In this edition, focus on China’ evolution in carbon markets, including Business Green’s coverage of a new report. Elsewhere, the IEA sees the oil price burden on consumers easing. Oil-and-gas lobby ‘wary’ of tax reform, says
The Hill’s E2 Wire.
Quote of the Day:
“We remain bearish on the fourth quarter and the first quarter of 2013 but note that a large set-aside could create demand for the heavy EUA sales profile we expect.”
–Barclays Analyst Trevor Sikorski in Bloomberg’s “Barclays Raises 2013-2020 EU Carbon Permit Price Forecast by 13%”
Lead Stories
Carbon trading in China could secure global climate deal
Business Green
China’s forthcoming carbon trading pilot scheme could dovetail with other global platforms, paving the way for a global climate change agreement coming into force in 2020, according to a new report launched today.
http://jlne.ws/SX90yB
**RKB – Continuation of last week’s coverage looking at market progress in China. Below, release of a report well-timed to this renewed attention on China.
THE REPORT
Carbon Markets and Carbon Policy in China
The Climate Institute/Climate Bridge
http://jlne.ws/T2mHma
Outback carbon farming venture faces shake-up
ABC
An ambitious $13 million “learning by doing” carbon trading venture at a former cattle station in the Northern Territory is going back to school.
http://jlne.ws/RXG78W
Barclays Raises 2013-2020 EU Carbon Permit Price Forecast by 13%
Bloomberg
Barclays Plc raised its price estimate for European Union carbon permits in the third phase of the bloc’s carbon market by 13 percent, citing plans to delay auctioning some allowances from next year.
http://jlne.ws/W8AF6z
COLUMN-EU smart grids to compete for airwaves: Wynn
Reuters
Smart grid and meter applications in Europe are having to compete with other services for radio frequencies, raising questions over grid stability and value for money.
http://jlne.ws/RrhAqq
New Mexican leader woos German investors on Pemex
Reuters
Mexican President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto tried on Friday to drum up German interest in his plans to open up national oil company Pemex to the private sector, but faced questions from potential investors about drug violence in his country.
http://jlne.ws/QBThpS
IEA Sees Relief for Energy Consumers
The Wall Street Journal
More oil supply and weaker demand over the next five years suggests oil prices will ease for consumers, the International Energy Agency said Friday.
http://jlne.ws/SU7Kk1
Ryan admits seeking funding from ‘green pork’ package he attacked
Business Green
Republican vice president candidate Paul Ryan attacked the White House’s stimulus packages for green energy in last night’s debate – although was forced to admit he had sought funding under the programme for projects in his home state.
http://jlne.ws/TFF9AK
Ryan slams ‘green pork’ in stimulus law
The Hill’s E2 Wire
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the GOP’s vice president hopeful, called the White House stimulus law’s energy programs “green pork” during Thursday’s debate, while acknowledging that he sought funding under the programs for his state.
http://jlne.ws/T2oOqf
Heitkamp: ‘I’d Tell Obama He’s Wrong’ On Energy
AP
President Barack Obama is “wrong” on energy policy and should fire his energy secretary and Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Heidi Heitkamp told a pro-business North Dakota audience Thursday.
http://jlne.ws/T2oyHC
A Grand Experiment to Rein In Climate Change
The New York Times
Braced against a steep slope, Robert Hrubes cinched his measuring tape around the trunk of one tree after another, barking out diameters like an auctioneer announcing bids. “Twelve point two!” “Fourteen point one!”
http://jlne.ws/UZR48z
U.S. Struggles to Rescue Green Program Hit by Fraud
The New York Times
A Maryland man is awaiting sentencing for what may seem an unusual crime: selling bogus renewable energy credits and using the $9.3 million in illicit proceeds to buy jewelry and a fleet of luxury cars.
http://jlne.ws/Rp9NJq
How a Green Fuel Turned Slimy
The New York Times
How did the oil industry and the Environmental Protection Agency end up with a system for tracking the production of biodiesel that was vulnerable to fraud?
http://jlne.ws/P2xX0M
Events
EMA Regional Thought Leader Roundtable: Northeast REC Markets
EMA
October 17, 2012
http://jlne.ws/ViJHgR
EMA 2012 Fall Meeting
**Keynote speaker is Richard Sandor
October 24 – October 26, 2012
Santa Monica, CA
http://jlne.ws/NIFCwM
Carbon
Are businesses ready for mandatory carbon reporting?
Business Green
More than two thirds of the FTSE 350 are ready to meet new mandatory carbon reporting regulations that are due to come into effect next year, while over three quarters of mid-sized firms are also committed to delivering sustainability reports.
http://jlne.ws/WZW7IQ
Researchers map carbon footprint of cities
UPI
Researchers from Arizona State University have developed a software system that estimates greenhouse gas emissions in cities.
http://jlne.ws/P2DC73
Dubai strategy developed to reduce carbon emissions
Gulf News
Dubai: The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE) is developing a strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Saeed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE), said: “Dubai plans to step up its efforts to slash its carbon emissions, currently set at 1.5 million tonnes per year, by adopt strict quotas for reducing carbon emissions on different project and across different entities.”
http://jlne.ws/QCmyki
Natural Gas/Coal
Oil-and-gas industry ‘wary’ of tax reform
The Hill’s E2 Wire
A top lobby for the oil-and-gas industry said Thursday that its members had some concerns about a push to overhaul the tax code.
