Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.21.14

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change a “national security” issue, say military experts (via RTCC)

Climate change brings more crime (via Los Angeles Times)

State Department review to emphasize effects of climate change on global conflict (via Huffington Post)

Obama says climate weighs on Keystone and other decisions (via Reuters)

U.S. billionaire to pour $100 million into climate change fight (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

As global gas output surges, U.S. seen to rival Russia in Europe (via Reuters)

Mexico’s drug cartels are standing in the way of a fracking bonanza (via National Journal)

Profits from natural gas exports could disappoint, says researcher (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling-heavy Oklahoma ranked 2nd last year for quakes in U.S. (via EnergyWire)

Ohio governor reverses decision on fracking in state parks (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

“Advanced energy” a $1.1 trillion global industry in 2013 (via Solar Industry)

Japan may cut solar tariff 14% as operating costs decline (via Bloomberg)

Biomass could provide 44% of UK energy by 2050 (via RTCC)

Brazil will install more wind capacity by 2022 than all other Latin American nations combined (via Navigant Research)

Brazil’s new 400MW of stranded wind capacity (via Recharge)

Chile connects more than 100MW of solar projects to grid (via PV Magazine)

Solar industry, utilities seek common ground (via National Journal)

Study: Wind turbines remain efficient for at least 25 years (via BusinessGreen)

NREL bioreactor uncovers how to get maximum fuel from algae (via Environmental Leader)

DOI approves 550MW of solar projects on public lands (via Renew Grid)

U.S. offshore wind inches closer to reality as Dominion places ocean lease bid (via Climate Progress)

State legislators mull Kansas renewable energy regulation (via AP)

Los Angeles solar feed-in tariff program represents 40MW (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top ten LEED states ranked (via Environmental Leader)

U.S. building efficiency was worth more than clean electricity in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Battle of the buildings addresses split energy incentives (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

Flurry of coal power plant shutdowns expected by 2016 (via Climate Central)

Coal plants average 56% capacity factor – that has major implications (via Facts of the Day)

North Carolina coal ash spill investigation widens as federal prosecutors subpoena state records (via Huffington Post/AP)

Duke says its customers won’t pay for ash cleanup (via Charlotte Observer)

Illinois mine safety regulator took campaign cash from coal magnate (via Illinois Times)

EMISSIONS 

Denmark commits to setting carbon targets every five years (via BusinessGreen)

Supreme Court asked to clear the air about greenhouse gas rules (via McClatchy)

OIL 

New oil boom expected in the Ecuadorian Amazon (via The Guardian)

BNSF taking bids to buy up to 5,000 safer oil railcars (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil patch communities plea for more help (via Bismarck Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Charge “sharing” by electric vehicles could ease power grid strain (via United Press International)

2014 Nissan Leaf named overall cleanest car in U.S. (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Pipeline battles loom in Canada if Keystone XL stalled (via The Star)

Alberta oil sands study confirms tailings found in groundwater, river (via CBC News)

Keystone XL decision could drag past November after Nebraska pushback (via Greenwire)

TransCanada weighs next steps after U.S. court’s Keystone ruling (via Reuters)

Former U.S. Geological Survey head endorses Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

GRID 

China surpasses U.S. atop $15 billion global smart grid market (via Renew Grid)

State of green business: Energy storage becomes a game-changer (via GreenBiz)

Three states driving energy storage for utilities and customers (via Greentech Media)

TVA still has no deal to buy Clean Line’s wind energy (via The Commercial Appeal)

ENVIRONMENT 

Nine maps that explain the world’s forests (via WRI Insights)

U.S. West wildfire season “likely to set a record” (via CNBC)

OPINION 

Retirement of 20% U.S. coal fleet may not mean a power production decline (via Facts of the Day)

Ohio’s Utica Shale boom is not guaranteed (via Plain-Dealer)

USDA ups its climate game (via CLF Scoop)

Ethanol business recovers (via Environmental Leader)

