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)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.14

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

CLIMATE 

New study details alarming acceleration in sea level rise (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

Smart cities are driving change across the energy sector (via Navigant Research)

Evidence connects quakes to oil, natural gas boom (via Climate Central)

Lockheed claims breakthrough on fusion energy project (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

German clean-energy costs drop for first time (via Bloomberg)

U.S. residential solar demand could approach 1GW annually (via Renewable Energy World)

Refiners press Obama to lower renewable fuel mandate (via The Hill)

Retailers, seeking out bargains, continue to lead on solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Georgia the latest state to produce dirt-cheap power (via Greentech Media)

Hawaiian utility targets 92% renewable energy by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Wisconsin: America’s latest solar energy battleground (via The Energy Collective)

SolarCity offers bonds, wants everybody to invest in solar (via Forbes)

OIL 

Plummeting oil prices sting Russia, other “Petro States” (via U.S. News & World Report)

Report: Oil exports could drive manufacturing renaissance (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil price slump could lead to production cuts, shakeouts at shale companies (via EnergyWire)

North Dakota oil formations produce 1 billion cumulative barrels (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Volkswagen: Plug-in hybrids a “bridge” to pure electric cars in future (via Green Car Reports)

Gasoline prices fall to lowest average since 2011 (via The Hill)

Automakers, utilities studying how to manage electric vehicles (via Houston Chronicle)

California high court clears way for more bullet train work (via Los Angeles Times)

Tesla face possible sales prohibition in Michigan (via Bloomberg)

Battery storage breakthrough allows recharge in two minutes (via Renew Economy)

NATURAL GAS 

Long after fracking stops, the noise lives on (via NPR)

EMISSIONS 

Exxon, Shell carbon emissions rise even as output drops (via Wall Street Journal)

GRID 

In South Korea, an energy storage bonanza (via Navigant Research)

Giant energy storage project aims at renewable energy’s holy grail (via Renewable Energy World)

The opportunity of time-of-use pricing (via RMI Outlet)

OPINION 

Why natural gas won’t help save the planet (via National Journal)

Coal industry still in denial over prices, regulation (via Reuters)

Are Wal-Mart’s owners really a threat to distributed energy? (via Greentech Media)

Can a low-carbon fuels standard work in Washington? (via Washington State Wire)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

NASA: Earth just experienced the warmest six-month stretch ever recorded (via Slate)

Wild weather forces climate adaptation on Europe’s political agenda (via The Guardian)

Climate change threatens national security, says Pentagon (via Washington Post)

Only 7% of energy companies prepared for climate risks, says study (via RTCC)

COAL 

Europe spends €10 billion a year on coal subsidies (via RTCC)

RENEWABLES 

U.S. duties prompt Chinese PV shipment surge (via PV Tech)

Wind power is cheapest energy source, finds EU analysis (via The Guardian)

UK and Norway will install subsea transmission to trade green power (via BusinessGreen)

Higher efficiency technologies to dominate PV industry by 2018 (via PV Tech)

Survey: Utilities could do a much better job at streamlining solar interconnection (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Saudis tell oil investors low prices might stay (via The Hill)

Nearly 3% of oil output vulnerable if prices fall to $80, says IEA (via Reuters)

Arctic offshore drilling a winner in tight Senate contests (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla talking to Slovakia about European EV plant (via Autoblog Green)

California reaffirms EV leadership (via Navigant Research)

EMISSIONS 

Germany’s largest utility wants deep EU emissions cuts, early carbon trade reform (via Reuters)

EPA readies major ozone rule change (via The Hill)

Exxon blasts movement to divest from fossil fuels (via National Journal)

2014 Nobel Prize economist argues for binding emissions targets (via Greenwire)

NATURAL GAS 

Israel sees natural gas as key to transforming Mideast relations (via Bloomberg)

UK to allow fracking companies to use “any substance” under homes (via BusinessGreen)

ENVIRONMENT 

Proctor & Gamble to cut water use an additional 20% by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Koch Super PAC donors uncloaked (via Politico)

