In this edition, attention on prices, including in AAP’s AIG calls for carbon price to be linked globally and The Age’s Shunned US coal sends Europe’s emissions higher. In other coverage, Business Green reports on a recent measure of US voter sentiment with US Poll: Undecided voters back more action on climate change.
Quote of the Day:
“In Europe it would take a 50 percent increase in coal prices to erase the price advantage over natural gas.”
–Paolo Coghe, senior analyst at Societe Generale, in Reuters’ “Coal exports make U.S. cleaner, EU more polluted”
Lead Stories
AIG calls for carbon price to be linked globally
AAP
Linking Australia’s carbon price to international markets sooner than originally planned will help reduce energy costs, a Senate inquiry has heard. Australian Industry Group (AIG) director Dr Peter Burn says permits to pollute available in other markets are lower than Australia’s $23 per tonne fixed carbon price.
http://jlne.ws/PEl5ue
EU yet to agree on next steps of CO2-law fix
The Age
The European Union has yet to decide what procedural steps to take next in talks about a draft change to the bloc’s carbon law after some governments voiced uncertainty about the plan, an EU presidency official said.
http://jlne.ws/PloDkf
US, China climate standoff returns
Reuters
Major developing countries have dampened prospects for agreement on international carbon emissions reduction targets by insisting on distinguishing between the responsibilities of industrialised and emerging economies to act on climate change beyond 2020.
http://jlne.ws/S3WIEJ
Shunned US coal sends Europe’s emissions higher
The Age
Shale gas has jolted traditional roles in the planet’s climate drama, giving cleaner fuel to the United States, whose displaced coal has headed to Europe to pollute the old continent.
http://jlne.ws/QjDizk
Coal exports make U.S. cleaner, EU more polluted
Reuters
Shale gas has jolted traditional roles in the planet’s climate drama, giving cleaner fuel to the United States, whose displaced coal has headed to Europe to pollute the old continent.
http://jlne.ws/PlrxFm
Arctix warms to voluntary offsetting opportunity
Business Green
The vibrant voluntary carbon market has prompted advisory firm CF Partners to launch new offsetting business Arctix Sustainable Solutions. The London-based company was officially opened on Friday to help companies account for unavoidable emissions as part of their sustainability strategy by purchasing offsets in low carbon projects around the world.
http://jlne.ws/SQdqHX
US Poll: Undecided voters back more action on climate change
Business Green
President Obama’s decision to highlight his support for greater action to tackle climate change during this autumn’s election campaign looks to have been vindicated, after a new poll revealed a clear majority of undecided voters want the US government to take more ambitious steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
http://jlne.ws/Q7AmSQ
UN sustainable energy push to reach 300m in three years
The Age
A United Nations initiative to provide sustainable energy for the 1.6 billion people without power may reach as many as 300 million in three years, said Kandeh Yumkella, who is leading the effort.
http://jlne.ws/SjVtAW
Europe generating enough solar electricity to power Austria
Business Green
Reports of the demise of the European solar industry have been greatly exaggerated.
http://jlne.ws/QwnMQv
Senate appropriators release draft environmental bill
The Hill’s E2 Wire
Senate appropriators on Tuesday released a draft 2013 environmental funding bill even though Congress last week passed a six-month stopgap spending measure that greatly diminishes its importance.
http://jlne.ws/QSTYLn
Events
GreenGov Symposium
ACCO & White House Council on Environmental Quality
September 24-25, 2012
http://jlne.ws/OfOB9D
Carbon Forum North America
October 1-2, 2012
Washington, DC
http://jlne.ws/zDe43B
Sustainability Summit – Innovation Challenge
October 9, 2012
New York
http://jlne.ws/wKbX7U
EMA 2012 Fall Meeting
**Keynote speaker is Richard Sandor
October 24 – October 26, 2012
Santa Monica, CA
http://jlne.ws/NIFCwM
Carbon
EU Calls for ‘Strong Signal’ From ICAO on Carbon Emission
Bloomberg
European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard called on the United Nations’ aviation body to accelerate the design of a global rule to curtail greenhouse-gas emissions from aircraft operators.
http://jlne.ws/PEjHrF
Natural Gas/Coal
Shale gas fracking gets legal thumbs up for Delaware river basin
Business Green
A US district judge has thrown out a case seeking to halt shale gas exploration in New York State’s Delaware River Basin.
