Category Archives:uk

13
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.13.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global CO2 levels pass long-feared milestone (via New York Times)

UNFCC Paris meeting projected as pivotal climate point (via USA Today)

We’ve hit 400ppm – here’s what that means (via Mother Jones)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Is Canada’s oil too dirty for Europe? (via International Herald Tribune)

US decision on Keystone XL pipeline seen dragging past summer (via Reuters)

TransCanada files lawsuit to block Keystone XL protests (via The Oklahoman)

ENVIRONMENT 

White House outlines framework for managing Arctic (via The Hill)

Half world’s plants, third of animals threatened by climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

RENEWABLES 

PwC questions EU-China solar PV tariff claims (via Recharge)

Solar module manufacturing trends in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Hyundai’s 50-acre rooftop solar system will be South Korea’s largest PV system (via Autoblog Green)

Better batteries could revolutionize solar, wind power (via USA Today)

Wind industry wants PTC extended for big piece of energy pie (via Greentech Media)

A rare bipartisan clean energy bill is ready for passage (via InsideClimate News)

Is Xcel’s top spot in US wind power in jeopardy? (via Star-Tribune)

Maine governor wants wind energy goals out of state law (via Bangor Daily News)

Rooftop solar firms launch net metering advocacy alliance (via Solar Industry Magazine)

GRID 

UK regulators defer smart meter rollout (via Navigant Research)

Smart grid revenue in China will surpass $15 billion a year by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

COAL 

India’s coal import boom has limited beneficiaries (via Reuters)

Coal-export plans going off the rails in Pacific Northwest (via Grist)

EMISSIONS 

Project aims to track carbon footprints of big cities (via Phys.org)

It’s not all about CO2: a plan to help cut short-term climate pollutants (via Grist)

Texas project called milestone for carbon capture (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

Russia plowing $32 billion into nuclear over next two years (via SmartPlanet)

Exelon waiting for pricier power (via Crain’s Chicago Business)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Efficiency gains could cut cellphone network power use 90% (via GreenBiz)

DOE energy efficiency upgrade program nets over $41 million in savings (via EarthTechling)

TRANSPORTATION 

Maine votes to ban ethanol in gasoline, takes stand against E15 (via Autoblog Green)

New interactive map tracks plug-in vehicle adoption in California (via Green Car Congress)

Ohio a potential hub for EV jobs (via EarthTechling)

OIL 

Global oil prices pressured by US tripling crude exports to Canada (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Tennessee Valley Authority to remain publicly owned (via Reuters)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas export plans stir debate (via NPR/AP)

POLITICS 

Washington politics splits Silicon Valley on Keystone XL (via Greentech Media)

150 major Democratic donors urge Obama to reject Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Elon Musk bails on Zuckerberg group after Keystone, drilling ads (via The Hill)

OPINION 

We just passed the climate’s “grim milestone” (via Mother Jones)

Should Washington go small on energy and climate policy? (via National Journal)

Adding an EV cut payback point of solar panel investment in half (via GigaOm)

Two conversations the wind industry must own, and soon (via Renewable Energy World)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, arctic, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, DOE, electric vehicles, Elon Musk, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, ethanol, europe, ev, Exelon, Extinction, green jobs, grid, Hyundai, india, Maine, mark zuckerberg, MLP, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oklahoma, Paul LePage, production tax credit, ptc, Renewable energy standard, renewables, res, Russia, smart grid, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Korea, tar sands, Tennessee Valley Authority, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, UNFCC, united kingdom, wind, xcel
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09
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.9.13

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

EMISSIONS 

World Bank President urges carbon price (via Environmental Leader)

EU carbon price crisis spreads to Australia (via RTCC)

EU carbon trading system remains in peril, but rescue attempts is launched (via ClimateWire)

Carbon market champions unfazed by Kyoto dead end (via Bloomberg)

Cap and trade auction investment plan a win for California (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

Another Northwest coal export project falls by the wayside (via The Oregonian)

ENERGY POLICY 

The 2013 US utility outlook on renewables, smart grid (via Greentech Media)