Paul Ryan doubts human role in climate change (via The Hill)

OPINION 

What’s the impact of falling oil prices? (via National Journal)

Three reasons solar will outshine fossil fuels in Mexico (via CleanTechnica)

The multibillion-dollar question: How to spend carbon revenue? (via The Energy Collective)

The great climate model (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.10.14

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Mexican opposition party clears first hurdle in bid for energy referendum (via Wall Street Journal)

Net U.S. energy imports as share of consumption lowest in 29 years (via U.S. EIA)

CEOs tout reserves of oil and gas but revealed to be less in federal reports (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

China coal tariff sends message to cut supply (via Reuters)

China coal tariffs add to pressure on Australian producers (via Bloomberg)

Cheap natural gas and emission rules darker future of U.S. coal (via Financial Times)

EMISSIONS 

Forest fragmentation’s carbon bomb: 736 million tonnes CO2 annually (via Mongabay)

Huge methane emissions “hot spot” found in U.S. (via Climate Central)

RENEWABLES 

Scotland approves four offshore wind farms with 2.2GW capacity (via BusinessGreen)

Germany’s KfW issues largest-ever U.S. green bond - $1.5 billion (via Renew Economy)

Australians copy solar garden idea (via Energy Manager Today)

Yieldcos “big” for U.S. offshore wind (via Recharge)

Amid PV boom, solar thermal systems often overlooked (via Midwest Energy News)

Battle lines drawn over Colorado net metering dispute (via PV Tech)

SunEdison yieldco makes third-party acquisition (via PV Tech)

CLIMATE

Few U.S. states preparing for climate change, says study (via Los Angeles Times)

White House pushes climate protections for natural resources (via The Hill)

DOE Secretary says climate change will affect Gulf energy facilities (via Houston Chronicle)

OIL 

Venezuela, in a quiet shift, gives foreign partners more control in oil ventures (via New York Times)

Crude oil prices fall to lowest levels in years as market pressures converge (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil companies quietly prepare for a future of carbon pricing (via GreenBiz)

Green groups sue over expansion of California crude by rail (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Unmoved by oil export proponents, Americans still fear gasoline spike (via Reuters)

Tesla unveils all-wheel drive Model D (via San Francisco Chronicle)

310- to 373-mile EV range by 2020, says Volkswagen executive (via CleanTechnica)

GM confirms 200-mile range EV (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Fracking setback in Poland dims hope for less Russian gas (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains over the last decade saved more energy than China consumed in 2011 (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

PJM Interconnection offers bid to salvage demand response (via EnergyWire)

Texas power grid has first rotating outages since 2011 (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

China pollution levels hit 20 times safe limit (via The Guardian)

U.S. weather forecaster says El Nino expected to begin in 1-2 months (via Reuters)

Atlantic hurricane season making late threat (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

Brazil’s Silva not yet read to endorse Neves in runoff (via Reuters)

GOP flails about looking for climate denial alternatives (via Grist)

California’s top power regulator to exit amid criticism (via ABC News/AP)

Oil and gas industry “soul searching” over Landrieu (via Politico)

OPINION 

Our planet is going to blow past the “2 degrees” climate limit (via The New Republic)

The $9.7 trillion problem: Cyclones and climate change (via Climate Central)

Latin America needs good data to plan for water stress and climate change (via WRI Insights)

Why climate litigation could soon go global (via Globe and Mail)

The Keystone killer environmentalists didn’t see coming (via Bloomberg)

Google is gone, but ALEC is still winning (via National Journal)

The bell tolls for KiOR (via Energy Trends Insider)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN sets six-month deadline for delivery of draft climate agreement (via RTCC)

EU nations mull funds to aid clean energy in 2030 climate deal (via Bloomberg)

EU 2030 compromise could weaken climate action (via RTCC)

NOAA: Antarctic sea ice growth linked to loss of land ice (via Climate Progress)

Prepare for climate change or risk loss of funds, says FEMA (via Sustainable Business)

California leads U.S. on climate change preparation, says 50-state tool (via USA Today)

