Category Archives:texas

05
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.5.14

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

CLIMATE 

Glacier study reveals north-south divide in climate change (via The Australian)

Wildfire smoke proves worse for global warming (via Scientific American)

Preparing for climate disasters to get $100 million fund (via Bloomberg)

Toledo’s algae bloom in line with climate projections (via Climate Central)

COAL 

Beijing to ban coal use to curb pollution (via Sydney Morning Herald/Xinhua)

King Coal deposed in West, but reigns in East (via Energy Collective)

RENEWABLES 

India plans solar parks to host up to 20GW (via Bloomberg)

UK solar firms call for review of early end to subsidies (via The Guardian)

Japan may pull more solar project approvals behind schedule (via Bloomberg)

China said to consider policies to increase solar installations (via Bloomberg)

China said to add 10,000 tons to rare earths stockpiles (via Bloomberg)

Brazil’s hybrid revolution (via Recharge)

Nigeria energy minister back solar for rural communities (via RTCC)

France approves green energy law (via RTCC)

France announces $13.4 billion green energy plan (via CleanTechnica)

Morgan Stanley: Fixed charges on solar may cause grid defection “tipping point” (via Greentech Media)

Arizona Public Service’s new solar lease: More than meets the eye (via GreenBiz)

Renewable heating and cooling now mandated in Massachusetts (via Renewable Energy World)

Fees for distributed solar fire up advocates and utilities in Utah and Massachusetts (via Solar Industry)

NATURAL GAS 

Amid Ukraine crisis, will Europe frack? (via Christian Science Monitor)

Marcellus Region production continues growth (via U.S. EIA)

Pennsylvania drillers did not report half of spills that led to fines (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Colorado deal would keep fracking off ballot (via Wall Street Journal)

Why Twitter should matter to fracking firms (via Environmental Leader)

EMISSIONS 

Fossil free indexes U.S. supports fossil fuel divestment (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Bakken Shale fuels North Dakota’s oil production growth (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPRI, utilities, automakers partner on EV-smart grid integration (via Renew Grid)

Tesla trying to keep Model X demand low for now (via Autoblog Green)

Future power demand from electric cars sparks study (via Houston Chronicle)

When will electric cars compete in the mainstream market? (via Green Car Reports)

Elon Musk predicts price parity with gas-powered cars within 10 years (via ClimateWire)

GRID 

Why some utilities are warming up to microgrids (via Midwest Energy News)

California plans “road map” to make more energy storage a reality (via Greenwire)

$600 million transmission project splits Texas power industry (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Europeans prioritize energy efficiency measure as price fears rise (via BusinessGreen)

Colorado craft beer brewers model energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Federal officials, lawmakers plan conservation fund promotion tour (via The Hill)

How invisible water sources could green the nation (via GreenBiz)

Five cities where the bacteria that contaminated Ohio’s water supply might strike next (via Climate Progress)

POLITICS 

President Obama is beginning to make climate hawk noises (via Grist)

House Energy Committee fight runs into money war (via Politico)

Colorado Democrats reach a deal on fracking (via Climate Progress)

OPINION 

How ALEC fronts for fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Is the sharing economy really green? (via Marc Gunther)

California, here we come (via Sightline Daily)

Greening or greenwashing? Illinois cities’ use of RECs shows challenges with local energy choice (via CleanTechnica)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, arizona, Bakken Shale, Beijing, Brazil, california, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, distributed generation, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPRI, europe, ev, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, France, global warming, grid, Grid defection, Illinois, india, japan, marcellus shale, massachusetts, Microgrid, Morgan Stanley, natural gas, News, nigeria, north dakota, Ohio, oil, pennsylvania, Rare earths, REC, Renewable energy credit, renewables, smart grid, solar, Tesla, Tesla Model X, texas, transmission, Transportation, Ukraine, united kingdom, utah, Wildfire
0
25
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.25.14

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

CLIMATE 

New extreme temperature data underscores planet’s warming trend, say scientists (via InsideClimate News)

Community control of forests could help combat climate change (via The Guardian)

COAL 

Coal company pain accelerates as bankruptcy cases rise (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

China’s plan to limit coal use could spur consumption for years (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Solar revenues set to double worldwide by 2020, say analysts (via BusinessGreen)

The five best and worst utilities at renewables and efficiency (via Forbes)

SolarCity’s new $210 million securitized solar portfolio keeps capital flowing (via Greentech Media)

Study finds California can be powered with wind, water, and sun (via Phys.org)

Fifteen clean energy yieldcos: Company structure (via Renewable Energy World)

New UK study confirms some biomass is dirtier than coal (via NRDC Switchboard)

Biofuels are included in latest U.S. Navy bulk fuel procurement (via US EIA)

GRID 

China to invest €2 billion in Italy’s power grid (via Financial Times)

