Category Archives:uk

11
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.11.13

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

CLIMATE 

The scary truth about how much climate change is costing you (via National Journal)

EPA publishes climate change protection plan, asks for comments (via The Hill)

Science groups push Obama for climate change summit (via Climate Central)

New map pinpoints cities to avoid as sea levels rise (via NewScientist)

Attention investors: climate policy could knock off half the value of fossil fuel companies (via Grist)

COAL 

Interior Department will investigate coal export royalty payments (via The Hill)

Big Coal’s big problems (via Rolling Stone)

Flexibility key to carbon limits on US coal-fired power (via Reuters)

Coal exports are a no-win business model (via The Oregonian)

RENEWABLES

Wind industry installs almost 5.3GW of capacity in December (via US EIA)

World added 30GW of PV solar in 2012, EPIA says (via Recharge)

Clean energy a $2 trillion market through 2018 (via Pike Research)

China, US lead global wind installations in 2012 (via Renew Economy)

Germany has five times as much solar power as the US – despite Alaska levels of sun (via Washington Post)

Tidal power concept fails in UK demo (via EarthTechling)

GWEC: “Africa to emerge as wind hotspot” (via Recharge)

US residential solar financing to reach $5.7 billion by 2016 (via Greentech Media)

Obama Administration to stay course on biofuel law, Vilsack says (via Bloomberg)

DOE launches database to support sustainable development of ocean energy resources (via Green Car Congress)

In the Rockies, growing support for renewables (via New York Times)

Solar outside the Sunbelt: Minnesota (via Greentech Media)

Rhode Island feed-in tariff schedule announced for 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

EMISSIONS 

Carbon Emissions Globe provides 3D visualization of world’s increasing emissions (via Inhabitat)

Japan proposes pollution meeting with China (via Phys.org)

Business gains seen in US standards for power plant emissions (via Bloomberg)

RGGI’s tougher carbon cap seen doubling revenues by 2020 (via InsideClimate News)

Ohio State’s carbon-capture breakthrough still has long road to adoption (via Midwest Energy News)

TRANSPORTATION 

US Army makes progress on vehicle fleet efficiency (via Triple Pundit)

How battery improvements will revolutionize electric car design (via GigaOm)

Stalled out on Tesla’s electric highway (via New York Times)

Toward a cure for range anxiety (via New York Times)

Automakers straddle the EV charging chasm (via Pike Research)

MyFord mobile app now directs C-Max and Fusion Energi drivers to nearest EV chargers (via Autoblog Green)

KEYSTONE XL 

Kerry wants Keystone pipeline decision in “near term” (via The Hill)

Is Keystone XL Obama’s line in the sand? (via The Globe and Mail)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

€600 million approved UK’s Green Deal energy efficiency program (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency could save US billions, create 1.3 million jobs by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency prospects: what to watch (via GreenBiz)

OIL 

Oil exports trim US deficit as fuel gap shrinks (via Bloomberg)

Higher oil taxes would lift the economy (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Major oil company breaks with trade group over SEC disclosure lawsuit (via The Hill)

GRID 

Exelon: wind power subsidies could threaten nuclear plant closings (via Chicago Tribune)

Texas wind power transmission set to skyrocket (via CleanTechnica)

Governor’s office, California ISO square off on distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

In North Carolina, fracking rights rise to the surface (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Sizing up Obama’s State of the Union address (via National Journal)

Obama to lay out economic growth plan in State of Union speech (via Reuters)

Q&A: Sen. Murkowski on her “20/20” energy policy vision (via Washington Post)

Marco Rubio not convinced climate change an actual problem (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

It’s not easy being green (via New York Times)

10 lessons learned from solar power success in Germany (via CleanTechnica)

More clean energy cometh (via EarthTechling)

Why Keystone XL is not in the US national interest (via Energy Collective)

Cap-and-trade is still alive in New England – is it working? (via Washington Post)

Germany has more solar power because everyone wins (via CleanTechnica)

Could Nemo inspire more dubious climate change coverage? (via Mother Jones)

Can USDA’s climate reality message take root with denialist farmers? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: africa, Agriculture Department, alaska, barack obama, battery, biofuels, california, California ISO, cap and trade, carbon capture, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal royalties, distributed generation, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ev, EV charger, Exelon, Extreme weather, feed-in tariff, fracking, fuel-efficiency, germany, grid, GWEC, interior department, japan, john kerry, Keystone XL, Lisa Murkowski, Marco Rubio, minnesota, natural gas, Nemo, News, North Carolina, nuclear, Ohio, Ohio State University, oil, Oil exports, Oil taxes, PV solar, regional greenhouse gas initiative, renewables, rggi, rhode island, Sea level rise, SEC, Severe weather, Smog, solar, Subsidies, Tesla, texas, tidal power, Tom Vilsack, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, usda, wind
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06
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.6.13

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

CLIMATE 

USDA: climate change could devastate US agriculture (via USA Today)

Preparing for the rising tide across New England (via CLF Scoop)

How climate change impacts America’s energy infrastructure (via WRI Insights)

Warm weather forces changes ahead of Iditarod race (via New York Times)

Boston mayor calls on city to prepare for climate change (via Reuters)

New York Governor seeking home buyouts in flood zones (via New York Times)

Alaska climate taskforce hasn’t met since 2011, documents show (via The Guardian)

EMISSIONS 

UK emissions fall seven percent in 2011 as gas use plunges (via BusinessGreen)

White House weighs emissions rules for power plants (via Wall Street Journal)

EPA: power plants accounted for two-thirds of US industrial emissions in 2011 (via The Hill)