RENEWABLES 

Solar’s $30 billion splurge proves too much for Japan’s grid (via Bloomberg)

China solar demand in doubt as rooftop installations lag target (via Reuters)

Solar outlook in Ontario promising despite FiT cut (via PV Tech)

Ukraine wants 1GW of wind by 2016 (via Recharge News)

UK energy minister sets sights on “subsidy-free” solar by 2020 (via PV Tech)

Brazil eliminates taxes on wind parts to spur turbine production (via Bloomberg)

Mercom reports strong quarterly solar financing activity (via Solar Industry)

Slow-growing geothermal seeks bigger piece of U.S. renewable energy pie (via Breaking Energy)

Honda, SolarCity expand sun-powered partnership with new $50 million fund (via Autoblog Green)

Buying renewable power for data centers poses major challenges for Internet companies (via Greentech Media)

Wind energy innovation: Hybrid concrete and steel towers (via Navigant Research)

Proposed U.S. solar trade tariff changes “illegal” (via PV Tech)

Massachusetts offshore wind auction to include 4-5 zones (via Recharge News)

Renexia plans 500MW offshore wind for Maryland coast (via Recharge News)

NUCLEAR 

EU approves plan for new nuclear power station in UK (via New York Times)

Federal inspector faults regulator on San Onofre nuclear plant review (via CBS Los Angeles)

EMISSIONS 

Glasgow University to ditch £18 million fossil fuel investments (via BusinessGreen)

EPA sends ozone regulation for White House review (via The Hill)

California moves to revoke carbon credits after inquiry (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Canadian crude exports to U.S. top 3 million bpd for first time (via Reuters)

Oil bulls keep faith Saudi supply cuts will revive price (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

In the U.S., a turning point in the flow of oil (via New York Times)

Environmental groups ramp up crude-by-rail fight in courtroom (via Breaking Energy)

Lego scraps Shell deal after Arctic drilling protest (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK invests £11 million to get hydrogen cars on the road (via BusinessGreen)

Tesla sets up shop in Japan, sells first EVs (via Green Car Reports)

EPA says 24.1-mpg new car average is best ever (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency worth more than renewables at $310 billion, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

Which states have the most efficient cars and homes? Study ranks them (via Green Car Reports)

ENERGY POLICY 

Canadian support for joint U.S. energy policy falls (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

New Hampshire could be the next state to take on microgrids (via GreenBiz)

ENVIRONMENT 

Sugar shortage seen looming amid drought in Brazil (via Bloomberg)

Beijing raises smog alert as pollution envelops North China (via Bloomberg)

Obama to declare national monument in San Gabriels (via Los Angeles Times)

California’s firefighting air tanker fleet grounded after deadly Yosemite crash (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Fossil fuel divestment: A brief history (via The Guardian)

2014 extreme weather: looking for climate ties (via Climate Central)

Fourth quarter PV installation forecasts turning into a lottery (via PV Tech)

Advanced ethanol makers trying to give Big Oil a run for its money (via Forbes)

The big problem with letting small railroads haul oil (via Sightline)

Firsthand lessons on public charging for EVs (via Energy Collective)

California’s drought is so bad it’s literally moving mountains (via National Journal)

Documentary “The Overnighters” shows dark side of North Dakota oil boom (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.14

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

EMISSIONS 

EPA ozone-pollution standard left intact by Supreme Court (via Bloomberg)

Methane pollution from federal lands rising, oil boom to blame (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Leading Australian pension fund ditches coal holdings (via RTCC)

Complex market forces are challenging Appalachian coal mining (via Center for American Progress)

Coal miners to march on EPA against climate rule (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar power market could hit 200GW by end of 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

U.S. solar trade case could expand to include Chinese modules with any cell origin (via PV Tech)

Chinese, Japanese solar PV to soar in Q4 2014 (via Recharge)

Solar PV catching on fast in Latin America, Caribbean (via Triple Pundit)

UK offers $482 million for renewable energy auctions (via Energy Manager Today)

