Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.4.12

This post was originally published on Marcacci Communications, which provides a daily roundup of energy and climate news and opinion. Inclusion of articles does not mean endorsement. Client relationships are disclosed where applicable.

RENEWABLES 

US geothermal energy state of the union, 2011-2012 (via Greentech Media)

Greece touts green energy 2050 roadmap as key to economic recovery (via BusinessGreen)

Collapse of German solar companies threaten California’s big solar projects (via Forbes)

Maryland offshore wind supporters encircle State House (via Washington Post)

SHALE DRILLING 

US shale fuels record-high M&A activity in unconventional oil and gas (via Houston Chronicle)

Towns fight states on drilling (via Wall Street Journal)

GREEN BUILDING 

USGBC to revamp LEED program in 2012 (via Environmental Leader)

TRANSPORTATION 

Chevrolet Volt sales surge to highest monthly level yet (via Technology Review)

Indian Railways to run trains on renewable energy (via EnergyNext)

Opponent of clean fuels standard fires warning shot at NE attorneys general (via InsideClimate News)

Boeing opening aerospace research and technology center in Brazil focusing on biofuels (via Green Car Congress)

Can passenger rail ever be profitable? Florida’s about to find out (via Washington Post)

Enel and Acea to install 200 electric-car charge points in Rome (via Bloomberg)

GREEN BUSINESS 

Buffett says shortcuts on environment can risk profits (via Bloomberg)

Samsung and Hyundai sign up as Carbon Trust Standard reaches South Korea (via BusinessGreen)

Trash saved by Waste Management worth up to $40 billion (via Bloomberg)

KEYSTONE XL 

No word on Keystone XL pipeline at North American summit (via Houston Chronicle)

New Keystone XL pipeline corridor identified through Nebraska (via Houston Chronicle)

GREEN JOBS 

Environmental rules: job killers or job creators? (via New York Times)

New report tries to clear up debate over EPA and jobs (via Washington Post)

ENVIRONMENT/EMISSIONS 

Offset supply to drive Western Climate Initiative, analysts say (via Environmental Leader)

Chinese cities are sinking due to excess groundwater use and rapid growth (via Inhabitat)

Do Asian coal plants pollute North America? (via Sightline Daily)

Fukushima radiation at sea studied (via United Press International)

NORTH SEA GAS LEAK 

Experts to assess Total gas leak as weather improves (via Reuters)

CLIMATE

A longer allergy season as climate warms (via New York Times)

Scientists cite global warming for more heat waves, heavier rainfall (via Seattle Times)

Matterhorn disintegrating in the face of global warming (via The Independent)

March heat wave shatters monthly records (via Climate Central)

US military forges ahead with plans to combat climate change (via Scientific American)

OIL 

BP moves into the Amazon rainforest (via Mongabay)

CLEAN TECH 

Rare earth supplies in US to meet defense industry needs, Pentagon says (via Bloomberg)

Who wins ARPA-E grants? (via Innovation Files)

COAL 

Massive coal mine in Australia beats back climate change legal challenge (via Mongabay)

POLITICS 

House GOP subpoenas Interior Department over drilling ban report (via The Hill)

Romney faults Obama on energy costs, but has cited benefits of rising prices (New York Times)

OPINION 

How Canada’s green credentials fell apart (via New Scientist)

Buying renewable power should be as easy as downloading an app (via Good)