Foes suggest a climate trade-off if Keystone XL is approved (via New York Times)

RENEWABLES 

Offshore wind industry will become €130 billion annual market by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

World’s first green bank loans $1 billion in first five months of operation (via Reuters)

World Bank turns to hydropower to square development with climate change (via Washington Post)

German scientists use offshore wind farms to replenish lobsters (via Bloomberg)

Study finds tiny rate increases from state renewable portfolio standards (via Greentech Media)

US job market bursting with green tech opportunities (via EarthTechling)

Weak 2013 US wind turbine market predicted (via Recharge)

Minnesota House approves 4% by 2025 solar PV mandate (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Mexico still far from tapping shale potential, says energy minister (via Reuters)

US natural gas exports: friend or foe? (via WRI Insights)

US will use less natural gas in 2014 than in 2012, according to EIA (via Facts of the Day)

Interior Department’s fracking rules in cross hairs ahead of upcoming release (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

European plug-in EV sales will reach 670,000 unites annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Tesla posts first profit as Model S becomes best-selling US plug-in (via Autoblog Green)

California legislature aims to make public charging networks available to all (via Plugin Cars)

Consumer Reports gives near-perfect score to Tesla Model S (via Reuters)

OIL 

How oil travels around the world, in one map (via Washington Post)

Shell announces plans to build world’s deepest production facility (via Houston Chronicle)

Interior Secretary to oil industry: don’t throw regulators under the bus (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf of Mexico emergency oil spill equipment put to the test (via Houston Chronicle)

GRID 

North American smart meter shipments will continue decline through 2014 (via Navigant Research)

Demand response cuts need for new generation in PJM grid (via Energy Collective)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Canada says it may take EU to WTO over oil sands dispute (via Reuters)

Can carbon capture clean up Canada’s oil sands? (via MIT Technology Review)

Academics warn Canada against further tar sands production (via The Guardian)

Pipeline wars seen spreading after Keystone XL fight (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency bill clears Senate panel (via The Hill)

Big data means big savings for big buildings (via GreenBiz)

Boston mandates energy benchmarking (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

Declining snow cover imperils plant and animal species, study says (via Yale e360)

After swimming through Sandy’s havoc, New Jersey beach towns want to stay put (via ClimateWire)

POLITICS

Congressional scholar says holds on top administration posts “not business as usual” (via SNL Energy)

Environmentalists seize on Biden’s Keystone XL remarks to launch new attack (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

How the anti-coal campaign is protecting Australia’s economy (via Renew Economy)

Carbon tax is best option Congress has (via Washington Post)

It’s official: $1 invested in EPA yields $10 in benefits (via Climate Progress)

Why aren’t environmental groups divesting from fossil fuels? (via The Nation)

Carbon tax has very broad, bipartisan support – outside of Congress (via Climate Progress)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, Big data, Black & Veatch, Boston, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, Carbon price, carbon tax, carbon trading, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Consumer Reports, Demand response, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ETS, EU, europe, European Union, ev, ev charging, Fossil fuel divestment, germany, global warming, Green bank, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hydropower, interior department, investment, Joe Biden, Keystone XL, Kyoto Protocol, minnesota, new jersey, News, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oregon, Pipelines, PJM Interconnection, politics, PV solar, Renewable portfolio standards, renewables, Sally Jewell, Shell, smart meter, solar, tar sands, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind, World Bank, World Trade Organization, WTO
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08
May

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

China and India’s energy resource rivalry extends to the Arctic (via Houston Chronicle)

Federal government postpones oil, gas lease auctions in California (via Houston Chronicle)

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge breaks safety rules at 117 of 125 pipeline pump stations across Canada (via CBC)

EMISSIONS 

New emissions plan could energize global climate talks, says US envoy (via The Guardian)

Ministers urge long term fix for EU emissions system (via RTCC)

“Inconsistency” between British Columbia’s carbon tax and fossil fuel exports (via The Tyee)