German utilities bail out electric grid at wind’s mercy (via Bloomberg)

New Jersey launches $200 million energy resilience bank for microgrids, distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

Sweeping oil-by-rail announcements set stage for Bakken battle (via EnergyWire)

Massive influx of oil trains may be headed for Seattle (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Canada regulators welcome U.S. oil-by-rail ideas, say danger remains (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

Study shows EPA rules a boon for Texas (via Bloomberg)

Supreme Court’s handling of visa case may be harbinger for EPA rule (via Greenwire)

EPA climate rule economically feasible, says study (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Satellites show major Southwest U.S. groundwater loss (via Wall Street Journal)

NOAA considers bluefin tuna fishing ban as population dips 95% (via Climate Progress)

California tries to measure water use as drought worsens (via Bloomberg)

Kudzu that ate U.S. South heads north as climate changes (via Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR 

Here’s how American scientists plan to prevent the next nuclear disaster (via National Journal)

OPINION 

If you think wildfires are bad this year, wait until you see the bill (via Bloomberg)

Is the U.S. about to raise the ethanol mandate? (via The Hill)

Why value-added-taxes on solar power hinder progress on energy poverty (via Huffington Post)

How leaving RGGI leaves New Jersey behind (via Center for American Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: Bakken Shale, biofuels, biomass, california, canada, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, distributed generation, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy poverty, environment, EPA, ethanol, germany, global warming, grid, italy, Kudzu, Microgrids, new jersey, News, noaa, nuclear, oil, Oil trains, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, rggi, seattle, solar, SolarCity, Supreme Court, texas, US Navy, Value-added-tax, wildfires, wind, Yieldo
0
24
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.24.14

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

CLIMATE 

June 2014: Earth’s 3rd consecutive warmest month on record (via Weather Underground)

Report: Gulf and Atlantic Coasts not prepared for sea-level rise (via National Geographic)

Chicago’s race to outbuild the rain (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Q2 2014 VC smart grid funding at $81 million, says Mercom (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Australian renewables compete in carbon tax vacuum (via Xinhua)

India set for 1.5GW solar PV projects auction (via CleanTechnica)

U.K. announces $340 million renewable power auction (via Bloomberg)

Scotland approves two wind farms to power more than 100,000 homes (via Bloomberg)

New biofuels match crude oil’s energy, but there’s a catch (via Christian Science Monitor)

Ethanol needs separate treatment in U.S. rail rules, say biofuel groups (via Reuters)

Ethanol producers squeezing more fuel from corn crops (via Midwest Energy News)

Are utilities about to kill solar energy’s future in North Carolina? (via CleanTechnica)

Texas is wired for wind power and more farms are plugging in (via New York Times)

Beyond the rooftop: Commercial net metering in California (via Greentech Media)

For Californians, higher costs dampen support for clean energy (via Reuters)

Most Ohio utilities plan to keep investing in clean energy despite new law (via Columbus Dispatch) 

COAL 

Japan boosts support for overseas coal plants despite Obama push to cut funding (via International Business Times)

China’s coal industry says times are hard, outlook is worse (via Reuters)

Japanese trading houses look to sell Australian coal assets (via Financial Times)

Environmentalists: Coal ash layers still evident in Dan River (via News & Record)

Court ruling says Illinois can force consumers to buy power from FutureGen (via Chicago Tribune)

EMISSIONS 

China’s planned coal-to-gas plants would emit more CO2, says report (via Al-Jazeera America)

States most against EPA rule would gain the most, finds study (via New York Times)

Court ruling may reverberate on “social cost” of carbon (via Climate Central)

EPA gears up for public hearings on climate rule (via The Hill)

OIL 

U.S. petroleum refineries running at record levels (via U.S. EIA)

DOT proposes stricter oil train safety rules (via Politico)

Construction of first U.S. tar sands mine begins, even as it’s blockaded (via Sustainable Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU regulators propose 30% energy savings target for 2030 (via Bloomberg)

The NFL’s newest stadium is also one of the greenest (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

Fire season in U.S. West so far below expectations (via AP)

Amid extreme drought, California sees big jump in brush fires (via Los Angeles Times)

California water prices soar for farmers as drought grows (via Bloomberg)

Federal agency pledges new West Virginia chemical leak health studies (via Charleston Daily Mail)

POLITICS 

GOP senator slams EPA chief: “You don’t run this country” (via The Hill)

Mitch McConnell’s mythmaking on coal jobs (via The Hill)

A one-step guide to infuriating an EPA official (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Has China “messed up” its EV charging standards? (via Green Car Reports)

Is climate change changing you? (via Washington Post)

Four reasons U.S. fracking could turn out to be a bubble (via Quartz)

Seven charts explain changing U.S. power sector (via WRI Insights)

Sure, the utility business model is changing, but not so fast (via Breaking Energy)

