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fuel cell, fukushima, germany, green business, grid, Ikea, indiana, japan, Jay Rockefeller, Keystone XL, LEED, maryland, Mine safety, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Reliability, renewables, retrofit, sierra club, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tariff, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, virginia, Wanxiang, Washington DC, Washington State, wind
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18
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.18.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone’s tar sands waste said to warm climate more than coal (via Bloomberg)

As State Department nears completion of Keystone XL review, both sides dig in (via Washington Post)

Two report on oil sands paint a dire picture (via New York Times)

Federal study reignites pollution concern in expanding tar sand region (via DeSmog Blog)

GOP governors, Canadian leader press Obama to approve Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

TransCanada on the climate impacts of its Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Temperature hits all-time high in Sydney (via Phys.org)

Survey finds businesses trusted more than government on climate change (via Environmental Leader)

US frost-free season grows to 21 days (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES 

High-tech energy attracts $1.12 trillion in global revenue (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany may widen FIT reforms (via Recharge)

Report: solar could meet global electricity needs in 2050 using under 1% of world’s land (via Climate Progress)

Rising solar energy output drives German and French power prices to record lows (via CleanTechnica)

Developers will invest $1.9 trillion in clean energy over next five years (via Renewable Energy World)

2013 could be make or break year for algae fuel (via GigaOm)

US wind power accounted for 6% of generation capacity in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

FERC proposes rule to speed up solar energy grid interconnections (via Renewable Energy World)

US Army’s New Mexico solar array world’s largest of its kind (via EarthTechling)

Study: US must increase clean energy efforts (via United Press International)

Utilities, environmentalists behind study of Montana’s renewable power mandate (via Billings Gazette)

MIT builds material that generates electricity from water vapor (via Treehugger)

GRID 

Report predicts 3.5 million lost jobs, $3.1 million lost economic output without US transmission upgrades (via Renew Grid)

What US smart grid investments have done so far (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes streamlining small generator interconnections (via Renew Grid)

PJM, NYISO begin market-to-market coordination (via Renew Grid)

First four months of municipal aggregation save Champaign, IL $700,000 (via News-Gazette)

OIL 

Global refining boom could challenge US exports (via Houston Chronicle)

OPEC forecasts record US oil supply growth in 2013 (via Christian Science Monitor)

As Shell’s Arctic drilling hopes hit snags, its rivals watch (via New York Times)

BP says North American shale oil boom will pressure OPEC (via Wall Street Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Mexico relaxes auto fuel-efficiency rule to quell legal threat (via Reuters)

How important is charging infrastructure to EV adoption? (via GreenBiz)

US grounds fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner (via Environmental Leader)

DOE partnership aims to realize EV-to-grid dream (via Triple Pundit)

As electric future unfolds, gasoline remains king (via Midwest Energy News)

GM says next generation Chevy Volt will be “thousands of dollars” cheaper (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker Karma production stoppage reaches 6 months, company claims “sufficient supply” (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Coal’s “lifeline to Asia” emerges as new front in global warming fight (via ClimateWire)

Scrutiny rises for royalties paid on US coal exports to Asia (via The Oregonian)

Coal mine safety rule prompted by explosion faces industry blowback (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

RWE starts carbon capture at UK coal plant (via Reuters)

Fraud-free cap and trade: what California learned from Europe (via GreenBiz)

New York Governor Cuomo proposes tougher RGGI carbon cap (via AOL Energy)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Top economies face fuel price spike as LNG supply drops (via Reuters)

Report recommends changes to tax exemption for fracking (via Texas Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada’s environmental health last in developed world (via Huffington Post)

As US drought persists, many scramble to save every drop of water (via Reuters)

About a dozen environment reporters left at top five US papers (via InsideClimate News)

POLITICS 

Obama’s climate challenge (via Rolling Stone)

DOE Secretary Chu said to plan departure from cabinet (via Bloomberg)

US environmentalists challenged to get climate change laws through Congress (via The Guardian)