Solving the Midwest’s ethanol problem (via The Energy Collective)

Did these Nebraska landowners just block the KXL pipeline? (via OnEarth)

Poll: Majority want answers on Keystone oil destination (via The Hill)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.18.14

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

COAL 

Coal generation to rise above 40% market share for first time since 2011 (via Facts of the Day)

Coal burns bright as utilities switch from gas (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Bloomberg)

Switch to gas from coal may threaten water supply (via Climate Central)

Regulators, Duke assure North Carolina lawmakers coal ash spill poses no immediate health threat (via News-Observer)

EMISSIONS 

EU leaders said to delay decision on 2030 carbon target (via Bloomberg)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

As fracking booms, growing concerns about wastewater (via Yale e360)

Pro-fracking landowners sue New York State over drilling decision delay (via New York Daily News)

Ohio officials made plan to promote fracking while regulating it (via Columbus Dispatch)

RENEWABLES 

How the UK can unlock community benefits of renewable energy (via Triple Pundit)

OIL 

US crude oil ban confusion intensifies, except in Alaska (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas heading for major water shortage with limited oil field recycling (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Obama set to order new fuel standards for U.S. trucks (via Reuters)

Apple’s merger chief met in secret with Tesla CEO Elon Musk (via Autoblog Green)

China’s EV subsidies have been extended, but is that enough? (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

How safe and reliable is America’s electric grid? (via National Journal)

ENVIRONMENT 

China announces $330 billion water cleanup effort in latest environmental crackdown (via BusinessGreen)

New Mexico in its worst drought since 1880s (via Albuquerque Journal)

Texas drought returns, little relief in sight (via Houston Chronicle)

KEYSTONE XL 

Environmentalists debate substance of Keystone XL fight (via Houston Chronicle)

POLITICS 

Climate activist plans $100 million election year push (via National Journal)

Could Tom Steyer’s anti-Keystone campaign help Mary Landrieu? She thinks so. (via National Journal)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.11.14

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

GRID 

U.S. utility research group lays out plan for updated, integrated power grid (via ClimateWire)

DOE to provide funding for microgrid development (via Renew Grid)

With reliability a concern, universities looking to microgrids (via Midwest Energy News)

Grid-scale energy storage to reduce load in New York City (via Greentech Media)

Winter electricity price spikes put Clean Currents out of business (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

China’s Hubei plans province’s first carbon auction next month (via Reuters)

2013 carbon emissions drop in Northeast, rise in U.S. (via Sustainable Business)

California should set interim goal for cutting emissions, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

2013 wind energy installations stall in U.S., surge in China (via CleanTechnica)

PV modules were a $30.5 billion market in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Global demand for solar polysilicon to increase 25% this year (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. files trade protest over India solar energy program (via Time/AP)

India vows to stand ground in new solar trade fight with U.S. (via National Journal)

Wind of change sweeps through Caribbean energy policy (via The Guardian)

Ikea: Massive energy goals producing business boom (via Energy Manager Today)

Canadian Solar estimates 75% rise in quarterly revenue (via Reuters)

U.S. renewable energy maintains growth in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Solar third-party financing at $3.34 billion in 2013, key to U.S. solar boom (via Forbes)

EPA’s RFS cuts limit ethanol growth (via Navigant Research)

Reduced water supply forecast affects hydropower outlook in Pacific Northwest (via US EIA)

Five years later, Missouri still grappling with renewables law (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Chinese coal companies’ debt concerns sink shares (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Warm enough for Summer Olympics in Sochi (via ABC News)

Higher temperatures put fish near Equator at risk (via The National)

Study sounds “El Nino Alarm” for late this year (via Climate Central)

Climatologist: When ocean warming ends, “global temperatures set to rise rapidly” (via Climate Progress)

“Most exceptional period of rainfall in 248 years” in U.K. is “consistent” with climate change (via Climate Progress)

