Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.13.14

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

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s water squeeze worsens as wetlands shrink 9% since 2003 (via Reuters)

Federal authorities to investigate West Virginia chemical spill (via The Guardian)

West Virginia river chemical leak far larger than previously estimated (via Climate Progress)

MIT study: 52% of projected 2050 global population will live in water-stressed areas (via Green Car Congress)

Drought may pressure California power utilities (via Fitch Ratings)

GREEN BUILDING 

LEED certification’s impact on America: By the numbers (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Solar faceoff: Feed-in tariff versus net metering (via Energy Collective)

Over 11,000 comments filed on EPA’s ethanol rules (via Autoblog Green)

Solar dropping wholesale electricity prices like a bad habit (via CleanTechnica)

Fate of New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm in hands of regulators (via Atlantic City Press)

Massachusetts reviving SREC program to promote solar growth (via Solar Industry Magazine)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

France’s Total to invest in Britain’s shale gas quest (via Reuters)

UK “going all out for shale” with 40 fracking sites in pipeline (via RTCC)

Manufacturers call for halt on natural gas export approvals (via Houston Chronicle)

New Jersey Pinelands gas pipeline plan is defeated (via Asbury Park Press)

CLIMATE 

EU commissioners clash over 2030 climate goals (via The Guardian)

Public’s climate change concerns “shaped by weather outside” (via RTCC)

In flood insurance fight, Congress wants easy win, not tough solutions (via ClimateWire)

Federal government investigating Christie’s use of Sandy relief funds (via CNN)

OIL 

Canada expects safety standard action on oil train cars “fairly soon” (via Reuters)

Wetland contamination can be predicted by oil boom states (via Los Angeles Times)

Can the oil industry save a threatened species? Texas tries it out (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

Study: Air travel outpacing driving in fuel efficiency gains (via Midwest Energy News)

Congress fails to renew important EV tax credits (via Plugin Cars)

Electric vehicle consumers – beyond early adopters (via Center for Climate and Energy Solutions)

Fuel economy of vehicles sold last year at record-high (via Phys.org)

TAR SANDS 

Canadian government to spend $22 million green washing tar sands (via Autoblog Green)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.29.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Long-delayed EPA gasoline pollution rules set for Friday debut (via The Hill)

Consumer concerns about range and economics still hinder interest in buying EVs (via Navigant Research)

Tesla Model S wins 2013 World Green Car of the Year (via Autoblog Green)

A little lesson in electric vehicles (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA and Department of Energy recognize 2013 Energy Star awardees (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles maps electricity use at the block level (via MIT Technology Review)

OIL 

OPEC oil output falls to lowest level since 2011 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

A record year for world wind power in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

India’s wind power base to rise 50% by 2015 (via Hindustan Times)

Asian giants embracing more clean energy (via EarthTechling) 

Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar capacity (via Renewable Energy World)

India’s off-grid renewables initiative changing lives (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar to gain from Cyprus crisis as investors seek safety (via Bloomberg)

Solar storage market set for rapid growth (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: some federal wind energy programs “duplicative” (via The Hill)

New process may make renewable energy reliable at last (via Climate Central)

Lured by savings and cash, many American schools are going solar (via ClimateWire)

New York State’s competitive solar program off to a bright start (via Greentech Media)

Maine introduces feed-in tariff legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

New bill could help Georgia reap solar energy cash crop (via Energy Collective)

The wind blows, the sun shines: the tax breaks (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

The new tech that could make methane leaks a thing of the past (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists find “missing heat” of global warming 700 meters below the sea (via Mongabay)

Study: climate worst-case scenario may backfire in activists’ campaign (via Huffington Post)

Survey: Americans believe in climate change risks but won’t pay to fix them (via The Guardian)

Survey explores how UK gardeners are adapting to climate change (via Phys.org)

Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit (via RTCC)

San Diego, bracing for climate change, studies its weaknesses (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada first country to pull out of UN drought convention (via The Globe and Mail)

GRID 

Lone Star Transmission lights up 330 miles of Texas CREZ power lines (via Renew Grid)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Accounting for environmental externalities is good for business and the planet (via BusinessGreen)

Ford reduces water use in vehicle assembly by 10.6 billion gallons (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK’s CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (via The Guardian)

Fungi drives carbon uptake by boreal forests (via Mongabay)

Hong Kong to raise air quality standards and cut emissions (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS 

Pentagon officials tour oilsands as part of effort to recruit veterans to jobs (via Calgary Herald)

Total sets sights on getting oil sands crude to Gulf coast (via Globe and Mail)

OPINION 

IMF says global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1.9 trillion a year…and that’s probably an underestimate (via Grist)

Brutal solar market benefits consumers (via Navigant Research)

Poll: Americans want energy focus on renewables, not oil (via Houston Chronicle)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.29.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Long-delayed EPA gasoline pollution rules set for Friday debut (via The Hill)

Consumer concerns about range and economics still hinder interest in buying EVs (via Navigant Research)

Tesla Model S wins 2013 World Green Car of the Year (via Autoblog Green)

A little lesson in electric vehicles (via New York Times)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

EPA and Department of Energy recognize 2013 Energy Star awardees (via Environmental Leader)

Los Angeles maps electricity use at the block level (via MIT Technology Review)

OIL 

OPEC oil output falls to lowest level since 2011 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

A record year for world wind power in 2012 (via Greentech Media)

India’s wind power base to rise 50% by 2015 (via Hindustan Times)

Asian giants embracing more clean energy (via EarthTechling) 

Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar capacity (via Renewable Energy World)

India’s off-grid renewables initiative changing lives (via Renewable Energy World)

German solar to gain from Cyprus crisis as investors seek safety (via Bloomberg)

Solar storage market set for rapid growth (via Renewable Energy World)

Report: some federal wind energy programs “duplicative” (via The Hill)

New process may make renewable energy reliable at last (via Climate Central)

Lured by savings and cash, many American schools are going solar (via ClimateWire)

New York State’s competitive solar program off to a bright start (via Greentech Media)

Maine introduces feed-in tariff legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

New bill could help Georgia reap solar energy cash crop (via Energy Collective)

The wind blows, the sun shines: the tax breaks (via Texas Tribune)

NATURAL GAS 

The new tech that could make methane leaks a thing of the past (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists find “missing heat” of global warming 700 meters below the sea (via Mongabay)

Study: climate worst-case scenario may backfire in activists’ campaign (via Huffington Post)

Survey: Americans believe in climate change risks but won’t pay to fix them (via The Guardian)

Survey explores how UK gardeners are adapting to climate change (via Phys.org)

Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit (via RTCC)

San Diego, bracing for climate change, studies its weaknesses (via ClimateWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada first country to pull out of UN drought convention (via The Globe and Mail)

GRID 

Lone Star Transmission lights up 330 miles of Texas CREZ power lines (via Renew Grid)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Accounting for environmental externalities is good for business and the planet (via BusinessGreen)

Ford reduces water use in vehicle assembly by 10.6 billion gallons (via Autoblog Green)

EMISSIONS 

UK’s CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012 (via The Guardian)

Fungi drives carbon uptake by boreal forests (via Mongabay)

Hong Kong to raise air quality standards and cut emissions (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS 

Pentagon officials tour oilsands as part of effort to recruit veterans to jobs (via Calgary Herald)

Total sets sights on getting oil sands crude to Gulf coast (via Globe and Mail)

OPINION 

IMF says global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $1.9 trillion a year…and that’s probably an underestimate (via Grist)

Brutal solar market benefits consumers (via Navigant Research)

Poll: Americans want energy focus on renewables, not oil (via Houston Chronicle)