Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.6.15
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
EMISSIONS
Global carbon market to hit €70 billion this year (via BusinessGreen)
Climate change groups split on fossil fuel divestment (via Financial Times)
KEYSTONE XL
House to vote on Keystone XL bill Friday (via The Hill)
Democrats plan Keystone XL counterattack (via Houston Chronicle)
RENEWABLES
Egypt picks firms to develop 4.3GW of renewable energy projects (via Recharge)
Germany solar undershoots government target (via Recharge)
South Africa considers rooftop solar electricity credits (via Renewable Energy World)
UK and Germany smash wind power records (via Climate Progress)
India’s solar initiative could tip carbon scales favorably (via GreenBiz)
Scotland saw a “massive year” of renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)
Small and medium wind power installations expected to total over 3.2GW globally from 2014 through 2023 (via Navigant Research)
Reduced U.S.-China tariff rates weaken SolarWorld’s negotiating position, says Roth Capital (via PV Tech)
Chinese solar firms boosted by reduced 2012 U.S. trade tariffs (via PV Tech)
California Governor Jerry Brown calls for 50% renewables by 2030 (via Greentech Media)
New materials could boost solar panel efficiency (via Energy Manager Today)
OIL
Saudi Arabia seeks to calm internal oil price fears (via The Hill)
Oilfield write-downs loom as plummeting prices gut drilling values (via Bloomberg)
Oil prices at $50: Why a barrel of crude costs less than your shoes (via Christian Science Monitor)
TRANSPORTATION
Automakers challenged by low gas prices (via USA Today)
Nissan sold 30,200 Leafs in U.S. in 2014, up 33.6% from 2013 (via Green Car Congress)
California governor calls for 50% reduction in petroleum use in cars and trucks from today’s levels by 2030 (via Green Car Congress)
CLIMATE
One for the record books: 2014 officially hottest year on record (via Climate Central)
Pope Francis plants a flag in the ground on climate change (via The Guardian)
NATURAL GAS
Massive spike in Oklahoma earthquakes may be due to fracking (via Washington Post)
Against the grain: Minnesota’s long slog toward dealing with frack sand (via InsideClimate News)
GRID
Revenue from grid-scale energy storage expected total more than $68 billion from 2014-2024 (via Navigant Research)
Monitoring wind conditions can improve transmission performance (via Breaking Energy)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
The most energy-efficient states in America (via Forbes)
DOE pushes for zero-energy building standards (via The Hill)
Sen. Shaheen doesn’t want energy efficiency bill tied to Keystone XL (via The Hill)
OPINION
Why India’s cuts to rooftop solar subsidies could be a good thing (via PV Tech)
The big question: What do proposed EPA regulations mean for the energy industry? (via Renewable Energy World)
The seven most attractive nations for renewable investments: Part one – America (via CleanTechnica)
Why are these clean tech venture capital investors smiling? (via Greentech Media)
Beyond the cliché: Why energy efficiency needs success stories, not catchphrases (via Greentech Media)
Wind and solar – the perfect partnership (via Recharge)
Six renewable energy trends to watch in 2015 (via Renewable Energy World)
New York State Public Service Commission action will help tenants, low-income customers, others lacking rooftop access go solar (via Energy Collective)