Category Archives:transmission

25
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.25.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

By 2023, a changed world in energy (via New York Times)

EU faces energy policy vacuum after 2020 (via Reuters)

Europe struggles in shale gas race (via New York Times)

Biggest energy private equity deal is on verge of collapse, and it’s a big deal (via Energy Trends Insider)

EMISSIONS 

China to phase out production of super greenhouse gas (Mongabay)

Keeling Curve website wants you to know when CO2 levels hit 400 PPM (via Climate Progress)

Scientist says China’s pollution is killing Japan’s trees (via New York Times)

COAL

Exploring prospects for US coal exports to China (via WRI Insights)

Federal study says many coal sludge ponds have weak walls (via Washington Post)

RENEWABLES 

Anonymous donors fund solar projects across the US (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy parks: a blueprint for locally produced clean energy (via Energy Manager Today)

North Carolina rejects cuts to renewable energy mandates (via Bloomberg)

Last gasp for controversial Minnesota wind farm? (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chinese airline to start biofuel-powered commercial flights (via BusinessGreen)

How to charge millions of electric cars? Not all at once (via New York Times)

Honda boss says Chinese drivers don’t want green cars (via Autoblog)

Swerving around barriers and moving electric cars (via Forbes)

Chevy Spark EV rated at 82 miles, 119 MPGe combined (via Autoblog Gren)

Fisker hearing kicks off as unhappy customers emerge (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Rosneft plans more Arctic exploration to boost share value (via Bloomberg)

Gulf oil spill trial judge poses questions on gross negligence issue (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

US should do more on climate change to aid economy: UN official (via Scientific American/Reuters)

Pakistan’s farmers grapple with climate change (via Al-Jazeera)

US East Coast cities confront global warming-induced sea level rise (via Union of Concerned Scientists)

Fires burn more fiercely as northern forests warm (via Yale e360)

GRID 

Demand response cuts the need for new generation in PJM (via Greentech Media)

New York State approves $2.2 billion power line from Quebec (via AOL Energy)

POLITICS 

Energy boom strengthens US clout in world, Obama advisor says (via Reuters)

LNG, Keystone XL emerge as central issues in British Columbia election (via Vancouver Sun)

Bipartisan group of lawmakers float renewable energy finance bill (via The Hill)

Billionaire climate activist backing old-line and new-school tactics in Mass. Senate primary (via E&E Daily)

Baucus to lean heavily into land conservation before retiring (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

Finding a new direction in climate change policy (via The Innovation Files)

Utilities have far to go in smart grid maturity (via Greentech Media)

What Fisker’s failure tells us about Obama’s clean energy programs (via Washington Post)

If Keystone XL gets blocked, can trains save Canada’s tar sands? (via Washington Post)

Why we don’t need Fisker (via MIT Technology Review)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400 PPM, arctic, barack obama, biofuel, BP, canada, Chevy Spark, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Demand response, distributed generation, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Future Holdings, environment, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fisker, Goodhue, grid, Gulf of Mexico, honda, japan, Keeling Curve, Keystone XL, LNG, massachusetts, minnesota, new york state, News, North Carolina, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, pakistan, Pipeline, PJM Interconnection, Quebec, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Rosneft, Sea level rise, Shale gas, smart grid, solar, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, UN, united nations, wind
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19
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.19.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

Report: fossil fuel carbon bubble will plunge world into another financial crisis (via The Guardian)

EIA projects fossil fuels will still provide 78% of US energy in 2040 (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE 

China and India talk up plans for national climate action (via BusinessGreen)

China plans to complete climate change draft law in two years (via Bloomberg)

World Bank president: climate change is urgent “today” problem (via PBS News)

RENEWABLES 

Masdar unveils Africa’s largest solar PV plant (via BusinessGreen)

South Africa sees a 20,000% increase in clean energy investment (via Greentech Media)

Japan plans major solar storage project (via Recharge)

How does the California solar initiative compare to Japan’s FIT? (via Solar Magazine)

99% of 2012 US solar PV installations were net metered (via CleanTechnica)

California has more solar jobs than actors (via Greentech Media)

Midwest wind energy plan tests power of farmers (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar wins in Louisiana net metering fight (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar cooling panel could provide AC without electricity by sending heat to outer space (via Treehugger)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 22 million electric vehicles will be sold from 2012 to 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Microbattery technology could shrink battery sizes by a factor of ten (via United Press International)

FAA set to approve Boeing’s fixes for Dreamliner problem batteries (via Washington Post/AP)

Fisker spent $660,000 on each $103,000 plug-in car (via Bloomberg)

EMISSIONS 

Almost official: California’s cap and trade program finally linking with Quebec (via Triple Pundit)