Why a minimum bill may solve net metering battles (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuels, california, carbon tax, chicago, China, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, coal ash, Coal ash spill, Coal-to-gas, colorado, DOT, drought, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, ethanol, European Union, ev charging, Extreme weather, fracking, FutureGen, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, grid, Illinois, india, japan, LEED, Mitch McConnell, Net metering, News, North Carolina, Ohio, oil, Oil train, renewables, Sea level rise, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, solar, tar sands, texas, united kingdom, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind
0
18
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.18.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate data from air, land, sea, and ice in 2013 reflect trends of a warming planet (via NOAA)

Research shows Australian droughts caused by manmade emissions (via RTCC)

Does climate change cause flight turbulence? (via EcoWatch)

The one metric that’s hiding the true cost of climate change (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

The coming storage boom: Project proposals nearly double California’s energy storage target (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Investment in UK renewable energy sector almost £8 billion in 2013 (via The Guardian)

Brazil to provide $843.5 million for sugarcane ethanol research program (via Bloomberg)

China three years late on installing offshore wind farms (via Bloomberg)

U.S. EIA forecasting big gains for solar (via Renewable Energy World)

U.S. Senate passes Geothermal Production Expansion Act (via Renewable Energy World)

Soltage-Greenwood gets $70 million for seven U.S. solar projects (via Bloomberg)

U.S. to auction site off New Jersey shore for offshore wind (via Bloomberg)

Rural co-ops see the light on renewable energy – even if industry lobbyists don’t (via Huffington Post)

The quick guide to a green stock portfolio (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

New Zealand carbon prices fall further as emitters stay away (via Reuters)

Without much straining, Minnesota reins in its utilities’ carbon emissions (via New York Times)

OIL 

U.S.-Russia sanctions set to slow Rosneft’s dollar debt, not oil deals (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

India considers $2.5 billion subsidy for hybrid, electric cars to save $11 billion in fuel costs (via CleanTechnica)

U.S. EV charging station market to hit $947 million by 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

FRACKING 

Fracking bans unlikely in Oklahoma, say observers (via The Oklahoman)

Fracking wastewater is big business in Ohio (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Germany wins “World Cup” of energy efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)

How to save money by building green (via Environmental Leader)

ENVIRONMENT 

Fires in Canada’s Northwest Territories in line with “unprecedented” burn (via Climate Central)

Oregon, Washington declare states of emergency as wildfires spread (via Climate Progress)

New study shows rate of groundwater decline slowing in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

OPINION 

Latest state of the climate: Yup, still getting hotter (via Bloomberg)

Three charts that explain why Obama is talking about Chilean solar (via Greentech Media)

Why now is a good time to invest in solar manufacturing and marketing in the U.S. (via Forbes)

It’s really all about renewable energy projects (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, biofuels, Brazil, california, canada, Carbon market, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, ev, ev charging, fracking, Fracking wastewater, geothermal, germany, green building, grid, india, minnesota, new jersey, new zealand, News, noaa, Northwest Territories, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oklahoma, oregon, renewables, Rosneft, Rural electric co-operative, Russia, solar, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, Washington State, wildfires, wind
0
15
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.15.14

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

CLIMATE 

Military bases face hurdles in climate change adaptation (via Climate Central)

The business cost of climate change: What the science says (via The Guardian)

Heat waves replacing drought as deadliest climate disaster (via Vox)

Corporate America steadily steering climate solutions despite Congressional stalemate (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS 

States with fracking see surge in earthquake activity (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Anti-dumping duty on solar gear unlikely to reduce India imports (via Panchabuta)

The Central American solar market is set to boom (via Greentech Media)

Record-breaking offshore wind deal helps drive up Q2 clean energy investment (via Bloomberg)

U.S. clean tech leaders announced (via Environmental Leader)

Leased solar panels can cast a shadow over a home’s value (via NPR)

Without state regulation, Iowa counties get tougher on wind projects (via Iowa City Gazette)

June bloom: Ten clean energy stocks for 2014, Q2 update (via Renewable Energy World)

COAL 

Coal plant carbon pollution injects life in old oil wells (via Bloomberg)

NRG’s $1 billion bet to show how carbon capture could work for coal power plants (via Forbes)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon tax repeal set for final showdown (via Reuters)

In lead up to carbon price, South Africa preps carbon offset program (via Climate Progress)

Emitters in China’s largest carbon market meet targets amid falling prices (via Reuters)

Switzerland threatens 40% carbon tax rise if targets not met (via Reuters)

Study: States can handle EPA power plant rules (via The Hill)

Texas utilities preparing for new EPA emissions regulations (via Texas Tribune)

OIL 

North Dakota expects “big surge” in summer crude output (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK auto industry is booming, largely thanks to clean technology (via BusinessGreen)

