Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.6.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Research assigns US three times CO2 reduction responsibility as China (via Bloomberg)
Brazil’s emissions fall 39% since 2005, now 10% below 1990 levels (via Mongabay)
Obama officials raise “social cost” of carbon in federal regulations (via The Hill)
Schools addressing students’ fossil fears without divesting (via Bloomberg)
OIL
Canada oil output will double by 2030 if pipelines are built (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)
US crude output exceeds imports for first time in 16 years (via Houston Chronicle)
BP to pump $1 billion into its Alaska drilling efforts (via Grist)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Smarter energy use by UK industry could cut electricity demand 75% (via Phys.org)
Amendments could sink bipartisan Senate energy efficiency bill (via Politico)
RENEWABLES
UK solar investment jeopardized by EU tariffs on China (via Bloomberg)
Japan PM’s power plan lifts renewables at utility expense (via Bloomberg)
Brazil may unlock 21GW renewable energy market (via Recharge)
US solar PV demand to grow 20% in 2013 to 4.3GW (via CleanTechnica)
Interior Department Approves Up to 4Gw Of New Renewable Energy Projects (via CleanTechnica)
Will Master Limited Partnerships campaign put wind tax credit at risk? (via Politico)
DOE issues regulatory roadmap to spur geothermal energy development (via Green Car Congress)
Offshore wind advances create greentech investment opportunities (via Greentech Media)
Solar gardens taking root in US communities (via EarthTechling)
MIT creates solar potential map of Cambridge (via Treehugger)
Renewable energy gets a rural boost in Colorado (via Climate Progress)
Michigan legislators seek offshore wind power restrictions (via Record-Eagle)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
UK prepares for US-style shale gas boom (via CNN Money)
Summer to bring upward pressure on US natural gas prices (via Wall Street Journal)
EPA Inspector General to investigate efforts to reduce natural gas pipeline leaks (via Washington Post/AP)
With more solar on the way, does Xcel need more gas peakers? (via Midwest Energy News)
North Carolina House panel Oks more cautious fracking bill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
CLIMATE
Russia continues to block UN climate talks (via RTCC)
As extreme weather increases, Bangladesh braces for the worst (via Yale e360)
How investors can help avert climate catastrophe (via GreenBiz)
Stormy weather set to increase due to climate change (via RTCC)
Rising sea levels, stronger storms will threaten US coasts through end of century (via Times-Picayune)
The Obama climate move that nobody noticed (via Grist)
US tailors regional climate plans to help farmers beat the heat (via Bloomberg)
Agriculture Secretary: “America must take steps now” on climate (via The Hill)
COAL
China to cut coal use in key industrial regions (via Reuters)
Sierra Club sues BNEF over coal dust from trains in Washington State (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
TRANSPORTATION
US new-car average gas mileage at highest level ever: 24.8 MPG (via Green Car Reports)
US hybrid & plug-in sales continue strong gains, 32,300 PEVs sold in 2013 (via Green Car Congress)
EPA to issue ethanol use targets this summer (via Reuters)
US added 180 EV charging stations in May (via Autoblog Green)
Study says California’s low-carbon fuel rule is working, but threats loom (via InsideClimate News)
GRID
Smart and micro grids can minimize power outages during hurricane season (via Breaking Energy)
Cheap batteries for backup renewable energy (via MIT Technology Review)
POLITICS
Americans for Prosperity targets Democrats up for re-election with anti-carbon tax campaign (via The Hill)
Congressional Democrats change climate message to focus on disaster costs (via ClimateWire)
Offshore drilling proponents launch new Congressional push (via Houston Chronicle)
The billionaire force behind GOP attempts to dismantle Maine’s renewable energy standards (via Bangor Daily News)
OPINION
EU solar outlook still bright after binge (via Reuters)
Global signs of leadership on clean energy (via WRI Insights)
Why I wanted to be CEO of the American Wind Energy Association (via Greentech Media)
Don’t let another hurricane season blow by without climate action (via The Hill)
Now is the time to be an infrastructure hawk, not a deficit hawk (via Washington Post)
An obscure new rule on microwaves can tell us a lot about Obama’s climate policies (via Washington Post)