Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13

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

OIL 

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES 

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL 

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS 

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID 

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS 

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.17.13

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

OIL 

Mexico gears up for an oil boom of its own (via Christian Science Monitor)

US oil production closing in on record (via National Journal)

Senate Dems press Interior to back off Arctic oil drilling (via National Journal)

Feds press California officials on refinery safety (via National Journal)

CLIMATE 

Alps warming at double average global rate, confirms new study (via Climate Progress)

Study: Climate change could drain access to water (via National Journal)

Plants “could stop being brake on global warming” (via The Independent)

RENEWABLES 

India on course to become solar “global leader” (via RTCC)

Solar’s massive growth in top 10 solar countries (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol use to hit record as corn prices slump, feds project (via Houston Chronicle)

Dems push to extend clean energy tax credits (via National Journal)

Clean energy boosters blast feds’ forecast (via Houston Chronicle)

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s rooftop solar growth hint at US battle (via Reuters)

Missouri is latest front in homeowners fight for “solar rights” (via Midwest Energy News)

Turning a building’s water system into a hydroelectric plant (via New York Times)

COAL 

More and more major banks pledge not to finance new overseas coal plants (via Climate Progress)

Remember the “war on coal?” – coal’s losing, but only in the US (via Washington Post)

EMISSIONS 

Oceans storing more carbon than previously thought (via Climate Central)

Study: Piecemeal approach to emissions proves surprisingly effective (via United Press International)

EU reaches deal to cap super-warming F-gases (via Reuters)

As backloading passes, Davey promises push for “structural reform” of carbon market (via BusinessGreen)

CARB approves another round of cap and trade amendments (via Environmental Leader)

Oregon weighing carbon tax (via Statesman-Journal)

Wisconsin on track to reduce CO2 emission by 22% (via Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel)

NUCLEAR 

Ohio, Michigan riled over plan to bury nuclear waste (via Toledo Blade)

GRID 

Favorable consumer attitudes toward smart meters continue to increase (via Navigant Research)

PJM authorizes $4.6 billion in regional electric grid upgrades (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

US forecasts natural gas boom through 2040 (via USA Today)

NY governor could delay fracking ban decision until after 2014 election (via Houston Chronicle)

Pennsylvania is the fastest-growing natural gas producing state (via US EIA)

TRANSPORTATION 

Do EV incentives impact resell value? (via EarthTechling)

Tesla Model E could arrive in January 2015, earlier than expected (via Autoblog Green)

TAR SANDS 

Kinder Morgan files application for another tar sands pipeline across British Columbia (via Climate Progress)

Need for more tar sands imports called into question with latest US energy data (via InsideClimate News)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Why the future of the light bulb is flat (via GigaOm)

Is Google getting back into the energy data game? (via GigaOm)

OPINION 

Which is more wrong: EIA’s latest coal or renewable energy market share projection (via Facts of the Day)

Solar energy heading to mainstream in the US (via Energy Collective)

Distributed storage: The killer app for solar? (via Greentech Media)

A burning question: Why don’t climate scientists sound more worried? (via ClimateWire)

Solar industry forecast: Sunny with a chance of issues (via GreenBiz)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.11.13

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

CLIMATE 

Global warming is unpaused and stuck on fast forward, says new research (via The Guardian)

Survey lists best and worst financial funds for climate change risk (via DeSmog Blog)

COAL 

Another global financial institution moves beyond coal (via Huffington Post)

Four proposed coal export terminals have now failed this year due to “diminished” market (via Climate Progress)

RENEWABLES 

European Investment Bank invests €50 million into clean energy fund (via CleanTechnica)

A rare win for Australian renewables – national green bank saved in Senate (via Renew Economy)

Offshore wind farms could protect cities from hurricanes (via Climate Central)

When solar & wind capacities rise, electricity generation from solar & wind rise (via CleanTechnica)

US solar energy industry shines in record-setting 3Q 2013 (via CleanTechnica)

Wind power’s growth blown away by tax uncertainty (via National Journal)

Study links taller wind turbines to more bird deaths (via EarthTechling)

Saying goodbye to the wind production tax credit (via Sustainable Business)

EMISSIONS 

New greenhouse gas 7,000 times more harmful than CO2 (via Time)