Low U.S. gasoline taxes may lead to waste, says IEA chief (via Reuters)

U.S. oil and rail sector agree on train tanker safety (via Reuters)

Which states have the worst roads in America? (via Washington Post)

White House says won’t help Tesla sell cars online (via The Hill)

Tesla wins approval to sell cars in Pennsylvania (via Los Angeles Times)

GRID 

Amidst extreme weather surge, distributed energy takes on new meaning for U.S. grid (via Greentech Media)

California ready to fund the next wave of microgrids paired with renewables and storage (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY POLICY 

Corporate cannibals: Electricity sector may have to kill gas to save itself (via Renew Economy)

Greatest growth opportunity for electric companies: Devour oil’s market (via Energy Trends Insider)

Colorado ranked least energy-expensive state (via Energy Manager Today)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nestle bottling water straight from heart of California’s drought (via Salon)

OPINION 

How climate change changed me (via Politico)

The decline of coal (via Charleston Gazette)

Global warming is coming, but climate hysteria doesn’t help anyone (via Time)

The point everyone’s missing about the Polar Vortex’s return (via Climate Progress)

Electric vehicles will change the way you power your home (via Time)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon offset, carbon tax, Central America, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, distributed generation, drought, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, Enhanced oil recovery, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, gas prices, global warming, grid, IEA, india, Iowa, Microgrid, natural gas, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, offshore wind, oil, Oil train, pennsylvania, Polar vortex, renewables, solar, Solar trade war, South Africa, switzerland, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind
0
14
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.14.14

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

CLIMATE 

New climate models predict an Australian perma-drought (via Motherboard)

Southern Australia faces water crisis by 2100 due to climate change (via The Guardian)

Carbon import tariffs could torpedo climate deal, says EU official (via Reuters)

Obama to push climate resilience at state, local level (via The Hill)

Climate change has created a new literary genre (via Washington Post)

COAL 

Beijing to enforce use of clean coal in anti-pollution drive (via Reuters)

Coal mining ruling: Another legal win for Obama EPA (via Charleston Gazette)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar module prices just reached a record low (via Climate Progress)

Global biofuel output expansion to slow by 2023, says OECD (via Reuters)

Led by Chile, Latin America solar PV pipeline nears 20GW (via Greentech Media)

BNEF: Europe to invest $1 trillion in renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Indian PM Modi doubles down on country’s solar revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Russia’s state-supported renewable energy auction heavily favored solar (via Renewable Energy World)

$1 billion geothermal project brings Costa Rica closer to 100% renewables (via Renew Economy)

Zurich Insurance to double investment in green bonds (via Bloomberg)

PV industry sees a “second gold rush” coming in solar sector (via Solar Industry Magazine)

USDA plants seed funding for rural clean energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar vs. utility battles heating up in Iowa, Wisconsin (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

CPUC report highlights California’s continued solar success (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Is Texas souring on wind power? (via Forbes)

Iowa Supreme Court rules in favor of third-party solar (via Midwest Energy News)

Huge North Carolina solar project could “move the needle” for solar possibilities (via Renewable Energy World)

Inside Yingli, the giant Chinese solar company sponsoring the World Cup (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

China could reveal carbon cap by first quarter 2015 (via RTCC)

EU pollution permits to gain 28% as regulators cut supply glut (via Bloomberg)

London projected to fail EU air quality limits until 2030 (via Bloomberg)

Group representing half a billion Christians says it will no longer support fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

Texas, U.S. leader in emissions stands vulnerable to their effects (via New York Times)

The plan to get New Jersey back into RGGI that Chris Christie can’t veto (via Climate Progress)

University of Dayton divests from fossil fuels (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

OPEC’s oil market share to shrink in 2015, despite growing demand (via Reuters)

Oil demand up fastest since 2010 on China growth, says IEA (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

China, U.S. to cooperate on strategic oil reserves (via Reuters)

Global oil exploration nears $1 trillion, but where are the finds? (via Reuters)

Crumbling roads in oil fields slow U.S. energy boom (via Bloomberg)

New York State won’t keep oil train details secret (via Huffington Post/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

There are now more than 500,000 EVs on Earth (via Autoblog Green)

Report: Electric vehicle market to hit $500 billion by 2025 (via BusinessGreen)

China requires 30% of state vehicles use alternative energy (via Bloomberg)

Helsinki, Finland plans on making private car ownership obsolete in 10 years (via Time)

U.S. fuel economy improvements show diminishing fuel savings (via US EIA)

Tesla’s chargers now moving a gigawatt-hour of electricity per month (via GigaOm)

Bay Area governments make America’s biggest-yet EV purchase (via CleanTechnica)

Chicago wants more residents to drive electric vehicles (via Southern Illinoisan)