CARB chair Mary Nichols discusses state carbon trading (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Solar PV installations hit 32GW in 2012, 35GW projected for 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind could power nine million homes in Eastern Europe (via BusinessGreen)

Europe’s first wind-powered province touts renewables as key to recovery (via BusinessGreen)

New German wind installations expected to top “up to 3.5GW this year” (via Recharge)

Norway expects onshore wind lift-off (via Recharge)

Wind energy fund plans $320 million IPO with UK government backing (via Reuters)

Novel designs are taking wind power to the next level (via MIT Technology Review)

US solar will eclipse wind in 2013, says Duke Energy (via Bloomberg)

Midwest gets into clean tech investing with energy foundry (via Greentech Media)

Beyond tax incentives: how to make solar attractive to universities (via Good)

ENERGY POLICY 

Time for change: China flags peak in coal usage (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Canada set to cut direct spending on fossil fuel sector (via Reuters)

Seattle and San Francisco consider divesting from fossil fuels (via Grist)

OIL 

Deep-sea drilling muddles political waters (via New York Times)

Canada not ready for major offshore spill, says environmental agency (via Reuters)

North Dakota’s Bakken Oil finally hits the East Coast (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

As profits sag, BP girds for “trial of the year” (via Forbes)

TRANSPORTATION 

China to roll out cleaner fuel standards, says government (via Reuters)

Better Place to shut down US, Australian operations (via Forbes)

Americans now spending most on gas since early 1980s (via Washington Post)

Toyota recycles hybrid batteries into energy management systems (via CleanTechnica)

Boeing 787 batteries: what’s causing their “thermal runaways?” (via Christian Science Monitor)

UPS deploys 100 commercial EVs in California (via Green Car Congress)

Volt owners are almost equally Republicans & Democrats (via CleanTechnica)

ENVIRONMENT 

Lake Michigan and Lake Huron hit all-time low water levels (via Weather Underground)

Some parts of Texas approaching worst-ever drought (via Star-Telegram/AP)

Wyoming explores oil-gas regulations for groundwater testing (via Casper Star-Tribune)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta may offer more environmental initiatives to smooth way for Keystone XL (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

Debunking Nature’s arguments in favor of Keystone XL (via Grist)

GREEN BUSINESS 

How to get your CFO to love your sustainability director (via GreenBiz)

Alaskan Brewing Company runs on energy generated by its own beer (via AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

MIT engineers develop process to treat produced water from natgas wells at low cost (via Green Car Congress)

Shale industry moves to ship fracking waste via barge down Ohio River (via DeSmog Blog)

Former PA Governor Rendell intervened on behalf of gas driller in Texas contamination case (via StateImpact Texas)

VEHICLE-TO-GRID 

Connecting EVs to the grid – NREL takes the lead (via CleanTechnica)

Pentagon places $20 million bet on vehicle-to-grid technology (via Greenwire)

POLITICS 

Waxman to push for Congressional climate hearings (via The Hill)

Can Congress ever agree on climate change? An interview with Henry Waxman (via Washington Post)

Obama to nominate CEO of REI for Interior Secretary (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

How can we prepare for climate change without screwing poor people? (via Grist)

Work less, save the planet? (via Mother Jones)

Analysts: energy policy not keeping pace with technology (via Houston Chronicle)

Will climate change be President Obama’s legacy? (via EarthTechling)

Posted:   |   Categories: alaska, Alberta, Andrew Cuomo, australia, Bakken Shale, barack obama, Batteries, better place, Boeing Dreamliner, Boston, BP, california, california air resources board, canada, CARB, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Divestment, drought, duke energy, Ed Rendell, electric vehicles, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, europe, ev, fracking, Fracking wastewater, Fuel standard, Gasoline, germany, global warming, green business, Henry Waxman, hybrid, Iditarod, Illinois, interior department, Keystone XL, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Mary Nichols, MIT, natural gas, New England, new york state, News, north dakota, norway, NREL, Offshore drilling Oil spill, Ohio, oil, renewables, Sally Jewell, san francisco, Sea level rise, seattle, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Subsidies, tar sands, Tax incentives, texas, Tom Menino, Toyota, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, ups, usda, V2G, wind, wyoming
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05
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.5.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Japan probe of Dreamliner battery finds signs of thermal runaway (via Washington Post/AP)

US households spent record amount on gasoline in 2012 (via Reuters)

Analysts forecast extended range EV market to reach more than 329k units by 2018 (via Green Car Congress)

GRID 

Polish utility chief questions EU energy market integration (via Recharge)

US Energy Department hacked, says no classified data was compromised (via Reuters)

Energy storage: crossing the chasm to commercialization (via Greentech Media)

Midwest grid operator expanding south, to “last frontier” for renewables (via Midwest Energy News)

RENEWABLES 

IEA chief: fossil fuel subsidies are public enemy number one for green energy (via BusinessGreen)

Wind overtakes nuclear in Chinese energy league table (via BusinessGreen)

Top Chinese manufacturers will produce solar panels for 42 cents per watt in 2015 (via Greentech Media)

Unusual allies fight renewable fuel standard (via Houston Chronicle)

US net meter capacity exceeds 2,688MW & 225,000 customers (via Facts of the Day)

DOE study quantifies county-level employment & income gains from wind energy development (via CleanTechnica)

Solar development absorbing California farmland (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

ERCOT may add 1.2GW of wind in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

35MW “solar forest” sprouts in North Carolina (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

Fears mount over Japan’s carbon target (via BusinessGreen)

