Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.13.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
NATURAL GAS
EU parliament excludes shale gas from tougher environmental code (via The Guardian)
Europe looks to cut Russian gas imports amid Ukraine crisis (via Christian Science Monitor)
Marcellus tops major US shale plays in drill rig productivity (via StateImpact Texas)
Wyoming Supreme Court reverses district court decision on fracking fluid disclosure (via Casper Star-Tribune)
KEYSTONE XL
Foreigners play a key role in comments protesting Keystone XL (via Washington Post)
RENEWABLES
Three EU countries hit 2020 renewable benchmarks early (via Climate Central)
Study: Wind power saves Europe €2.4 billion worth of water every year (via BusinessGreen)
Vestas back on top as wind turbine installation leader (via Renewable Energy World)
Wind leaves nuclear behind in China (via CleanTechnica)
1st Latin American Solar Decathlon set for Colombia in 2015 (via CleanTechnica)
Top 10 US cities for solar power (via Fast Company)
Clean energy job growth in US starts to slip (via Forbes)
Poll: 75% of US homeowners say utilities shouldn’t block solar (via Greentech Media)
SolarCity inks deal to sell solar panels at Best Buy (via SmartPlanet)
Texas leads growth in clean energy jobs (via Houston Chronicle)
Minnesota becomes first state to set “value of solar” tariff (via Midwest Energy News)
Massachusetts: The Commonwealth of solar (via Greentech Media)
Renewables could meet nearly one-third Michigan’s energy needs (via UCS)
GRID
US power grid preparedness falls short, says report (via New York Times)
EMISSIONS
China sticks with coal gasification to curb smog despite potentially big rise in CO2 emissions (via ClimateWire)
Russia considers domestic carbon market in global warming fight (via Bloomberg)
Study projects explosive African emissions growth from fossil fuels and biofuels (via Green Car Congress)
EU backs big cuts on super-strength greenhouse gases (via RTCC)
House GOP launches probe into EPA power plant emissions rule (via The Hill)
OIL
US to tap strategic petroleum reserve (via Houston Chronicle)
US surprises oil market with sale from strategic petroleum reserve (via Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION
Toyota expects hybrids will soon reach 20% global sales volume (via Autoblog)
Norway will become first nation with one EV for every hundred cars (via Inhabitat)
California’s pioneering low-carbon fuels rule could see multiple changes (via ClimateWire)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Indiana lawmakers flip off switch on state’s energy efficiency program (via NWI Times)
Indiana governor to decide fate of energy efficiency standard (via EnergyWire)
NUCLEAR
General Electric sued over 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster (via United Press International)
ENVIRONMENT
Earth has a secret reservoir of water, say scientists (via Agence France-Presse)
California drought to drive up long-term food prices (via San Jose Mercury News)
ENERGY POLICY
Mexico anticipates energy overhaul will bring in billions (via Houston Chronicle)
OPINION
Exporting liquefied natural gas is a dreadful idea for the climate (via Climate Progress)