Category Archives:wildfires

16
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.16.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Efforts to set global carbon market standards may begin next month (via The Age)

Capital markets ignoring risk of unburnable carbon: report (via Renew Economy)

All flights in EU airspace to face emissions levy by 2014 (via RTCC)

Abbott publishes draft legislation to abolish carbon pricing (via Bloomberg)

Supreme Court will review EPA’s authority to regulate power plant emissions (via Washington Post)

ENERGY POLICY 

Much ado about shale gas, but coal is still king (via Christian Science Monitor)

Shale gas and tight oil boom: US states’ economic gains and vulnerabilities (via Council on Foreign Relations)

RENEWABLES 

Report: US leads world in advanced biofuels ranking (via Houston Chronicle)

Solar means business: Top 25 US corporate solar energy users (via CleanTechnica)

NREL debunks 15% ethanol blend car damage claims (via Environmental Leader)

Big box solar and the clean energy revolution (via Washington Post)

Statoil pulls offshore wind project in Maine (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

OIL 

Behind Russia vs. Greenpeace, unreported oil pollution in the Arctic (via InsideClimate News)

Energy efficiency measures saved $420 billion of oil from 2005-2010 (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Saudi Aramco plans “massive” spending to extend field life (via Houston Chronicle/Bloomberg)

Rising output, energy efficiency to halve US oil imports by 2020 (via Reuters)

North Dakota oil output could hit 1 million barrels-per-day by 2014 (via Reuters)

Booming US oil towns prepare for inevitable bust (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

North Dakota pipeline spill prompts calls for better oversight (via EnergyWire)

Halliburton manager pleads guilty to destroying Gulf spill evidence (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

BMW mulls boosting electric car capacity on early demand (via Bloomberg)

Ford jumps EV battery gap with new $8 million research lab (via CleanTechnica)

CLIMATE 

Climate change will affect almost every corner of ocean, study says (via Los Angeles Times)

Lloyd’s insurers mock climate skeptics over “global cooling” (via RTCC)

ENVIRONMENT 

Changes to federal flood insurance program mean higher costs (via Boston Globe)

All taxpayers are footing the rising cost of fighting wildfires (via Minneapolis Post)

California bans lead bullets for hunting (via Sustainable Business)

GRID 

Smart grid’s real-world economic and environmental benefits (via Renew Grid)

OPINION 

Three ways to get rich off global warming (via Market Watch)

By repealing the carbon tax, Tony Abbott is failing to protect his people (via The Guardian)

Should newspapers ban letters from climate science deniers? (via The Guardian)

California’s big fracking mess (via National Journal)

US Supreme Court: EPA can tackle global warming, but we’ll review a few details (via Washington Post)

These maps show where the US is most vulnerable to oil shocks (via Washington Post)

Posted:   |   Categories: arctic, australia, battery, biofuels, BMW, california, Carbon bubble, Carbon market, Carbon pricing, Climate Change, coal, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, EPA, ethanol, ev, Flood insurance, Floods, Ford, fracking, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Halliburton, Lloyd's of London, Maine, News, north dakota, NREL, Ocean acidification, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, renewables, Russia, saudi arabia, Saudi Aramco, Shale gas, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, Tony Abbott, Transportation, wildfires
0
07
Oct

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.7.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

Government shutdown affects weather, climate programs (via Climate Central)

Federal shutdown vexes greens, pleases industry (via Politico)

Solar decathlon launches despite US government shutdown (via Renewable Energy World)

FRACKING 

US fracking industry has used 250 billion gallons of water since 2005 (via Oil Price)

ENERGY POLICY 

US surpasses Russia as world’s top oil and natural gas producer (via The Guardian)

94% of utilities say distributed generation is a “game changer” (via BusinessGreen)

Embattled DOE clean energy loan program restarts under new management (via InsideClimate News)

RENEWABLES 

OECD-FAO projects global ethanol production to increase 67% over next 10 years to 44 billion gallons (via Green Car Congress)

Cost of PV cells drops 99% since 1977, bringing solar to grid parity (via Climate Progress)

Russia backs 504MW of wind and solar in first clean power auction (via CleanTechnica)

India invites national solar bids after 2-year gap (via Bloomberg)

South Pacific island nation becomes first to 100% renewables (via Facts of the Day)

As Sun shines on solar industry, power companies fret (via National Journal)

Wind turbine bird threat overstated, study suggests (via EarthTechling)

