Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.6.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
CLIMATE
Obama turns toward climate action (via The Hill)
Finally Neil deGrasse Tyson and “Cosmos” take on climate change (via Mother Jones)
KEYSTONE XL
Lobbying surges for Keystone XL before Senate vote (via Bloomberg)
56 senators try to force Keystone XL past Obama and the public (via EcoWatch)
RENEWABLES
Solar demand grows in Russia, surges in Chile, stumbles in India, marches on in China (via Greentech Media)
Morocco on track to deliver Africa’s largest wind farm (via BusinessGreen)
UK will install three times more solar than Australia in 2014 (via Renew Economy)
Russia expects solar investment to reach $4.2 billion by 2020 (via CleanTechnica)
Solar power breakthrough hints at cheaper panels for more roofs (via Christian Science Monitor)
EIA: US ethanol imports from Brazil down in 2013; US net exporter for the year (via Green Car Congress)
Almost 60,000 US farms have on-site renewables (via SustainableBusiness)
Missouri’s solar problem: Too many people like it (via Climate Progress)
Hawaii wants 200MW of energy storage for solar, wind grid challenges (via Greentech Media)
Iowa lawmakers see tax credits opening wider door for solar (via Midwest Energy News)
Kansas House rejects renewable energy standard repeal (via Wichita Eagle)
Kasich urges changes in “green energy” bill (via Columbus Dispatch)
First Dallas wind farm is on college rooftop (via SustainableBusiness)
EMISSIONS
The meteoric rise of carbon dioxide in one video (via Climate Central)
California climate tax is reducing electricity bills (via Triple Pundit)
OIL
BP tech chief: Enhanced oil recovery key to world reserves (via Houston Chronicle)
Canada ups rail tanker safety standards (via Environmental Leader)
TRANSPORTATION
Study details differences in fiscal policies to support EVs across 11 markets (via Green Car Congress)
Tesla wants a Gigafactory or two ready by 2017 (via Climate Progress)
NUCLEAR
China starts 19th nuclear reactor amid construction push (via Bloomberg)
GRID
In Japan, smart meters accelerate (via Navigant Research)
Renewables are key inputs for next-gen microgrids (via Greentech Media)
COAL
Coal reduction in China a long struggle, not a great leap (via Navigant Research)
ENVIRONMENT
Still counting Gulf spill’s dead birds (via New York Times)
POLITICS
Koch’s decline Steyer’s invitation to debate climate change, Keystone XL (via The Hill)
OPINION
Five out-there energy projects moving closer to reality (via GigaOm)
Can’t put solar on your house? Four ways to invest in solar leases (via Renewable Energy World)