US Pacific Northwest paying high price for carbon emissions (via Grist)

Arizona sues US EPA over coal power plant emissions (via Reuters)

COAL 

Under Obama, coal country fights for its way of life (via Reuters)

DOE moves FutureGen CCS project forward into second phase (via Green Car Congress)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

UK PM Cameron pushes energy efficiency as motor of green growth (via The Guardian)

Spending on US utility efficiency programs to double by 2025 (via Greentech Media)

California budget proposes shifting energy-efficiency funds (via Energy Manager Today)

SUPER BOWL BLACKOUT 

Super Bowl power outage was known fear (via ESPN)

NFL: halftime show had no role in Super Bowl blackout (via Chicago Tribune/Reuters)

Super Bowl: who turned out the lights? (via Politico)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

New York State: no timetable for fracking decision (via Corning Leader/AP)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Deep green investing: a closer look (via GreenBiz)

CLIMATE 

Blowing hot and cold: US belief in climate change shifts with weather (via Phys.org)

POLITICS 

Biden vows climate change action in meeting with French president (via The Hill)

Outgoing EPA chief regrets lack of dialogue with rural America (via The Hill)

Outgoing EPA chief convinced Obama serious on climate change (via Reuters)

Top Senate Republican unveils broad energy blueprint (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Sen. Murkowski unveils her energy plan – here’s a breakdown (via Washington Post)

Chu navigated energy policy through changing tides in US production (via EnergyWire)

Electric cars head toward another dead end (via Reuters) 

Posted:   |   Categories: arizona, barack obama, battery, biofuel, Blackout, Boeing Dreamliner, california, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Cybersecurity, David Cameron, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, fracking, France, FutureGen, Gasoline, green business, grid, IEA, japan, Joe Biden, lisa jackson, Lisa Murkowski, MISO, natural gas, Net metering, new york state, News, North Carolina, Poland, Renewable fuel standard, renewables, solar, steven chu, Subsidies, Super Bowl, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wind
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04
Feb

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 2.4.13

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

TRANSPORTATION 

Germany could have a million plug-in vehicles by 2020 (via Autoblog Green)

Toyota recycling old hybrid batteries into energy-storage systems for dealers (via Autoblog Green)

Secretary Chu says 1 million EVs by 2015 is “ambitious” (via Plugin Cars)

DOE launches workplace charging challenge (via Energy Manager Today)

Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,140 in January, Nissan Leaf falls to 650 (via Autoblog Green)

OIL 

Land battles rise as US eyes 450,000 miles of new pipeline (via Bloomberg)

Vast California oil reserve may now be within reach, and battle heats up (via New York Times)

North Dakota weighs industrial water extraction tax for shale oil use (via Fargo-Mooread Forum)

RENEWABLES 

Red tape trips up France’s green energy hopes for wind power (via Reuters)

China adds one-third of world’s onshore wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Solar power giving Haiti a hospital it can use (via EarthTechling)

Sabotage may have felled UK wind turbine (via United Press International)

First Solar may sell solar power cheaper than coal (via Bloomberg)

The top 10 wind energy states in 2012 (via AOL Energy)

Government’s plan to expand biofuel use runs into bumps on road (via Washington Post)

Wind now supplies 6% of US electricity (via Sustainable Business)

Texas grid operator says renewables competitive with natgas over next decade (via Facts of the Day)

Georgia Power planning 1.5GW of renewables by 2016, less coal-fired generation (via Renew Grid)

North Carolina governor boosts offshore wind (via Recharge)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Reshaping Panama Canal trade means boom in US gas to Asia (via Bloomberg)

US shale gas revolution throws down the gauntlet to Europe (via Reuters)

Legal loophole keeps fracking mixes murky (via Houston Chronicle)

US Senators propose making LNG exports automatic (via Houston Chronicle)

Fracking for state dollars (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Ohio farmers divided on fracking (via Columbus Dispatch)

GRID 

Pentagon promises massive response to increasing cyber attacks (via AOL Energy)

Energy companies and landowners are clashing over property rights (via Forbes)

SPP approves $751 million in transmission-expansion projects (via Renew Grid)

10-year low for electricity prices across ISO-New England in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Texas mega-battery aims to green up the grid (via New Scientist)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

White House delay on efficiency standards costs consumers $300 million per month (via Greentech Media)

Employee “green teams” deliver $76 million boost for US Postal Service (via BusinessGreen)

Minneapolis considers energy benchmarking for commercial buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

CLIMATE 

Outgoing Energy Secretary Chu’s parting warning on warming (via Time)

Research shows the Antarctic ozone hole has changed ocean circulation (via Inhabitat)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Why Canada’s oil sands industry wants a CO2 tax (via Bloomberg)

Rethinking opposition to Keystone XL (via Energy Collective)

EMISSIONS 

For US and China, world’s biggest climate polluters, it’s still business as usual (via InsideClimate News)

Like everything else, carbon emissions are bigger in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

COAL 

Colorado communities take on fight against energy land leases (via New York Times)

Seattle’s coal training (via Seattle Weekly)

POLITICS 

Obama’s climate team appears primed for action (via Politico)

Top EPA air quality official in line to replace outgoing administrator (via The Hill)

Murkowski launches push for expanded drilling, green energy policy revamp (via The Hill)

Gore presses Obama to “follow through” on climate change promises (via The Hill)

Kerry: climate bill failure among biggest Senate regrets (via The Hill)

OPINION 

UK Green Power Auction Market a “win-win-win” for renewables, consumers, suppliers (via BusinessGreen)

How will energy productivity jumpstart the US economy? (via National Journal)