Audi preparing an entire lineup of PHEV models (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Seven earthquakes hit Oklahoma in less than a day – is fracking to blame? (via Time)

Ohio fracking water reuse questioned (via Columbus Dispatch)

Former Pennsylvania health secretary: State failed to address fracking concerns (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENVIRONMENT 

The soil pollution crisis in China: Cleanup presents daunting challenge (via Yale e360)

California braces as drought sparks early fire season (via Sacramento Bee)

Firefighters battling seven wildfires in Washington State (via Los Angeles Times)

New data says huge West Virginia chemical spill may have been more toxic than reported (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY POLICY 

India PM Modi accelerates solar revolution, doubles tax on coal (via Renew Economy)

Why were this company’s computers attacked millions of times this year? Algae. (via Washington Post)

Wells Fargo’s focus on energy shows growth strategy (via Reuters)

KEYSTONE XL 

Lopsided lobbying on Keystone XL pipeline (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL backers want to keep pipeline in the public eye (via The Hill)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Data shows some energy retrofits actually increase energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

ACEEE urges EPA to add building codes to Clean Power Plan (via Environmental Leader)

NUCLEAR 

Russia signs nuclear energy deal with Argentina (via Reuters)

GRID 

Blackout-plagued India moves toward a smarter grid (via Navigant Research)

Stanford working on “reversible” fuel cells for energy storage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

2014’s sleeper campaign issue: A bank nobody’s heard about (via Politico)

House GOP votes to thwart imaginary offshore drilling restriction (via National Journal)

Influence game: Shaping railroad safety rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Coal-reliant Pennsylvania faces election showdown over EPA, natural gas, carbon trading (via ClimateWire)

OPINION 

Six trends illustrating the US-China trade case’s impact on the solar market (via Greentech Media)

Here’s what the fossil fuel industry thinks of the carbon bubble (via Renew Economy)

What’s at stake with the Ex-Im Bank? (via National Journal)

Will Nissan’s free EV charging rival Tesla’s Supercharger network? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons U.S. solar installers are vertically integrating…for now (via RMI Outlet)

NY Times gets it wrong with attacks on Steyer and divestment (via EcoWatch)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACEEE, Algae biofuel, Argentina, audi, australia, Beijing, biofuel, BNEF, california, California Public Utilities Commission, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, chicago, Chile, China, Chris Christie, Clean Power Plan, climate, Climate Change, coal, Costa rica, Divestment, drought, earthquakes, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU ETS, europe, ev charging, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, Finland, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Fuel Cells, Fuel Economy, geothermal, grid, india, Iowa, Keystone XL, Latin America, London, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new jersey, new york state, News, Nissan, North Carolina, nuclear, OECD, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, Oil trains, oklahoma, OPEC, pennsylvania, renewables, rggi, Russia, solar, Solar trade war, Tesla, Tesla Supercharger, texas, Tom Steyer, Transportation, University of Dayton, usda, Washington State, Wells Fargo, West Virginia, Wildfire, wind, Wisconsin, Yingli, Zurich Insurance
0
09
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.9.14

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

CLIMATE 

UN issued roadmap on how to avoid climate catastrophe (via The Guardian)

U.S., China ink coal, clean energy deals but climate differences remain (via Reuters)

Arctic warming upsetting birds’ breeding calendar, warns study (via The Guardian)

You may be denying climate change, but the U.S. military isn’t (via Business Insider)

COAL 

Sen. Manchin intends to block anti-coal policy at Export-Import Bank (via Huffington Post)

Tribes oppose Columbia River coal export terminal (via Seattle Times)

RENEWABLES 

International trade talks aim to end tariffs on $1 trillion in solar panels, wind turbines (via The Hill)

Deal set to rescue Australian Renewable Energy Agency (via The Guardian)

EU reaches deal with Germany on green energy law (via Reuters)

India targets 485GW renewable capacity by 2050 (via Climate Connect)

EU offshore wind targets look iffy as France, Germany fall behind (via ClimateWire)

European Commission and industry investing $5 billion in biomass (via Bloomberg)

Saudi solar robot cleans desert PV panels – water free (via Renew Economy)

Aviation offers a way forward in biofuels research (via Phys.org)

Hey haters, RGGI cap-and-trade powered 800MW new renewables in 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Can Sungevity win solar customers with rooftop imagery and data? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase, Mosiac join forces in bid to push solar loans and supplant the lease (via Greentech Media)

Nevada solar net metering will save the grid $36 million, says state report (via Renewable Energy World)

Apple building third massive solar farm in North Carolina (via GigaOm)

Two solar giants aim to own it all (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS 

Ukraine’s gas dispute could mean cold winter for Europe (via Reuters)

Surge of industrial projects could lift U.S. gas demand 19-31% by 2020 (via Houston Chronicle)

Incoming EU President Junker says he opposes fracking (via RTCC)