US appeals court judges skeptical of states challenging EPA regulatory authority (via Greenwire)

RENEWABLES 

EU-China solar trade war entering endgame? (via Renewable Energy World)

Latin America sees $4.6 billion in 2012 clean energy investment (via EarthTechling)

UK proposes $170 billion in low-carbon energy investment (via Bloomberg)

UK renewable energy generation increases 20% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Europe’s dominance in PV solar market over, says industry lobby (via Recharge)

Army to spur geothermal with $7 billion contract (via Federal Times)

Experts back continued dominance of US wind supply chain (via Recharge)

NCAR powers up renewable energy forecasts (via Phys.org)

CLIMATE 

G8 set to discuss climate change at summit (via RTCC)

US defends plan for countries to set their own climate goals (via RTCC)

Study says media ignore climate context of Midwest floods (via Climate Progress)

NJ town, flood-soaked and weary, tries to back away from the water (via ClimateWire)

COAL 

Ohio may open national forest to coal mining (via Columbus Dispatch)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Obama on natural gas exports – “I’ve got to make a decision” (via EnergyWire)

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

US DOE to award up to $20 million for methane hydrate research (via Green Car Congress)

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

California urges record $2.5 billion fine for 2010 natural gas blast (via Christian Science Monitor)

Local governments in Pennsylvania fail to disclose millions in shale gas impact fees (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

As North Carolina weighs fracking, questions loom on wastewater (via Stateline)

New 250-mile natural gas pipeline proposed for Ohio (via Akron Beacon Journal)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Energy efficiency lags in the US South (via Navigant Research)

How Nest and Opower quietly morphed into competitors (via GigaOm)

OIL 

Shell pushes innovation to stay in deepwater drilling game (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

US urban trees store 708 million tons of carbon, provide $50 billion economic value (via Phys.org)

Texas groundwater levels suffer sharp drop, study finds (via Texas Tribune)

GRID 

Energy harvesting the next big thing for the smart grid (via Energy Collective)

Berkeley lab tests utility-customer smart grid communication (via Energy Manager Today)

TRANSPORTATION 

Australian fast charger slashes EV charging time (via Renew Economy)

US lowers forecast for summer 2013 gasoline prices (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

California faces another summer without San Onofre nuclear plant (via Los Angeles Times)

As price of nuclear energy drops, a Wisconsin plant is shut (via New York Times)

OPINION 

This isn’t the weather we grew up with (via The Guardian)

A carbon trading system worth saving (via New York Times)

Solyndra was this much of an outlier in DOE’s loan portfolio (via Atlantic)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, barack obama, british columbia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, Energy harvesting, environment, EPA, ETS, EU, European Union, ev, EV charger, Extreme weather, fast charging, Floods, fracking, Fracking wastewater, G8, geothermal, grid, india, investment, Latin America, Methane hydrates, natural gas, Natural gas exports, NCAR, Nest, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Opower, pennsylvania, Pipeline, PV solar, renewables, San Onofre, Severe weather, Shale gas, Shell, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, solyndra, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, Water scarcity, wind, Wisconsin
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30
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.30.13

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

EMISSIONS

Global carbon dioxide concentration now at highest level in 5 million years (via USA Today)

Global carbon dioxide levels set to pass 400ppm milestone (via The Guardian)

EU uncertainty likely to affect global carbon markets (via RTCC)

COAL 

In the Northwest, rising coal exports to Asia stir huge fight (via Seattle Times)

Bank of America and Citigroup biggest lenders to coal industry (via Bloomberg)

Patriot Coal warns of liquidation without major cuts to labor (via Reuters)

GRID 

Ethiopia getting Chinese funds for $1 billion hydropower line (via Renewable Energy World)

DOE: $2.9 billion in smart grid investment yields $6.8 billion in economic output (via AOL Energy)

RENEWABLES 

Latin American clean energy investment surged 127% in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

India’s clean power capacity races past 28GW in 2012-2013 (via Panchabuta)

Masdar to invest £1 billion with UK Green Investment Bank (via BusinessGreen)

