Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.30.14

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

EMISSIONS

Foundations representing $1.8 billion band together in fossil fuel divestment (via New York Times)

US consultancy ICF to help plan China carbon market (via Reuters)

COAL

EPA sets December deadline for coal ash rule (via Charleston Gazette)

Why Obama’s climate push means trouble ahead for coal (via Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE

As sea level rises, Fijian village begins to relocate citizens (via Climate Progress)

Snowden docs: US spied on negotiators at 2009 climate summit (via Huffington Post)

Industry coalition seeks to shape EPA’s climate rules (via National Journal)

RENEWABLES

UK should have 10 million homes with solar panels by 2020 (via The Guardian)

Merkel: German renewable energy no longer “niche” (via Recharge)

IHS pegs South Africa as top emerging solar market (via Solar Industry Magazine

Net metering in 2014: Where the first battles will be fought (via Renewable Energy World)

Renewable energy finance outlook for 2014: Where will the cash flow? (via Renewable Energy World)

Intel, Microsoft, Kohl’s lead EPA’s green power ranking (via GreenBiz)

How California can hit 50% renewable energy by 2030 (via EarthTechling)

OIL

Shell backs off Arctic drilling after legal blow (via National Journal)

Justice Department urges judge to maintain BP federal contracts suspension (via National Journal)

Oil shipments blocking Amtrak trains (via The Hill)

Texas oil boom could be nearing slowdown (via Houston Chronicle)

New York governor orders emergency response review for oil rail shipments (via Reuters)

TRANSPORTATION

JD Power asks EV buyers why they buy EVs (via Autoblog Green)

ENVIRONMENT

Monarch butterflies keep disappearing – here’s why (via Washington Post)

West Virginia officials dispute formaldehyde claim (via AP)

Arizona state legislators push bill to nullify EPA regulations (via The Hill)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Industry in North Dakota to cut flared natural gas (via New York Times)

New York “extremely unlikely” to allow fracking before 2015 (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)

ENERGY MARKETS

California PUC president: Utility death spiral is “last year’s hype” (via Greentech Media)

Two states feel the market heat as their deregulated neighbors reap rewards (via EnergyWire)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

LED market to grow 12-fold to $25 billion in 2023 (via CleanTechnica)

10 US cities plan coordinated attach on building energy waste (via Greentech Media)

White roofs are better than green roofs, and everything’s better than black (via Grist)

KEYSTONE XL

Canadian officials bullish on Keystone environmental review findings (via National Journal)

OPINION

Obama’s State of the Union climate mention fits pattern (via Climate Central)

Obama says fracking can be a “bridge” to a clean-energy future – it’s not that simple (via Washington Post)

What the new farm bill means for energy and the environment (via Climate Progress)

How to teach kids about climate change (via The Good Human)