In this edition, more public pleading for an EU market fix amid hopes stepped up U.S. rhetoric aids in market reform. On that front, E.ON says urgent that EU fix broken carbon market, Reuters reports. As for immediate U.S. efforts, Dems hold fire on climate votes, says The Hill’s E2 Wire. And, elsewhere, China Sees Possibility of Deal With EU on Airline Emissions, reports Bloomberg.
Quote of the Day:
“We still think there is more support for a market-based measure than any other solution. What’s missing here is a senior statesman from the Republican side who’s willing to step in and show some leadership.”
–IETA President Dirk Forrister in Bloomberg’s “Obama’s Climate Call May Hasten EU Carbon Fix, IETA Chief Says”
Lead Stories
Obama’s Climate Call May Hasten EU Carbon Fix, IETA Chief Says
Bloomberg
President Barack Obama’s call for Congress to act on climate change may embolden European Union policy makers to fix the bloc’s ailing carbon market, said the president of the International Emissions Trading Association.
http://jlne.ws/VoVREk
E.ON says urgent that EU fix broken carbon market
Reuters
The head of Germany’s biggest utility E.ON is looking to the European Union to make urgent reforms to its broken carbon and energy policy, otherwise he will seek a ‘coalition of willing’ nations to find an alternative.
http://jlne.ws/11PsKiC
German Renewables Groups Propose Alternatives to Merkel’s Cuts
Bloomberg
Germany’s clean-energy lobbies said government plans to reduce support for the industry will stall any energy transformation and proposed three alternative measures to stabilize power prices.
http://jlne.ws/Uv7ieu
Dems hold fire on climate votes
The Hill’s E2 Wire
Congressional Democrats will not commit to forcing votes on major climate change bills, even as they try to build political momentum behind President Obama’s promise to make global warming a second-term priority.
http://jlne.ws/UwutVY
Senators debut plans for $20 a ton US carbon tax
Business Green
he debate over a US carbon tax was reignited yesterday when Democrat Senator Barbara Boxer and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders revealed plans for a new comprehensive climate bill that they hope to move to a Senate vote by the summer.
http://jlne.ws/11PvVaa
Barbara Boxer pushes forward on “planetary emergency”
Hearst/San Francisco Chronicle Below the Beltway blog
Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., formally introduced their fee-and-dividend climate bill Thursday,as you learned here Wednesday.
http://jlne.ws/Zlihdn
Obama Faces Risks in Pipeline Decision
The New York Times
President Obama faces a knotty decision in whether to approve the much-delayed Keystone oil pipeline: a choice between alienating environmental advocates who overwhelmingly supported his candidacy or causing a deep and perhaps lasting rift with Canada.
http://jlne.ws/Z9a3kx
Canada to U.S.: About that Keystone pipeline . . .
Grist.org
How are you? We are fine. It’s been a bit warmer than usual up our way. But not too bad, considering.
http://jlne.ws/15o6YSf
Canadian ambassador slams press coverage of Keystone XL pipeline battle
The Hill’s E2 Wire
Gary Doer, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., believes the press is doing a lousy job covering the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline that Canadian officials are urging the Obama administration to approve.
http://jlne.ws/YAruZk
Events
Aviation Carbon 2013
London
February 19-20, 2012
http://jlne.ws/RSzl7e
2013 Climate Leadership Conference
Washington D.C.
February 27-March 1, 2013
climateleadershipconference.org
Wall Street Green Summit XII
March 18, 2013
Center for Architecture, New York
http://jlne.ws/V9knZX
Navigating the American Carbon World (NACW) 2013
San Francisco April 16-18
http://jlne.ws/11SrgTF
Carbon
China Sees Possibility of Deal With EU on Airline Emissions
Bloomberg
China believes it can agree with the European Union on ways to limit airline emissions without relying on the emissions trading system, National Development and Reform Commission vice chairman Xie Zhenhua said.
http://jlne.ws/VvHu3A
Humberside CCS cluster moves forward with new lease
Business Green
Plans to create a carbon capture and storage (CCS) cluster on Humberside have taken a step forward, after National Grid secured a lease to develop an offshore CO2 storage site.
http://jlne.ws/Xj75rx
Natural Gas/Coal/Alternative Fuels
Repsol LNG Sale Seen Delayed as Shale Goring Canaport
Bloomberg
Repsol SA’s effort to sell a liquefied natural gas business for about $2.7 billion has bogged down over its unsuccessful 25-year commitments to ship gas into Canada, two people familiar with the matter said.