Australian Senate creates roadblock to carbon tax repeal (via Business Spectator)

Australian offset scheme reaches milestone but future uncertain (via Reuters)

2014 World Cup to nearly double carbon emissions over 2010 (via Climate Progress)

Supreme Court hears case on cross-state air pollution rules (via New York Times)

Justices may back EPA on air pollution rule (via USA Today)

The carbon time bomb in your retirement account (via Mother Jones)

GRID 

True smart grids may have to play the waiting game (via Renew Grid)

Dynamic pricing moves from theory to practice (via Navigant Research)

ETT energizes last of seven West Texas CREZ transmission lines (via Renew Grid)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee proposes microgrid (via Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Chinese LED market set to double by 2017 (via Energy Manager Today)

Goodbye Megatons to Megawatts, hello energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)

Map shows which cities are buying the most LEDs and CFLs (via GigaOm)

TRANSPORTATION 

Electric cars: Which states are doing it right and which states lag? (via Green Car Reports)

OPINION 

The green industrial revolution and the United States (via Center for American Progress)

Why your pension fund could be heading for a “carbon crash” (via BusinessGreen)

After net metering battle, is Arizona getting ready to explore the grid edge? (via Greentech Media)

The new war between the states centers on air pollution (via Forbes)

How long will the fracking boom last? (via Forbes)

Podesta and the pipeline (via The New Yorker)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.14.13

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

COP 19 

Nearly 3 in 10 countries not sending ministers to COP 19 (via The Guardian)

G77+China submit proposal to COP 19 on Loss and Damage (via The Hindu)

Developed nations back out on earlier emissions cut commitments (via Economic Times)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

IEA: Tar sands export pipelines needed for Canadian oil to boom (via InsideClimate News)

Canada attacks EU data labeling tar sands a “dirty” fuel (via The Guardian)

New warnings of construction problems on Keystone XL (via CBS News)

RENEWABLES 

Global solar PV installations will double, hit grid parity by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

US ethanol output could reach 14 billion gallons in 2014 (via Reuters)

California closes in on smart solar inverter rules (via Greentech Media)

In Arizona, a closely watched vote to decide solar policy’s fate (via Reuters)

New York’s green bank addresses distributed solar financing dilemma (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Wisconsin bill would grant wide latitude to sue wind farms (via Midwest Energy News)

EMISSIONS 

UN seeks carbon market revamp as green fund backers bolt (via Bloomberg)

Masdar digs deep on Middle East’s first carbon capture project (via BusinessGreen)

CBO estimates carbon tax would cut $1 trillion from US deficit (via The Hill)

Poll: Majority of people in 40 states support cutting power plant emissions (via The Hill)

California marks first anniversary of cap-and-trade system (via C2ES)

OIL 

Improving US oil production reaches milestone in October, says EIA (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

New study of EV drivers reveals plug-in attitudes (via Plugin Cars)

The surprising reasons gas prices have fallen sharply (via Washington Post)

CLIMATE 

Ocean acidification may increase 170% this century (via Phys.org)

Haiyan foretells military challenges in warming world (via Climate Central)

One senator’s war against climate change (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LEED green building projects span 10.6 billion square feet (via Environmental Leader)

Maryland approves $95 million in energy-efficiency funding (via Baltimore Sun)

Washington Metro will install LEDs at zero cost (via Greentech Media)

GRID 

Global smart meter market to hit $10.7 billion by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

First major US transmission project in decades brings wind energy across West (via Sustainable Business)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Walmart’s sustainability results don’t match promises, report finds (via Huffington Post)

OPINION 

Chu unplugged: Former energy secretary on climate, politics, and tough decisions (via Politico)

China’s bad bet on the environment (via Council on Foreign Relations)

Will President Obama slash the ethanol mandate? (via Politico)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.11.13

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

COP 19 CONFERENCE 

Mood of “realism” about future deal at climate talks (via BBC News)

Loss and Damage: Elements for successful negotiations at COP 19 (via World Resources Institute)

UN talks seek modest climate for 2015, to raise aid (via Reuters)

Report: Funding drought threatens 2015 UN climate agreement (via RTCC)

ENERGY POLICY 

New German government would put moratorium on fracking, cut wind support (via Reuters)

EU may challenge German green subsidy (via Energy Manager Today)