Florida utility offers $9 million in solar rebates (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Consumers Energy closing in on Michigan’s RPS (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Economist: US jobs climb along with oil boom (via Houston Chronicle)

BP trial to focus on scientists’ spill estimates (via Houston Chronicle)

Court orders closer scrutiny of oil-spill claims against BP (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

Putting all 20,000 electric car charging stations on the map (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

US gas prices drop 14 cents over past 2 weeks (via Houston Chronicle)

Volkswagen XL1, world’s most efficient car, makes its US debut (via CleanTechnica)

Hertz starts renting Tesla Model S electric cars (via Breaking Energy)

Ford doubles US electric drive market share from 2012 to 2013 (via Green Car Congress)

EMISSIONS 

IPCC report contains “grave” carbon budget message (via Climate Central)

EU carbon advances as policy makers consider supply flexibility (via Bloomberg)

US Supreme Court today may decide whether to hear greenhouse gas case (via Bloomberg BNA)

World’s carbon budget to be spent in three decades (via CleanTechnica)

Harvard won’t divest from fossil fuels, Faust says (via Bloomberg)

“Cynical” market shrugs off latest climate warning on fossil fuels (via EnergyWire)

ENVIRONMENT 

Scientists call for more controlled burns in West’s forests (via Los Angeles Times)

Let it burn: Changing firefighting techniques for a warming world (via Time)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Solar heating and cooling could save $61 billion in energy costs (via Energy Manager Today)

Popularity of federal energy efficiency program among farmers put it at risk (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

Walmart sells LEDs for less than $10 (via Energy Manager Today)

COAL 

Q2 2013 coal export trends: Shipments fall nationally, rise in West (via Sightline Daily)

POLITICS 

German Greens mull new identity and coalition with Merkel (via Reuters)

Tony Abbott may have enough support to repeal Australian carbon tax (via ABC News)

FERC front-runner may be clean slate Obama’s looking for (via Greenwire)

Debt ceiling isn’t place for climate fight, says House Republican (via The Hill)

Decades in decline, issue of coal is in crosshairs for Virginia governors race (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

For insurers, climate risk is becoming a matter of policy (via GreenBiz)

When will we reach an electric vehicle tipping point? (via Greentech Media)

Hawaii’s smart grid a matter of necessity (via Navigant Research)

Is fossil fuel divestment a sound financial play? (via Triple Pundit)

Posted:   |   Categories: Angela Merkel, australia, BP, cap and trade, Carbon budget, coal, Coal exports, Consumers Energy, distributed generation, Divestment, DOE, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, ethanol, EU, European Union, ev, FERC, Florida, Ford, Fossil fuel divestment, fracking, Gasoline, Grid Parity, Gulf of Mexico, Harvard, Hawaii, Hertz, hybrid, india, IPCC, LED, michigan, natural gas, News, oil, oil spill, renewable portfolio standard, Russia, solar, Solar cooling, Solar Decathlon, Solar heating, solar pv, Tesla Model S, Tony Abbott, Transportation, virginia, Volkswagen, Walmart, wildfires, wind
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04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
0
04
Sep

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.4.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Thoughts on carbon capture and storage from the EU (via Energy Collective)

Beijing fires up new air pollution regulations (via BusinessGreen)

Black soot forced early retreat of Alpine glaciers in 1800s (via Los Angeles Times)

Why did prices crash at California’s carbon auction? (via Environmental Leader)

COAL 

Pressure mounts on EU development bank to kill coal funding (via RTCC)

The untold story of western ranchers and their battle against coal (via Climate Progress)

Illinois towns pay a higher price for coal power (via Chicago Tribune)

CLIMATE 

Wildfires and climate change (via New York Times)

Federal payouts of climate-related crop losses top $17.3 billion (via Sustainable Business)

“Heat days” in schools becoming more common (via Huffington Post/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Renewable energy could save Germany €54 billion by 2030 (via Recharge)

Ethiopia adds 13,200 off-grid solar systems since December 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power makes hydrogen fuel on German gas grid (via EarthTechling)

The Middle East turns to solar energy (via Forbes)

Saudi Arabia, UAE lead race to deploy solar projects (via Arab News)

US leads as wind industry spends $430 million on patent protection (via Renewable Energy World)

Legislation enabling renewable energy use of master limited partnerships stalls (via Bloomberg)

Biofuels “will meet RFS mandates through 2016” (via Environmental Leader)