Obama-Hollande meeting may boost larger climate goals (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Ambassador: Keystone rejection would “definitely strain” U.S.-Canadian relations (via National Journal)

Uproar over Keystone far outweighs pipeline’s potential effect, say analysts (via Houston Chronicle)

Greens see red on Keystone report conflicts (via Politico)

Company yet to stop leaks spilling tar sands in Alberta for nine months (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

China extends electric vehicle subsidies to fight air pollution (via Bloomberg)

Boeing seeks to certify jet fuel biodiesel around the world (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS 

How can a nation awash in natural gas have shortages, and what to do about it (via Forbes)

Can the Marcellus keep up its massive production? (via StateImpact Texas)

ENVIRONMENT 

Company responsible for West Virginia chemical spill skips Congressional hearing (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

White roofs could offset summer warming by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Beyond bulbs: Illinois raises the bar on energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

Freezing out the bigger picture on climate (New York Times)

The oil industry’s fight to kill renewable fuels – and why it may win (via InsideClimate News)

A climate change reality check (via World Resources Institute)

Senators and scientists play climate dating game (via National Journal)

Steyer’s secret weapon emerges as power in climate debate (via Greenwire)

Salazar: Keystone XL a “win-win” project (via The Hill)

Could corn ethanol finally fade away? (via Sustainable Business)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.11.14

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

GRID 

U.S. utility research group lays out plan for updated, integrated power grid (via ClimateWire)

DOE to provide funding for microgrid development (via Renew Grid)

With reliability a concern, universities looking to microgrids (via Midwest Energy News)

Grid-scale energy storage to reduce load in New York City (via Greentech Media)

Winter electricity price spikes put Clean Currents out of business (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

China’s Hubei plans province’s first carbon auction next month (via Reuters)

2013 carbon emissions drop in Northeast, rise in U.S. (via Sustainable Business)

California should set interim goal for cutting emissions, says report (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

2013 wind energy installations stall in U.S., surge in China (via CleanTechnica)

PV modules were a $30.5 billion market in 2013 (via Greentech Media)

Global demand for solar polysilicon to increase 25% this year (via Solar Industry Magazine)

U.S. files trade protest over India solar energy program (via Time/AP)

India vows to stand ground in new solar trade fight with U.S. (via National Journal)

Wind of change sweeps through Caribbean energy policy (via The Guardian)

Ikea: Massive energy goals producing business boom (via Energy Manager Today)

Canadian Solar estimates 75% rise in quarterly revenue (via Reuters)

U.S. renewable energy maintains growth in 2013 (via Renew Grid)

Solar third-party financing at $3.34 billion in 2013, key to U.S. solar boom (via Forbes)

EPA’s RFS cuts limit ethanol growth (via Navigant Research)

Reduced water supply forecast affects hydropower outlook in Pacific Northwest (via US EIA)

Five years later, Missouri still grappling with renewables law (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Chinese coal companies’ debt concerns sink shares (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Warm enough for Summer Olympics in Sochi (via ABC News)

Higher temperatures put fish near Equator at risk (via The National)

Study sounds “El Nino Alarm” for late this year (via Climate Central)

Climatologist: When ocean warming ends, “global temperatures set to rise rapidly” (via Climate Progress)

“Most exceptional period of rainfall in 248 years” in U.K. is “consistent” with climate change (via Climate Progress)

Obama-Hollande meeting may boost larger climate goals (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Ambassador: Keystone rejection would “definitely strain” U.S.-Canadian relations (via National Journal)

Uproar over Keystone far outweighs pipeline’s potential effect, say analysts (via Houston Chronicle)

Greens see red on Keystone report conflicts (via Politico)

Company yet to stop leaks spilling tar sands in Alberta for nine months (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

China extends electric vehicle subsidies to fight air pollution (via Bloomberg)

Boeing seeks to certify jet fuel biodiesel around the world (via Green Car Reports)

NATURAL GAS 

How can a nation awash in natural gas have shortages, and what to do about it (via Forbes)