Obama Administration limits mining on potential renewable energy sites (via The Hill)

Largest solar power plant in world now under construction in California (via Renew Economy)

Seven US offshore wind demonstration projects (via Renewable Energy World)

New wind industry CEO to mix business with environment (via Greentech Media)

Reshuffling the top 5 micro wind turbines (via CleanTechnica)

Website aims to become Yelp of solar power (via Midwest Energy News)

Very small wind hopes to power you up (via EarthTechling)

Colorado wins stronger solar mandate (via Greentech Media)

Slowing clean energy investing rush could hurt Sacramento industry (via Sacramento Bee)

OIL 

China is using up oil faster than we can produce it (via Washington Post)

Saudi-US relations to withstand North American oil boom (via Reuters)

Latest government data shows Canadian oil exports to US rising (via Wall Street Journal)

As shale booms, US crude exports jump to 13-year high (via Reuters)

BP hit by wave of new spill lawsuits ahead of April deadline (via Reuters)

California lawmakers advance bill to halt oil fracking in state (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Texas shale boom has major impact on state budget (via Texas Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION 

Fleet owners driven toward natural gas vehicles as oil prices soar (via Bloomberg)

Diesel, hybrid sales rocket past overall US market growth rate (via Autoblog Green)

Remember: DOE rejected most of the EV startups that wanted loans (via GigaOm)

Tesla Motors offers unlimited battery warranty (via Plugin Cars)

Nissan Leaf time lapse shows the EV being built (via Autoblog Green)

CLIMATE 

Rich countries blamed for setting climate talks “back a decade” (via RTCC)

Climate change compounds rising threats to koala (via The Guardian)

Report links rise in US disaster relief spending to climate change (via Climate Progress)

Along New Jersey bay, rising sea draws ever closer (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

ENERGY POLICY 

Japan utilities post $16 billion loss, outlook clouded on reactor restarts (via Reuters)

California nuclear shutdown offset low 2012 natgas prices (via Reuters)

Marcellus Shale cities, entwined with gas, among latest to join fossil fuel divestment push (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

EU votes to ban bee-killing pesticides (via BusinessGreen)

US Defense Department becomes a wildlife protector (via Los Angeles Times)

5 butterfly species just went extinct while no one was looking (via Mother Jones)

KEYSTONE XL 

Nearly 50 groups lobbying for Keystone XL (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Nest Labs updates smart thermostat for summer (via Greentech Media)

Ohio industry backs state energy efficiency standards (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The politics of climate change (via Phys.org)

House GOP demands details on DOE loan guarantees (via The Hill)

How “green” is new Interior Secretary Sally Jewell? (via Christian Science Monitor)

New Interior Department chief savors a steep learning curve (via New York Times)

Landrieu primed to lead Senate Energy panel – if she wins re-election (via National Journal)

Sen. Boxer finds herself at odds with environmentalists (via Los Angeles Times)

Zukerberg group draws fire over pro-fossil fuel ads (via Politico)

OPINION 

Why do conservatives like to waste energy? (via Mother Jones)

How the political crusade against Fisker Automotive stifles innovation (via OnEarth)

Carbon market crossroads: new ideas for harnessing global markets to confront climate change (via Climate Progress)

Climate myths: how climate deniers are getting away with bad science (via Mongabay)

How to spot greenwashing (via The Good Human)

The limits of climate adaptation are social, not physical or economic (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: 400ppm, adaptation, awea, Bank of America, barack obama, Barbara Boxer, battery, BP, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, China, Citigroup, climate, Climate Change, Climate denier, coal, Coal export, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, Defense Department, diesel, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy policy, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, Extinction, Fisker, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, greenwashing, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, Hydropower, india, interior department, investment, Keystone XL, marcellus shale, mark zuckerberg, Mary Landrieu, masdar, mountaintop removal, Nest, new jersey, News, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Oil exports, oil spill, Patriot Coal, Pesticides, Renewable energy standard, renewables, Sacramento, Sally Jewell, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shale gas, Shale oil, small wind, smart grid, solar, Tesla Motors, texas, Tom Kiernan, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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18
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

