Energy and Environment News Roundup – 11.6.14

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

NATURAL GAS 

Split decision by voters on local fracking bans (via New York Times)

Spending on wastewater treatment for fracking may triple by 2020 (via Bloomberg)

First lawsuits filed over Denton, Texas fracking ban (via Texas Tribune)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

LED lighting efficiency jumps roughly 50% since 2012 (via CleanTechnica)

Army net zero initiative soldiers on (via CleanTechnica)

RENEWABLES 

Germany plans trio of 200MW solar PV tenders for 2015 (via Recharge)

October delivers another record-breaking month for UK wind power (via BusinessGreen)

Largest solar PV plant in Europe planned for France (via PV Tech)

Germany consortium evaluating major solar PV manufacturing hub in Brazil (via PV Tech)

World’s largest merchant solar project goes online in Chile (via Renew Economy)

Post-election report: Clean energy jobs grow in Republican (and Democratic) districts (via Huffington Post)

Utility unveils plan to clear Hawaii solar PV backlog within five months (via Solar Industry Magazine)

Solar PV operations and maintenance versus asset management: What’s the difference? (via Greentech Media)

Enphase stock punished despite record-setting quarter (via Greentech Media)

SolarCity reports “fiery” Q3 growth (via Recharge)

NRG’s David Crane begins to “pull back the curtain” on retail solar strategy (via Greentech Media)

OIL 

OPEC’s weak links feeling pain that shale producers seek (via Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION 

Tesla reports loss, but beats Wall Street expectations (via New York Times)

Tesla shares surge after record Model S sales (via BusinessGreen)

KEYSTONE XL 

Republicans plan quick move on Keystone XL in 2015 (via Reuters)

How a Republican Senate could force Obama’s hand on Keystone (via National Journal)

EMISSIONS 

Delay urged in Obama carbon rules to shield electric grid (via Bloomberg)

Meet the climate sleuths keeping carbon reporting honest (via RTCC)

Climate quietly wins midterm victory in Pennsylvania and RGGI (via National Journal)

How to manage carbon prices: Lessons from the Northeast U.S. (via The Hill)

ENVIRONMENT 

Counting the varied costs of China’s dependence on coal (via New York Times)

U.S. water use drops to lowest level in 40 years (via Science Blogs)

Study: Environmental groups are relatively oblivious to economics (via Washington Post)

GRID 

Battery market to double in 10 years, says Navigant (via Energy Manager Today)

Real-time energy markets bring millions in cost savings to Western U.S. (via Energy Manager Today)

SCE announces winners of energy storage contracts worth 250MW (via Greentech Media)

OPINION 

Geoengineering: The ethical problems with cleaning the air (via The Guardian)

Five environmental challenges for Dilma Rousseff’s second term (via RTCC)

10 lessons for the green economy from the U.S. midterms (via BusinessGreen)

The greenest companies consistently outperform markets (via Environmental Leader)

Tom Steyer spent $74 million on the election. He didn’t get much to show for it. (via National Journal)

POLITICS 

Energy seen getting biggest boost from Republican Senate (via Reuters)

Meet the U.S. Senate’s new climate denial caucus (via Mother Jones)

GOP to fight on Keystone, climate rules, says McConnell (via The Hill)

GOP Congress may steamroll Obama on Keystone, energy exports (via Forbes)

The possibility of post-election bipartisan deals (via New York Times)