Can the Marcellus keep up its massive production? (via StateImpact Texas)

ENVIRONMENT 

Company responsible for West Virginia chemical spill skips Congressional hearing (via Climate Progress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

White roofs could offset summer warming by 2100 (via Climate Central)

Beyond bulbs: Illinois raises the bar on energy efficiency (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

Freezing out the bigger picture on climate (New York Times)

The oil industry’s fight to kill renewable fuels – and why it may win (via InsideClimate News)

A climate change reality check (via World Resources Institute)

Senators and scientists play climate dating game (via National Journal)

Steyer’s secret weapon emerges as power in climate debate (via Greenwire)

Salazar: Keystone XL a “win-win” project (via The Hill)

Could corn ethanol finally fade away? (via Sustainable Business)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.3.14

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL unites environmentalists and landowners in pipeline battle (via The Guardian)

Keystone pipeline inches toward green light with crucial climate finding (via National Journal)

Keystone report reignites battle over pipeline’s impact (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA review could be lynchpin to Keystone review process (via Reuters)

Pressure is on Kerry as Keystone pipeline decision nears (via Washington Post)

State Department Inspector General won’t release Keystone XL contractor report (via Washington Post)

Keystone foe Steyer urges review of “defective” analysis (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

EU wind market shrank 8% in 2013 (via Recharge)

Repowering boosts new German onshore wind capacity in 2013 (via Recharge)

Rooftop solar will soon be cheaper than coal in the EU (via Greentech Media)

Dong Energy to sell half of London Array offshore wind stake for £644 million (via BusinessGreen)

Canadian hydro gambles big on US export market – but at what cost? (via EnergyWire)

Goldman Sachs says renewables one of most compelling investment sectors (via CleanTechnica)

2014 wind boom: Record 12,000MW of wind now under construction (via Facts of the Day)

Solar continues to attract financing, M&A, and VC (via Greentech Media)

Price of solar much lower than solar savings (via CleanTechnica)

What does $2 million buy? How about 1,800GW of wind power (via CleanTechnica)

Is ethanol eating your car’s engine? (via Forbes)

Colorado PUC keeps net metering in place for now (via Renew Grid)

Solar thermal power poses challenges for drought-stricken California (via MIT Technology Review)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

CHP capacity will grow 16.3GW annually through 2023 (via Energy Manager Today)

Panama Canal expansion could increase LNG exports to Asia (via Houston Chronicle)

North Carolina fracking panel sets safe drilling distances from homes, streams (via Charlotte Observer)

EMISSIONS 

In China’s war on bad air, government decision to release data gives fresh hope (via Washington Post)

Canadian prime minister defers emissions rules in Obama Keystone standoff (via Bloomberg)

UK carbon capture industry potential estimated at up to £35 billion by 2030 (via The Guardian)

Lower emissions cap for RGGI takes effect in 2014 (via US EIA)

California carbon prices “will remain low” (via Environmental Leader)

California cities compete to see which can be “coolest” and cut emissions (via United Press International)

COAL 

Australia permits coal port dredge dumping near Barrier Reef (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Indian microgrids seek to bring millions out of darkness (via GreenBiz)

Global smart meter installations to top 800 million by 2020 (via BusinessGreen)

Construction of wind-energy transmission line to create Missouri jobs (via St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

OIL 

BP digs in as last leg of Gulf oil spill trial approaches (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla aims for electric car coast-to-coast record (via USA Today)

BMW exec says public chargers not important for EV success (via Autoblog Green)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Philadelphia rates its buildings for energy consumption (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENVIRONMENT 

UK’s January flooding surpasses all 247 years of data on the books (via Climate Progress)

Severe drought has U.S. west fearing worst (via New York Times)

Congress tried to cut subsidies for homes in flood zones – it was harder than they thought (via Washington Post)

Leading scientists explain how climate change is worsening California’s epic drought (via Climate Progress)