Chevron defies California on carbon emissions (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Report: higher level of renewables poses no problem for the grid (via Renew Grid)

Demand response needed to beat the heat in Texas (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL

The first – and last – hearing on Keystone XL environmental impact (via Mother Jones)

Rowdy Keystone pipeline hearing pits workers vs greens (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Senators reveal slimmer energy-efficiency bill with eye toward GOP (via The Hill)

Energy efficiency stocks rally on Shaheen-Portman bill (via Forbes)

OIL 

Interior Department: emergency containment equipment a must for Arctic drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

More US oil probably won’t destroy the climate (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Arkansas homeowners file class action lawsuit against ExxonMobil (via KARK News)

NATURAL GAS 

Energy Department: LNG export decisions coming soon (via Houston Chronicle)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, Arkansas, battery, boeing, california, cap and trade, Carbon bubble, Chevron, China, climate, Climate Change, Demand response, DOE, Dreamliner, eia, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, ExxonMobil, FAA, feed-in tariff, Fisker, fossil fuel, grid, india, interior department, investment, japan, Jean Shaheen, Keystone XL, LNG, Louisiana, masdar, Microbattery, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, Net metering, News, offshore drilling, oil, oil spill, Quebec, renewables, Rob Portman, solar, Solar cooling, solar pv, South Africa, texas, transmission, Transportation, wind, World Bank
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10
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US recoverable natural gas estimate jumps 26 percent (via Houston Chronicle)

EIA projects flatlining of natural gas consumption through 2014 (via Facts of the Day)

Little support for natural gas exports, UT poll finds (via Houston Chronicle)

CLIMATE 

Australia prepares for new weather extremes as political opposition mounts (via ClimateWire)

Nearly 80 percent of Americans hit by extreme weather disaster since 2007 (via Climate Progress)

Climate change included in US science teaching guidelines for first time (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

Ex-regulator says all US nuclear reactors have safety design flaw (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar PV market surges toward 100GW milestone (via BusinessGreen)

Asian Development Bank pleads for alternative energy use (via Bangkok Post)

Chinese wind energy output soars 41 percent (via BusinessGreen)

South African solar projects get $2.2 billion boost (via Sustainable Business)

Brazil planning for another 300MW of solar PV (via CleanTechnica)

When it comes to solar power, small scale is beautiful (via EarthTechling)

Renewables provide 82% of new US electrical generating capacity in1Q 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

NRG introducing solar with battery storage for homeowners (via Renewable Energy World)

Building a solar economy: 4 lessons from Hawaii (via Yes! Magazine)

First Solar soars 45 percent on outlook, acquisition (via Reuters)

Mosiac receives approval to offer $100 million in solar investments to California residents (via San Jose Mercury News)

Illinois renewable energy fund set to jump 10x, but glitches could make it impossible to spend money (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

OIL 

OPEC joins US in lowering 2013 oil demand growth view (via Reuters)

Gazprom, Shell agree to develop Arctic oil fields despite environmental concerns (via Washington Post)

BP says safety was top priority in Gulf before massive oil spill (via Washington Post)

Today is deadline for Exxon to produce Arkansas oil spill documents (via Ozarks First)

Exxon oil spill cleanup in path of severe weather, maybe a tornado (via InsideClimate News)

Jury finds Exxon liable for $236 million in New Hampshire pollution suit (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS 

UN emissions credits surge as developers delay carbon claims (via Bloomberg)

Shanghai to become second Chinese city to launch carbon trading this June (via BusinessGreen)

Air pollution killed 7 million people in 2010 (via Mongabay)

DOE nominee mum on carbon tax during hearing (via The Hill)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone XL pipeline developer fears decision is “many months” away (via The Hill) 

Did Keystone XL contractor hide its conflict of interest? (via Mother Jones)

TRANSPORTATION 

More than 48,000 EV public charging stations have been deployed worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Car repair costs rising – apart from hybrids, which get cheaper (via Green Car Reports)

US public charging stations increase 9% in first quarter 2013 (via Autoblog Green)

Elon Musk says next, cheaper Tesla coming in 2016 or 2017 (via Autoblog Green)

GRID 

New grid architecture enables renewable integration (via Navigant Research)

In Iowa, researchers seeing a stronger, lighter power line (via Midwest Energy News)

ENERGY POLICY 

Energy tax reform a heavy lift for lawmakers (via Politico)

Four charts that show the US spends too little on energy research (via Washington Post)

Kansas could outlaw sustainable development (via Treehugger)

COAL 

Plans for one coal export terminal in Oregon dropped, four others still under consideration (via Climate Progress)

ENVIRONMENT 

Entire planet will soon have rapid deforestation detection system (via Mongabay)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Hundreds of US colleges creating a clean energy future, today (via EcoAffect)