China’s solar industry continues rebound (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar, wind cost may fall to level for coal by 2020s (via Bloomberg)

First-ever global life cycle assessment of renewable energy future (via Phys.org)

Solar companies fall on U.S. stock market on heavy volume (via Reuters)

Despite political setback, high hopes for Ohio clean energy (via Midwest Energy News)

Researchers develop technique to turn winery waste into biofuel (via Breaking Energy)

DuPont, P&G partner to use cellulosic ethanol in Tide laundry detergent, replacing corn ethanol (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY POLICY 

EU moves closer to 2030 deal on climate, energy (via Bloomberg)

Japan nuclear restart to hit oil usage hardest (via Reuters)

Regulatory complexities, natural gas economics driving power markets (via Energy Manager Today)

California drought leads to less hydropower, increased natural gas generation (via U.S. EIA)

OIL 

EU abandons “dirty” label for tar sands oil (via Reuters)

DOE Secretary skeptical U.S. will export oil anytime soon (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

EV sales charge up 50% in 2014 (via BusinessGreen)

Fast charging your EV might not be as bad for batteries as predicted (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla to join luxury race into automated driving (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

The ocean’s surface layer has been warming much faster than previously thought (via Climate Progress)

10 countries have pledged $2.3 billion to fight climate change – the U.S. isn’t one of them (via Mother Jones)

NATURAL GAS 

A push to make “fracking” sound better (via Wall Street Journal)

Cuomo administration edited and delayed key fracking study (via Capital New York)

GRID 

Battery storage costs could plunge below $100/kWh (via Renew Economy)

POLITICS 

Anti-ALEC activists pressure eBay to drop conservative group (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Are Russian energy sanctions working? (via National Journal)

Why are institutional investors still hesitating on solar? (via Greentech Media)

Carbon capture’s energy penalty problem (via Reuters)

Can sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere really work? (via MIT Technology Review)

Why solar power is taking off at airports across the U.S. (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.14

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

CLIMATE 

Obama and Modi announce agreement on U.S.-India global warming efforts (via Washington Post)

Antarctic sea ice hits new max; continent still warming (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

MIT: Global energy use, CO2 may double by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Ex-Im Bank to finance $1 billion Mexican oil and gas deal (via The Hill)

Finland’s “fickle” nuclear energy policy? (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

2014 clean energy spending at $175 billion so far on Chinese rise (via Bloomberg)

Global clean energy investment rallies, but UK market plummets (via BusinessGreen)

Latin America on pace to install 2.3GW of solar PV in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

World Bank approves $500 million for Morocco solar (via Bloomberg)

Trina drops as Japan outlook sinks Chinese solar makers (via Bloomberg)

Property tycoon reveals $20 billion solar-led portfolio (via Bloomberg)

Vivint Solar makes public market debut, shares up modestly (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Hilton Worldwide achieves ISO 50001 energy management certification (via Energy Manager Today)

Japan focuses on zero-energy buildings (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas slips on outlook for above-normal supply gain (via Bloomberg)

Baker Huges will officially disclose fracking chemicals (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon fracking report responds to shareholders (via ABC News/AP)

Ohio fracking waste issues go beyond chemical disclosure (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

DOE approves transmission line to deliver Quebec hydropower to New York (via Renewable Energy World)

New Jersey Transit becomes a leader in microgrids (via Energy Collective)

OIL 

U.S. crude oil exports headed to South Korea (via Energy Collective)

As U.S. debates oil train safety, local rules gather steam (via Christian Science Monitor)

Maze of federal oversight impedes North Dakota’s anti-flaring push (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil boom widens wage gap between the sexes (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla now has 200 Superchargers open around the world (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf makes 19 months in a row for record sales; Chevy Volt drops 21% (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s Musk outlines unveiling of “Model D and something else” (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Australian coal miners cutting costs not output as rebound seen (via Bloomberg)

Court upholds EPA veto in mountaintop removal mining case (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Study: Bark beetles not a wildfire bugaboo in Western U.S. (via USA Today)

POLITICS 

Republicans craft 2015 plan to force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via Reuters)