Deutsche Bank says US solar boom to reach 50GW by 2016 (via Renew Economy)

Solar companies and utilities clash over net metering changes (via ClimateWire)

NUCLEAR 

Errors cast doubt on Japan’s cleanup of Fukushima site (via New York Times)

Japan’s Abe says Fukushima will be resolved before 2020 Olympics (via Bloomberg)

GRID 

Power outage takes out 70% of Venezuela (via Christian Science Monitor)

Wind power generation growing, but transmission capacity lags (via The Oklahoman)

ComEd commences rollout of 4 million smart meters (via Renew Grid)

OIL 

Bakken blitz sets up battle between oil producers, shippers (via EnergyWire)

TRANSPORTATION 

UN struggling to avert carbon trade war over aviation deal (via Reuters)

Beijing plans to slash number of cars to cut smog levels (via RTCC)

US government reinstates ATVM loan program (via CleanTechnica)

App launches for EV drivers to rate charging stations (via Green Car Reports)

TAR SANDS 

Enbridge crude oil pipeline across Minnesota faces fresh opposition (via Star-Tribune)

Final destination for Detroit’s pet coke pile a secret (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Dallas goes big with energy efficiency (via EarthTechling)

ENVIRONMENT 

Parts of Amazon on verge of forest-to-grassland shift (via Phys.org)

OPINION 

China’s renewable push depressing, in context (via EarthTechling)

Wildfires pose a major threat to our clean water (via Climate Progress)

AB 327: The dark side for California solar (via Greentech Media)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, amazon, Bakken Shale, biofuels, Blackout, california, cap and trade, carbon capture, Carbon market, ccs, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, ComEd, Dallas, deforestation, Deutsche Bank, Electric Vehicle, emissions, Enbridge, Energy Efficiency, environment, Ethiopia, EU, European Union, ev, ev charging, fukushima, germany, global warming, grid, hydrogen, Illinois, japan, Master limited partnerships, MENA, minnesota, MLP, Net metering, News, nuclear, Ohio, oil, Pet coke, Pipeline, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Shale oil, Shinzo Abe, smart meters, solar, Soot, tar sands, texas, transmission, Transportation, UAE, united arab emirates, Venezuela, wildfires, wind
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21
Aug

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.21.13

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

CLIMATE 

A new way to make climate treaties work from Stanford and Switzerland (via Stanford News)

5 terrifying statements in the leaked climate report (via Mother Jones)

USGS moves to create climate change vulnerability database (via The Hill)

How hospitals can help fight climate change (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Coal ship breaks apart off South Africa’s east coast (via Reuters)

Declining value of coal just killed another export terminal (via Climate Progress)

Fishing industry says coal facilities threaten salmon (via Sustainable Business Oregon)

What coal trains would cost Seattle (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Wind power business potential in India ranked 5th globally (via Panchabuta)

Australian government says renewables future no more costly than fossil fuels (via Renew Economy)

Japan approves 19GW of commercial solar in 2012 after incentives (via Renewable Energy World)

Solar manufacturers may boost capacity as demand surges (via Bloomberg)

World’s largest community wind farm forms in Texas (via Sustainable Business)

Small wind power popping up everywhere (via EarthTechling)

US Army stares down sequestration to ramp up renewables recruiting drive (via Renewable Energy World)

All eyes on California: Should “smart inverters” be mandated for solar? (via Renew Grid)

Colorado solar zones first up for auction (via EarthTechling)

In Texas, Big Wind jumps on new transmission (via EarthTechling)

Construction begins on 218MW Texas wind project (via Renew Grid)

Michigan town buys wind energy cheaper than coal power (via Michigan Live)

ENERGY POLICY 

Data centers become battleground in war between fossil fuels, renewables (via Greenwire)

What’s holding consumers back from buying green power? (via GreenBiz)

Texas-sized power bills dwarf electricity use in other states (via Houston Chronicle)

NUCLEAR 

300 tons of contaminated water leak at Fukushima nuclear plant (via New York Times)

ENVIRONMENT 

Google Street View will document changes to world’s coral reefs (via Yale e360)

Peak water in the American West (via Science Blogs)

Wildfires across the American West push spending past $1 billion (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

War of words builds over possible regulation of lead bullets (via The Hill)

Critics say California relies on outdated approach to fire prevention (via Los Angels Times)

Seven animals imperiled by the Keystone pipeline (via Mother Jones)

OIL 

Eagle Ford shale oil production jumps 60% in June (via Houston Chronicle)

