Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.12.13
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
New research challenges assumptions about global warming effects on mountain tree lines (via Phys.org)
G8 ministers argue climate action must “intensify as a matter of urgency” (via BusinessGreen)
Greenhouse gases make high temperatures hotter in China (via Phys.org)
Rising sea levels could cost UK “billions” (via RTCC)
Climate change keeps expanding Canada’s epidemic of forest-destroying beetles (via Climate Progress)
Federal report: global warming didn’t cause US drought (via AP)
COAL
Chinese coal producer plans $1.7 billion investment in Australian wind (via Bloomberg)
US coal producers scrambling in face of skyrocketing production costs (via SNL Energy)
Coal to stay important in US energy mix, says EPA pick (via Reuters)
RENEWABLES
Libya aims to get a fifth of its power from solar by 2020 (via Reuters)
France’s geothermal fracking conundrum (via Christian Science Monitor)
Alberta looks at renewable energy amid push for Keystone (via Bloomberg)
French floating wind turbine technology secures €7 million backing (via BusinessGreen)
Enzymes from gut fungus in horses could boost biofuel production (via Green Car Reports)
US is top global market for new wind projects (via Houston Chronicle)
The $25 billion impact of the wind industry (via Greentech Media)
Geothermal generation grows, produces at least twice the electricity as solar, is still growing (via Facts of the Day)
New Jersey may start funding renewable energy storage (via CleanTechnica)
OIL
EIA projects oil imports to drop from 60% in 2005 to 32% by 2014 (via Facts of the Day)
Report says California should tighten fracking regulations (via Los Angeles Times)
Exxon didn’t know its pipeline ruptured until called by Arkansas authorities – or did it? (via InsideClimate News)
Arkansas AG says Exxon oil spill much larger than initially thought (via Salon)
TRANSPORTATION
Russia skips hybrids in push for cars using natural gas (via New York Times)
Brown wants China aboard California’s high-speed rail project (via Los Angeles Times)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Japanese utilities burn 6.3% less gas in March on year (via Reuters)
European banks want more hard data on risks from frackers (via GreenBiz)
Smart gas meter revenue will pass $1.5 billion annually by 2020 (via Navigant Research)
EPA proposes loosening natural-gas storage standards (via The Hill)
Pennsylvania DEP allows fracking to resume at spill site before investigation is complete (via StateImpact Pennsylvania)
ENERGY POLICY
Fossil fuel subsidies dwarf green investment (via RTCC)
A clear, comprehensive overview of the US electricity system (via Grist)
Interior Department: fracking rule is “imminent” (via The Hill)
EPA comes under fire for “closed, opaque” press policy (via Greenwire)
EMISSIONS
EU plans second effort on carbon capture and storage (via RTCC)
EPA official: carbon rules for existing power plants “on the table” in 2014 (via Midwest Energy News/E&E Daily)
California governor urges China to cut air pollution (via Sacramento Bee)
McCARTHY NOMINATION HEARING
EPA nominee McCarthy faces tough questions at Senate hearing (via Houston Chronicle)
McCarthy EPA hearing: GOP senators focused on climate denial, email, IM (via Climate Progress)
Environmental questions take back seat at confirmation hearing for EPA nominee (via New York Times)
EPA nominee McCarthy is grilled on email, transparency (via Politico)
OPINION
10 essential smart grid trends to watch (via Renew Grid)
Fukushima and the Japanese coal myth (via Huffington Post)
Can Congress overrule Obama on the Keystone XL pipeline? (via Washington Post)
Debating divestment and a fossil-fuel free portfolio (via Green Biz)
13 oil spills in 30 days: the dirty business of moving oil (via DeSmogBlog)