Ohio study finds more costs than benefits in shale gas drilling (via Midwest Energy News)

Texas sheriff wants criminal charges filed in fracking pollution case (via InsideClimate News)

In rare effort, Ohio scientist to test water before fracking starts (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

New report outlines “pathways” to cut CO2 emissions (via Climate Central)

Singapore outlines plans to fine foreign air polluters (via RTCC)

NJ governor again pursues withdrawal from regional climate initiative (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

U.S. Conference of Mayors scraps cap-and-trade support (via Governing)

OIL 

Chevron admits oil shale production will use huge amounts of western water (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Li-ion batteries to dominate EV market until 2020 (via Environmental Leader)

In new twist, Renewable Fuels Standard could boost electric vehicles (via Greenwire)

Bay Area governments make big EV purchase (via Phys.org)

Another Tesla crash, another Wall Street knee-jerk overreaction (via San Jose Mercury-News)

GRID 

How three states are moving forward with microgrids (via GreenBiz)

73% of small businesses want fixed-price electricity supply contracts (via Energy Manager Today)

Texas studying if wind generators should pay for transmission line use (via Houston Chronicle)

At big solar show, batteries take center stage (via GigaOm)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Environmental free-trade deal could help tar-sands producers (via Grist)

Keystone route legal, Nebraska tells state’s high court (via Bloomberg)

ENVIRONMENT 

How green is the 2014 World Cup? (via GreenBiz)

Japan’s prime minister confirms whale hunt will resume in 2015 (via Huffington Post)

Climate-linked drought cutting forests’ carbon-storing ability (via Mongabay)

Obama seeks $615 million to fight wildfires (via The Hill)

POLITICS 

House GOP launches assault on EPA climate rules (via The Hill)

Kentucky senator on global warming: “There are no coal mines on Mars” (via National Journal)

OPINION 

How opposite energy policies turned the Fukushima disaster into a loss for Japan and a win for Germany (via RMI Outlet)

Climate skeptics are losing their grip (via Financial Times)

If it’s a war on coal, coal is winning (via Bloomberg)

The EPA is swimming in murky water (via Washington Post)

The end of sustainability (via Ensia)

Posted:   |   Categories: apple, arctic, australia, Batteries, biofuels, biomass, cap and trade, Chevron, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, CREZ, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Enphase, environment, EU, European Union, EVs, Ex-Im Bank, fracking, France, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, india, japan, Joe Manchin, Kentucky, Keystone XL, Microgrid, Mosaic, natural gas, Nebraska, Net metering, Nevada, new jersey, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil shale, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, rggi, solar, Sugnevity, tar sands, Tesla, texas, transmission, Transportation, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Ukraine, UN, united nations, wildfires, wind
0
01
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.1.14

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

CLIMATE 

India plans to overhaul approach to UN climate talks (via RTCC)

Besieged by rising tides of climate change, Kiribati buys land in Fiji (via The Guardian)

Pentagon to escalate global warming preparations for bases (via U.S. News & World Report)

Wall Street’s climate war intensifies with new weapons (via National Journal)

The fine line between sugarcoating and panic on climate change (via Washington Post)

KEYSTONE XL 

Tar sands expansion cools down without Keystone XL (via NRDC Switchboard)

RENEWABLES 

EU states avoid green energy overhaul after court backs Swedish scheme (via Reuters)

Renewables to get most of $7.7 trillion new power plant investments by 2030 (via Bloomberg)

China becomes world’s largest solar PV market (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy saves Fortune 500 companies over $1 billion (via CleanTechnica)

Bangladesh to receive $78.4 million from World Bank for solar home systems (via Shanghai Daily)

The rise of Big Solar in Chile (via Forbes)

Solar companies sue to stop property taxes on leased rooftop panels (via Arizona Republic)

Six trailblazers banking on clean energy finance (via GreenBiz)

NRG Yield adds new solar assets (via Recharge)

Two-bladed wind turbines make a comeback (via MIT Technology Review)

Illinois putting $30 million into solar investments (via Southern Illinoisan)

Receding Lake Mead poses challenges to Hoover Dam’s power output (via EnergyWire)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China fuels new boom in natural gas (via ClimateWire)

New York’s top court says towns can ban fracking (via Financial Post/Reuters)

Fracking study finds new natural gas wells leak more than older ones (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

FERC approves second LNG export project (via Breaking Energy)

Shale’s junk debt at risk if Fed raises rates (via Houston Chronicle)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon has best quarter in six years amid EU permit-supply curbs (via Bloomberg)

Court blocks Arch Coal mine expansion for not counting costs of carbon pollution (via Climate Progress)

Basis for EPA Clean Power Plan cuts a “mystery” (via Climate Central)

GRID 

Here’s where solar, storage, and microgrids are taking hold in the U.S. (via Greentech Media)