California drought prompts unprecedented water conservation efforts (via Huffington Post/AP)

How a brewery might save one town during the California drought (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

EU ETS isn’t out of trouble just yet (via Energy Collective)

No matter how you count them, fossil fuel subsidies are high as ever (via DeSmogBlog)

Long path still ahead for Keystone XL pipeline (via Houston Chronicle)

Five takeaways from State Department’s Keystone XL pipeline review (via Washington Post)

Keystone XL, a sorry symbol of continued fossil fuel reliance (via Los Angeles Times)

Approving Keystone XL could be the biggest mistake of Obama’s presidency (via The Guardian)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.23.13

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

CLIMATE 

Fossil fuel investments face major risks due to climate (via Climate Central)

Conservative groups spend up to $1 billion a year to fight climate change action (via The Guardian)

Temperature records broken across Mid-Atlantic during December heat wave (via Huffington Post/AP)

Tom Steyer may be the liberal answer to the Koch Brothers (via Los Angeles Times)

COAL 

How this Chinese coal company’s $5 billion bankruptcy could trigger financial panic (via Quartz)

Germany’s biggest electricity producer to drop two coal-fired power contracts (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

Asia-Pacific region to account for half 2014 global solar PV demand (via CleanTechnica)

Are utilities wilting from heat of solar competition? (via National Journal)

Study finds Texas will increase renewable energy 150% by 2032 but add no coal capacity (via Facts of the Day)

Most new residential solar PV projects in California program aren’t owned by homeowners (via US EIA)

California takes aim at “ducks” to smooth move to renewables (via Reuters)

Ballot fight over Oregon renewable energy law could be sparked by small rural utility (via The Oregonian)

North Carolina has morphed into a solar power leader this year (via GigaOm)

Hawaii’s solar boom is so successful, it’s been halted (via ClimateWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Enbridge Gateway win shows stopping Keystone won’t halt oil (via Bloomberg)

Hundreds of conditions attached to Northern Gateway route’s approval (via EnergyWire)

TransCanada CEO: Obama will approve Keystone XL (via The Hill)

Enbridge’s Michigan dilbit spill still not cleaned up as 2013 closes (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

US electricity sales continue downward trend (via Energy Manager Today)

California utility energy efficiency efforts save customer $850 million over two years (via Energy Manager Today)

The new Philadelphia Story is about green infrastructure (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

EMISSIONS 

$290 billion investment needed for China to treat air pollution (via Shanghai Daily)

Why a carbon tax is necessary (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

US oil industry takes aim at export ban (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

US transmission investment gets largest boost since 2000 (via Greentech Media)

EVs integrating with the smart grid (via Navigant Research)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.3.13

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

EMISSIONS 

UN carbon offset market seen “in a coma” for years after Warsaw (via Planet Ark)

Beijing starts China’s third carbon exchange with first trades (via Bloomberg)

US EPA chief to share air pollution lessons with China (via Reuters)

EPA to be “flexible” on carbon standards (via The Hill)

RGGI tells EPA: Keep cap-and-trade alive (via National Journal)

California’s carbon market caps off successful first year of auctions (via Environmental Leader)

Bloomberg LP launches first tool that measures risk of “unburnable carbon” assets (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY POLICY

Report: China’s green economy faces significant challenges (via Environmental Leader)

Canada at crossroads in bid to become energy superpower (via Bloomberg)

Slashing fossil fuel consumption comes with a price (via NPR)

RENEWABLES

Solar PV “competitive” with natural gas in 2025 (via Recharge)

Wind could generate 18% of global electricity by 2050 (via RTCC)

For Minnesota utility, wind backed by hydro is “holy grail” (via Midwest Energy News)

Poll of businesses finds support for Ohio clean energy standards (via Cincinnati Enquirer)

KEYSTONE XL

Billionaire “absolutely” wants to sway Keystone XL decision (via The Hill)

US pipeline safety official admits he’d avoid buying a home near pipelines like Keystone XL (via DeSmog Blog)

