Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.7.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
UN climate talks grapple with regional carbon market integration: IEA (via Bloomberg)
China plans to cap carbon emissions from steel, cement producers by 2020 (via ClimateWire)
Election shifts Oregon closer to carbon tax, not so much for Washington (via Oregon Public Broadcasting)
COAL
Coal’s defender-in-chief tries to shift debate about fuel (via Bloomberg)
RENEWABLES
Renewables now cheaper than fossil fuels in developing countries (via Energy Collective)
UK utility-scale solar boom on tap for 2015 (via Solar Industry Magazine)
Solar doesn’t pay right now in Germany (via Renewables International)
UK solar companies lose legal battle over subsidy cuts (via BusinessGreen)
Republicans urged to reject wind tax credit in lame duck (via Houston Chronicle)
First Wind closes $254 million financing for Texas wind farm (via Bloomberg)
40% renewable energy integration no trouble for Midwest (via CleanTechnica)
UC-Irvine adding 3.2MW of solar canopies (via Energy Manager Today)
Vestas upgrades sales, margins forecast as profit surges (via Bloomberg)
CLIMATE
Climate change is disrupting flower pollination, research shows (via The Guardian)
Brazil wants richer countries to step up on climate (via The Hill)
New global warming remedy: Turn rangelands into carbon vacuums (via California Magazine)
Shrimp depletion in Gulf of Maine part of a global pattern (via Portland Press-Herald)
Republican gains in Washington state legislature spoil plans for West Coast bloc of climate action states (via ClimateWire)
Tech company SAP severs ties with ALEC (via National Journal)
NATURAL GAS
DOJ subpoenas Chesapeake Energy over royalty complaints (via StateImpact Texas)
Illinois lawmakers approve fracking rules (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
GRID
EU’s bank to loan Britain’s power grid $2.4 billion (via Reuters)
Battery storage will replace many peaker spinning reserve plants (via CleanTechnica)
OIL
Testing U.S. oil export ban carries some risks (via Reuters)
Federal Appeals Court reaffirms BP is liable in Gulf oil spill (via Houston Chronicle/AP)
White House would “consider” Keystone bill (via The Hill)
TRANSPORTATION
Which EV makers are serious? U.S. sales show top three (via Green Car Reports)
Tesla projecting years of 50% growth sparks share rise (via Bloomberg)
EPA says more fuel-efficient cars available in 2015 (via The Hill)
Tesla Model X delayed thanks to Model S production lessons (via Autoblog Green)
ENVIRONMENT
U.S. weather forecaster slightly reduces El Nino outlook (via Reuters)
No recovery, but a sliver of drought gain for California (via Climate Central)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Commercial and industrial demand response poised for major growth (via Renew Grid)
Arizona energy efficiency programs in jeopardy (via Energy Manager Today)
POLITICS
Republican wave unlikely to wash away Obama’s major rules (via Greenwire)
House to vote on EPA “secret science” bills (via The Hill)
Republican sweep highlights climate change politics in Alaska (via NPR)
National Democrats yanking Louisiana ad buy as Landrieu faces runoff (via Bloomberg)
Meager returns for the Democrats’ biggest donor (via New York Times)
OPINION
Six renewable energy trends to watch for in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)
Do Americans really want a hard right turn on climate and renewables? (via The Hill)
Can SolarCity crack the code of boosting business beyond solar homes? (via Forbes)
Election special: What the Republican takeover means for clean energy (via Greentech Media)
President Obama has stalled on Keystone for years. Now he has to make a decision. (via Slate)