Best Buy e-waste recycling actually a notable accomplishment (via EarthTechling)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Ohio state legislature reviewing energy efficiency rules (via Columbus Dispatch)

POLITICS 

Coming and going at the Energy Department (via New York Times)

Ernest Moniz faces grilling in confirmation hearing (via Houston Chronicle)

McCarthy to face barrage of agency criticism (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

How carbon reduction and smart grid work together (via Greentech Media)

Why First Solar is buying a silicon solar cell startup no one’s heard of (via GigaOm)

Exxon revolutionizes energy by delivering it straight to your face (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: 1958, Air pollution, arctic, Arkansas, Asian Development Bank, australia, battery, Best Buy, BP, Brazil, california, cap and trade, carbon tax, carbon trading, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, deforestation, department of energy, DOE, e-waste, eia, Electric Vehicle, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, Energy tax reform, environment, Ernest Moniz, ev, ev charging, Extreme weather, Exxon, First Solar, fracking, Gazprom, Gina McCarthy, green business, Gregory Jaczko, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, Hybrids, Illinois, Iowa, kansas, Keystone XL, Mosiac, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New Hampshire, News, NRC, NRG, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, OPEC, oregon, Recycling, renewables, Shanghai, Shell, smart grid, solar, solar pv, South Africa, tar sands, Tesla, transmission, Transportation, UN, united nations, wind
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08
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.8.13

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

India seeks access to US natural gas (via The Hill)

Shale-rich Spanish region expected to vote to ban fracking (via Reuters)

Foreign investors play large role in US shale industry (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cheaper electric vehicle batteries: slow and steady wins the race (via Green Car Reports)

Fisker mass layoffs trigger federal lawsuit (via Autoblog)

GREEN BUSINESS 

A glimpse into the future of retailer sustainability (via GreenBiz)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production will reach nearly 62 billion gallons by 2023 (via Navigant Research)

630MW offshore wind London Array at full power (via Recharge)

Austria installed 230MW of solar in 2012 to double total capacity (via CleanTechnica)

IRS gives wind power a raise (via EarthTechling)

Sewer bonds new funding model for solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Wind energy and wildlife: science marks industry efforts (via AOL Energy)

North Carolina’s renewable portfolio standard under attack (via RTCC)

EMISSIONS 

China’s emissions trading scheme in line for 2020 national launch (via RTCC)

Study: fossil fuel emissions stunt coral growth (via RTCC)

Air pollution killed 1.2 million Chinese in 2010 (via Greentech Media)

US carbon emissions drop as natural gas displaces coal (via The Hill)

Total carbon emissions from natural gas may exceed coal by 2016 (via Facts of the Day)

Study: EPA rules will fuel shift away from coal (via The Hill)

OIL 

Ruling against BP clears way for spill payout appeals (via Reuters)

Exxon oil spill could be 40% larger than company estimates, say EPA figures (via InsideClimate News)

Upstart pipeline company staking its future on stopping heavy oil corrosion (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Tipping point near for LED lighting (via Navigant Research)

GRID 

“Battery University” aims to train a work force for next-generation energy storage (via New York Times)

Texas to double wind capacity with $6.8 billion transmission investment (via AOL Energy)

ComEd facing lawsuit connected to smart meter initiative (via Renew Grid)

POLITICS 

DOE, EPA nominees face Congressional hearings this week (via The Hill)

Meet the US billionaire who wants to kill the Keystone XL pipeline (via The Globe and Mail)

The man who could put climate change on Obama’s agenda (via National Journal)

Salazar looks back on a “joyful run” as Interior Secretary (via New York Times)

OPINION 

Is the Keystone XL pipeline too risky? (via National Journal)

Yea or nay, White House will face backlash on Keystone (via Politico)

Why solar power company stocks are still earthbound (via New York Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, Austria, battery, biofuels, BP, cap and trade, China, coal, ComEd, Coral reef, CREZ, Denis McDonough, Dilbit, DOE, Electric battery, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ev, Exxon, Fisker, fracking, Gina McCarthy, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, interior department, IRS, ken salazar, Keystone XL, LED, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, production tax credit, ptc, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, rps, Shale gas, smart meter, solar, Spain, Tax incentive, texas, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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03
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.3.13

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Berkeley Lab researchers release guide to financing energy upgrades for K-12 school districts (via Phys.org)

California to set energy efficiency standards for video game consoles (via Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles includes cool roofs in building code (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

Arkansas attorney general plans investigation into oil spill (via AP)

At oil spill cleanup in Arkansas, Exxon running the show, not feds (via InsideClimate News)

Dolphin deaths still high after Gulf oil spill, says NWF (via Houston Chronicle)

Mishaps shouldn’t impede energy expansion, oil industry economist says (via Houston Chronicle)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV industry now operating as net energy producer (via EarthTechling)