Energy trade group, environmental bosses rake in green (via Greenwire)

Report: McConnell opposed coal plant as county leader (via The Hill)

OPINION 

Global clean energy investment sustains its recovery (via Bloomberg)

Counting trees to save the woods: Using big data to map deforestation (via The Guardian)

Could the 2C climate target be completely wrong? (via The Guardian)

Expanding on the California Climate Credit (via Huffington Post)

Voters don’t really care about climate change, so why do Democrats keep talking about it? (via Washington Post)

The Wall Street Journal’s fresh face of climate inaction (via Slate)

The cult of Neil Degrasse Tyson (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine readies for winter without Russian gas (via The Hill)

Winter season heightens Russia-Europe gas game (via Retuers)

U.S. gas boom turns global as LNG exports shake up market (via Bloomberg)

FERC approves Dominion’s Cove Point LNG export facility (via Reuters)

EPA shows 73% decline in methane emissions from fracked wells (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS 

Smog clouds Shanghai’s drive to become global financial center (via Bloomberg)

U.S. emissions increased in 2013, according to EPA (via Huffington Post)

RENEWABLES 

India will be renewables superpower, says energy minister (via The Guardian)

Germany renewables output tops coal for first time (via Bloomberg)

Japan may apply solar brakes with rate overhaul (via Bloomberg)

India to build first offshore wind power project (via Bloomberg)

Brazil study shows 30 ethanol mills near bankruptcy (via Bloomberg)

Japan to slap more restrictions on solar power (via Reuters)

Wave power finally on the horizon? (via Renewables International)

New Western U.S. real-time market aims to smooth bumps in renewable generation (via EnergyWire)

Massachusetts: 100,000 clean energy jobs (via Sustainable Business)

Vivint Solar prices IPO at $16 per share, aims for SolarCity-style ride (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal competing with oil and gas for space on rails (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Alpha Natural sees room for just 2-4 big U.S. coal miners (via Bloomberg)

For sale: Coal mines for investors willing to buck trend (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

U.S., India partner on climate resilience (via The Hill)

Six EU states cast doubt on proposed 2030 climate goals (via RTCC)

South Pacific flotilla to protest climate change inaction at Australia coal port (via Reuters)

OIL 

OPEC oil output hits highest since 2012 on Libya, Saudi (via Reuters)

Crude oil prices recover as Saudi Arabia cuts production (via Houston Chronicle)

Rising U.S. crude exports move closer to 1957 record (via Bloomberg)

U.S. could press for international Arctic drilling standards (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil, rail industries want 7 years to fix tank cars (via ABC News/AP)

Oil lobby: Rail tank car phase-out could cost $45.2 billion (via The Hill)

Enbridge delays North Dakota oil pipeline at least a year (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla breaks into Japan (via Forbes)

NUCLEAR 

DOE to offer $12.6 billion for nuke projects (via The Hill)

GRID 

California is integrating western utilities into its grid balancing market (via Greentech Media)

Dozens of developers show interest in Hawaii’s energy storage proposal (via PV Tech)

ENVIRONMENT 

North American beekeepers sue to stop pesticides (via Triple Pundit)

California governor signs plastic bag ban (via The Hill)

California burns through $209 million wildfire budget, taps $70 million more (via Los Angeles Times)

POLITICS 

An environmentalist’s calculated push toward Brazil’s presidency (via Reuters)

OPINION 

Taxes, fees: The worldwide battle between utilities and solar (via Reuters)

The world’s biggest energy hogs aren’t who you think they are (via Christian Science Monitor)

Holding out on solar? It’s time to reconsider (via GreenBiz)

Power markets and the changing color of the grid (via The Energy Collective)

Searching for the good life in the Bakken oil fields (via The Atlantic)

The explosive debate over a new natural gas pipeline through the Northeast (via Climate Progress)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.24.14

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

UN CLIMATE SUMMIT

Here’s what major nations pledged at the UN climate summit (via National Journal)

Fortune 500 companies take center stage at UN climate summit (via Fortune)