CLIMATE

Scientists warn global warming “will be hard to reverse” (via Climate Central)

More droughts, heavier rains predicted for warmer Europe (via Agence France-Presse)

EPA leader urges cooperation on climate ahead of trip to China (via National Journal)

OIL

OPEC scrambling to keep oil prices stable (and high) as it meets (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION

Delayed auto emissions targets will cost EU £21 billion (via BusinessGreen

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

London switches on to LED lighting revolution (via BusinessGreen)

Five of the most important changes to the LEED green building rating system (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Who’s really cashing in on the fracking boom? (via National Journal)

10% of US earthquakes are in Oklahoma – is shale drilling to blame? (via EnergyWire)

GRID

Power struggle: Green energy versus a grid that’s not ready (via Los Angeles Times)

Stem looks beyond utilities to lead charge on batteries for the grid (via GreenBiz)

OPINION

Is EPA on the right track with the biofuels mandate? (via National Journal)

How do meteorologists fit into the 97% global warming consensus? (via The Guardian)

Why the utility death spiral myth needs to die (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.1.13

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

EMISSIONS 

IPCC report recommends fossil fuels stay in the ground (via Huffington Post)

What the carbon budget means for business (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon market main hurdle to aviation deal, India says (via Bloomberg)

COAL 

Europe whets appetite for coal as US eschews it (via Climate Central)

Stop funding coal, green groups tell European Bank (via BusinessGreen)

The local election that could determine the future of US coal (via Climate Progress)

Nebraska coal plant tests new pollution-control system (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind in Europe: Lessons for the US (via Huffington Post)

Deutsche Banks says China solar PV may reach 15GW in 2014 (via Renew Economy)

Brazil: Just not that into second-generation biofuels (via Energy Collective)

Movin’ and shakin’ – geothermal projects face a rocky road (via Renewable Energy World)

US renewables mid-year report: 10% energy consumption, 14% net electrical generation (via Renewable Energy World)

Tax credits to spur renewable energy seen set to end (via Bloomberg)

US Air Force trains for combat on wind power (via CleanTechnica)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

China faces steep climb to exploit its shale riches (via New York Times)

US gears up to be a prime natural gas exporter (via New York Times)

North Carolina rejects federal funds for fracking studies (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

“Climate refugee” fighting to stay in New Zealand goes to court (via ABC News)

The hard math of flood insurance in a warming world (via Time)

How farmworkers experience a warming climate (via EarthFix)

Bloomberg, Steyer, Paulson team up to gauge global warming’s economic toll (via The Hill)

New climate assessment likely to spark action by companies; Congress, not so much (via ClimateWire)

Resilient communities are the incentive for businesses to focus on climate change (via Triple Pundit)

“Atmospheric River” smashes storm records in Pacific Northwest (via Climate Central)

OIL 

An uphill climb for the oil giants (via New York Times)

Feds to release new rules for offshore emergency equipment this year (via Houston Chronicle)

Lawyers tell trial BP lied about size of US Gulf oil spill (via Reuters)

Texas regulators issue few fines for Eagle Ford pollution (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicles speeding toward 7% of all global sales by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

EV-wary consumers still want utilities to develop charging infrastructure (via Renew Grid)

BMW to electrify its entire lineup (via CleanTechnica)

Ford C-Max hybrid owners get rebate for disappointing mileage (via New York Times)

GRID 

Will energy storage save the grid? (via Energy Collective)

New California net metering study appears to be DOA (via Greentech Media)

TAR SANDS 

Oil sands deals dive as foreign-state firms scrutinized by Canada (via Houston Chronicle)

British Columbia, Alberta move closer to tar sands pipeline agreement (via Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency drive yields $1 billion, 11 million metric tons CO2 cuts for US manufacturers (via Triple Pundit)

POLITICS 

EIA can operate through October 11 under government shutdown (via Reuters)