The drought is drying up all our ethanol (via Mother Jones)

Utilities challenge net metering as solar power expands in California (via ClimateWire)

BP puts wind farm business up for sale (via Reuters)

Citigroup blows by Santander as greenest bank on wind power push (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

World Bank plans to take lead in climate challenge (via RTCC)

Climate change making extreme events worse in Australia (via The Guardian)

Geoengineering schemes need global sign-off, researchers say (via The Guardian)

Public trusts scientists on climate change, says poll (via RTCC)

NASA’s most famous climate scientist is retiring – here’s a look back at his work (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Sequester looms over DOE’s energy labs (via Politico)

Poll: two-thirds back Keystone pipeline, global warming belief trends upward (via The Hill)

House Natural Resources Committee democrats launch “EVIZ” iPad app (via Climate Progress)

TRANSPORTATION 

Emissions rules put alternative-fuel vehicles in a bind (via New York Times)

US Parks Service launches clean transportation initiative (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla announces lease option for Model S starting at $1,500/month (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf has best sales month ever with 2,236 sold, Chevy Volt steady at 1,478 (via Autoblog Green)

Tesla, Fisker, and what could have been: a tale of two electric car startups (via GigaOm)

GRID 

Demand response payments increase significantly in PJM (via Greentech Media)

ComEd says smart grid efforts created 2,400 jobs in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Northeast Utilities still can’t reveal “new route” for Northern Pass (via CLF Scoop)

COAL 

Oregon environmental coalition gives notice on coal dust lawsuit (via New York Times)

OPINION 

For energy tech, the boring stuff (business model innovation) will be key (via GigaOm)

Is the Internet too hot for data centers to handle? (via Scientific American)

8 myths about wind energy (via Renewable Energy World)

Expensive batteries are holding back electric cars – can that change? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alternative-fuel vehicle, Arkansas, australia, battery, BP, california, chevy volt, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Cool roofs, data center, Demand response, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy efficiency standards, ethanol, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, Fisker, Geoengineering, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, James Hansen, Keystone XL, los angeles, NASA, National Wildlife Federation, Net metering, News, nissan LEAF, Northeast Utilities, Northern pass, oil, oil spill, oregon, Pipeline, PJM, renewables, Sequester, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Tesla, Tesla Model S, transmission, Transportation, US Parks Service, wind, World Bank
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28
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.28.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

IMF: Get rid of $1.9 trillion in energy subsidies to fight climate change (via Washington Post)

Oil and electricity: a compare-and-contrast tale of two regulators (via McClatchy)

Sequestration forces Interior to cut mineral revenue payments to states (via EnergyWire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Battle widens over oil pipelines from Canada through Midwest (via Minnesota Star-Tribune)

Train derailment spills 30,000 gallons of Canadian crude in Minnesota (via Reuters)

Suncor Energy cancels troubled Alberta tar sands project (via Vancouver Sun)

US to hold Keystone pipeline hearing in Nebraska (via Phys.org)

RENEWABLES 

Solar, wind to push renewables to 36% of global cumulative installed capacity by 2020 (via EnergyNext)

Global solar PV installations to reach 200GW by 2015 (via EnergyNext)

China raising PV prices on European exports (via Recharge)

Japan to increase offshore wind capacity to 40x current level by 2020 (via EnergyNext)

UK boosts renewables share of power generation to 11.3% (via Recharge)

Rwanda to start $27 million geothermal development (via Renewable Energy World)

We’re number one: US installed most wind power in 2012, US company GE Wind is top supplier (via Climate Progress)

NREL study: securitization could cut solar LCOE 16% (via Greentech Media)

New organic solar cells process sunlight as plants do (via Mother Nature Network)

Study: Midwesterners open to wind farms, especially in rural areas (via Phys.org)

Lancaster, California becomes first US city to require solar (via Greentech Media)

OPT Oregon wave energy project delayed again (via EarthTechling)

COAL 

Japan coal use to jump 24% in 2013-2014 as energy costs rise (via Reuters)

More science on mountaintop removal’s health effects (via Charleston Gazette)

CLIMATE 

Security risks of climate change prompt military review by over 100 countries (via RTCC)

How to abuse statistics: claim global warming stopped in 1998 (via Weather Underground)

Global warming predictions prove accurate over past 15 years (via The Guardian)

Climate change is increasing seasonal allergies (via Climate Central)

Ocean acidification from climate change threatens the seas (via USA Today)

EMISSIONS 

EU eyes 40 percent carbon cuts by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

EU confident carbon market fix will win states’ support (via Bloomberg)

Auditor General’s carbon neutral report scalds British Columbia government (via Huffington Post/Canadian Press)

