Energy and Environment News Roundup – 3.4.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENERGY POLICY
China atop renewable energy ranks as shale gas changes the game (via CleanTechnica)
Analyst says US renewable energy policy superior to Europe’s (via Renew Grid)
The rising energy policy power of America’s tribes (via Recharge)
Obama to tap McCarthy to lead EPA, Moniz for Energy secretary (via The Hill)
Natural gas challenges coal as king of the energy hill in Ohio (via Los Angeles Times)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Japan to build LNG terminal for US shale gas imports (via Pakistan Business Recorder)
New research says natural gas boom still has a few decades left in it (via StateImpact Texas)
Pennsylvania fracking health study will decide New York, shape policy around US (via Facts of the Day)
Bakken Shale’s top producer wants to snuff out natural gas flaring (via Midwest Energy News/EnergyWire)
Natural gas leaks come under scrutiny, raise questions on climate impact (via Washington Post)
A snapshot of drilling on a national park’s margins (via New York Times)
RENEWABLES
Solar stunner: unsubsidized “grid parity has been reached in India” and Italy, with more countries coming in 2014 (via Climate Progress)
Green investors take fright at German bid to cap power prices (via Reuters)
Ontario grid to see significant boost in renewable energy integration (via Renew Grid)
Three percent of US electricity could come from river hydropower (via CleanTechnica)
California city wants to require solar on every home (via Greentech Media)
Solar struggles to shine in deregulated Texas electricity market (via StateImpact Texas)
Minnesota’s Goodhue wind project faces blowback (via Finance & Commerce)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
State Dept: denying Keystone XL would not slow oil sands development (via Forbes)
Railroads emerge as alternative to pipeline for moving Canada’s oil sands (via Washington Post)
Keystone XL pipeline report slammed by activists and scientists (via The Guardian)
New Obama Administration report on Keystone XL pipeline has enviros worried (via Mother Jones)
CLIMATE
China carbon tax may spur US climate debate (via Bloomberg)
Australian climate on “steroids” after hottest summer (via Phys.org)
UK businesses urged to prepare for more extreme weather (via BusinessGreen)
Climate change science poised to enter nation’s classrooms (via InsideClimate News)
How NASA scientists are turning LA into one big climate-change lab (via Atlantic Cities)
ENVIRONMENT
Critic of unbridled growth tipped as new China environmental minister (via Reuters)
Asian and African dust influences western US rain and snowfall – study (via ClimateWire)
Chemical spill in China underlines environmental concerns (via New York Times)
Court ruling keeps polar bear as threatened species (via The Hill)
EPA funding reductions have kneecapped environmental enforcement (via National Journal)
OIL
Standard & Poors warns oil firms could soon face credit downgrades (via BusinessGreen)
Transocean, Halliburton say their Gulf spill tabs should be BP’s burden (via Houston Chronicle)
BP wins appeal on Gulf oil spill insurance claim (via Houston Chronicle)
TRANSPORTATION
Honda to reuse rare earths from old batteries for new hybrid vehicle batteries (via Green Car Congress)
Automakers work to achieve zero-waste goals (via New York Times)
The part of Amtrak that people use makes money – the rest doesn’t (via Slate)
Oregon proposes 1.5-cent-per-mile tax for EVs, 55+ mpg cars (via Autoblog Green)
GRID
How ARPA-E is working to create the 21st century smart grid (via Greentech Media)
Will drones soon help utilities repair the grid? (via Renew Grid)
Texas electric supply will be “very tight,” says grid operator (via Houston Chronicle)
NUCLEAR
Report casts doubt on Britain’s nuclear electricity strategy (via New York Times)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Green building movement takes hold worldwide (via Sustainable Business)
US homes show greatest seasonal variation in electricity use (via US EIA)
Nearly 30 percent of US homes have ditched incandescent light bulbs (via Greentech Media)
POLITICS
McCarthy: seasoned regulator primed for climate fight (via Politico)
Gov. Jerry Brown works to spread California’s green doctrine (via Los Angeles Times)
ARPA-E director worries the agency could “get lost” in fiscal talks (via Greentech Media)
OPINION
Coal is history, or is it? (via Forbes)
What’s on the chopping block in energy and environment policy? (via National Journal)
Stop comparing early hybrid sales to early EV sales (via Plugin Cars)