http://jlne.ws/QC4KG6
UK Fund says files lawsuit against Coal India directors
Reuters
UK-based The Children’s Investment Fund Management (TCI) said on Friday it has filed a lawsuit in Calcutta High Court against the directors of state miner Coal India Ltd for failing to perform their functions with care and skill.
http://jlne.ws/Rrimnf
Turkmenistan to start building gas pipeline to South Asia 2017: minister
Reuters
Turkmenistan, holder of the world’s fourth-largest natural gas reserves, expects to start constructing a pipeline to export gas to South Asian nations in 2017, a senior government official said on Sunday.
http://jlne.ws/X98Cls
Hungary to take over MOL’s gas storage-paper
Reuters
Hungary’s government prepared the ground to take over the strategic natural gas storage facility of oil group MOL with a new bill submitted to parliament, the daily Nepszabadsag said on Saturday.
http://jlne.ws/SU4rcP
Ad blitz hits Obama on coal in swing states
The Hill’s E2 Wire
A conservative energy group will keep the stream of pro-coal ads flowing in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia in the coming weeks with a combined seven-figure ad buy.
http://jlne.ws/QdA5NQ
Mexico to evaluate its non-conventional oil and gas potential
Mexico plans to invest 3.13 billion pesos (some $242 million) in a project that will use state-of-the-art technology to assess the nation’s prospective non-conventional oil and gas resources, the Energy Secretariat said.
http://jlne.ws/RrmTpX
Power
Japan Utility Says Crisis Avoidable
The Wall Street Journal
In a stunning reversal, the operator of Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant said it knowingly avoided implementing some safety measures for the nuclear plant out of fear of causing lawsuits, protests, or the need to close the plant.
http://jlne.ws/RItQDk
German Renewable Surcharge to Rise 47%, Wind-Power Body Says
Bloomberg
German grid operators will probably increase the surcharge consumers pay for renewable energy next year by 47 percent, according to the nation’s wind-power lobby.
http://jlne.ws/RrgV8o
Merkel Curbs Renewables to Limit Voter Anger on Power Bills
Bloomberg
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to cap taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy is aimed at limiting the political fallout among voters from a surge in electricity bills due next week.
http://jlne.ws/QVqgIi
Pattern Gets Financing for 265-Megawatt California Wind Project
Bloomberg
Pattern Energy Group LP, a San Francisco-based renewable-energy developer, completed financing for the 265-megawatt Ocotillo Wind project that’s under construction in California’s Imperial County.
http://jlne.ws/RImYpy
Vestas Cuts U.S. Jobs by 20 Percent Awaiting Tax Credit Decision
Bloomberg
Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS), the world’s biggest maker of wind turbines, has cut about a fifth of its U.S. jobs as it waits for lawmakers to decide whether to extend a tax credit for the industry.
http://jlne.ws/UPw8GL
Poland bets on state development bank to revive economy
Reuters
Poland said it will inject capital into and grant new powers to its state bank BGK, making it a major investor in the largest central European economy, in a bid to revive economic growth but keep fiscal deficits in check at the same time.
http://jlne.ws/RIoo3t
Interior to fast-track solar projects on public lands
The Hill’s E2 Wire
The Obama administration finalized a program Friday to fast-track solar energy projects on public lands in six Western states.
http://jlne.ws/UXH98V
For Solar Panel Industry, a Volley of Trade Cases
The New York Times
The solar panel manufacturing industry in the United States and Europe has begun a volley of trade cases against imports, following the same track as the steel industry before it — and for many of the same reasons.
http://jlne.ws/QlL4XV
RECs
NC may end credits for renewable energy as part of tax reform
Charlotte Business Journal
Plans afoot to eliminate the state’s corporate income tax could put North Carolina’s generous renewable-energy tax credit on the chopping block when the General Assembly convenes its long session in Raleigh in January.
http://jlne.ws/RXKYak
Obama vs Romney Energy Policy: Why the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit Must Be Renewed ASAP
PolicyMic blog
One hotly disputed topic between President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election is the allowing the extension or expiration of the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit, or PTC.
http://jlne.ws/R5Qh6c
**RKB – Contributor is Jatin Khanna, a materials science and engineering major at Cornell.
CleanTech
Report: cloud computing not always a greener option
Business Green
Cloud computing may not always be the most energy and carbon efficient IT solution for SMEs, new research (PDF) has revealed.
http://jlne.ws/W8ywHY
THE REPORT:
The Carbon Emissions of Server Computing for small- to medium-sized organizations
http://jlne.ws/Rp3Jk5
Water
China Water Industry Says Former Director Charged With Bribery
Bloomberg
China Water Industry Group Ltd. (1129), which generates more than half of its revenue from the construction of pipelines, said a former director has been charged by Hong Kong’s law enforcement with bribery.
http://jlne.ws/QlFB3i
Reports
Carbon Markets and Carbon Policy in China (Posted Oct. 15, 2012)
The Climate Institute/Climate Bridge
http://jlne.ws/T2mHma
The Carbon Emissions of Server Computing for small- to medium-sized organizations (Posted Oct. 15, 2012)
http://jlne.ws/Rp3Jk5
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