Steven Chu steps down as energy secretary – so how did he do? (via Washington Post)

Is wind power reaching a tipping point? (via Midwest Energy News)

Posted:   |   Categories: al gore, Antarctic, Asia, barack obama, battery, california, canada, carbon tax, chevy volt, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, colorado, Cybersecurity, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, ERCOT, europe, ev, EV charger, First Solar, fracking, Fracking fluid, France, Georgia, Georgia Power, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, grid, Haiti, hybrid, ISO New England, john kerry, Keystone XL, Lisa Murkowski, LNG export, Minneapolis, natural gas, Natural gas export, News, nissan LEAF, North Carolina, north dakota, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, Panama Canal, Pipeline, renewables, seattle, Shale gas, Shale oil, solar, Southwest Power Pool, SPP, steven chu, tar sands, texas, Toyota, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Postal Service, USPS, wind
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30
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.30.13

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

CLIMATE 

Report finds climate change a threat to wildlife (via USA Today)

Spring may come 17 days earlier for North American forests (via Phys.org)

Redrawn New York City FEMA flood zone map contains twice as many structures (via New York Times)

Why San Francisco can lead the way on resiliency planning (via GreenBiz)

COAL 

China consumes nearly as much coal as the rest of the world combined (via US EIA)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

EU maintains plan to label Canadian tar sands oil as highly polluting (via Reuters)

US State Department’s Keystone XL review will face EPA scrutiny a third time (via InsideClimate News)

Keystone XL decision may loom large for red state Democrats in 2014 midterms (via The Hill)

House GOP, citing North African turmoil, boosts Keystone pipeline pressure (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

Germany adds 2.4GW of wind in 2012 (via Recharge)

Denmark announces 1.5GW offshore wind tender (via Recharge)

German wind market may defy global slump to grow 43% this year (via Bloomberg)

9 in 10 French favor renewables but perceive high costs (via Renewable Energy World)

The rapid rise of UK offshore wind (via Greentech Media)

Chinese company sues to void blocked US wind farm purchase (via Bloomberg)

Top solar states vs top solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

Scaling solar and wind: a hard look at innovation priorities (via Energy Collective)

Oil-and-gas lobby might take ethanol fight to Supreme Court (via The Hill)

EPA reveals 100% green power users list (via Environmental Leader)

Can wind developers halt “the march of the buffer zones’? (via BusinessGreen)

Solar industry gets burned in Arizona (via Energy Manager Today)

Solar with energy storage coming to California, at a cost (via EarthTechling)

EMISSIONS 

Russia exploring plans for domestic carbon market (via RTCC)

Scotland pledges to decarbonize power sector by 2030 (via BusinessGreen)

Australian businesses counting carbon tax (via Sydney Morning Herald)

Missoula city council passes plan to be carbon neutral by 2025 (via Missoulian)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Pipeline explosion rattles natural gas industry (via Forbes)

Can natural gas undo nuclear power? (via Wall Street Journal)

Chesapeake chief McClendon quits, cites “philosophical differences” (via Houston Chronicle)

McClendon out at Chesapeake – is a takeover next? (via Forbes)

Departure of Chesapeake CEO McClendon signals new era in natural gas (via Christian Science Monitor)

Congressmen supporting LNG exports received $11.5 million from Big Oil, electric utilities (via DeSmog Blog)

GRID 

German grid operators coping with power supply swings (via Reuters)

Survey to utilities: stress smart grid benefits to win over consumers (via Energy Manager Today)

Silver Spring Networks could finally go public within a month (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION 

Hybrids outsell many market segments in 2012 but still struggling (via Autoblog)

Wanxiang wins US approval to buy battery maker A123 (via Bloomberg)

Boeing Dreamliner battery was a concern before failure (via New York Times)

Nissan “almost” sold out of 2012 Leafs (via Autoblog Green)

OIL 

Judge accepts BP’s $4 billion criminal settlement over Gulf oil spill (via New York Times)

Texas oil output hits highest level in two decades (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

Recapping a year of weather extremes (via C2ES)

Colorado wildfire air pollution rivaled worst days in Mexico City, Los Angeles (via Phys.org)

Stretches of upper Mississippi River near record-low levels (via US EIA)

POLITICS 

Yale poll finds climate change action is a political winner (via Climate Progress)

John Kerry’s Secretary of State confirmation delights climate campaigners (via The Guardian)

Kerry likely to face great green expectations at State Department (via E&E Daily)

Al Gore faces “The Future” with optimism (via The Hill)

LaHood to step down as head of US Transportation Department (via The Hill)

Top Ohio utility regulator tied to group pushing repeal of state renewable energy targets (via Columbus Republic)

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, al gore, ALEC, arizona, Aubrey McClendon, australia, battery, Boeing Dreamliner, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon market, Carbon neutral, carbon tax, Chesapeake, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, colorado, Concentrating solar power, csp, denmark, drought, emissions, energy storage, environment, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, Extreme weather, Flooding, fracking, France, germany, global warming, green building, grid, Gulf of Mexico, hybrid, john kerry, Keystone XL, LNG, los angeles, Mexico City, Mississippi River, Missoula, Montana, natural gas, Natural gas exports, New York City, News, Nissan, nissan LEAF, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, Ray LaHood, renewables, Russia, san francisco, Scotland, Severe weather, Shale oil, Silver Spring Networks, smart grid, smart meters, Smog, solar, tar sands, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wanxiang, Wildfire, wind
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29
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.29.13

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

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Settlement with TransCanada curtails protesters’ acts of civil disobedience (via Greenwire)