EIA projects US per capita energy use will fall to 1963 levels (via Facts of the Day)

GRID 

Germany on the verge of an energy storage subsidy (via Greentech Media)

Report: US electrical grid could be reliable with much higher level of renewables (via Reuters)

US smart grid cybersecurity spending to reach $7.25B by 2020 (via Greentech Media)

COAL 

Coal ranks as “most environmentally costly” business (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

China trounces US in green energy investments (via CNN Money)

Solar trade war opens new front as India questions US subsidies (via BusinessGreen)

World to get fewer new wind turbines in 2013 (via Reuters)

Global wind power capacity increased 19% in 2012 (via Renewable Energy World)

PV solar dominates new renewable installations in Japan (via Recharge)

Vestas and GE neck and neck at top of wind industry (via BusinessGreen)

UK’s National Trust launches 50% renewable energy target by 2020 (via RTCC)

India to double renewable energy capacity to 55GW by 2017 (via EnergyNext)

SEPA names top 10 US electric utilities for solar power usage (via Solar Industry)

Environmentalists sue officials over Duke Energy wind project (via Charlotte Business Journal)

EMISSIONS 

IEA: carbon intensity of global energy supply has barely change in last 20 years (via Green Car Congress)

EU climate chief vows to fight on to save emissions trading scheme (via The Guardian)

Europe’s rollercoaster carbon prices set to hit Australia (via Phys.org)

China climate chief says EU CO2 crisis will not hurt domestic plans (via Reuters)

EPA faces lawsuit threats over blown climate rule deadline (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

US hybrids save a half billion gallons of gas a year (via Sustainable Business)

A look under the hood: why EV startup Fisker crashed and burned (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS 

Asian nations eagerly eye cheap US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas industry to develop fast in China, says expert (via Xinhua)

Natural gas prices rise from historic lows (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

How Cheniere Energy got first in line to export America’s natural gas (via Forbes)

CLIMATE 

Scientists raise questions on drought and climate (via Climate Central)

Amid Keystone fight, Canadian official defends climate comments (via The Hill)

Gov. Brown says changes to California’s environmental law unlikely this year (via Sacramento Bee)

POLITICS 

A polarized Energy & Commerce Committee reflects a gridlocked Congress (via National Journal)

Sens. Shaheen, Portman have high hopes for energy efficiency bill (via Politico)

What the House GOP doesn’t want you to know about wind vs. oil tax credits (via Climate Progress)

GOP Representative: ExxonMobil deserves pat on the back for Arkansas spill response (via Grist)

OPINION 

Lighting a spark on the High Plains (via New York Times)

None of the world’s top industries would be profitable if they paid for the natural capital they use (via Grist)

Why more US oil may not mean cheaper US gasoline (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Activism is half the battle: the need for clean energy policymakers (via Energy Collective)

Posted:   |   Categories: Arkansas, australia, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon intensity, carbon trading, Cheniere Energy, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Connie Hedegaard, Cybersecurity, drought, duke energy, eia, Electric Vehicle, emissions, energy storage, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, ExxonMobil, Fisker, Gasoline, GE, germany, grid, hybrid, IEA, india, International Energy Agency, japan, Jean Shaeen, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, LNG, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, oil spill, PV solar, renewables, Rob Portman, SEPA, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, Subsidy, Tax credit, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, vestas, wind, World Trade Organization, WTO
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12
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.12.13

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

CLIMATE

New research challenges assumptions about global warming effects on mountain tree lines (via Phys.org)

G8 ministers argue climate action must “intensify as a matter of urgency” (via BusinessGreen)

Greenhouse gases make high temperatures hotter in China (via Phys.org)

Rising sea levels could cost UK “billions” (via RTCC)

Climate change keeps expanding Canada’s epidemic of forest-destroying beetles (via Climate Progress)

Federal report: global warming didn’t cause US drought (via AP)