Exxon pipeline rupture oil spill amount is still guesswork (via InsideClimate News) 

GREEN BUSINESS 

Shoppers around the world more likely to pick greener goods (via BusinessGreen)

The biggest, greenest office buildings in the United States (via Inhabitat)

Three thousand teams enter EPA’s “Battle of the Buildings” (via Energy Manager Today)

Diners say they’ll pay more for sustainable restaurant meals (via Environmental Leader)

2014 Chevy Volt $5,000 price cut pushed along by Internet searches (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Mapped: where natural gas is in Texas (via StateImpact Texas)

Natural gas pipeline explodes in Oklahoma (via Reuters)

GRID 

China grid says half of $100 billion high-voltage network underway (via Reuters)

Can a tweak to Texas’ energy market unlock demand response? (via Greentech Media)

POLITICS 

Sen. Collins popular in Maine, buoyed by green policy positions (via The Hill)

OPINION 

How to talk to your Republican dad about global warming (via Mother Jones)

Energy reform starts outside the Beltway (via Huffington Post)

Can solar PV help balance Europe’s electricity grid? (via Renewable Energy World)

How extreme will future heat waves be? Choose your own adventure (via The Guardian)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, california, chevy volt, climate, Climate Change, coal, Coal export, colorado, Community wind, Coral reef, data centers, Demand response, drought, Eagle Ford, Energy Efficiency, EPA, Exxon, fukushima, global warming, green building, green business, grid, Heat wave, india, IPCC, japan, Keystone XL, Maine, michigan, natural gas, News, nuclear, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, Peak water, Pipeline, renewables, seattle, Shale oil, small wind, Smart solar inverter, solar, solar pv, Solar zone, South Africa, Stanford, Susan Collins, switzerland, texas, transmission, US Army, usgs, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
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31
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.31.13

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

ENERGY MARKETS 

US oil and gas projected to surge for years (via Houston Chronicle)

JPMorgan Chase to pay $410 million penalty in electricity pricing scheme (via Washington Post)

Could utilities’ future be selling light instead of electrons? (via Midwest Energy News)

GRID 

$23 million energy storage research center launched in New York State (via CleanTechnica)

EMISSIONS 

British Columbia’s carbon tax after five years (via Energy Collective)

California and Australia bolster carbon trading ties (via BusinessGreen)

GHG plan could cost “less than 0.5% of total airline revenue” (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

Trade fight over solar benefits a bystander – Taiwan (via New York Times)

Claims of faulty data in EU-China solar trade case now under investigation (via Renewable Energy World)

Europe’s biggest solar projects threatened by China deal (via Bloomberg)

Largest solar project in southern hemisphere gets go-ahead from Australia (via BusinessGreen)

Renewables workers wages “growing faster than oil and gas pay” (via BBC News)

Congress eyes change to US biofuels mandate, EPA targets loom (via Reuters)

US biodiesel production reached record output in May 2013 (via US EIA)

BP shelves sale of 2.6GW wind energy arm (via BusinessGreen)

BP wins as US refiners suffer under biofuel mandate (via Reuters)

Virginia seeks research lease for offshore wind energy test project (via Richmond Times-Dispatch)

COAL 

Southern Company absorbs $450M in additional losses for over-budget Mississippi coal plant (via Star-Tribune/AP)

Despite slowdown, global coal remains a planet-destroying monster (via Grist)

CLIMATE 

Calgary facing “well over” $3 billion in flood damage costs (via Calgary Herald)

US investors signal new interest in climate-related risks (via RTCC)

McCarthy: Climate change poses economic threat (via Politico)

A nation on fire: climate change and the burning of America (via Climate Progress)

Congressional task force links worsening wildfires to climate change (via National Journal)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Gulf natgas blowout could tip regulator focus to shallow water (via Houston Chronicle)

Crews to start relief well Thursday at Gulf blowout site (via Houston Chronicle)

Ohio state forest fracking plan halted, for now (via Columbus Dispatch)

ENVIRONMENT 

Something in the air: how global warming is spreading toxic dust (via ClimateWire)

The crucial question for the American West: how long will the water hold out? (via Mother Jones)

Which energy resources are gulping down our water? (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Sponsors pare back energy efficiency bill ahead of Senate debate (via The Hill)

Philadelphia enforces building energy benchmarking in October (via Energy Manager Today)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

McCarthy: EPA will be “honest commenter” on Keystone XL review (via The Hill)