If you want to pass climate legislation, fix US politics (via Grist)

DOE names new BPA administrator (via Renew Grid)

New Washington governor sets his sights on climate change solutions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Why the climate bill failed: it’s not that simple (via Grist)

How are we doing on energy efficiency? (via Grist)

Obama to confront oil pipeline, climate change in second term (via US News/AP)

What corporations can learn from green revolving funds (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, barack obama, biofuel, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, BPA, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, clean tech, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal mine, Coal royalties, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Environmental health, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, feed-in tariff, FERC, Fisker Karma, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, grid, Illinois, Interconnection, investment, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, MIT, Montana, Municipal aggregation, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, NYISO, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, oil sands, OPEC, Petcoke, PJM, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, State Department, steven chu, Sydney, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, V2G, Washington State, wind
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15
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.15.13

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

GRID 

Installed base of smart meters in China to reach nearly 380 million by 2020 (via Pike Research)

China consumed 5.5% more electricity in 2012 (via Platts)

First leg of Atlantic offshore wind power line moves ahead (via New York Times)

Homeland Security says 40 percent of 2012 cyberattacks targeted energy sector (via The Hill)

National oversight agency questions reliability of Texas’ electric grid (via Houston Chronicle)

ERCOT expects $8.9 billion worth of transmission projects to be completed in Texas by 2017 (via Renew Grid)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Market shifting for Canadian oil sands crude (via Houston Chronicle)

Scientists say backing Keystone XL would undermine Obama’s climate legacy (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

IRENA sets goal to double global renewable energy capacity by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

Green energy investments fell across globe, US in 2012 (via The Hill)

11GW of solar PV modules shipped globally in Q4 2012 (via Recharge)

IRENA launches world’s first global renewable energy atlas (via Inhabitat)

Europeans overwhelmingly favor renewables over shale gas (via BusinessGreen)

Tidal energy can meet 20% of UK electricity needs (via Yale e360)

Interactive map illustrates US solar grid parity (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

Beyond baby steps: analyzing the cap-and-trade flop (via Grist)

Ontario will be first North American jurisdiction to eliminate coal power (via CleanTechnica)

Some Illinois coal plants looking to clean up (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Survey says climate laws advancing in many countries (via Phys.org)

Solar forcing effect on climate change “extremely small” (via Phys.org)

Rising seas may put $300 billion of property at risk in Australia (via ABC News)

Report says climate change inaction the fault of environmental groups (via The Guardian)

Businesses in danger of missing climate cuts “window” (via BusinessGreen)

Environmental groups to Obama: act now on climate (via Politico)

Seattle calculates how climate change will redraw its shores (via Seattle Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

US cities less susceptible to water scarcity than previously thought (via Phys.org)

Louisiana barges idled by drought upstream on Mississippi River (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New US homes are 20% more fuel efficient than in 1970’s (via Facts of the Day)

US scuttles rule requiring high-efficiency furnaces (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

OIL 

UK opposes Arctic drilling ban, to update policy this year (via Reuters)

Oil companies read the tea leaves (and lots of data) (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

India sets national target of 7 million electric vehicles sold by 2020 (via Sustainable Business)

Clean fuel options lacking as airlines seek alternatives to petroleum (via Greenwire)

Federal green car purchases “down a third” in 2012 (via Environmental Leader)

Nissan cuts entry-level MSRP for 2013 Leaf by 18% to $28,800 (via Green Car Congress)

Maine considers banning E15 gasoline sales (via Autoblog Green)

OPINION 

Why New York State’s Sandy Commission recommendations matter (via Mother Jones)

Changing behaviors: you’re doing it wrong (via Grist)

Why companies and investors see the risks in climate (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Atlantic wind connection, australia, barack obama, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cybersecurity, drought, E15, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, ethanol, europe, ev, green business, Green fuel, grid, Grid Parity, Hurricane Sandy, Illinois, india, investment, IRENA, Keystone XL, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi River, natural gas, new york state, News, nissan LEAF, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, renewables, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Solar forcing, tar sands, texas, tidal energy, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Water scarcity
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14
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.14.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China, Mexico leading fight on climate change with new CO2 laws (via Bloomberg)