COAL

Chinese coal producer plans $1.7 billion investment in Australian wind (via Bloomberg)

US coal producers scrambling in face of skyrocketing production costs (via SNL Energy)

Coal to stay important in US energy mix, says EPA pick (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Libya aims to get a fifth of its power from solar by 2020 (via Reuters)

France’s geothermal fracking conundrum (via Christian Science Monitor)

Alberta looks at renewable energy amid push for Keystone (via Bloomberg)

(more…)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Arkansas, australia, biofuel, california, canada, carbon capture, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, energy storage, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Exxon, fracking, France, fukushima, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, high speed rail, hybrid, interior department, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, libya, natural gas, new jersey, News, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, pine beetle, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, solar, Subsidies, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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12
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.12.13

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

CLIMATE

New research challenges assumptions about global warming effects on mountain tree lines (via Phys.org)

G8 ministers argue climate action must “intensify as a matter of urgency” (via BusinessGreen)

Greenhouse gases make high temperatures hotter in China (via Phys.org)

Rising sea levels could cost UK “billions” (via RTCC)

Climate change keeps expanding Canada’s epidemic of forest-destroying beetles (via Climate Progress)

Federal report: global warming didn’t cause US drought (via AP)

COAL

Chinese coal producer plans $1.7 billion investment in Australian wind (via Bloomberg)

US coal producers scrambling in face of skyrocketing production costs (via SNL Energy)

Coal to stay important in US energy mix, says EPA pick (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Libya aims to get a fifth of its power from solar by 2020 (via Reuters)

France’s geothermal fracking conundrum (via Christian Science Monitor)

Alberta looks at renewable energy amid push for Keystone (via Bloomberg)

(more…)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, Arkansas, australia, biofuel, california, canada, carbon capture, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, deforestation, Divestment, drought, Electric Vehicle, energy storage, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, Exxon, fracking, France, fukushima, geothermal, Gina McCarthy, global warming, high speed rail, hybrid, interior department, japan, Jerry Brown, Keystone XL, libya, natural gas, new jersey, News, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, pennsylvania, pine beetle, renewables, Russia, Sea level rise, Shale oil, smart grid, smart meter, solar, Subsidies, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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11
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.11.13

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

FY2014 FEDERAL BUDGET 

Obama budget seeks defenses against climate-fueled extreme weather (via The Hill)

Obama budget revives battle over oil industry tax breaks (via The Hill)

Obama budget would end oil industry tax breaks, hike royalties (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama’s FY2014 budget boosts DOE vehicle technology spending 75% to $575M; $282M for advanced biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

Obama budget hints at sale of Tennessee Valley Authority (via Houston Chronicle)

Obama budget promises action on climate change (via Politico)

ENERGY POLICY 

Asia’s soaring energy demands will post major economic, climate, health risks (via ClimateWire)

Renewables, efficiency take flight in US Air Force energy strategy (via CleanTechnica)

Antitrust case tied to California energy crisis revived (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES  

Asia-Pacific renewable energy market to hit 535.2GW by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

Is the Middle East and Africa the next solar development hotbed? (via Solar Industry Magazine)

EU seeks new anti-dumping trade powers with China in mind (via Reuters)

Germany expected to install 3.2GW of wind in 2014 (via Recharge)

Renewable energy continues to build momentum in US power mix (via Renew Grid)

US wind market forecast to shrink slightly to 11GW in 2013-2014 (via Recharge)

Renewables made up 82% of new US capacity in Q1 2013 (via Solar Industry Magazine)

US wind in January 2013 set monthly record & produced more than in all of 2004 (via Facts of the Day)

US ethanol producers brace for biofuel mandate fight in Congress (via Reuters)

Solar panels could destroy US utilities, according to US utilities (via Grist)

After mega-rally, First Solar outlook meets skepticism (via Reuters)

New wind energy harvester design looks like giant window blinds (via Treehugger)

Texas solar-powered public property bill backed by education, military (via StateImpact Texas)

Maryland 210MW offshore wind bill signed into law (via Recharge)