EPA: Enbridge nearly tripling oil spill dredging (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

NUCLEAR 

Fukushima cleanup turns toxic for Japan’s Tepco (via Reuters)

Japanese utility and public in dark about crippled nuclear plant (via Reuters)

POLITICS 

Obama calls out GOP for wasting time on Keystone (via Climate Progress)

New EPA head McCarthy outlines ambitious agenda in Harvard speech (via Washington Post)

Kochs tap ex-Cantor aide to lobby on anti-carbon tax measure (via The Hill)

OPINION 

The world needs more Energiewende (via WRI Insights)

Can Washington find agreement on biofuels mandate? (via National Journal)

Posted:   |   Categories: australia, barack obama, battery, biodiesel, biofuels, BOEMRE, BP, british columbia, calgary, california, Carbon market, carbon tax, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, emissions, Enbridge, Energiewende, Energy benchmarking, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, fracking, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Jean Shaheen, JPMorgan Chase, Keystone XL, Koch Brothers, michigan, Mississippi, natural gas, new york state, News, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, philadelphia, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, Rob Portman, solar, Solar trade war, Southern Company, Taiwan, tar sands, virginia, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
0
23
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Chinese finance minister confirms carbon tax is on its way (via BusinessGreen)

Zero-carbon Britain is possible by 2030, claims new report (via Treehugger)

COAL 

EU finance arm to decide on curbing loans to coal-fired power (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

UN climate change deal “may not be feasible” by 2015 (via RTCC)

Climate change slowdown due to warming of deep oceans, say scientists (via The Guardian)

DOE examines climate change impact on energy sector (via Breaking Energy)

New EPA chief exhorts agency staff to “act now on climate change” (via The Hill)

Alaska looks for answers in glacier’s summer flood surges (via New York Times)

Schwarzenegger filming documentary on climate change and wildfires (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Thailand boosts solar target 50% to 3,000MW (via Bloomberg)

Wind turbine battleground shifts for European and Chinese rivals (via Reuters)

Central American solar markets spurred on by high electricity prices (via Greentech Media)

Solar provides Germany 50% of power at peak hour (via Facts of the Day)

Grid-connected solar capacity in India crosses 1.7GW (via Panchabuta)

Over 1GW and 11,000 jobs for Australian solar industry in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

With push from tax break, wind industry slowly moves out of the doldrums (via ClimateWire)

Hydropower: the unsung hero of renewable energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Foster’s solar-skinned buildings signal market tripling (via Bloomberg)

Advocates, foes of biofuels mandate get ready to rumble (via The Hill)

Interior Department announces Virginia offshore wind lease sale (via The Hill)

Oklahoma wind farms to provide power to Arkansas, Nebraska (via The Oklahoman)

Palo Alto switches to 100% renewables – at a cost of $3 per year (via Renew Economy)

Vestas joins DOE, Texas Tech to launch unique wind research facility (via Renewable Energy World)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas spot prices increased during first-half 2013 (via US EIA)

US rules on fracking on public lands seen costing drillers $345 million (via Reuters)

Kansas regulators considering new fracking rules (via Kansas City Star)

Minnesota agencies crafting frack sand mining rules (via Daily News/AP)

Welcome to Portage County, the fracking waste disposal capital of Ohio (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

China to implement stricter air quality controls (via China Daily)

Arctic’s boreal forests burning at “unprecedented” rate (via Climate Central)

Pakistan now “one of the most water-stressed countries in the world” as demand exceeds supply (via Climate Progress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese utility admits Fukushima leaking radioactive water into the sea (via AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Retail lease modifications can improve efficiency (via Environmental Leader)

CBRE initiative highlights most energy efficient real estate tenants (via GreenBiz)

Program shaves electricity bills 34% for low-income South Carolina homes (via Forbes)

OIL 

Oil production in Eagle Ford Shale jumped 58% in May (via Houston Chronicle)

48,000 barrels of oil spilled in Quebec train derailment (via Montreal Gazette)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing in America (via Grist)

Electric cars selling faster than hybrids did at same point (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

Wholesale electricity prices rise across the United States (via US EIA)

California and Texas smart grid success shows way forward for US (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Republicans propose limiting Obama climate plan in budget (via Bloomberg)

Feds fall short of green job goals (via Greenwire)

Lobbyists to hit Hill for slugfest over Renewable Fuel Standard (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

Australian carbon tax abandoned – what lessons can be learned? (via Triple Pundit)