Emissions limits could cut climate change damage by two-thirds (via Reuters)

Beijing’s hazardous air pollution sparks Chinese media anger (via BBC News)

CLIMATE 

Monthly heat records have increased fivefold globally (via Phys.org)

Australia’s top climate commissioner: climate inferno “encroaching on entirely new territory” (via Mother Jones)

Inaugural GLOBE international climate summit convenes in London (via BusinessGreen)

US report warns climate change already happening, could raise temperatures by 10 degrees (via The Hill)

Climate change set to make America hotter, drier, more disaster-prone (via The Guardian)

Delaware turns to climate scientist to develop climate change projections (via News-Journal)

RENEWABLES 

UK clean tech innovators being left high and dry on venture capital (via BusinessGreen)

China to join International Renewable Energy Agency (via Green Car Congress)

Why crowd funding could disrupt how solar power is created (via GigaOm)

Renewable standards add less than 5% to US electricity bills (via Greentech Media)

Technology helps wind industry overcome “start-stop” hurdles (via ClimateWire)

Tax credit moves wind industry to ramp up construction plans (via Houston Chronicle)

Los Angeles utility set to launch 100MW solar feed-in-tariff program (via CleanTechnica)

Solar energy turns brownfields into brightfields (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

US oil glut is depressing, confusing prices (via EnergyWire)

Fracking sparks second look at US oil shale boom (via The Hill)

Shell gets massive involuntary aid package from Alaska, US Coast Guard, and you (via Grist)

EPA says Shell violated air permits for Arctic ships (via New York Times)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle battery market to hit $22 billion by 2020, China to be global production leader by 2015 (via Green Car Congress)

Commercial flight first to use fuel produced from natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

US military bets $20 million on 500 electric vehicles for EV-to-Grid initiative (via CleanTechnica)

Tesla delivering Model S, but cash crunch judgment waits for financials (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS 

US delays finalizing report linking fracking to water pollution (via Reuters)

Would exporting the US natural gas surplus help or hurt the economy? (via New York Times)

Poll shows more Americans want tough fracking regulations (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

Global food crisis will worsen as heat waves damage crops, research finds (via The Guardian)

USDA declares winter wheat belt drought disaster area (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Report fails to settle concerns over oil spill risk to Ogallala Aquifer (via InsideClimate News)

GRID 

National Grid gathers partners for smart grid pilot (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas electricity use dropped 2.7% in 2012, says ERCOT (via Forth-Worth Star Telegram)

Maryland legislative panel ponders smart-meter alternative (via Baltimore Sun)

NUCLEAR 

Japan seeks to reverse nuclear power phase-out commitment (via The Guardian)

DOE says new nuclear waste repository possible for Washington State in 2048 (via Tri-City Herald)

COAL 

Coal prices and production in most basins down in 2012 (via US EIA)

Opponents seek to derail Montana coal line (via Seattle Times/AP)

OPINION 

A sweltering planet’s agenda (via Washington Post)

Should America exploit energy exports? (via National Journal)

A new grand strategy for the US, build around sustainability (via Grist)

Green jobs 2.0: re-framing clean energy politics around a climate-informed economy (via Climate Progress)

Fiddling while Rome burns – the $5 trillion cost of climate delay (via The Independent)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, arctic, australia, battery, Beijing, Brownfield, China, climate, Climate Change, co2, coal, Crowd funding, Delaware, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, environment, EPA, ERCOT, ev, feed-in tariff, fracking, global warming, green jobs, grid, Investors, IRENA, japan, Keystone XL, London, los angeles, maryland, mexico, Montana, national grid, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ogallala Aquifer, oil, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standards, renewables, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, smart meter, Smog, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Coast Guard, US military, usda, V2G, Washington State, wind
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