Disney, Microsoft, Shell opt for self-imposed CO2 emission taxes (via The Guardian)

Study: US biofuels policy pushes GHG emissions overseas (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Fracking’s latest scandal – earthquake swarms (via Mother Jones)

Drilling boom spurs rush to harness brackish water (via StateImpact Texas)

Small towns find fracking brings boom, booming headaches (via Bloomberg)

Texas regulators ease rules to encourage frack water recycling (via Houston Chronicle)

Nearly 670 miles of wells drilled in Ohio in 2012 (via Akron Beacon Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

US “peak miles” may have happened five years ago, Americans still drive 3 trillion miles a year (via Autoblog Green)

Nissan Leaf sales will hit new record in March, around 1,900 units (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker puts US workforce on furlough this week (via Reuters)

GRID 

Seven simple strategies for smart grid engagement (via Renew Grid)

Solar activity can affect transmission grid, but 2013 activity less than anticipated (via US EIA)

You can’t have a smarter grid without smarter buildings (via Greentech Media)

Santa Clara, California launches free outdoor wi-fi on backs of smart meters (via GigaOm)

ENVIRONMENT 

With drought season off to a bad start, scientists forecast another bleak year (via InsideClimate News)

Gardeners plant strawberries and tomatoes in Arctic valleys of Greenland for first time (via Inhabitat)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

How the Internet of Things will transform building management (via GreenBiz)

Tax time 2013: energy efficiency home tax credits (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

UK prime minister removes anti-wind energy minister from post (via Recharge)

Under fire, Senate Democrat trio says Keystone vote not endorsement (via The Hill)

Ethanol debate has glimpse of bipartisanship (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Low-carbon economies and smart grids: watch out for China (via Forbes)

Americans already pay a carbon tax, via extreme weather’s impact on GDP (via Sustainable Business)

Giant investment bank taken over by hippie alarmists (via Grist)

Is the sky the limit for wind power? (via NPR)

Cooling on warming (via New York Times)

How green is your university? (via New York Times)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional roundup of energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, biofuels, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Disney, drought, earthquakes, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Fisker, fracking, GE Wind, geothermal, global warming, green business, greenland, grid, IMF, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, LCOE, Microsoft, minnesota, mountaintop removal, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nissan LEAF, NREL, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, Ohio, oil spill, oregon, Peak miles, Pipelines, renewables, Rwanda, Sequestration, Shell, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, Subsidies, Suncor Energy, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wastewater, Wave energy, wind
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25
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.25.13

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

CLIMATE 

China facing $243 billion climate funding shortfall (via BusinessGreen)

Australia’s new energy minister: I’m no longer a climate skeptic (via Renew Economy)

For engineers, climate failure becomes an option (via Climate Central)

Obama’s science advisers press for carbon standards (via The Hill)

Billionaire plans effort to calculate cost of inaction on climate (via Greenwire)

COAL 

Chinese utilities face $20 billion coal costs due to water, BNEF says (via Bloomberg)

Chicago coal plants left no toxic legacy, but cleanup remains complicated (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

India says 71% of solar capacity built using imported modules (via Bloomberg)

Cumulative solar PV demand to double again by 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

China might soon stop flooding the world with cheap solar panels (via Washington Post)

New Japanese feed-in tariff rates set (via CleanTechnica)

Unlocking renewable energy potential in the Caribbean (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy losing its shine in Europe (via USA Today)

Denmark adds record wind electricity to grid (via Energy Next)

Rising solar power production in US likely to make it second-largest new power source in 2013 (via Climate Progress)

Measuring renewable energy “reserves” (via Grist)

Northeast solar sales surge through Home Depot (via Greentech Media)

Possible tax credit repeal could threaten North Carolina solar (via News Observer)

OIL 

Russia lets China into Arctic rush as energy giants embrace (via Bloomberg)

Bakken emerges as contender for US oil drilling crown (via CNBC)

ENVIRONMENT 

Drought that ravaged US crops likely to worsen in 2013, forecast warns (via Guardian)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

US rejects Enbridge’s plan for Sandpiper oil pipeline (via Reuters)

Keystone XL passes US senate 62-37 (via The Hill)

Keystone public comments won’t be made public, State Department says (via Inside Climate News)

GRID 

CAISO green-lights renewable energy transmission projects (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

India to unveil shale gas policy within two weeks (via Reuters)

As gas wells multiply, so do fracking studies (via Navigant Research)

What happens when natural gas is no longer dirt cheap? (via Washington Post)

In Ohio, the fog begins to lift over the Utica shale (via Reuters)

Ohio fracking boom has not brought jobs (via Grist)

TRANSPORTATION 

What 2013 looked like for greener cars, back in 1988 (via Green Car Reports)