Echoes of Solyndra in Oregon wind farm probe (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, alaska, arctic, Arkansas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, australia, barack obama, biofuels, Britain, california, carbon tax, CBRE, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Eagle Ford Shale, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Frack sand, fracking, fukushima, germany, Gina McCarthy, green building, Green job, grid, Hydropower, india, interior department, japan, kansas, minnesota, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, oregon, pakistan, palo alto, production tax credit, ptc, Quebec, Renewable fuels mandate, renewables, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solyndra, south carolina, texas, Texas Tech, Thailand, Transportation, UN, united nations, vestas, virginia, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
0
23
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.23.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Chinese finance minister confirms carbon tax is on its way (via BusinessGreen)

Zero-carbon Britain is possible by 2030, claims new report (via Treehugger)

COAL 

EU finance arm to decide on curbing loans to coal-fired power (via Reuters)

CLIMATE 

UN climate change deal “may not be feasible” by 2015 (via RTCC)

Climate change slowdown due to warming of deep oceans, say scientists (via The Guardian)

DOE examines climate change impact on energy sector (via Breaking Energy)

New EPA chief exhorts agency staff to “act now on climate change” (via The Hill)

Alaska looks for answers in glacier’s summer flood surges (via New York Times)

Schwarzenegger filming documentary on climate change and wildfires (via Christian Science Monitor/AP)

RENEWABLES 

Thailand boosts solar target 50% to 3,000MW (via Bloomberg)

Wind turbine battleground shifts for European and Chinese rivals (via Reuters)

Central American solar markets spurred on by high electricity prices (via Greentech Media)

Solar provides Germany 50% of power at peak hour (via Facts of the Day)

Grid-connected solar capacity in India crosses 1.7GW (via Panchabuta)

Over 1GW and 11,000 jobs for Australian solar industry in 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

With push from tax break, wind industry slowly moves out of the doldrums (via ClimateWire)

Hydropower: the unsung hero of renewable energy (via Christian Science Monitor)

Foster’s solar-skinned buildings signal market tripling (via Bloomberg)

Advocates, foes of biofuels mandate get ready to rumble (via The Hill)

Interior Department announces Virginia offshore wind lease sale (via The Hill)

Oklahoma wind farms to provide power to Arkansas, Nebraska (via The Oklahoman)

Palo Alto switches to 100% renewables – at a cost of $3 per year (via Renew Economy)

Vestas joins DOE, Texas Tech to launch unique wind research facility (via Renewable Energy World)

NATURAL GAS 

US natural gas spot prices increased during first-half 2013 (via US EIA)

US rules on fracking on public lands seen costing drillers $345 million (via Reuters)

Kansas regulators considering new fracking rules (via Kansas City Star)

Minnesota agencies crafting frack sand mining rules (via Daily News/AP)

Welcome to Portage County, the fracking waste disposal capital of Ohio (via Grist)

ENVIRONMENT 

China to implement stricter air quality controls (via China Daily)

Arctic’s boreal forests burning at “unprecedented” rate (via Climate Central)

Pakistan now “one of the most water-stressed countries in the world” as demand exceeds supply (via Climate Progress)

NUCLEAR 

Japanese utility admits Fukushima leaking radioactive water into the sea (via AP)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Retail lease modifications can improve efficiency (via Environmental Leader)

CBRE initiative highlights most energy efficient real estate tenants (via GreenBiz)

Program shaves electricity bills 34% for low-income South Carolina homes (via Forbes)

OIL 

Oil production in Eagle Ford Shale jumped 58% in May (via Houston Chronicle)

48,000 barrels of oil spilled in Quebec train derailment (via Montreal Gazette)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric vehicle sales are skyrocketing in America (via Grist)

Electric cars selling faster than hybrids did at same point (via Green Car Reports)

GRID 

Wholesale electricity prices rise across the United States (via US EIA)

California and Texas smart grid success shows way forward for US (via CleanTechnica)

POLITICS 

Republicans propose limiting Obama climate plan in budget (via Bloomberg)

Feds fall short of green job goals (via Greenwire)

Lobbyists to hit Hill for slugfest over Renewable Fuel Standard (via E&E Daily)

OPINION 

Australian carbon tax abandoned – what lessons can be learned? (via Triple Pundit)

Echoes of Solyndra in Oregon wind farm probe (via Politico)