RENEWABLES 

Annual worldwide solar PV installations will double by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

European solar PV demand set to rebound in 2014 (via CleanTechnica)

Record-breaking wind integration in Denmark (via Greentech Media)

UK confirms plans for 39GW of offshore wind by 2030 (via Renewable Energy World)

Japan starts up offshore wind farm in shadow of Fukushima (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

UK offshore wind capacity rises 80% in one year (via Renewable Energy World)

Up to 21GW of small CSP could be integrated into US fossil plants (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar power begins to shine as environmental benefits pay off (via New York Times)

Midwest states grapple with value of homegrown solar electricity (via St. Paul Pioneer-Press)

Wind energy blows Michigan toward 30% renewables by 2030 (via CleanTechnica)

Solar company wins converts by going door-to-door (via Reuters)

Xcel, advocates at odds over Minnesota solar garden rules (via Midwest Energy News)

Iowa State study says ethanol mandate cut would have minor impact on corn price (via Green Car Congress)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

International shale plays likely to face water shortfalls (via Houston Chronicle)

What’s fueling fights over fracking? (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

China and US, two largest emitters, join in carbon reductions (via China Daily)

US and Norway bolster ties on CCS (via BusinessGreen)

Tony Abbott attempts to shift focus to carbon tax as new parliament opens (via The Guardian)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Alberta premier making Keystone pipeline push (via The Hill)

Enbridge files plan for $2.6 billion North Dakota to Wisconsin pipeline (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

Rising sea levels, falling real estate values (via Miami Herald)

South Florida faces ominous prospects from rising waters (via New York Times)

Study says Montreal Protocol ozone treaty slowed global warming (via Climate Central)

Latin America is already preparing for climate change adaptation (via Energy Collective)

ENVIRONMENT 

600,000 bats killed at wind energy facilities in 2012 (via Los Angeles Times)

Health effects of a nuclear test can last decades (via Washington Post)

Plastic bottle recycling up 6.2% in 2012 (via Environmental Leader)

GRID 

Europe seeks new smart grid boost as momentum slows (via Navigant Research)

Western energy imbalance market gets approval from CaISO board (via Renew Grid)

CaISO changes rules to enable solar and wind project downsizing with less risk (via Solar Industry Magazine)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Where do US states rank in terms of energy efficiency? (via Renew Grid)

Title 24 launches California toward net zero buildings (via Triple Pundit)

TRANSPORTATION 

Gas prices could fall below $3/gallon before year’s end (via Autoblog)

Mitsubishi to offer 20% plug-in cars by 2020 (via Green Car Reports)

Tesla Model S fires lead to investor lawsuit (via San Francisco Chronicle)

A hard week on Wall Street for Tesla (via GigaOm)

POLITICS 

Obama grasps for climate legacy as second-term agenda crumbles (via The Hill)

White House names new climate and energy chief to replace Zichal (via Washington Post)

OPINION 

Why hasn’t cellulosic ethanol taken over like it was supposed to? (via Washington Post)

New climate realism (via The Hill)

Top 10 things you didn’t know about ARPA-E (via Energy.gov)

Everything you need to know about “super-typhoons” (via Washington Post)

US ethanol expansion limited by blend wall, says Vilsack (via Reuters)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.2.13

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

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN 

Federal shutdown weakens weather and climate operations (via Washington Post)

What the shutdown means for energy and environment programs (via Climate Progress)

EMISSIONS 

California and Quebec take another step toward linking cap-and-trade programs (via Green Car Congress)

California’s cap and trade market still needs a price ceiling (via Energy Collective)

COAL 

Coal to surpass gas in Southeast Asia power boom, says IEA (via Bloomberg)

RENEWABLES 

France launches 80MW tidal power tender (via Recharge)

Analysis shows wind tax credit would cost billions (via The Hill)

Washington DC unanimously passes community solar legislation (via Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE 

Poland pits itself against EU climate pledges (via Reuters)

Fossil fuel interests ready to pump millions into climate change debate (via Forbes)

Three things we aren’t as sure of as climate change but accept as fact (via Climate Progress)

Wildfire season could be longer, more intense by 2050 due to climate change (via National Journal)

Climate adaptation goes mainstream in Wisconsin (via Grist)