Symantec warns of hacker threat against energy companies (via Bloomberg)

OIL 

Capacity of U.S. petroleum refineries increases by 101,000 barrels per day (via Environmental Leader)

North Dakota and Texas now provide nearly half U.S. crude oil production (via U.S. EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Supreme Court won’t hear dispute over California fuel standard (via Greenwire)

2015 Toyota Prius launch pushed back six months: Report (via Green Car Reports)

ENVIRONMENT 

Plastic debris widespread on ocean surface, finds study (via Huffington Post)

Indonesia now has the highest rate of deforestation in the world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EU leaders divided on 2030 energy efficiency target (via RTCC)

Energy efficiency investments create 17 jobs per one million dollars in U.S. Southeast (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

Report: Voters more likely to back climate-friendly candidate (via The Hill)

All policy is local: 2014 Congressional races defined by energy issues (via Politico)

Coal fires up West Virginia House of Representatives race (via Politico)

Sen. Beigich talks climate change (via KCAW)

FERC Commissioner Norris expects not to seek another term (via SNL Energy)

OPINION 

U.S. steps toward more China solar tariffs – for the wrong reasons? (via Breaking Energy)

Happy birthday carbon tax….been god to know you (via Renew Economy)

Is climate change destabilizing Iraq? (via Mother Jones)

Closing the renewable energy investment gap (via WRI Insights)

What’s next for U.S. oil exports? (via National Journal)

Australia Institute director says Gore-Palmer ploy reset climate debate (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arch Coal, australia, Bangladesh, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, Chile, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, EU ETS, European Union, FERC, fracking, grid, Hoover Dam, Hydropower, Illinois, india, Indonesia, iraq, John Norris, Keystone XL, Lake Mead, LNG, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, Mark Beigich, methane, Microgrids, natural gas, Natural gas exports, new york state, News, north dakota, NRG Energy, oil, renewables, Sea level rise, solar, Solar trade war, Sweden, tar sands, texas, Toyota prius, Transportation, West Virginia, wind, World Bank, YieldCo
0
30
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.30.14

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

CLIMATE 

World Bank: Tacking climate change will grow the economy (via Climate Central)

Leading insurer closing its climate change office, leaving industry “mute” (via ClimateWire)

Mexico eyes economic benefits of landmark climate law (via RTCC)

The high cost of climate change inaction in two new studies (via NRDC Switchboard)

Wheat breeders planning for climate change (via The Western Producer)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Scotland primed for shale gas exploration (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

IRENA says world needs $550 billion of renewables investment a year (via RTCC)

Last week, wind energy was the new baseload in Australia (via Renew Economy)

German lawmakers vote to reduce renewable energy subsidies (via Bloomberg)

SunEdison closes $190 million financing for Chile solar project (via Bloomberg)

Silver lining for China’s carbon-financed wind power boom (via Forbes)

Columbia River Basin provides more than 40% total U.S. hydroelectric generation (via U.S. EIA)

Michigan’s wind industry soaring (via Detroit Free-Press)

Growing number of solar panels a concern for Wisconsin utilities (via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Boston trying out solar-powered “smart benches” in parks (via Boston Globe)

GM adds three acres of solar arrays at Michigan facilities (via Green Car Congress)

SunPower to add storage to solar in new homes (via Greentech Media)

NextEra Energy prices yieldco IPO (via Recharge)

EMISSIONS 

Australia carbon tax moves closer to repeal after vote in lower house (via Reuters)

Caribbean needs $30 billion investment to cut fossil-fuel use (via Bloomberg)

Shanghai firms meet carbon targets after last-day permit auction (via Reuters)

DOE-sponsored project captures one millionth metric ton of CO2 (via Breaking Energy)

NASA to launch CO2-tracking satellite (via The Guardian)

Los Angeles councilman to propose emissions reduction measure (via Los Angeles Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought has drillers running after shrinking California water supply (via NPR)

Map shows when summer heat will peak in your town (via Climate Central)

OIL 

The other battle for Canada’s oil sands (via Houston Chronicle)

Following long ban, U.S. could dominate global light oil supply (via Reuters)

Feds, lawmakers warn of fire risk from oil trains (via The Hill)

Oil boom meets bust in Texas: Above sea of oil, poverty digs in (via New York Times)

BP seeks return of millions in oil spill damage payments (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

China only sold 7,000 electric automobiles in 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Lukewarm automaker interest in open Tesla EV patents (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan prices replacement Leaf battery at $5,500 (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

MSHA issues 147 citations during coal mine inspections (via Washington Post)

GRID 

UK seeks to avoid “energy crunch” with 53GW capacity auction (via BusinessGreen)

NREL supercomputer tackles grid challenges (via Intelligent Utility)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berg Insights predicts 36 million smart homes worldwide by 2017 (via GigaOm)