Obama: U.S., China must lead on climate change efforts (via Wall Street Journal)

China, U.S. make treaty pledges during climate summit (via Climate Central)

UN climate summit pledges to halt loss of natural forest by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Major firms pledge climate change disclosure as “fiduciary duty” (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

India’s top court scraps nearly all coal blocks allocated since 1993 (via Reuters)

Coal mogul Murray says more bankruptcies possible (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Kazakhstan mulls 713MW new solar PV capacity by 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Mexico’s solar energy revolution (via The Energy Collective)

Brazil free market “could add 1.3GW new wind capacity (via Recharge News)

Santander tops green bank list as Europe’s lenders surge (via Bloomberg)

IKEA, Swiss Re, Marks, H&M go all-in on renewables (via GreenBiz)

Investors anxious and ready to grow green bond market (via Sustainable Business)

DOE report: U.S. wind has come far but faces challenges (via Energy Manager Today)

Feds draft renewable energy plan for California desert (via The Hill)

Developers plan $8 billion renewable energy project for Los Angeles (via Bloomberg)

Siemens unveils 3.3MW onshore wind turbine (via Recharge News)

SolarCity seeking $500 million in fourth panel-backed bond offer (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity strikes deal with New York for solar manufacturing plant (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

New analysis shows global exposure to sea level rise (via Climate Central)

Report: Little climate aid for poor countries could threaten global treaty (via The Hill)

Climate change puts out the welcome mat for invasive species (via Grist) 

New executive order: U.S. must consider climate change when helping other countries (via Climate Progress)

Houston takes lead with climate plan (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS 

EU plans for Iran gas imports if sanctions lifted (via Reuters)

Panel: Don’t expect high natural gas prices any time soon (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania natural gas leaks among worst in U.S. (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Record year for fossil fuel emissions pushes carbon budget to brink (via The Guardian)

European Union to cut emissions 80% by 2050 (via The Hill)

China targets emissions peak “as soon as possible” (via BusinessGreen)

Hong Kong seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50% (via Bloomberg)

Cities may reduce carbon emissions 8 gigatons by 2050 (via Bloomberg)

Quebec, California seeking to boost size of carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Analysts, states bullish on success of clean power plan (via Climate Central)

Brown says global lead on zero emissions beating forecast (via Bloomberg)

Rockefellers pledge to ditch fossil fuel assets (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Delta: oil exports would prompt refinery closures (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

BIO says EPA inaction on RFS rule causing increase in emissions (via Green Car Congress)

An electric power plant on the roof of your car? (via Los Angeles Times)

Rapid charging EV batteries: Less damaging than we thought? (via Green Car Reports)

Even without Tesla, EV batteries can help California (via Phys.org)

NUCLEAR 

Japan won’t restart nuclear plants unless safety is restored (via Reuters)

GRID 

North America’s biggest battery gets unveiled today (via Greentech Media)

America’s grid has a baby boomer social security problem (via RMI Outlet)

New York grid operator takes a close look at distributed energy (via Renew Grid)

Can batteries replace coal plants? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

3,000 NYC buildings to get energy retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainable corporations perform better financially, finds report (via The Guardian)

Companies are taking the baton in climate change efforts (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

No drought relief in U.S. West without deep mountain snow (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

All over the planet, countries are completely missing their emissions targets (via Washington Post)

What good is a climate summit without emissions cuts? (via Washington Post)

Analyzing outcomes from the UN climate summit (via WRI Insights)

Tough slog ahead to fulfill UN climate summit promises (via Bloomberg)

Obama is pushing climate-change resilience, but he’s not promising new carbon cuts (via National Journal)

How to explain climate change so Congress can actually understand (via National Journal)

How does the People’s Climate March stack up against the largest protest rallies in U.S. history? (via The Energy Collective)

How to tap the medium-scale clean energy market (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.24.14

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

UN CLIMATE SUMMIT

Here’s what major nations pledged at the UN climate summit (via National Journal)

Fortune 500 companies take center stage at UN climate summit (via Fortune)