GRID 

China tests a small smart electric grid (via MIT Technology Review)

Inspector General: DOE mismanaged ARRA smart grid funds (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

EU carbon price drop deemed “wake-up call” (via United Press International)

“Off the scale” smog envelops Beijing again (via Phys.org)

Scotland sets 2030 power sector decarbonization goal (via Recharge)

RENEWABLES 

PwC: renewables M&A activity falls in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Solar growth moves to China, Middle East, and India as Europe cuts subsidies (via ClimateWire)

UK solar boom predicted to double installations in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Taiwan starts offshore wind push (via Recharge)

Suzlon chief predicts “flat” wind turbine market in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

Can fossil-fuel tax benefits boost the renewable energy industry? (via Midwest Energy News)

Solar net metering equals net benefits in California and Vermont (via CleanTechnica)

ERCOT report shows Texas wind and solar power hold their own against natural gas (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Over $8 billion invested in watersheds globally in 2011 (via Mongabay) 

Projected US water use likely to increase as climate warms (via Phys.org)

Message from Mexico: US is polluting water it may someday need to drink (via ProPublica)

Species on the move present a conservation challenge (via Climate Change)

Drought worsening in Midwest and Plains states, despite Winter weather (via Huffington Post/Reuters)

OIL 

OPEC sees oil markets well supplied, no price collapse in 2013 (via Bloomberg)

US review delays closing of big Chinese oil deal (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Has “peak car” already happened, making automakers mobility companies? (via Autoblog Green)

Three automakers combine forces on fuel-cell cars (via New York Times)

Electric cars and the power grid: how are they coming together? (via Forbes)

Lower EV prices will not blow up the market (via Pike Research)

EV drivers now have quick-charge coverage from Washington to California (via CleanTechnica)

Colorado county mandates plug-in vehicle wiring for new homes (via Plugin Cars)

CLIMATE 

USGS-NOAA: climate change impacts to US coasts threaten public health, safety, economy (via Phys.org)

Cities lead over feds on climate change adaptation (via Sustainable Business)

Scientist publishes first climate change textbook for college students (via Phys.org)

Is it Spring or is it Winter? Wild rollercoaster of US temperatures (via Weather Underground)

An unusual weather turn even for the Midwest: 8 degrees quickly becomes 74 (via New York Times)

NASA retirees appeal to own lack of climate authority (via Skeptical Science)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Shell, Kinder Morgan to jointly export LNG from the US (via Reuters)

Gas royalty checks total $1.2 billion in Pennsylvania (via Facts of the Day)

RARE EARTHS 

Rare earths mining boom poses toxic risks (via Treehugger)

COAL 

Canadian carbon project aims to prove clean coal works (via Reuters)

US coal industry sees progress ahead in Congress, Courts (via Politico)

GREEN BUILDING 

America’s most conservative green community (via The Atlantic)

Washington DC requires privately owned buildings measure energy, water use (via Sustainable Business)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Unlocking sustainability’s hidden value (via GreenBiz)

POLITICS 

What it looks like when Obama’s passion spurs him to defy political odds (via Grist)

Climate change action now helps win elections: poll (via Discovery News)

Moderate Dem Senator Heitkamp bucks party orthodoxy, aims to exemplify “all of the above” (via E&E Daily)

A chat with Sierra Club’s Michael Brune about civil disobedience (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: adaptation, arra, barack obama, Beijing, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon capture & sequestration, Carbon price, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, CNOOC, coal, colorado, conservation, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ERCOT, EU, europe, ev, ev charging, fracking, fuel cell, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Heidi Heitkamp, india, Keystone XL, Kinder Morgan, LNG, M&A, mexico, michael brune, NASA, natural gas, Natural gas export, Net metering, News, noaa, Offshore solar, oil, OPEC, pennsylvania, Rare earths, renewables, Scotland, Shell, sierra club, smart grid, Smog, solar, Solar net metering, Subsidies, suzlon, Taiwan, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGA, utah, vermont, Washington DC, Washington State, Water, Watershed, wind
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25
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.25.13

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

CLIMATE 

Billionaires secretly fund attacks on climate science (via The Independent)

Kerry says global climate change is threat to US (via Washington Post)

Obama’s inaugural speech rallies campus climate divestment campaign (via Buzzfeed)

How climate change could wipe out the Western Forests (via The Atlantic)

Explained in 90 seconds: it’s cold – that doesn’t mean global warming is fake (via Mother Jones)

EMISSIONS 

Japan to announce lower greenhouse gas reduction targets by November (via Bloomberg)

Norwegian Sea can hold 100 years of Norway’s CO2 emissions (via Reuters)

EU carbon price crashes to record low (via The Guardian)

Tokyo’s cap-and-trade cuts CO2 23% in second year (via Environmental Leader)

Federal court won’t review decision that struck down EPA pollution rule (via The Hill)

RENEWABLES 

China “finalizing renewables quote” (via Recharge)

What the president’s focus on climate change means for cleantech (via GreenBiz)

Crowd-funded solar projects top $1 million in US (via Treehugger)

Wind tax credit has appeal for red states, too (via Politico)

Arizona regulators slash home solar incentive, kill commercial plan (via Arizona Daily Star)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

How much will tar sands oil add to global warming? (via Scientific American)

After Nebraska setback, greens regroup on Keystone XL (via Mother Jones)

From John Kerry, cautious words on Keystone XL (via The Hill)

John Kerry says he’ll control Keystone XL review as Secretary of State (via InsideClimate News)

Enbridge says Eastern US Gulf Coast next big market for Canadian oil (via InsideClimate News/Reuters)