POLITICS 

Senate votes highlight Dem divisions over Keystone, carbon taxes (via The Hill)

Climate change activists’ hope springs eternal (via Politico)

Within mainstream environmental groups, diversity is lacking (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

China’s coal plants are squeezing its water supply (via GigaOm)

Energy intensity the worst way to measure energy efficiency (via Slate)

Why geoengineering has immediate appeal to China (via The Guardian)

Why Russian doomsday climate predictions may prove prophetic (via RTCC)

Biofuels mandate: defend, reform, or repeal? (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, Bakken Shale, barack obama, biofuels, CaISO, canada, Carbon standard, carbon tax, Caribbean, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, denmark, drought, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, Energy intensity, environment, EU, europe, feed-in tariff, fracking, Geoengineering, grid, Home Depot, india, japan, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Pipeline, renewables, Russia, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, tar sands, Tom Steyer, transmission, Transportation, Utica Shale, Water scarcity, wind
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19
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.19.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Russia’s new 2020 carbon target could see emissions rise by 30% (via RTCC)

New Chinese premier vows to tackle pollution with “iron fist” (via Yale e360)

New EPA power plant rule running late, with major changes possible (via Greenwire)

Coal state Dems press Obama to scale back EPA emissions rules (via The Hill)

Why the EPA might delay carbon rules for power plants (via Washington Post)

California cap-and-trade funds proposed for green bank (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate change could mean seven times as many Katrinas for US (via Mother Jones)

A dramatic greening of the Artic over past 30 years (via Weather Underground)

RENEWABLES 

Renewables contribute 12.5% of India’s total power generation (via Panchabuta)

China may cut subsidy for largest solar projects (via Bloomberg)

Masdar cuts ribbon on world’s largest concentrated solar power plant (via BusinessGreen)

France announces tender for 400MW of large solar PV plants (via CleanTechnica)

Global clean energy reserves could match fossil fuels (via BusinessGreen)

Renewable energy standards target of multi-pronged attack (via InsideClimate News)

$4.8 billion in loans weighed by US for post-Solyndra projects (via Renewable Energy World/Bloomberg)

Next-gen biofuels making slow progress in 2013 (GigaOm)

Eagle death prompts wind farm investigation (via AOL Energy)

Fourth-graders crowdfund their own solar-powered classroom (via Treehugger)

California Green Innovation Index released (via San Jose Mercury News)

Iowa bill would support farmer-owned wind installations (via Midwest Energy News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Saudi Arabia to drill seven shale gas test wells (via Bloomberg)

Shale gas “no competitor” outside US (via Recharge)

Marcellus Shale now most productive in US (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

US natural gas prices rise as cold snap extends to April (via Reuters)

Chesapeake sued for fixing prices, underpaying landowners (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

Grid integration of wind and solar is cheap (via Greentech Media)

Infrastructure boom drives wire and cable materials market (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Russia adopts fracking to revive Soviet oil fields (via Bloomberg)

California fracking fight has $24 billion in taxes at stake (via Bloomberg)

In Texas, recycling oilfield water has far to go (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

India launches a $15,000 EV with no government help (via Forbes)

European car-efficiency rule would cut fuel bill by 25% (via Bloomberg)

Two airlines may have to buy EU carbon to give back to UK (via Bloomberg)

Toyota targets 2020 for 600-mile solid state electric car battery (via Plugin Cars)

One-third of electric car buyers might not buy another (via Green Car Reports)

Ford COO: electrified vehicles could be up to 25% of sales by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Automakers tell EPA it’s highly unlikely they can hit California ZEV mandate (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS

German research institute pulls out of Canadian tar sands project (via EurActiv)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Top ten US cities with the most Energy Star-certified buildings (via Renew Grid)

White roofs, green myth? (via Huffington Post)

The green in green building (via Sustainable Industries)

ENVIRONMENT 

China’s top six environmental problems (via Live Science)

Wildfires rage in Colorado as fears grow over drought (via The Guardian/Reuters)

Scientists puzzled by manatee deaths off Florida’s coast (via Tampa Bay Times)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, barack obama, biofuels, california, cap and trade, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Start, environment, EPA, European Union, ev, Florida, Ford, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, green building, grid, india, Iowa, marcellus shale, masdar, natural gas, News, oil, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Shale gas, solar, solar pv, solyndra, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, White roofs, Wildfire, wind
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14
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.14.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

US poised to become net energy exporter, Exxon Mobil forecasts (via Houston Chronicle)

Cities weigh taking electricity business from private utilities (via New York Times)

EPA reverses stance on polluting Texas water after a powerful lobbyist intervenes (via ProPublica)

West Virginia state legislation would prohibit heavy EPA fines (via Register-Herald)

GRID

Germany debates €10 billion grid network upgrade (via Recharge)