Obama: U.S., China must lead on climate change efforts (via Wall Street Journal)

China, U.S. make treaty pledges during climate summit (via Climate Central)

UN climate summit pledges to halt loss of natural forest by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Major firms pledge climate change disclosure as “fiduciary duty” (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

India’s top court scraps nearly all coal blocks allocated since 1993 (via Reuters)

Coal mogul Murray says more bankruptcies possible (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Kazakhstan mulls 713MW new solar PV capacity by 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Mexico’s solar energy revolution (via The Energy Collective)

Brazil free market “could add 1.3GW new wind capacity (via Recharge News)

Santander tops green bank list as Europe’s lenders surge (via Bloomberg)

IKEA, Swiss Re, Marks, H&M go all-in on renewables (via GreenBiz)

Investors anxious and ready to grow green bond market (via Sustainable Business)

DOE report: U.S. wind has come far but faces challenges (via Energy Manager Today)

Feds draft renewable energy plan for California desert (via The Hill)

Developers plan $8 billion renewable energy project for Los Angeles (via Bloomberg)

Siemens unveils 3.3MW onshore wind turbine (via Recharge News)

SolarCity seeking $500 million in fourth panel-backed bond offer (via Bloomberg)

SolarCity strikes deal with New York for solar manufacturing plant (via Greentech Media)

CLIMATE 

New analysis shows global exposure to sea level rise (via Climate Central)

Report: Little climate aid for poor countries could threaten global treaty (via The Hill)

Climate change puts out the welcome mat for invasive species (via Grist) 

New executive order: U.S. must consider climate change when helping other countries (via Climate Progress)

Houston takes lead with climate plan (via Houston Chronicle)

NATURAL GAS 

EU plans for Iran gas imports if sanctions lifted (via Reuters)

Panel: Don’t expect high natural gas prices any time soon (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania natural gas leaks among worst in U.S. (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Record year for fossil fuel emissions pushes carbon budget to brink (via The Guardian)

European Union to cut emissions 80% by 2050 (via The Hill)

China targets emissions peak “as soon as possible” (via BusinessGreen)

Hong Kong seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50% (via Bloomberg)

Cities may reduce carbon emissions 8 gigatons by 2050 (via Bloomberg)

Quebec, California seeking to boost size of carbon market (via Bloomberg)

Analysts, states bullish on success of clean power plan (via Climate Central)

Brown says global lead on zero emissions beating forecast (via Bloomberg)

Rockefellers pledge to ditch fossil fuel assets (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Delta: oil exports would prompt refinery closures (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

BIO says EPA inaction on RFS rule causing increase in emissions (via Green Car Congress)

An electric power plant on the roof of your car? (via Los Angeles Times)

Rapid charging EV batteries: Less damaging than we thought? (via Green Car Reports)

Even without Tesla, EV batteries can help California (via Phys.org)

NUCLEAR 

Japan won’t restart nuclear plants unless safety is restored (via Reuters)

GRID 

North America’s biggest battery gets unveiled today (via Greentech Media)

America’s grid has a baby boomer social security problem (via RMI Outlet)

New York grid operator takes a close look at distributed energy (via Renew Grid)

Can batteries replace coal plants? (via Chicago Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

3,000 NYC buildings to get energy retrofits (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sustainable corporations perform better financially, finds report (via The Guardian)

Companies are taking the baton in climate change efforts (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

No drought relief in U.S. West without deep mountain snow (via Bloomberg)

OPINION 

All over the planet, countries are completely missing their emissions targets (via Washington Post)

What good is a climate summit without emissions cuts? (via Washington Post)

Analyzing outcomes from the UN climate summit (via WRI Insights)

Tough slog ahead to fulfill UN climate summit promises (via Bloomberg)

Obama is pushing climate-change resilience, but he’s not promising new carbon cuts (via National Journal)

How to explain climate change so Congress can actually understand (via National Journal)

How does the People’s Climate March stack up against the largest protest rallies in U.S. history? (via The Energy Collective)

How to tap the medium-scale clean energy market (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)