GRID 

Global smart grid spending rose to $13.9 billion driven by China (via Bloomberg)

Nearly 70 percent of electric meters in Europe will be smart by 2020 (via Pike Research)

Oak Park, Illinois test drives a blackout-proof, solar-powered smart grid (via Grist)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Ukraine signs landmark $10 billion shale gas deal with Shell (via Reuters)

110 lawmakers urge exports of US natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Do we have enough water to frack our way to energy independence? (via Huffington Post)

California sued for allegedly failing to regulate fracking (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Number of ChAdeMO EV charging stations in US jumped tenfold in 2012 (via Autoblog Green)

UK could roll out 122,000 EV chargers under EU plan (via BusinessGreen)

Are vehicle miles travelled (VMT) fees the key to federal transportation woes? (via Sustainable Cities Collective)

Will Texas be next to tax electric vehicles? (via Autoblog Green)

With new battery hub, Chicago seeks to lead nation on electric vehicles (via Midwest Energy News)

GREEN BUSINESS 

McDonald’s, Unilever, Pepsi, Adidas make sustainability news at Davos (via GreenBiz)

Should oil firms make a list of the world’s most sustainable companies? (via GreenBiz)

Unilever reveals half of its factories send ‘zero waste’ to landfills (via BusinessGreen)

Oregon tops US in new clean jobs index (via Sustainable Business Oregon)

COAL 

Governors at odds over Northwest export terminal proposals (via Greenwire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Does increased energy efficiency just spark us to use more? (via Scientific American)

Washington DC once again leads America in LEED certifications (via CleanTechnica)

Energy efficiency in the Northeast US: Massachusetts leads, New Jersey lags (via Energy Manager Today)

ENERGY INDUSTRY 

Energy industry fueled by strong M&A activity (via Houston Chronicle)

Texas regulatory commission that oversees drilling is being overhauled, even in name (via New York Times/Texas Tribune)

OPINION 

How the “Kochtopus” stifled green debate (via The Independent)

Obama’s second chance on Keystone XL (via Washington Post)

From words to deeds: how to push Obama toward climate action (via Grist)

Memo to DC: think long-term on clean energy (via Earth Techling)

The Keystone XL objections wither away (via Wall Street Journal)

US Northeast faces stark choice on climate pollution (via New York Times)

An economic tale of two shale booms: Pennsylvania is not North Dakota (via Facts of the Day)

POLITICS 

Would a White House green team help on climate? (via Politico)

Democrats form Congressional task force to fight climate change (via Bloomberg)

White House official details Obama plans for climate change, clean energy (via SNL Energy)

White House official: corporate tax reform should boost green energy (via The Hill)

Obama climate push to tie environment, jobs (via Reuters)

Posted:   |   Categories: Adidas, arizona, barack obama, battery, california, canada, cap and trade, Carbon price, Carbon sequestration, ccs, chicago, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, Crowd funding, Davos, deforestation, Divestment, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, EPA, EU, europe, European Union, ev, EV charger, fracking, global warming, green building, green business, green jobs, grid, Illinois, Incentives, japan, jay inslee, john kerry, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, Kochtopus, LEED, M&A, massachusetts, mcdonald's, natural gas, Natural gas exports, Nebraska, new jersey, News, north dakota, norway, oregon, pennsylvania, Pepsi, production tax credit, ptc, Rebound effect, Recycling, renewables, Shell, smart grid, smart meters, solar, tar sands, texas, Tokyo, Transportation, uk, Ukraine, Unilever, united kingdom, VMT, Washington DC, World economic forum, Zero waste
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23
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.23.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Nebraska governor approves new Keystone XL route (via New York Times)

Nebraska approval puts Keystone pipeline decision squarely on Obama (via Globe and Mail)

US State Department: no Keystone decision before end of Q1 2013 (via Reuters)

Obama’s own words turn up heat on Keystone decision (via Politico)

Sierra Club to engage in civil disobedience for first time in opposition to Keystone XL (via San Francisco Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Four of five British have not heard of government’s energy efficiency Green Deal (via BusinessGreen)

Senate bill targets energy efficiency for climate strategy (via Politico)

DC, Virginia, Colorado top US in 2012 LEED certifications (via Energy Manager Today)

Berkeley Lab predicts more energy efficiency incentives in South, Midwest (via Energy Manager Today)

California to invest $2.5 billion retrofitting energy-wasting schools (via Forbes)

RENEWABLES 

China’s solar market boomed in Q4, accounting for third of global demand (via Forbes)

Japan’s solar tariff may drop 12% as costs sink, BNEF estimates (via Bloomberg)

Global insurers see opportunity in renewable energy (via Recharge)

EU proposes duties on US bioethanol imports (via Reuters)

Chinese solar panel imports drop amid new US tariffs (via Houston Chronicle)

Total solar scenario for Earth: plenty, with room to spare (via EarthTechling)

Ikea to double spending on renewable energy to $4 billion (via Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg) 

Taller wind turbines boost state energy self-reliance (via CleanTechnica)

New bill proposed for Maryland offshore wind (via Recharge)

Wind farm towers: taller and slower with more power (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Wind energy company could be required to track, protect condors (via Bakersfield Californian)

EMISSIONS 

Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to EPA pollution rule (via The Hill)

Court ruling casts doubt on future of EPA monitoring program (via Greenwire)

California greenhouse gas emissions drop for 3rd year (via Sustainable Business)

TRANSPORTATION 

A123 expects Wanxiang sale to be finished by Feb 1 (via Autoblog Green)