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance starts financing network (via Clean Energy Finance Forum)

OPINION 

Australia risks G20 isolation by scrapping carbon tax (via Financial Times)

The American West’s water crisis (via New York Times)

How carbon pricing can boost the bottom line (via Environmental Leader)

Time to buy shares in a yieldco? (via Sustainable Business)

Will Governor Christie re-embrace cap-and-trade in wake of EPA rule? (via InsideClimate News)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, battery, Boston, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Capacity auction, carbon capture, Carbon market, carbon tax, Caribbean, Chile, China, Chris Christie, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, ev, fracking, germany, GM, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, IRENA, los angeles, mexico, michigan, NASA, natural gas, News, NextEra Energy, Nissan, nissan LEAF, NREL, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Oil train, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, Scotland, SEEA, Shale gas, Shanghai, Smart home Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, solar, Subsidy, SunEdison, SunPower, tar sands, Tesla, texas, Transportation, united kingdom, wind, Wisconsin, World Bank, YieldCo
0
27
Jun

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.27.14

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

CLIMATE 

Green bonds show path to $1 trillion market for climate (via Bloomberg)

Wall Street: Your climate war has arrived (via National Journal)

What are schools teaching your kids about global warming? (via National Journal)

New mapping technology shows whether global warming will drown your town (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

French proposal on 2030 EU energy goals could ease gridlock (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Denmark to establish $1 billion green fund (via Energy Manager Today)

China boosts solar exports to developing countries as trade tension mounts with U.S. (via BusinessGreen)

UK audit questions $28 billion in clean energy projects (via Bloomberg)

El Salvador awards contracts for 94MW of solar (via Bloomberg)

Utilities move to kick rooftop solar off the grid in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Brazil to retain transmission and distribution discount on wind energy (via Recharge)

CBO says U.S. gas prices to rise if biofuel mandate not cut (via Reuters)

Distributed renewable energy comes under fire (via CleanTechnica)

As Ohio shuts down clean energy, businesses say they want more renewables (via Greentech Media)

Wisconsin electric cooperative unveils state’s first community solar project (via Madison.com)

EMISSIONS 

EU seen curbing coal use by quadrupling carbon price (via Bloomberg)

Beijing emitters trade 1.6 million carbon permits in fist seven months of pilot program (via Reuters)

Abbott “optimistic” on carbon tax repeal despite crossbench senator’s concerns (via The Guardian)

OIL 

Saudi Arabia, Russia, U.S. produced most oil in 2013, says BP report (via Christian Science Monitor)

Federal officials say oil train dangers extend past Bakken shipments (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Oil boom fuels drop in average age of Great Plains states (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota plans to double pipeline capacity in just two years (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

EVs get support in Canada with tax incentives, wireless charging (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla’s patent giveaway paves the EV freeway (via Navigant Research)

Will Georgia’s $5,000 EV tax credit be axed in 2015? (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

U.S. shale spurs record investments by foreign chemical makers (via Bloomberg)

Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas exploring possible connections between fracking, earthquakes (via Topeka Capital-Journal)

Goldman says shale gas boom driving fear from market (via Bloomberg)

Air pollution spikes in homes near fracking wells (via Forbes)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

High-tech firms focus on energy efficiency to confront climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

LEED for roads: Greener infrastructure gains momentum (via GreenBiz)

KEYSTONE XL 

Support for Keystone XL is almost universal (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT 

Indonesia seeks $5 billion to cut CO2 from deforestation (via Bloomberg)

Battle gets underway for control of .eco domain name (via The Guardian)

California wind farm first in U.S. to avoid penalty for dead eagles (via Wall Street Journal)

NASA shows big drop in air pollution over D.C., I-95 corridor since 2005 (via Washington Post)

POLITICS 

Obama has a response to GOP “I am not a scientist” line (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Scorched farms, flooded homes, lower productivity: The cost of doing nothing (via The Economist)

Solar tariffs seem certain to hurt U.S. installation market (via Solar Industry Magazine)

How solar finance is driving solar businesses to change (via CleanTechnica)

The oil boom in one slick infographic (via Grist)

How climate change ate conservatism’s smartest thinkers (via The Week)

Lessons from Rhode Island: How to pass climate laws in the U.S. (via RTCC)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Bakken Shale, barack obama, Beijing, biofuels, BP, Brazil, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon price, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, community solar, deforestation, denmark, Eagle take, earthquakes, El Salvador, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, European Union, ev, Flooding, fracking, France, gas prices, Georgia, global warming, Green bonds, Indonesia, kansas, Keystone XL, LEED, NASA, natural gas, News, north dakota, Ohio, oil, Oil train, oklahoma, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Russia, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Tesla, texas, Tony Abbott, transmission, Transportation, united kingdom, wildfires, wind, wireless charging, Wisconsin
0