http://jlne.ws/URZly9
Lawmakers step up pressure on DOE over natural gas exports
The Hill’s E2 Wire
A bipartisan group of 16 House members from Heartland and Western states added their voices Monday to calls on the administration to expedite natural gas exports.
http://jlne.ws/SQgvHX
Power
NextEra’s $175 Million in Solar Bonds Outshine Buffett’s Topaz
Bloomberg
NextEra Energy Inc. (NEE)’s debt for two Canadian solar projects was rated higher than bonds from Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., the largest issuance for a U.S. renewable-energy project without a federal guarantee.
http://jlne.ws/Qjx9mH
Western Wind Shareholders Back Management to End Proxy Fight
Bloomberg
Western Wind Energy Corp. (WND) won a proxy fight with investor Savitr Capital LLC for control of the Canadian renewable-power developer that’s been for sale since July 29.
http://jlne.ws/OSVhxv
China Development Bank Renews Solar Support, Journal Says
Bloomberg
China Development Bank Corp. plans to renew a pledge of support for 12 of solar companies, an indication the government is pressing for consolidation within the industry that’s suffering from excess capacity.
http://jlne.ws/PiJlkK
EU Solar Makers Demand China Tariffs With Second Complaint
Bloomberg
European Union solar-panel makers, which persuaded regulators to probe Chinese companies for unfair pricing, stepped up demands for tariffs, accusing their rivals of receiving illegal subsidies.
http://jlne.ws/SQcJhH
Iberdrola, DONG to sell Polish renewables units-sources
Reuters
Spain’s Iberdrola and Denmark’s DONG Energy want to sell their wind power businesses in Poland, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday, with the largest utilities and private equity funds among those likely to show interest.
http://jlne.ws/PX9czF
EDF Renewable sees Calif. Shiloh IV wind farm on in Dec
Reuters
EDF Renewable Energy, a unit of French power company EDF, expects the 102.5-megawatt (MW) Shiloh IV wind farm in California to enter service in December.
http://jlne.ws/SQg3Jy
Solar power company wants to open as new utility in Georgia
Florida Times-Union
A proposal from a start-up business promises to lower electricity rates by rebating profits to customers if it is given a chance to compete as Georgia Power Co.’s “mirror image.”
http://jlne.ws/QDgQhC
Water
France Must Open Dams to Competition, European Commission Says
Bloomberg
France needs to allow competition in its hydropower industry following “obvious” delays, said the European Commission’s chief representative in the country.
http://jlne.ws/PEjCnR
Water Bankruptcy And How Science Can Prevent It
Ecosystem Marketplace
A study of almost 200 major international water-related projects over the past 20 years has identified a suite of existing and emerging challenges and how science can offer remedies.
http://jlne.ws/S3PsIU
Reports
The Hidden Costs of Electricity: Comparing the Hidden Costs of Power Generation Fuels (Posted Sept. 19, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/PCt372
CDP Global 500 Climate Change Report (Posted Sept. 11, 2012)
Carbon Disclosure Project
Beyond the bluster: Why wind power is an effective technology (Posted Aug. 30, 2012)
IPPR
http://jlne.ws/UeZB9b
Carbon Tax Revenue and the Budget Deficit: A Win-Win Solution? (Posted Aug. 27, 2012)
MIT
http://jlne.ws/Ri3So8
The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (Posted Aug. 21, 2012)
Ceres
http://jlne.ws/ONwe8M
EPA REGULATIONS AND ELECTRICITY (Posted Aug. 16, 2012)
GAO
http://jlne.ws/NHwlos
European Power & Renewables Deals: Quarterly M&A outlook (Posted August 15, 2012)
Pricewaterhousecoopers
http://jlne.ws/TFZjaV
Advancing Technology for America’s Transportation Future (Posted August 6, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/MA2U6I
Benchmarking Air Emissions Of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the United States (Posted July 31, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/QbRr0J
Per capita CO2 emissions in China reached European level (July 18, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/NAjBQQ
The Interim Regulation of Voluntary Greenhouse Gases Emission Trading in China (Posted July 10, 2012)
The Climate Group
http://jlne.ws/Mhv62s
Measure for Management: C40 Cities (July 9, 2012)
Carbon Disclosure Project
http://jlne.ws/L9LC37