EPA to be hit hard in shutdown, could delay renewable fuel standard (via Reuters)

FERC nominee Binz withdraws amid coal pushback (via Politico)

“No evidence” EPA used private emails to keep records secret (via The Hill)

Can Bob Inglis make the GOP relevant on climate and clean energy policy? (via Greentech Media)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.9.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Canada formally offers to limit emissions if US approves Keystone XL (via Climate Progress)

Keystone pipeline foe Steyer launches $1 million ad push (via The Hill)

Dilbit in Exxon’s Pegasus pipeline may have contributed to rupture (via InsideClimate News)

EMISSIONS 

US, China agree to work on phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (via Washington Post)

Abbott government begins process to repeal carbon tax (via ABC)

Regulatory scholars want feds to review carbon cost estimate (via The Hill)

EPA to hold conference calls with stakeholders on carbon standards for power plants (via Bloomberg BNA)

Trees write air pollution record in wood (via Scientific American)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Shaheen-Portman bill: 172,000 green jobs, huge energy efficiency gains (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Chinese solar cheaper to manufacture because of industry scale, not cheaper labor (via CleanTechnica)

Australian renewable energy industry braces for Abbott (via Recharge)

UK urged to back EU biofuels cap (via The Guardian)

Finland looks to ease wind permitting in developed areas (via Recharge)

Dutch set 4.4GW offshore wind goal (via Recharge)

China idles fewer wind farms as grid connections smoothed (via Bloomberg)

US solar will generate as much as today’s nuclear plants, or 20% of US power, by 2026 (via Facts of the Day)

Pilot program launched to make solar more economical for electric cooperatives (via Renew Grid)

Could US solar demand bring PV manufacturing back? (via Solar Industry Magazine)

US Navy triples funding for clean energy in Hawaii (via CleanTechnica)

Renewable energy entrepreneur is China’s latest billionaire (via Forbes)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

House to take aim at fracking regulations (via The Hill)

US Forest Service set to decide on fracking in George Washington National Forest (via Washington Post)

FracFocus straining under heavy use as BLM weighs disclosure regulation (via EnergyWire)

CLIMATE 

Arab Summer: Warming-fueled drought helped spark Syria’s civil war (via Climate Progress)

Poland outlines ambition for 2013 UN climate summit (via RTCC)

Scientists studying solar radiation management as a way to cool planet (via Washington Post)

Ice melting faster in Greenland and Antarctica, show leaked UN documents (via Bloomberg)

Bloomberg, Steyer to launch big climate push (via The Hill)

Drones find new purpose studying Arctic ice melt (via Climate Central)

ENERGY POLICY 

China looks west as it bolsters energy ties (via New York Times)

Surprising trends in summer energy use across US (via Inhabitat)

GREEN BUSINESS 

FIFA sets green goal for 2014 Brazil World Cup (via BusinessGreen)

AASHE updates college sustainability rating system (via Environmental Leader)

Executives want sustainable products, but will they walk the talk? (via GreenBiz)

Seeking investments that are profitable and green (via New York Times)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea nuclear issues, tower protests raise blackout risks (via Reuters)

Radiation levels spike at Fukushima disaster site (via CleanTechnica)

Study supports nuclear waste disposal near Great Lakes (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla worries about battery supply as it increases vehicle production (via New York Times)

Is $35,000 or less the threshold price for volume EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

US gasoline rises to $3.58 a gallon (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

X Prize unveils $2 million award to prevent ocean acidification (via USA Today)

Rim Fire is third-largest wildfire in California’s history (via NPR)

In South Florida, a polluted water bubble ready to burst (via New York Times)

OPINION 

3 big takeaways from the new global commitment to phase down HFCs (via WRI Insights)

The president and the pipeline (via New Yorker)

Net metering polices helping to spur solar growth (via Huffington Post)

How big business can save the climate (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.19.13

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

CLIMATE 

UN panel finds humans 95% likely cause of climate change (via The Hill)

