Summary
Ahead of the weekend, this edition features nagging questions. How come China and India beat the U.S. when it comes to energy efficiency? How to convince deniers that climate change is actually happening? And how to entice companies to be more active in green energy? Answers are in today’s newsletter.
Quote of the day
“We need policy from Congress to help folks back home, help companies back home, get a focus on the benefits of less is more.”
U.S. Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont, in the GreenBiz’s story How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency?
Lead stories
Russia May Be Losing Influence Over European Energy Markets
Stanley Reed, The New York Times
The Ukraine crisis is unlikely to produce many benefits. But it could serve as a kind of stress test to see whether Europe’s approach to energy policy is working.
http://jlne.ws/1utTK1k
***LB: Also in this story “Europe’s much-criticized renewables push is also influencing energy markets.”
How did China and India beat the U.S. on energy efficiency?
Elisa Wood, GreenBiz
A new international energy efficiency ranking by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy places the United States at a lowly 13 out of 16 leading world economies.
http://jlne.ws/1oih6Yb
***LB: Also in this story “The federal government could create a focal point for achievement, but Congress has done nothing significant on energy efficiency for a long time.”
The corporatisation of US green energy: a double-edged sword worth billions
Peter Moskowitz, theguardian.com
There’s a popular meme that surfaces on green energy blogs, forums, and Facebook pages. The gist is that large corporations love oil and gas because they can own and control it. They’re against renewable energy because no-one can own the sun or wind.
http://jlne.ws/1lGnHWP
Emma Thompson visits Arctic to send Tony Abbott a climate change message
Oliver Milman, theguardian.com
British actor Emma Thompson has staged a solo protest against Tony Abbott’s stance on climate change during a trip to the icy wilderness of the Arctic.
http://jlne.ws/1mrSS8b
Facts can convince conservatives about global warming – sometimes
John Abraham and Dana Nuccitelli, The Guardian
While there’s a 97% consensus among climate science experts and their research that humans are causing climate change, only about 67% of Americans believe global warming is even happening, including 25% of Tea Party members and 61% of other Republicans.
http://jlne.ws/1r4IkyR
Events
EMA’s 18th Annual Meeting
Join the Environmental Markets Association and environmental industry professional for two days of dynamic sessions, two nights of networking receptions, and countless opportunities to increase your business contacts.
October 22 – 24, 2014
Santa Monica, CA
http:
FT European Gas Summit
The FT European Gas Summit brings together leading and aspiring gas suppliers from around the globe, as well as energy industry experts, commentators and government decision makers to review the potential barriers to new gas supplies for Europe, and the impact on the region’s economic competitiveness. The summit will be chaired by Guy Chazan, Energy Editor, Financial Times.
23 October 2014
London, UK
http://jlne.ws/1n34Gif
Carbon
Air traffic growth rates will outpace emission reductions, research shows
Press Association
Efforts to reduce aviation carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be outweighed by the growth in air passengers, according to new research.
http://jlne.ws/1kNW9nD
CO2EXCHANGE Website Allows Users to Reduce Carbon Footprint through the Purchase of Verified Carbon Offsets
Marketwired
CO2EXCHANGE, a division of Daniels Carbon Management, has officially launched its website inviting individuals and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint with a user friendly and secure online platform.
http://jlne.ws/1nykvfz
Natural gas / coal
IMF Binds Drive Pakistan to Coal in Bid to End Subsidies
Faseeh Mangi, Bloomberg Businessweek
ICI Pakistan Ltd.’s polyester business is losing money because it doesn’t get enough power. The company’s solution is to end its dependence on gas, whose supplies are dwindling, and switch to coal.
http://jlne.ws/1zZkI3W
Coal’s Price Seen Stunted at Year-End Amid Supply Glut
Ben Sharples, Bloomberg Businessweek
Plentiful supplies of coal used to generate electricity are poised to cap prices for the fuel near the lowest in five years, even as demand rises heading into the Northern Hemisphere winter.
http://jlne.ws/1yc4X7b
Is the ocean the next frontier for fracking?
Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill
Fracking has been around for two decades but only recently did new technology and offshore discoveries make it possible for large-scale offshore fracking projects.
http://jlne.ws/1oig3aB
House Dems want higher oil, gas lease rates on federal land
Timothy Cama, The Hill
House Democrats are pushing the Interior Department’s new leader for land management to prioritize increasing royalty rates for oil and gas development on federal land.
http://jlne.ws/1q0g0fe
McConnell campaigns on coal support
Timothy Cama, The Hill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) emphasized his opposition to President Obama’s policies that he said hurt Kentucky’s coal industry in campaign speeches Thursday.
http://jlne.ws/1sDrzwM
Senate GOP presses Interior to open Atlantic, Arctic to drilling
Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill
A coalition of 21 Republican senators is urging the Interior Department to open up the Atlantic and areas of the Arctic to oil and gas development in its next five-year lease plan.
http://jlne.ws/1utOaw2
Power
British Solar and Santander sell solar farms for £73m
BusinessGreen
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) has bought three solar farms for a total of £73.3m, nearly doubling the size of its photovoltaic portfolio in a move that further highlights the growing investor appetite for completed solar farm projects.
http://jlne.ws/1vkEQyC
China Adds Australia-Sized Solar Capacity in Energy Push
Bloomberg
China, the world’s biggest carbon emitter, accelerated solar power installations in the first half, adding enough capacity in the period to equal Australia’s entire supply of power from sunlight at the end of last year.
http://jlne.ws/1r4xMzL
Clean tech
2 Reasons Why Tesla’s Stock Is On The Rise
George Zack, Bidness etc
Tesla Motors Incorporation’s stock gained 4.4% yesterday, fueled by positive sell-side expectations.
http://jlne.ws/V33pQ4
Miscellaneous
Asia Turns Greener
Anthony Fensom, The Diplomat
South Korea could compete with Europe in carbon credits, while China, Japan and even India are curbing greenhouse gases. Suddenly, Asia’s major economies are looking a shade greener, despite justified skepticism over the region’s patchy environmental record.
http://jlne.ws/1r4AENa
Sales of shark fin in China drop by up to 70%
Jennifer Duggan, The Guardian
A popular dish at weddings and banquets in China, shark fin soup is increasingly off the menu due to a government frugality drive and awareness campaigns and by conservationists, according to a new report.
http://jlne.ws/1u4CbYm