Lux Research: Boeing “should have used a safer battery” (via Environmental Leader)

More electric car charging stations open in Atlanta (via Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

COAL 

Sen. Rockefeller reshaping his federal mine safety legislation (via Register-Herald)

Coal trains: what is the impact? (via Skagit Valley Herald)

The people and process behind Bellingham’s coal port decision (via Crosscut)

Iowa utility agrees to stop using coal at five generators (via Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

Betting on Indiana coal: Duke wants ratepayers to fund retrofits, enviros cry foul (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

Australian utilities reluctant to invest in smart grid (via Renew Grid)

How much electric supply capacity is needed to keep US electricity grids reliable? (via US EIA)

In fuel cells, the US plays catch-up (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE 

Poll shows country split on climate change (via The Hill)

In inaugural address, Obama makes a moral case for action on climate change (via Washington Post)

Obama signals new executive authority focus on climate change (via Los Angeles Times)

Obama could bypass Congress to fulfill climate pledge (via Bloomberg)

Death from above: Chicago’s bird casualties offer clues on climate change (via Grist)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Shareholders challenge Exxon, Chevron over climate risks (via GreenBiz)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas vehicles remain less prevalent in US than elsewhere (via Houston Chronicle)

Huntsman Corp. joins campaign against US natural gas exports (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

An early nuclear warning: was it for naught? (via New York Times)

Fish caught near Fukushima shows radiation level 2,500 above safety standards (via Daily Mail)

OPINION 

A quick, awesome must-read on climate change (via Mother Jones)

Will Germany banish fossil fuels before the US? (via Grist)

Enough with our cult of the presidency – the climate’s fate rests with Congress (via Grist)

The climate change endgame (via New York Times)

The 14 fossil-fuel projects poised to f*ck up the climate (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: A123, Atlanta, australia, barack obama, battery, Berkeley Lab, biofuel, boeing, Boeing Dreamliner, california, Chevron, chicago, China, climate, coal, Coal export, Coal train, colorado, Congress, Dave Heineman, duke energy, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, Exxon, feed-in tariff, fuel cell, fukushima, germany, green business, grid, Ikea, indiana, japan, Jay Rockefeller, Keystone XL, LEED, maryland, Mine safety, natural gas, Natural gas export, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Reliability, renewables, retrofit, sierra club, smart grid, solar, Solar trade war, tar sands, Tariff, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, USGBC, virginia, Wanxiang, Washington DC, Washington State, wind
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18
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.18.13

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

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone’s tar sands waste said to warm climate more than coal (via Bloomberg)

As State Department nears completion of Keystone XL review, both sides dig in (via Washington Post)

Two report on oil sands paint a dire picture (via New York Times)

Federal study reignites pollution concern in expanding tar sand region (via DeSmog Blog)

GOP governors, Canadian leader press Obama to approve Keystone pipeline (via The Hill)

TransCanada on the climate impacts of its Keystone XL pipeline (via Huffington Post)

CLIMATE 

Temperature hits all-time high in Sydney (via Phys.org)

Survey finds businesses trusted more than government on climate change (via Environmental Leader)

US frost-free season grows to 21 days (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES 

High-tech energy attracts $1.12 trillion in global revenue (via Houston Chronicle)

Germany may widen FIT reforms (via Recharge)

Report: solar could meet global electricity needs in 2050 using under 1% of world’s land (via Climate Progress)

Rising solar energy output drives German and French power prices to record lows (via CleanTechnica)

Developers will invest $1.9 trillion in clean energy over next five years (via Renewable Energy World)

2013 could be make or break year for algae fuel (via GigaOm)

US wind power accounted for 6% of generation capacity in 2012 (via Bloomberg)

FERC proposes rule to speed up solar energy grid interconnections (via Renewable Energy World)

US Army’s New Mexico solar array world’s largest of its kind (via EarthTechling)

Study: US must increase clean energy efforts (via United Press International)

Utilities, environmentalists behind study of Montana’s renewable power mandate (via Billings Gazette)

MIT builds material that generates electricity from water vapor (via Treehugger)

GRID 

Report predicts 3.5 million lost jobs, $3.1 million lost economic output without US transmission upgrades (via Renew Grid)

What US smart grid investments have done so far (via Renew Grid)

FERC proposes streamlining small generator interconnections (via Renew Grid)

PJM, NYISO begin market-to-market coordination (via Renew Grid)

First four months of municipal aggregation save Champaign, IL $700,000 (via News-Gazette)

OIL 

Global refining boom could challenge US exports (via Houston Chronicle)

OPEC forecasts record US oil supply growth in 2013 (via Christian Science Monitor)

As Shell’s Arctic drilling hopes hit snags, its rivals watch (via New York Times)

BP says North American shale oil boom will pressure OPEC (via Wall Street Journal)

TRANSPORTATION 

Mexico relaxes auto fuel-efficiency rule to quell legal threat (via Reuters)

How important is charging infrastructure to EV adoption? (via GreenBiz)

US grounds fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner (via Environmental Leader)

DOE partnership aims to realize EV-to-grid dream (via Triple Pundit)

As electric future unfolds, gasoline remains king (via Midwest Energy News)

GM says next generation Chevy Volt will be “thousands of dollars” cheaper (via Autoblog Green)

Fisker Karma production stoppage reaches 6 months, company claims “sufficient supply” (via Autoblog Green)

COAL 

Coal’s “lifeline to Asia” emerges as new front in global warming fight (via ClimateWire)

Scrutiny rises for royalties paid on US coal exports to Asia (via The Oregonian)

Coal mine safety rule prompted by explosion faces industry blowback (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS 