COAL 

Environmentalists say “war on coal” a fabrication (via AP)

CRS report casts doubt on FutureGen, carbon capture technology (via SNL Energy)

CLIMATE 

In global warming, Northern Hemisphere is outpacing the South (via Climate Central)

Business giants urge US to seize climate change “opportunity” (via BusinessGreen)

Olympians to Obama: climate change jeopardizes winter sports’ survival (via The Guardian)

Nike, Starbucks: betting against climate scientists is “false hope” (via The Hill)

OIL 

ConocoPhillips, citing regulator uncertainty, delays Arctic drilling (via The Hill)

White House proposes royalty, permitting changes on energy development (via The Hill)

California’s fracking bonanza may fall short of promise (via Bloomberg)

Arkansas AG says oil pipeline gash is 22 feet long (via Miami Herald/AP)

TRANSPORTATION 

Soaring hybrid demand accounts for a fifth of all European Toyota sales (via BusinessGreen)

Six new plug-in electric cars coming in 2014 (via Green Car Reports)

Alternative transportation fuel use jumps 13% (via Environmental Leader)

Tesla messes with Texas over how to sell its electric cars (via GigaOm)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Israel’s natural gas find wins the world’s notice (via Forbes)

US LNG no cure for high European gas prices (via AOL Energy)

Moniz backs increased use of natural gas (via Washington Post)

New solar process gets more out of natural gas (via New York Times)

Frack sand mining: what are the alternatives? (via Minnesota Public Radio)

GRID 

The UK’s retailer-led smart meter rollout (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

This Army camp can cut soldier energy use by 75% (via Greentech Media)

EMISSIONS 

California and China sign agreement to strengthen and coordinate efforts to improve air quality (via Green Car Congress)

Australian power emissions fall to 10-year low as coal output drops (via Renew Economy)

Copenhagen’s ambitious push to be carbon-neutral by 2025 (via Yale e360)

ENVIRONMENT 

Top US storm team sees above average Atlantic hurricane season (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Senate votes 87-11 to confirm Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary (via The Hill)

Moniz sees gas, coal, nuclear, and renewables future (via Greentech Media)

GOP to begin new assault on Obama’s climate plans at EPA nominee hearing (via National Journal)

OPINION 

Using aging, retrofitted pipelines to ship oil – what could go wrong? (via Grist)

How Obama’s new budget targets oil and gas (via Forbes)

How can we boost distributed solar and save utilities at the same time? (via Grist)

Obama goes big on clean energy in budget (via EarthTechling)

OTHER NEWS 

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

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, arctic, Arkansas, Asia, australia, barack obama, biofuels, california, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ConocoPhillips, copenhagen, distributed generation, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, Ernest Moniz, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, Extreme weather, First Solar, Frack sand, fracking, FutureGen, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Hurricane, hybrid, interior department, Israel, LNG, maryland, MENA, middle east, natural gas, Natural gas exports, News, nike, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Sally Jewell, Shale oil, smart meter, solar, Solar trade war, starbucks, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tesla, texas, Toyota, Transportation, TVA, uk, united kingdom, US Air Force, US Army, US military, USAF, War on Coal, 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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05
Apr

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.5.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

German net power exports quadrupled in 2012 (via Recharge)

US Air Force releases strategic energy plan (via Sustainable Business)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US proposal to move fracking wastewater by barge stirs debate (via Reuters)

GE to build $110 million fracking research center in Oklahoma (via Environmental Leader)

Frackers are losing $1.5 billion yearly to leaks (via Mother Jones)

RARE EARTHS 

Discovery of rare earth metals in ocean mud could help Japan (via Autoblog Green)

RENEWABLES 

Germany’s offshore wind industry finally taking off (via Recharge)

Solar milestone: 1 million PV systems installed in Australia (via Renew Economy)

Merkel losing allies in $700 billion shift to renewables (via Bloomberg)

IRS and renewable energy finance: the waiting game (via Energy Trends Insider)

US renews funding for biofuels research centers (via Detroit News)