Silver Springs Networks’ stock jumps up close to 30% in debut (via GigaOm)

In wake of Sandy, Connecticut expands microgrid program (via Pike Research)

RENEWABLES

$71 trillion in institutional funds for wind, solar, and smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

US approves 1.1GW of solar and wind projects (via Recharge)

SEIA reports 76% surge in US solar installations (via New York Times)

FERC, US Coast Guard to coordinate development of hydrokinetic projects (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes reforms to speed interconnection of renewables, solar (via Greentech Media)

North Carolina offshore wind draws interest (via Recharge)

New York State could run on wind, water, and sunlight (via CleanTechnica)

PG&E solar billing named in California’s top utility “money wasters” (via PV Tech)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Three hurdles for Japan’s gas “discovery” (via GigaOm)

Saudi Arabia’s shale plans may be slowed by lack of water (via Bloomberg)

USC says fracking may boost California economy 14% (via Bloomberg)

New York State farmers learn fracking many mean drilling if neighbors agree (via Bloomberg)

Illinois House Speaker supports two-year fracking moratorium (via State Journal-Register/AP)

SandRidge strikes deal that could lead to CEO’s removal (via Reuters)

EMISSIONS

Help Henry Waxman write a new carbon-tax bill (via Grist)

Second US carbon tax plan mooted (via RTCC)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS

Obama: pipeline decision coming soon (via The Hill)

State Department report OK’ing Keystone XL linked to oil industry (via Salon)

American pipeline will diminish energy security, prominent Canadian says (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL pipeline report studied British Columbia scenarios (via Huffington Post)

Obama says Keystone XL pipeline not major jobs creator (via CTV News)

Dilbit sinks in Enbridge oil spill, but floats in its lab study (via InsideClimate News)

OIL

US oil boom protects world from supply shocks (via Reuters)

OPEC: non-OPEC supply cutting into market share (via MarketWatch)

US refiners may boost gasoline exports on ethanol rule (via Reuters)

Study: shale oil contributed $30.4 billion to North Dakota’s economy in 2011 (via Bismarck Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

US energy efficiency league tables revealed (via RTCC)

LA tops US cities for Energy Star-certified buildings (via Sustainable Business)

SXSW: using Big Data to shrink energy waste (via Time)

Conservatives vs. liberals: who wastes more electricity? (via Grist)

Does daylight saving time save energy? (via Pike Research)

GREEN BUSINESS

Sustainability reporting slowly increases in China, report finds (via Environmental Leader)

Google incorporates green roofs into headquarters expansion (via GreenBiz)

COAL

Is there value in old coal-fired power plants? (via Midwest Energy News/ClimateWire)

Mountaintop removal coal mining poisoning Appalachia’s waterways (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE

Large fractures spotted in vulnerable Arctic sea ice (via Climate Central)

Climate change affects mountain forests (via Phys.org)

After 2012 drought, US farmers adapt for climate change (via Phys.org)

Inslee’s climate change bill passes Washington state senate (via Seattle Times)

TRANSPORTATION

EV project tells us how drivers use electric cars (via Green Car Reports)

FAA approves Boeing Dreamliner battery tests (via Environmental Leader)

Minnesota sales of electric, gas vehicles collide (via Star-Tribune)

NUCLEAR

Obama administration placing big bet on small reactors (via Greenwire)

Above-normal outage of US nuclear capacity persist at start of 2013 (via US EIA)

Savannah River site could store nuclear waste, says study (via Charlotte Observer)

ENVIRONMENT

Dozens of species given new trade protections (via New York Times)

POLITICS

Obama to supporters: give lawmakers political cover on climate change (via The Hill)

Ryan budget pan calls two solar projects “ill-fated” – but they’re doing fine (via Washington Post)

OPINION

Renewable energy boom dependent on new energy infrastructure (via Renewable Energy World)

Obama and Keystone: reading the tea leaves (via Washington Post)

Can better solar loans slow the surge of third-party ownership? (via Greentech Media)

Five reasons why a successful Silver Springs IPO is important (via GigaOm)

Posted:   |   Categories: Appalachia, arctic, barack obama, Boeing Dreamliner, british columbia, california, canada, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connecticut, deforestation, Dilbit, drought, Electric Vehicle, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, energy star, environment, EPA, ethanol, ev, Exxon Mobil, FAA, FERC, fracking, Gasoline, Georgia, germany, global warming, google, green business, green roof, grid, Hurricane Sandy, Hydropower, Illinois, Interconnection, japan, jay inslee, Keystone XL, los angeles, Methane hydrates, Microgrid, minnesota, mountaintop removal, natural gas, new york state, News, North Carolina, north dakota, nuclear, Nuclear waste storage, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OPEC, Paul Ryan, PGE, renewables, SandRidge, saudi arabia, Savannah River, Sea ice melt, seia, Shale gas, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, small modular reactor, smart grid, solar, tar sands, texas, Third party solar, transmission, Transportation, US Coast Guard, Washington State, Water, West Virginia, wind
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12
Mar

