Energy and Environment News Roundup – 6.24.13

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

EMISSIONS 

Report: world facing “climate bomb” of super-greenhouse gases from China, India (via BusinessGreen)

Australian factories meet carbon deadline ahead of cap-and-trade (via Bloomberg)

EU carbon permits fall for first time in six weeks as traders close higher prices (via Bloomberg)

Kerry urges India to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (via Bloomberg)

ENERGY POLICY 

Report: Brazil at an energy-climate change crossroads (via RTCC)

Military report: US has “misguided” fixation with domestic drilling (via InsideClimate News)

The gradual greening of American college campuses (via EarthTechling)

RENEWABLES 

Wind industry “to spend €150 billion” developing global offshore (via Recharge)

World Bank to developing nations: first find your green energy, then develop it (via Christian Science Monitor)

Solar energy spurs a power struggle (via Wall Street Journal)

Tax programs to finance clean energy catch on (via New York Times)

BP not in step with oil industry on renewable fuel regulations (via Washington Post)

Wind industry and enviros team up to study bird deaths (via Grist)

Federal judge’s Michigan decision sparks legal debate on state renewable portfolio standards (via Greenwire)

NREL gets serious about integrating renewables to the grid (via Sustainable Business)

For Solazyme, a side trip on the way to clean fuel (via New York Times)

Repowering becoming big business in wind industry (via Sustainable Business)

Goodhue wind project gets one more chance in Minnesota (via Minnesota Public Radio)

OBAMA CLIMATE PLAN 

Obama to announce Tuesday he will regulate existing power plants as part of climate strategy (via Washington Post)

Obama’s climate plan arrives (via The Hill)

What to expect from Obama’s big climate speech (via Mother Jones)

Obama to announce plan to tackle climate change (via The Guardian)

Stakeholders brace for White House move on power plant emissions (via Reuters)

Anti-Keystone activists may be left behind again in Obama climate speech (via Politico)

Obama climate plan may ricochet on EPA pick (via Politico)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

ACEEE: utilities tripled energy efficiency spending since 2008 (via Energy Manager Today)

Dem Senators float “Race to the Top” energy efficiency bill (via The Hill)

CLIMATE 

Study: global warming will make India’s monsoons worse and unpredictable (via Times of India)

Rich nations pledge $200 million in climate aid for developing countries (via BusinessGreen)

Climate change altering insurers’ risk assessment (via Agence-France Presse)

360 more US businesses sign BICEP climate declaration (via TriplePundit)

Massive flooding in Alberta forces 75,000 to flee (via Climate Progress)

In Colorado, wildfires may drive up costs of living in forests (via Los Angeles Times)

Canada’s oil capital Calgary could be without power for months after floods (via Reuters)

Scientist: “Miami, as we know it today, is doomed.” (via Climate Progress)

GRID 

Germany takes the first step toward a supergrid (via Grist)

Solar forecasting service launched for grid operators (via Renew Grid)

Ultracapacitors provide solar-to-grid smoothing in San Diego (via Greentech Media)

Beacon Power building second flywheel energy storage plant in Pennsylvania (via Philadelphia Inquirer)

COAL 

25% of US coal exports go to Asia, but remain a small share of Asia’s total imports (via US EIA)

Sun sets on plans for two more coal plant projects (via Houston Chronicle)

Massive Montana mine has tribes fighting over coal exports (via Grist)

TRANSPORTATION

What is electric car battery swap tech, and why is it important? (via GigaOm)

EV charging follows mobile phone evolution (via Navigant Research)

Boost for cars or bust? Ethanol debate heats up (via Houston Chronicle)

Tesla reveals battery swap plan for its high-end EVs (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS 

Israel approves export of 40% of its natural gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas boom cools nuclear prospects (via Houston Chronicle)

Natural gas used to generate electricity drops 10% in 2013, 12% in 2014 (via Facts of The Day)

OPINION 

China’s coal conundrum (via Navigant Research)

This chart explains why Obama is announcing major new climate plans Tuesday (via Washington Post)

Conservatives debate a carbon tax (via C2ES)