Yosemite’s largest ice mass is melting fast (via Los Angeles Times)

OIL 

Public health report released on 2010 Michigan oil spill (via Houston Chronicle)

At trial, BP denies dithering during response to US Gulf spill (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION 

Nearly 64,000 public EV charging stations installed worldwide (via Navigant Research)

Once you go electric, you don’t go back, finds study (via BusinessGreen)

Tesla Model S was best-selling car in Norway during September (via Green Car Congress)

Nissan Leaf outsells Chevy Volt 1,953 to 1,766 in September (via Autoblog Green)

GM intensifies military hydrogen fuel cell research (via BusinessGreen)

$2 billion for cleaner vehicles in California (via CleanTechnica)

GRID 

40MW energy storage facility goes live in Ohio (via Renew Grid)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Chambers of Commerce want fracking oversight left to states (via Midwest Energy News)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 9.6.13

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

EMISSIONS 

Europe offers US a deal, hoping for global rules on airline emissions (via New York Times)

Carbon prices rise to 5-month high as EU crimps free-permit handout (via Bloomberg)

Coalition’s plans to remove Australian carbon price will cost more than $6 billion (via The Guardian)

A new divestment focus: Fossil fuels (via New York Times)

COAL 

China may get over its addition to coal sooner than anyone thought (via Quartz)

Coal, hit hard by natural gas, could see further US market erosion from regulations (via ClimateWire)

RENEWABLES 

Geothermal power will hit 12GW worldwide by end of 2013 (via Houston Chronicle)

Deutsche Bank says solar is approaching grid parity (via Breaking Energy)

Chile adopts 20% renewables by 2025 target (via Recharge)

Biggest geothermal plant of its kind kicks into gear in New Zealand (via EarthTechling)

Renewables account for nearly 50% of US added capacity in 2012 (via Transmission & Distribution World)

White House reviewing 2014 biofuel targets (via Reuters)

Wildlife groups, wind industry meet on eagle permit rule (via The Hill)

A $1.6 million win in America’s second offshore wind lease auction (via CleanTechnica)

Studies suggest combining renewables can fully cover energy needs by 2030 (via Energy Collective)

Is solar about to get squeezed or saved in California? (via Greentech Solar)

In unlikely alliance, Wisconsin Libertarians back solar plan (via Midwest Energy News)

OIL 

US oil production reaches highest level in 24 years (via Houston Chronicle)

Is there another big US shale oil play? (via Breaking Energy)

Analyst says rail will be a lasting competitor against oil pipelines (via Houston Chronicle)

Drilling permit applications soar in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

EPA fines Shell $1.1 million for Arctic air pollution during drilling (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

India will announce plans to cut fuel consumption (via Reuters)

Who’s all excited about quick EV charging? That’d be the US military (via Green Car Reports)

San Francisco, Los Angeles account for 35% of US EV sales (via Huffington Post)

Like Tesla, Nissan making money selling ZEC credits (via Autoblog Green)

NATURAL GAS 

Exxon: Natural gas will soon overtake coal in global energy use (via Houston Chronicle)

US natgas via Panama frightens LNG exporters worldwide (via Reuters)

Study says new shale gas development boom unlikely in Michigan (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

CLIMATE 

EU says clock ticking on 2015 climate talks deal (via Phys.org)

Acidifying oceans add to list of CO2 dangers (via Reuters)

Caribbean faces water shortages from climate change (via Time)

Study links global warming to 2012 wild weather (via AP)

Risk of Sandy-level flood in New York City has doubled since 1950 (via Climate Central)

TAR SANDS 

Canada spent $120 million on research for Enbridge pipeline (via CBC News)

Enbridge moves ahead with Michigan river cleanup (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

First Keystone pipeline pumped little money into local economy (via Lincoln Journal-Start)

GRID 

German energy storage plan could trigger new market boom (via Renew Economy)

Is the smart meter market slowing down or just relocating? (via Renew Grid)

Why energy storage is cost-effective and in need of a clear market signal (via TriplePundit)

NUCLEAR

Nuclear trash men gain from record US reactor shutdowns (via Bloomberg)

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant closure in 2014 will challenge New England energy markets (via US EIA)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Expect to see deep energy retrofits for federal buildings (via GreenBiz)