Are feed-in tariffs a “subsidy” for a small group of utility customers? (via Midwest Energy News)

PG&E cancels California solar power contracts with BrightSource (via Bloomberg)

ALEC-sponsored bill to repeal North Carolina’s renewable energy standard narrowly passes out of committee (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Feds add teeth to offshore drilling safety mandates (via Houston Chronicle)

Gulf oil spill killed millions of microscopic creatures at base of food chain (via Tampa Bay Times)

Texas refinery is Saudi foothold in US market (via New York Times)

Arkansas AG sets deadline for Exxon to produce oil spill documents (via CTV/AP)

Arkansas oil spill sheds light on aging pipeline system (via NPR)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK fuel sales plummet as motorists embrace efficiency (via BusinessGreen)

Nearly 200,000 plug-in EVs equipped with vehicle-to-building technology will be sold through 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Placement of quick charge stations key to eliminating range anxiety (via Plugin Cars)

Proposed gasoline pollution rules fuel air quality debate (via Houston Chronicle)

US drivers could see “significantly lower” gas prices this summer (via NBC News)

Chevy Volt pounds another nail in the coffin of range anxiety (via CleanTechnica)

Chevy Volt fleet racks up 150 million electric-powered miles (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker, A123 settle $140 million supply claims for just $15 million (via Autoblog Green)

A new electric car with an old name (via New York Times)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta mulls tougher carbon rules on oil (via Reuters)

Groups ask State Department for 120-day comment period on Keystone pipeline (via InsideClimate News)

Alberta premier heads to DC to press Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

Environmentalists hope spill will turn Americans against Keystone (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

New culprit in sea-level rise: Arctic clouds (via Grist)

Colombia blazes a trail for smaller nations to fight global warming (via ClimateWire)

1,600 years of glaciers in Andes melted in 25 years (via New York Times)

Federal study: global warming means stronger extreme rains (via The Hill)

In wake of Sandy, NOAA alters hurricane warning policy (via Climate Central)

Federal government projects climate change will double wildfire risk in forests (via Denver Post)

EMISSIONS 

Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions declined in 2012 (via US EIA)

Mushrooms could be key to safe and natural carbon sequestration (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

GE energy storage system makes UK debut (via Recharge)

Solar decathlon homes form microgrid village in Missouri (via Phys.org)

COAL 

Coal exports: two weeks of good news (via Sightline Daily)

Nevada utility to shut out coal, embrace renewables (via Renewable Energy World)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How Proctor & Gamble created $1 billion in value with waste (via Greentech Media)

Shell’s VC fund looks to green the fossil fuel business (via Greentech Media)

Employees take corporate sustainability efforts home, study says (via Environmental Leader)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

New technology could cut efficiency audit costs 75% (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

BrightSource’s cancelled projects highlight hurdles for desert solar thermal plants (via GigaOm)

Is China’s State Grid too big to work? (via Recharge)

RPS attacks go against the march of history (via Renewable Energy World)

More renewables for states (via Politico)

Methane leaks are undermining the shale-gas boom. Here’s how to fix that. (via Politico)

Keystone XL: the pipeline to disaster (via Los Angeles Times) 

OTHER NEWS 

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

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, Alberta, ALEC, Andes, Angela Merkel, arctic, Arkansas, australia, biofuels, brightsource, california, carbon dioxide, Carbon sequestration, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Colombia, Concentrating solar power, csp, csr, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, ev, Extreme weather, Exxon, feed-in tariff, Fisker, Florida, fracking, Fracking wastewater, Fuel Economy, Gasoline, GE, germany, global warming, green business, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Sandy, IRS, japan, Keystone XL, Methane leakage, Microgrid, Missouri, natural gas, Nevada, News, noaa, North Carolina, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, PGE, Pipeline, Proctor & Gamble, Range anxiety, Rare earths, Renewable energy standard, renewable portfolio standard, renewables, res, rps, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Shell, solar, solar pv, State Department, State Grid, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Air Force, V2G, Wildfire
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