More frequent heat waves by 2020 “almost certain” (via Climate Central)

Global flood damage could exceed $1 trillion annually by 2050 (via Mother Jones)

Climate change brings another flood onslaught in Pakistan (via Pakistan Daily Times)

Worst Colorado River drought in century prompts feds to cut Lake Powell releases (via Deseret News)

Many Floridians face rising tide of flood insurance costs (via Sun Sentinel)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Interior Department says Keystone XL could harm parks, wildlife (via The Hill)

TransCanada acknowledges tar sands crude could sink if spilled (via EnergyWire)

Steyer launches $1 million anti-Keystone XL ad push (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Despite slowdown, China to hold wind power market leadership to 2020 (via Renewable Energy World)

Czech lawmakers axe renewable energy support (via Recharge)

European climate policy drives wood pellet boom in North Carolina (via News Observer)

New hydropower laws could add 60GW of clean energy to US grid (via CleanTechnica)

Investors welcome new environmental standards for solar (via BusinessGreen)

Energy cane “could yield five times more ethanol than corn” (via Environmental Leader)

Texas claims cheapest solar installations as prices drop nationwide (via Houston Chronicle)

California Solar Initiative aims to preserve project resources as funding ends (via Energy Manager Today)

EMISSIONS 

Australia’s carbon markets to survive federal election (via Bloomberg)

California to discuss additional compliance options for cap-and-trade program (via Bloomberg BNA)

Waste carbon dioxide could be used as energy (via RTCC)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shale gas company halts fracking at British site (via New York Times)

Shale grab in US stalls as falling values repel buyers (via Bloomberg)

Methane leakage from Utah gas rigs higher than EPA estimates (via RTCC)

Aubrey McClendon is back, with deals in the Utica (via Forbes)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Sweden named “most sustainable country in the world” (via BusinessGreen)

Auto manufacturers aim to produce vehicles at sustainable facilities (via Energy Manager Today)

Investors slow to embrace sustainability, Accenture says (via Environmental Leader)

US rare earths mining rush enters its “survival moment” (via Greenwire)

OIL 

Shale gas and oil production soaring in 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Experts clash on estimates of oil spilled into Gulf (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

America’s new vehicles are more fuel efficient than ever (via Greentech Media)

Electric car charging at work: The next big push (via Green Car Reports)

Is Tesla Model S the best way to sell politicians on EVs? (via Green Car Reports)

Hybrids take 7% of California market in 1H 2013; PHEVs 0.7%, EVs 1.1% (via Green Car Congress)

GREEN BUILDING 

USGBC report highlights growth in green building industry (via Bloomberg BNA)

Arizona hosts world’s largest net-zero energy building (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

UK’s first large-scale battery storage project goes live (via Renew Grid)

Designing grid batteries to live long and prosper (via Greentech Media)

Distributed generation grabs power from centralized utilities (via Forbes)

Trees vs. transmission: Utility arborist seeks better approach (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EIA publishes state fact sheets on residential energy consumption and characteristics (via US EIA)

Smart windows just got a lot smarter at saving energy (via Breaking Energy)

How much is a Nest thermostat worth? (via Breaking Energy)

ENVIRONMENT 

We’ve covered the world in pesticides – is that a problem? (via Washington Post)

In West’s expanding tinderbox, questions about development (via Stateline)

10,000 homes threatened as Idaho wildfire spreads to 92,000 acres (via NBC News)

Bare trees are a lingering sign of Hurricane Sandy’s high toll (via New York Times)

OPINION 

The future China chooses will dictate the future of Earth (via The Guardian)

Can climate science be rendered conservative-friendly? (via Grist)

Can hacking the stratosphere solve climate change? (via NPR)

Could suburbs become the future of renewable energy? (via ClimateWire)

Is Washington in a “post-policy era”? (via Washington Post)

Obama Administration rushes to expand fracking on public lands despite frightening evidence (via Climate Progress)