Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.14.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Climate change poses growing threat of Arctic conflict, finds report (via The Guardian)
April was 2nd warmest globally; Average for U.S. (via Climate Central)
Norway bets on global warming in Arctic oil and gas drive (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)
Rubio can’t name a single source behind his climate denial (via Climate Progress)
COAL
China produces and consumes almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined (via US EIA)
Turkish prime minister says 238 killed in coal mine disaster (via Reuters)
Two coal miners killed at West Virginia coal operation (via Charleston Gazette)
In Chicago, nurses take up fight against petcoke piles (via Midwest Energy News)
RENEWABLES
Australia scraps $2.3 billion renewable energy agency (via Recharge)
Industry says renewables can boost EU energy security (via BusinessGreen)
$11 billion will be invested in Indian solar energy by 2017 (via Renewable Energy World)
UK sees sharp rise in percentage of onshore wind farms being rejected (via BusinessGreen)
U.S. solar experts say IRS tax proposal little help to big projects (via Reuters)
Massachusetts wants more solar energy projects (via Boston Globe/AP)
Missouri Senate rejects solar rebates revival (via KSDK/AP)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
EPA asked to regulate fracking’s toxic air emissions (via InsideClimate News)
Unintended consequences: Fracking and the flow of drugs (via National Journal)
ENVIRONMENT
U.S. drought speeds fire season with damage topping $1 billion (via Bloomberg)
Half of U.S. is experiencing some degree of drought (via Yale e360)
OIL
ConocoPhillips CEO: U.S. crude keeping a check on global oil price spikes (via Houston Chronicle)
Latest oil train derailment adds pressure for stronger U.S. action (via Christian Science Monitor)
TRANSPORTATION
Sales of hybrid and EV batteries have tripled in three years (via Climate Progress)
California Energy Commission publishes 2014-2015 investment plan for alternative and EV technology (via Green Car Congress)
Tesla appears to be winning direct sales battle in Missouri (via Autoblog Green)
EMISSIONS
Beijing’s smog police outgunned in China’s war on pollution (via Reuters)
GRID
How will battery storage help utilities integrate distributed solar? (via Greentech Media)
EAGLE-I: First-ever technology to track power outages nationwide (via Breaking Energy)
NUCLEAR
Exelon pins nuclear hopes on small modular reactors (via Forbes)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
How mandatory disclosure of building energy use affects your 401(k) (via GreenBiz)
KEYSTONE XL
Blanche Lincoln: Obama will “move on” Keystone XL next year (via Politico)
POLITICS
Front-running Ontario premier candidate would close down green energy (via Treehugger)
What would a GOP majority look like? Last week offered some clues. (via National Journal)
Welcome to energy and the midterm elections (via Politico)
Rubio walks back climate change comments during National Press Club appearance (via Washington Post)
Ohio bill to freeze efficiency, green energy rules racing toward Governor’s desk (via Cleveland Plain-Dealer)
OPINION
The world needs more clean coal, or we’re screwed (via Time)
You are already paying a price on carbon (via Huffington Post)
How utilities can stop losing revenue and start making money on solar (via Greentech Media)