Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.31.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Keystone XL review “to say pipeline will not appreciably increase emissions” (via The Guardian)
Oil sands opponents file challenge against European Commission (via Reuters)
Canada regulator approves Enbridge’s Alberta oil pipeline plan (via Reuters)
Obama Administration prepared to show cards on Keystone (via National Journal)
Keystone foes say two pipelines are worse than one (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
10 cities making massive emissions cuts through energy efficiency (via CleanTechnica)
Northeast, Mid-Atlantic invested $2.5 billion in energy efficiency during 2013 (via Energy Manager Today)
The ultimate guide to efficient light bulbs (via CleanTechnica)
RENEWABLES
China installed record amounts of solar in 2013 – but coal is still winning (via Washington Post)
MoU signed for enormous 4,000MW solar project in India (via CleanTechnica)
Goldman Sachs sees “transformational moment” in renewables investment (via Renew Economy)
U.S. installed 1.08GW wind in 2013 (via Recharge)
Wind power supporters push Congress to revive expired tax credit (via Washington Post)
Renewable energy finance outlook for 2014: Where will the cash flow? (via Renewable Energy World)
Study finds carbon intensity of corn ethanol to be 43-60% lower than oil by 2022 (via Green Car Congress)
Biodiesel boom continues with eight straight months above 100 million gallons (via Facts of the Day)
Texas tops nation in new wind power construction (via Houston Chronicle)
Rooftop solar and net metering win big in Colorado (via Greentech Media)
Why New Jersey’s solar market just got hot again (via Renewable Energy World)
Eagle permits: A way forward for wind or a license to kill? (via Midwest Energy News)
EMISSIONS
South Korea confirms 30% carbon reduction target by 2020 (via RTCC)
China unhappy with “carbon budget” reference in IPCC review (via RTCC)
EU panel votes to limit concessions on airline carbon curbs (via Bloomberg)
ENERGY POLICY
New US generation capacity falls 54% in 2013 as new wind plunges (via Facts of the Day)
Energy Secretary: ability to transport U.S. oil, gas lags booming output (via Reuters)
White House taps Norman Bay to head FERC (via Politico)
EPA prepares hundreds of regional buyouts in sweeping workforce overhaul (via Greenwire)
CLIMATE
Lima talks should deliver first draft of 2015 UN climate deal, says Peru minister (via The Guardian)
Obama’s agenda: EPA leading the charge on climate change (via Politico)
EPA chief: Climate change regulation “done deal” despite Supreme Court review (via National Journal)
Green groups: Obama not doing enough on climate (via AP)
Business groups form multi-million dollar campaign to fight Obama climate plan (via Washington Post)
Bloomberg tapped to be UN cities, climate change envoy (via Reuters)
OIL
White House willing to explore “policy options” on crude oil exports (via National Journal)
OPEC oil output rises in January from 2 ½-year low (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
White House releases plan to make Arctic shipping safer (via Reuters)
House Democrats demand better fuel efficiency from USPS vehicles (via The Hill)
Which state has the highest percentage of EVs? No, not California (via Green Car Reports)
ENVIRONMENT
Its great lake shriveled, Iran confronts water supply crisis (via New York Times)
California may have hit its driest point in 500 years, and the effects are frightening (via Huffington Post)
For California, more wildfires mean more pollution and long-lasting health problems (via ClimateWire)
California snowpack hits record low (via Los Angeles Times)
GRID
Return on investment from smart grid deployment is top priority for public power utilities (via Renew Grid)
OPINION
The extraordinary climate and environmental legacy of Henry Waxman (via Climate Progress)
Supporters, opponents of Waxman’s climate agenda lament retirement (via SNL Energy)
Enlightened power: New eco warriors are really well armed (via Bloomberg)
Extreme weather is a reality – the insurance industry must adapt (via The Guardian)
Two things to know about Indonesia’s forest moratorium (via World Resources Institute)
Four insights on unlocking finance for clean energy access in Africa (via World Resources Institute)