RWE starts carbon capture at UK coal plant (via Reuters)

Fraud-free cap and trade: what California learned from Europe (via GreenBiz)

New York Governor Cuomo proposes tougher RGGI carbon cap (via AOL Energy)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Top economies face fuel price spike as LNG supply drops (via Reuters)

Report recommends changes to tax exemption for fracking (via Texas Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Canada’s environmental health last in developed world (via Huffington Post)

As US drought persists, many scramble to save every drop of water (via Reuters)

About a dozen environment reporters left at top five US papers (via InsideClimate News)

POLITICS 

Obama’s climate challenge (via Rolling Stone)

DOE Secretary Chu said to plan departure from cabinet (via Bloomberg)

US environmentalists challenged to get climate change laws through Congress (via The Guardian)

If you want to pass climate legislation, fix US politics (via Grist)

DOE names new BPA administrator (via Renew Grid)

New Washington governor sets his sights on climate change solutions (via Los Angeles Times)

OPINION 

Why the climate bill failed: it’s not that simple (via Grist)

How are we doing on energy efficiency? (via Grist)

Obama to confront oil pipeline, climate change in second term (via US News/AP)

What corporations can learn from green revolving funds (via GreenBiz)

Posted:   |   Categories: algae, Andrew Cuomo, arctic, australia, barack obama, biofuel, Boeing Dreamliner, BP, BPA, california, canada, cap and trade, carbon capture, chevy volt, clean tech, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal exports, Coal mine, Coal royalties, DOE, drought, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, Environmental health, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, feed-in tariff, FERC, Fisker Karma, fracking, France, fuel-efficiency, germany, global warming, grid, Illinois, Interconnection, investment, jay inslee, Keystone XL, LNG, mexico, MIT, Montana, Municipal aggregation, natural gas, New Mexico, new york state, News, NYISO, offshore drilling, oil, Oil exports, oil sands, OPEC, Petcoke, PJM, Renewable energy standard, renewables, rggi, Shale oil, Shell, smart grid, solar, State Department, steven chu, Sydney, tar sands, texas, TransCanada, transmission, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, US Army, V2G, Washington State, wind
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17
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.17.13

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

OIL AND GAS 

EPA halted fracking water contamination investigation in Texas after industry protest (via Huffington Post/AP)

OPEC sees weaker demand for its crude in 2013 (via Yahoo! News/Reuters)

BP, Justice Department say Gulf plea deal fair and appropriate (via Houston Chronicle)

Oil and gas lobby sees ‘early breakthrough’ for offshore royalty bill (via The Hill)

POWER GENERATION 

America’s 2012 power plant construction boom: new generation capacity jumps 21% (via Facts of the Day)

New coal generation capacity in 2012 up 135% over 2011 (via Facts of the Day)

RENEWABLES 

Japan to build world’s largest offshore wind farm (via New Scientist)

UK green bank chief plans to allocate $4.8 billion to clean energy by 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)

Green energy makes up half of new US capacity in 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Indian states aim to boost solar power (via Panchabuta)

Mitsubishi invests $770 million in German offshore wind (via Houston Chronicle)

An emerging source of clean power in India: city waste (via GigaOm)

New study shows net metering is financial benefit, not burden, to ratepayers (via Renewable Energy World)

Reverse auctions seen as model for clean energy renaissance (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS

Beijing’s toxic smog was years in the making, had many sources (via Reuters)

Airborne toxins down, but overall pollutant levels rising, EPA says (via Phys.org)

The simple technology helping Coca Cola, AT&T, Wal-Mart cut costs and emissions (via Forbes) 

GRID 

In smart grid energy savings, utilities must meet consumer expectations (via Pike Research)

FERC documents continued growth of demand response in the US (via Pike Research)

CLIMATE 

Study: global warming means more wildfires (via Coloradoan)

Fighting fires: you’re doing it wrong (via Live Science)

In Thoreau’s flower journal, clues for climatologists (via New York Times)

5 tips for handling climate skeptics in 2013 (via Huffington Post)

Sweltering summers to become the norm for US capital (via Climate Progress)

Climate change report forecasts major impacts for the Southwest (via Phys.org)

Europe’s climate change fail (via Energy Collective)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

2013 will bring phase-out of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs (via The Good Human)

TRANSPORTATION 

A vehicle engine that uses one-third the fuel (via MIT Technology Review)

2012 Coda sedan EV price slashed to $25,000 (via Green Car Reports)

ACEEE announces greenest cars of the year (via Green Car Reports)

Can subsidies get electric vehicles rolling in India? (via Forbes)

ENVIRONMENT 

Infographic study shows world’s oldest trees are dying off rapidly (via Inhabitat)

OPINION 

Will Australia become uninhabitable? (via Australia News24)

The road forward from cap-and-trade (via Grist)

America needs a vibrant clean energy manufacturing sector (via Innovation Files)

Why has climate legislation failed? (via Washington Post)

Why the renewable energy industry needs green banks (via Renewable Energy World)

Breaking down the federal clean energy innovation budget (via Innovation Files)

The really, really big picture: there isn’t going to be enough net energy for the economic growth we want (via Resiliency)

Posted:   |   Categories: ACEEE, australia, Beijing, BP, cap and trade, climate, Climate Change, coal, COda, deforestation, Demand response, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, europe, ev, FERC, fracking, germany, global warming, Green bank, grid, Gulf of Mexico, india, japan, mitsubishi, Net metering, News, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, OPEC, renewables, Reverse auction, smart grid, solar, Subsidies, texas, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, Wildfire, wind
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