http://jlne.ws/12Xbinh
Ottawa to set fines for pipeline infractions
Reuters
Canadian regulators are getting the power to fine companies and individuals who contravene pipeline and nuclear safety rules, the country’s natural resources minister said on Friday.
http://jlne.ws/12ZiiQy
RPT-INTERVIEW-Chile hopes cheaper LNG to ease power crunch
Reuters
A U.S. shale gas boom could help Chile avert a power crunch by lowering liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, as the government is worried that troubled hydropower projects may never come on line, the deputy energy minister told Reuters on Thursday.
http://jlne.ws/UwsZuO
In New England, a Natural Gas Trap
The New York Times
Electricity prices in New England have been four to eight times higher than normal in the last few weeks, as the region’s extreme reliance on natural gas for power supplies has collided with a surge in demand for heating.
http://jlne.ws/XV08jz
**repeats in Power
Eni Led Europe in Oil, Gas Discoveries in 2012
The Wall Street Journal
Italy’s Eni SpA ENI.MI +2.14% led Europe’s oil and gas sector in new discoveries in 2012, after figures on Friday showed it replaced more of its proved reserves than any other major oil company in the region as it found large gas resources offshore Mozambique.
http://jlne.ws/XV29MA
Power
Hannon Armstrong Files for $100 Million Clean Energy IPO as REIT
Bloomberg
Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc., a renewable-energy financing company, plans to raise as much as $100 million in an initial public offering to purchase assets.
http://jlne.ws/Xe7RJx
AEP to spend $4 bln-$5 bln on coal plants, burn more gas
Reuters
U.S. power company American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP) said Friday it expects to spend $4 billion to $5 billion between now and 2020 to make its remaining coal plants compliant with current and proposed federal environmental regulations.
http://jlne.ws/YhadDG
ScottishPower gets go-ahead for 96-turbine Kilgallioch wind farm
Business Green
Scotland’s position as one of the world’s leading wind energy hubs was further cemented yesterday, after planning approval was granted for ScottishPower’s giant 288MW Kilgallioch wind farm.
http://jlne.ws/XHPQQ4
In New England, a Natural Gas Trap
The New York Times
Electricity prices in New England have been four to eight times higher than normal in the last few weeks, as the region’s extreme reliance on natural gas for power supplies has collided with a surge in demand for heating.
http://jlne.ws/XV08jz
**repeats in Natural Gas
Could Wind Power Cool New England’s Price Fever?
The New York Times
s I reported in Saturday’s paper, New England is experiencing a remarkable spike in electricity prices brought on by high heating demand and rising natural gas prices for electric generators.
http://jlne.ws/YhdgM4
Water
Sri Lanka Signs $47 Million Water-Treatment Loan With Hungary
Bloomberg
Sri Lanka signed a 35 million-euro ($47 million) loan with Hungary’s Exim bank to rehabilitate water-treatment plants that serve parts of the capital Colombo, according to the finance ministry’s website.
http://jlne.ws/14ZVAe2
Reports
The State of Green Business 2013 (Posted February 12, 2013)
GreenBiz.com
http://jlne.ws/12K3WYL
Can the US Get There from Here? (Posted February 6, 2013)
WRI
http://jlne.ws/X5PgyQ
The Billion Euro Aviation Bonanza – Aviation’s Participation in the EU ETS (Posted January 22, 2013)
http://jlne.ws/WHQez7
Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy (Posted Dec. 11, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/S5HNAg
Stock Exchange Benchmark On Non-Financial Reporting Rules (Posted Dec. 6, 2012)
Verdantix
http://jlne.ws/QM1A6f
Regional Investment of RGGI CO2 Allowance Proceeds, 2011 (Posted Nov. 27, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/Y2CJzg
2012 Report on Sustainable and Responsible Investing Trends in the US (Posted Nov. 27, 2012)
The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment
http://jlne.ws/TsQlPs
Climate Change Report Warns of Dramatically Warmer World This Century (Posted Nov. 19, 2012)
World Bank
http://jlne.ws/RQylgD
Americans’ Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in September 2012 (Posted Oct. 21, 2012)
Yale Project on Climate Change Communication
http://jlne.ws/T4XcdE