Posted:   |   Categories: Air pollution, alaska, arctic, Arkansas, Arnold Schwarzenegger, australia, barack obama, biofuels, Britain, california, carbon tax, CBRE, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, Eagle Ford Shale, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Efficiency, environment, EPA, EU, European Union, ev, Frack sand, fracking, fukushima, germany, Gina McCarthy, green building, grid, Hydropower, india, interior department, japan, kansas, minnesota, natural gas, Nebraska, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, oil, oil spill, oklahoma, oregon, pakistan, palo alto, production tax credit, ptc, Quebec, Renewable fuels mandate, renewables, Shale oil, smart grid, solar, solyndra, south carolina, texas, Texas Tech, Thailand, Transportation, UN, united nations, vestas, virginia, Water scarcity, wildfires, wind
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22
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.13

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

TAR SANDS 

“Nobody understands” spills at Alberta oil sands operation (via The Star)

State Department approves US-Canada pipeline – it’s not Keystone XL (via Christian Science Monitor)

EMISSIONS 

Trees absorb lower levels of pollution in hot weather (via RTCC)

EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown (via The Hill)

GRID 

Which states are leading in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

FERC’s energy storage ruling could jump-start big batteries (via Greentech Media)

The challenge and cost of interconnecting power projects to the grid (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production infrastructure will attract $69 billion in capital investment between 2013-2023 (via Navigant Research)

India may expand solar dumping probe to EU, Japan cells (via Bloomberg)

Bedouin tribe talks a risk in Saudi solar drive (via Bloomberg)

Coal-heavy South Africa eyes wind and solar additions (via RTCC)

Canada to add 450MW of new solar PV in next five years (via Recharge)

UK energy companies paying a heavy price for shunning renewables (via The Guardian)

Solar module costs down 20% in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

Renewables provide 25% of new US electrical generating capacity in first half 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Excel, Interior Department approvals add almost 2GW of wind (via Sustainable Business)

Oil companies break with trade group on renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Plan for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm rejected by regulators (via Star-Ledger)

Texas A&M launches world’s biggest solar photovoltaic R&D facility (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Canadian oil storage hubs set to expand 25% by 2015 (via Reuters)

US, Canada chug ahead with oil shipments by rail despite risks (via Washington Post)

WTI oil reaches highest price in 16 months (via Houston Chronicle)

Judge denies BP effort to halt Gulf spill claim payouts (via Reuters)

New platforms rise to meet Gulf of Mexico drilling boom (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK government committing additional $763 million to support EVs through 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Why not a plug-in hybrid minivan? (via Plugin Cars)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Federal study finds natural gas fracking chemicals didn’t spread to aquifers (via Washington Post/AP)

North Carolina fracking moratorium remains in place (via Charlotte Observer)

California fracking moratorium regulations near approval (NBC News)

Fracking filmmakers reflect unusual political twists in gas drilling debate (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

Forest fires expected to worsen as climate warms (via The Good Human)

Continuing heat, drought, flooding make up this year’s weather story (via ClimateWire)

Waxman: climate regulations won’t revive legislation (via The Hill)

Vulnerable Maryland weighs threat of sea-level rise (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK consumers to pay “dirty” coal power subsidies for years (via The Independent)

As EPA head, McCarthy will focus on coal. Oil and gas, not so much (via Triple Pundit)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top 6 cities leading the green building revolution (via EarthTechling)

A new concept: sustainability incubator for cities (via Sustainable Business)

NUCLEAR 

Germany rebuffs European nuclear power subsidy proposal (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

California non-residential building owners must disclose energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The case against EPA political bias (via Politico)

Ernest Moniz to restructure top leadership at Energy Department (via Politico)

OPINION 

Shouldn’t climate scientists try harder to communicate their findings? (via The Guardian)

Putting more wind power on the grid (via Los Angeles Times)

US playing game of catch-up in rapidly changing Arctic (via Climate Central)

Why it’s hard for the US government to create green jobs (via Washington Post)

Why new EPA chief Gina McCarthy will be so important to cleantech (via Greentech Media)

When will utilities get a clue about social media? (via Greentech Media)

How do we use electricity? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arctic, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, Excel, FERC, Flooding, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Waxman, india, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, maryland, natural gas, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, plug-in hybrid, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Texas A&M, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires, wind
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22
Jul

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.22.13

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

TAR SANDS 

“Nobody understands” spills at Alberta oil sands operation (via The Star)

State Department approves US-Canada pipeline – it’s not Keystone XL (via Christian Science Monitor)

