Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.18.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENVIRONMENT
One-fifth of China’s farmland is polluted (via New York Times)
California suffers astonishingly fast snowpack melt as drought intensifies (via Mashable)
COAL
Barclays and Citigroup funded worst of US coal industry (via Bloomberg)
Old-school coal is making a comeback (via Miami Herald/McClatchy)
Cold January boosted capacity factor of retiring coal plants above 50% (via SNL Energy)
Duke Energy tells shareholders coal ash spill won’t affect bottom line (via Charlotte News Observer)
RENEWABLES
Ukraine seeks renewable energy boost to counter Russia (via Bloomberg)
South Africa moves to add more renewable energy (via CleanTechnica)
The 20 best cities for solar power as US prepares for an energy “revolution” (via Huffington Post)
Eleven states generated electricity from non-hydro renewables at double US average (via US EIA)
A few of America’s greenest colleges are really big on renewables (via US News and World Report)
Green Power Partnership driving on-site energy (via Energy Manager Today)
New simulation tool could help add more solar to America’s grid (via Energy.gov)
EPA data shows 57,860 gallons of cellulosic biofuel produced in Q1 2014 (via Green Car Congress)
Wisconsin solar garden sells out in two weeks (via Energy Manager Today)
CLIMATE
5.3 million years of sea level change on one cliff face (via Wired Science)
More, bigger wildfires burning western US, shows study (via AGU)
After dry winter in California, preparations begin for harsh wildfire season (via Climate Progress)
Virginia Supreme Court rules for U-Va, in global warming case (via Washington Post)
New Jersey residents want to reduce coastal risks, but they don’t want to pay (via Huffington Post)
ENERGY POLICY
Mexican energy industry working to restructure for the future (via Breaking Energy)
State AGs take up fossil fuels boom as IPCC and feds lean green (via Denver Post)
Kasich questions electricity deregulation at PUCO chief’s swearing in (via Columbus Dispatch)
EMISSIONS
Brazil looks to swap World Cup publicity for carbon credits (via Reuters)
Pennsylvania asks EPA for more flexible emissions, trading rules to boost power plant energy efficiency (via ClimateWire)
POLITICS
Steyer vows to aid anti-Keystone lawmakers (via Politico)
Ohio voters favor renewables, energy efficiency and candidates who do the same, says poll (via Plain Dealer)
OPINION
On climate, business as usual (via Washington Post)
Let’s use fossil fuels to make stuff, but let’s not cook the planet (via CleanTechnica)
Thanks in part to climate change, the American West will see more fiery summers (via Washington Post)
The Deepwater Horizon threat (via New York Times)
The fracking industry faces its climate demon (via National Journal)
Energy efficiency doesn’t sell, but it can (via Energy Manager Today)