Energy and Environment News Roundup – 7.25.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
New extreme temperature data underscores planet’s warming trend, say scientists (via InsideClimate News)
Community control of forests could help combat climate change (via The Guardian)
COAL
Coal company pain accelerates as bankruptcy cases rise (via Bloomberg BusinessWeek)
China’s plan to limit coal use could spur consumption for years (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Solar revenues set to double worldwide by 2020, say analysts (via BusinessGreen)
The five best and worst utilities at renewables and efficiency (via Forbes)
SolarCity’s new $210 million securitized solar portfolio keeps capital flowing (via Greentech Media)
Study finds California can be powered with wind, water, and sun (via Phys.org)
Fifteen clean energy yieldcos: Company structure (via Renewable Energy World)
New UK study confirms some biomass is dirtier than coal (via NRDC Switchboard)
Biofuels are included in latest U.S. Navy bulk fuel procurement (via US EIA)
GRID
China to invest €2 billion in Italy’s power grid (via Financial Times)
German utilities bail out electric grid at wind’s mercy (via Bloomberg)
New Jersey launches $200 million energy resilience bank for microgrids, distributed generation (via Greentech Media)
OIL
Sweeping oil-by-rail announcements set stage for Bakken battle (via EnergyWire)
Massive influx of oil trains may be headed for Seattle (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Canada regulators welcome U.S. oil-by-rail ideas, say danger remains (via Reuters)
EMISSIONS
Study shows EPA rules a boon for Texas (via Bloomberg)
Supreme Court’s handling of visa case may be harbinger for EPA rule (via Greenwire)
EPA climate rule economically feasible, says study (via The Hill)
ENVIRONMENT
Satellites show major Southwest U.S. groundwater loss (via Wall Street Journal)
NOAA considers bluefin tuna fishing ban as population dips 95% (via Climate Progress)
California tries to measure water use as drought worsens (via Bloomberg)
Kudzu that ate U.S. South heads north as climate changes (via Bloomberg)
NUCLEAR
Here’s how American scientists plan to prevent the next nuclear disaster (via National Journal)
OPINION
If you think wildfires are bad this year, wait until you see the bill (via Bloomberg)
Is the U.S. about to raise the ethanol mandate? (via The Hill)
Why value-added-taxes on solar power hinder progress on energy poverty (via Huffington Post)
How leaving RGGI leaves New Jersey behind (via Center for American Progress)