Survey: Building automation and data analytics are top efficiency priorities (via Greentech Media)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Significant gap exists between firms’ sustainability talk, actions (via Environmental Leader)

POLITICS 

How climate change became the “killing fields” of Australian politics (via Mother Jones)

Obama trying to escape political fallout from natural gas fracking proposals (via Forbes)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 8.16.13

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

CLIMATE 

Climate change may have ended late Bronze Age civilizations (via Los Angeles Times)

Apples losing their crunch to global warming (via Agence-France Presse)

Online map guides Great Lakes climate change adaptation planning (via CleanTechnica)

Climate change may be easing devastating 2012 drought (via Climate Central)

Plants in US Southwest moving higher as the climate warms (via Yale e360)

Researchers flying over Western wildfire sampling smoke to study role in climate change (via Washington Post/AP)

NUCLEAR 

US nuclear power plants vulnerable to 9/11-style attacks (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Brazil plans for 9GW wind energy tender across 377 locations (via Recharge)

Canadian solar sees grid parity for big projects in 5 years (via Renew Economy)

A novel way to cut the cost of advanced biofuels (via MIT Technology Review)

Investments in existing hydropower unlock more clean energy (via Energy.gov)

Proof that renewables can out-compete coal (via The Energy Collective)

White House solar panels being installed this week (via Washington Post)

Oklahoma wind developers say they’ll have enough projects for Clean Line transmission project (via The Oklahoman)

North Carolina coastal residents get glimpse of proposed offshore wind farm (via News Observer)

Four Texas wind projects will combine into world’s largest community-owned wind farm (via Plainview Daily Herald)

Clean Line “overwhelmed” by wind developer response to RFI (via Renew Grid)

Goodhue wind project foes ready to celebrate its defeat (via Minnesota Public Radio)

Wisconsin renewable energy firms, public urge state to rethink solar credit suspension (via Journal Sentinel)

OIL 

US and China oil consumption and imports: a tale of two very different countries (via Houston Chronicle)

Nicaragua to start exploring for oil in the Caribbean (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

Ecuador scraps forest protection plan to drill for oil (via Reuters Point Carbon)

As railroad tank cars roll through, Texas towns prepare for accidents (via StateImpact Texas)

TRANSPORTATION 

US to bring gas mileage rule to hybrid era (via New York Times)

Could electric cars threaten the grid? (via MIT Technology Review)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Work begins as oil sands pipeline gains fast-track approval (via Midwest Energy News)

ExxonMobil may retire pipeline that burst in Arkansas (via Houston Chronicle/AP)

EMISSIONS 

New Zealand scales back 2020 carbon reduction target (via BusinessGreen)

Denmark publishes 78 ideas to curb emissions (via RTCC)

Redwood trees store triple the carbon (via Sustainable Business)

Texas businesses back greenhouse gas emissions law (via New York Times)

GRID 

FERC revises energy storage regulations to improve market competition (via Energy Manager Today)

New flow battery could enable cheaper, more efficient energy storage (via Phys.org)

Microgrids get big test in Connecticut (via EarthTechling)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Foreseeing trouble in exporting natural gas (via New York Times)

Could local politics derail West Coast LNG export plans? (via Breaking Energy)

Fracking boom could lead to housing bust (via Grist)

Pennsylvania will pass Louisiana to be second top US gas producing state in 2013 (via Facts of the Day)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Smart windows could spark energy efficiency revolution (via RTCC)

Energy Saver 101: Home energy audits (via Energy.gov)

OPINION 

Climate policy’s twin challenges (via Los Angeles Times)

Renewable fuels make a difference (via USA Today)

Separating fact from fiction in accounts of Germany’s renewable revolution (via RMI Outlet)

Top 8 things you didn’t know about distributed wind (via Department of Energy)

Are utilities ready for the coming death spiral? (via Greentech Media)

How utilities can adapt when big box retailers go solar (via GreenBiz)

How carbon dioxide regulations could actually hurt renewables (via MIT Technology Review)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.18.13

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

EMISSIONS 

China takes cautious step toward carbon emissions trading (via Reuters)

China emission trading experiment unlikely to ease cities’ smog (via Bloomberg)

China’s first carbon market faces “credit oversupply” dilemma (via RTCC)