EMISSIONS 

Trees absorb lower levels of pollution in hot weather (via RTCC)

EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown (via The Hill)

GRID 

Which states are leading in smart grid? (via Greentech Media)

FERC’s energy storage ruling could jump-start big batteries (via Greentech Media)

The challenge and cost of interconnecting power projects to the grid (via Greentech Media)

RENEWABLES 

Global biofuels production infrastructure will attract $69 billion in capital investment between 2013-2023 (via Navigant Research)

India may expand solar dumping probe to EU, Japan cells (via Bloomberg)

Bedouin tribe talks a risk in Saudi solar drive (via Bloomberg)

Coal-heavy South Africa eyes wind and solar additions (via RTCC)

Canada to add 450MW of new solar PV in next five years (via Recharge)

UK energy companies paying a heavy price for shunning renewables (via The Guardian)

Solar module costs down 20% in 2013 (via Renew Economy)

Renewables provide 25% of new US electrical generating capacity in first half 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

Excel, Interior Department approvals add almost 2GW of wind (via Sustainable Business)

Oil companies break with trade group on renewable fuel mandate (via Houston Chronicle)

Plan for New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm rejected by regulators (via Star-Ledger)

Texas A&M launches world’s biggest solar photovoltaic R&D facility (via CleanTechnica)

OIL 

Canadian oil storage hubs set to expand 25% by 2015 (via Reuters)

US, Canada chug ahead with oil shipments by rail despite risks (via Washington Post)

WTI oil reaches highest price in 16 months (via Houston Chronicle)

Judge denies BP effort to halt Gulf spill claim payouts (via Reuters)

New platforms rise to meet Gulf of Mexico drilling boom (via Houston Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION 

UK government committing additional $763 million to support EVs through 2020 (via Green Car Congress)

Why not a plug-in hybrid minivan? (via Plugin Cars)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Federal study finds natural gas fracking chemicals didn’t spread to aquifers (via Washington Post/AP)

North Carolina fracking moratorium remains in place (via Charlotte Observer)

California fracking moratorium regulations near approval (NBC News)

Fracking filmmakers reflect unusual political twists in gas drilling debate (via Washington Post/AP)

CLIMATE 

Forest fires expected to worsen as climate warms (via The Good Human)

Continuing heat, drought, flooding make up this year’s weather story (via ClimateWire)

Waxman: climate regulations won’t revive legislation (via The Hill)

Vulnerable Maryland weighs threat of sea-level rise (via Washington Post)

COAL 

UK consumers to pay “dirty” coal power subsidies for years (via The Independent)

As EPA head, McCarthy will focus on coal. Oil and gas, not so much (via Triple Pundit)

GREEN BUILDING 

Top 6 cities leading the green building revolution (via EarthTechling)

A new concept: sustainability incubator for cities (via Sustainable Business)

NUCLEAR 

Germany rebuffs European nuclear power subsidy proposal (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

California non-residential building owners must disclose energy usage (via Energy Manager Today)

POLITICS 

The case against EPA political bias (via Politico)

Ernest Moniz to restructure top leadership at Energy Department (via Politico)

OPINION 

Shouldn’t climate scientists try harder to communicate their findings? (via The Guardian)

Putting more wind power on the grid (via Los Angeles Times)

US playing game of catch-up in rapidly changing Arctic (via Climate Central)

Why it’s hard for the US government to create green jobs (via Washington Post)

Why new EPA chief Gina McCarthy will be so important to cleantech (via Greentech Media)

When will utilities get a clue about social media? (via Greentech Media)

How do we use electricity? (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: Alberta, arctic, battery, biofuels, BP, california, canada, climate, Climate Change, coal, DOE, drought, electric vehicles, emissions, Energy Department, Energy Efficiency, energy storage, EPA, Ernest Moniz, EU, European Union, ev, Excel, FERC, Flooding, fracking, Fracking moratorium, germany, Gina McCarthy, global warming, green building, green jobs, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Henry Waxman, india, Interconnection, interior department, japan, Keystone XL, maryland, natural gas, new jersey, News, North Carolina, nuclear, offshore drilling, offshore wind, oil, oil spill, Pipeline, plug-in hybrid, Renewable Fuels Standard, renewables, RFS, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, solar, solar pv, Solar trade war, South Africa, Subsidy, tar sands, texas, Texas A&M, Transportation, uk, united kingdom, wildfires, wind
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