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.12.13

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

ENERGY POLICY

EU Commission wants carbon cuts, more renewables in 2030 goals (via Reuters)

Australia toughens environmental hurdles on coal, seam gas mining (via Reuters)

CLIMATE

Algae growth resulting from glacial melt could help curb climate change (via Inhabitat)

Study finds climate change making Arctic seasons more like southern regions (via Ottawa Citizen)

Canada losing its seasons to global warming (via IPS News)

Russia will soon switch to grow grapes and soybeans (via BSR Russia)

Climate change is biggest threat, says top Navy commander in Pacific (via Mother Jones)

Rising sea levels threaten historic Jamestown, marine geologist says island’s future is grim (via Washington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES

Global clean energy market values set to nearly double by 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

EU-China solar trade war promises order bonanza for Taiwan (via Reuters)

Iceland could end up at heart of Europe’s clean energy strategy (via BusinessGreen)

EWEA blasts EU states over wind policies (via Recharge)

Australia may have up to 10GW of solar PV by 2017 (via Renew Economy)

Japan’s 10% cut for solar power FIT retains boom incentives (via Bloomberg)

Wind power emerges as long-term natural gas hedge (via Greentech Media)

What will the solar PV market look like in 2016? (via Greentech Media)

Second generation biofuels on verge of cost breakthrough (via BusinessGreen)

Clean power collateral damage: of bird, tortoises and the transition from fossil fuels (via Huffington Post)

Solar PV demand to reach 31 gigawatts in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Barriers prevent institutional investment in renewable energy (via Energy Manager Today)

NATURAL GAS

Japan achieves first gas extraction from offshore methane hydrate (via Reuters)

Qatar announces 2.8 tcf natural gas discovery (via AP)

GRID

Smart meter shipments are booming worldwide (via Renew Grid)

Residential demand response participation will hit 16% worldwide by 2018 (via Pike Research)

Merkel government seeks to speed up German power line expansion (via Bloomberg)

Top ten North American networked grid utilities (via Greentech Media)

Biggest power users provide gigawatts of smart grid flexibility (via Greentech Media)

Community-owned transmission? (via CleanTechnica)

NUCLEAR

In US, nuclear energy loses momentum amid economic headwinds, safety issues (via Washington Post)

Fukushima legacy could be costly US plant closures (via Greenwire)

DOE to award $266 million to small modular nuclear reactor project (via Green Car Congress)

Safer nuclear power, at half the price (via MIT Technology Review)

ENVIRONMENT

Forests growing in thawed-out Arctic (via Grist)

China wrestles with cost of cleaner environment (via Phys.org)

State efforts to “reclaim” public lands traced to Koch-fueled ALEC (via Climate Progress)

Ground-level ozone falling faster than predicted, finds study (via Phys.org)

US winter was warmer and wetter than average (via USA Today)

TRANSPORTATION

CTO says GM “committed to electrification as a long-term journey” (via Autoblog Green)

105 billion public transportation trips taken in 2012 (via Mother Nature Network)

Spike in gas prices coming earlier every year (via Politico)

Tesla delays production of Model X electric car to end of 2014 (via GigaOm)

COAL

Coal plants out of style in Germany (via CleanTechnica)

What coal-train dust means for human health (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Green building movement gains traction worldwide (via Triple Pundit)

Energy efficiency push losing power in Congress (via The Hill)

OPINION

Inevitable 2014 headline: “Global CO2 level reaches 400 ppm for first time in human existence” (via Climate Progress)

Ending the stupid technology innovation vs. deployment fight once and for all (via Grist)

In search of energy miracles (via New York Times)

When to say no (to Keystone XL) (via New York Times)

Will California’s cap and trade stifle low-carbon innovation? (via GreenBiz)

Will China ever get its pollution problem under control? (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, ALEC, Angela Merkel, arctic, australia, california, canada, cap and trade, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal seam gas, Demand response, DOE, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EU, europe, European Union, ev, feed-in tariff, FIT, fukushima, Gasoline, Geothermal Biofuel, global warming, GM, green building, grid, Iceland, investment, japan, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Methane hydrates, natural gas, News, NRC, nuclear, offshore wind, Ozone, public transportation, Qatar, renewables, Russia, Sea ice melt, Sea level rise, Small modular reactors, smart grid, smart meter, SMR, solar, Solar trade war, Taiwan, Tesla, Tesla Model X, transmission, Transportation, virginia, wind
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