Judge rejects lawsuit to curb Montana methane emissions from drilling (via Greenwire)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Alberta’s oil sands raise flaring emissions as rules lag (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL pipeline shuns high-tech oil spill detectors (via Houston Chronicle)

Keystone XL mapping project uncovers pipeline’s true impact (via EarthTechling)

22 arrested at Keystone XL protest in Chicago (via DNAinfo Chicago)

RENEWABLES 

EU trade chief to discuss solar dispute in Beijing (via Reuters)

Japan to start floating offshore wind trial (via Recharge)

Germany adds 1.2GW of solar PV from January-May 2013 (via Recharge)

Solar PV module costs to fall to 36 cents per watt by 2017 (via Greentech Media)

US solar to hit grid parity 2014-2017 (via CleanTechnica)

Six Sioux tribes propose massive wind project (via Recharge)

Solar-powered plane faces the human factor (via New York Times)

Solar likely on 20% of new homes in California in 2013 (via Renewable Energy World)

New England states move to import more Canadian hydropower (via Boston Globe)

How to put an offshore wind turbine in the Texas Gulf (via StateImpact Texas)

University of Wisconsin research designs solar panel that stores energy (via Journal-Sentinel)

AT&T introducing solar-powered charging stations in New York City (via New York Times)

NUCLEAR 

Nuclear decommissioning surge is investor guessing game (via Bloomberg)

Xcel Energy investing $1.8 billion in two nuclear power plants (via Star-Tribune)

ENVIRONMENT 

Great Barrier Reef on the brink as politicians bicker (via The Guardian)

Jet stream changes triggered record 2012 Greenland ice melt (via Yale e360)

Poll: voters favor protecting public lands over drilling them (via Climate Progress)

Why does the US government encourage people to build homes in wildfire zones? (via Washington Post)

The Koch brothers take on environmental groups over Alaska mine (via Washington Post)

OIL 

As US oil production soars, oil companies eye far horizons (via Houston Chronicle)

End of BP oil spill cleaning crews leaves questions, concerns on Gulf Coast (via Washington Post/AP)

What sickens people in oil spills, and how badly, is anybody’s guess (via InsideClimate News)

TRANSPORTATION 

Plug-in EVs will reach 3 million in annual sales by 2020 (via Navigant Research)

Did America reach “peak car” in 2005? (via Greentech Media)

Ford cuts production emissions 37% per vehicle since 2000 (via Autoblog Green)

Rhode Island installing 50 electric car charging stations (via San Francisco Chronicle/AP)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Companies may turn to courts on US natural gas export push (via Reuters)

First risk assessment of shale gas fracking to biodiversity released (via Phys.org)

Energy Department warns House of limits on natural gas testimony (via The Hill)

Illinois governor signs tough fracking regulations into law (via Houston Chronicle)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Global companies growing focus on energy use reductions (via Houston Chronicle)

New York: America’s most energy efficient city? (via GreenBiz)

DOE Buildings Performance Database includes 60,000 records (via Energy Manager Today)

GREEN BUSINESS 

New Vikings stadium sheds light on sustainability (via EarthTechling)

Clean energy R&D hanging tough through tough times (via EarthTechling)

POLITICS 

US mayors announce climate resilience, energy efficiency measures (via Reuters)

GOP bill would cut renewable energy spending in half (via The Hill)

At least 1/3 of US senators hold energy industry investment (via E&E Daily)

Handicapping potential candidates to lead FERC (via Politico)

OPINION 

Carbon trading with Chinese characteristics (via Scientific American)

Utility solar is dead; long live distributed generation (via Greentech Media)

What carbon capture can’t do (via MIT Technology Review)

Global warming appears to have slowed lately, that’s no reason to celebrate (via Washington Post)

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.8.13

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

ENERGY POLICY 

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

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

US wind executives bullish on shale gas (via Recharge)

TAR SANDS 

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

EMISSIONS 

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

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

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

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

RENEWABLES 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CLIMATE 

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

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

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

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

COAL 

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

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

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

The politics of natural gas exports (via Politico)

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

Greener fracking: recycling and reducing (via Breaking Energy)

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

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

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

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

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

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

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

OIL 

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

ENVIRONMENT 

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

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

GRID 

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

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

TRANSPORTATION 

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

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

NUCLEAR 

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

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

OPINION 

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

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

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