Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.6.12

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.

ENERGY POLICY 

US DOE prepares to approve new renewable energy project loans (via The Hill)

Italy green energy support cuts to hit investment (via Reuters)

How are renewable energy standards faring in state legislatures? (via Midwest Energy News)

The solar feed-in tariff goes Hollywood (via Greentech Media)

KEYSTONE XL

Keystone XL pipeline bill set for final vote in Nebraska state legislature (via Lincoln Journal-Star)

GRID 

US, Canada, Mexico vow ‘continental’ energy grid (via Environmental News Service)

UK government details plan for smart meters in every home (via BusinessGreen)

Smart meter opt-out: noise versus reality (via Greentech Media)

Planned electricity transmission line could boost wind generation in Oklahoma (via The Oklahoman)

EMISSIONS/ENVIRONMENT

Value of world’s carbon markets falls 20 percent in 1Q 2012 (via BusinessGreen)

Brazil can eliminate deforestation by 2020, says Amazon state governor (via Mongabay)

America’s greenest cities? (via Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

NUCLEAR 

US NRC chairman to visit troubled California reactors (via Reuters)

Utilities are betting on nuclear energy’s chances (via Forbes)

Cost of completing reactor at Watts Barr Nuclear Plant rises by $2 billion (via Times Free Press)

CLIMATE

Ready or not: is your state prepared for climate change? (via Huffington Post)

How to feed the world after climate change (via Slate)

Starting to understand extreme weather (via The Energy Collective)

Ice age study delivers blow to global warming skeptics (via Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLES 

Japan’s rapid residential solar power growth (via CleanTechnica)

As Brazil absorbs US ethanol, it’s also a source (via Midwest Energy News)

US airports are sitting on a biofuel goldmine (via CleanTechnica)

Environmentalists feeling burned by rush to build solar projects (via Los Angeles Times)

A $2 billion dollar solar funding mistake – from the media (via Politico)

Scientist develops self-sustaining solar reactor that produces clean hydrogen fuel (via Inhabitat)

Secret ingredient to making solar energy work: salt (via Forbes)

Manufacturing job surge seen for East Coast offshore wind (via InsideClimate News)

Officials mark construction start for largest wind farm in Kansas (via The Republic)

Southeastern US works to sustain manufacturing, project momentum (via Renewable Energy World)

Pickens reviving plans for Texas wind power at smaller scale (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Kendall-Jackson winery unveils nation’s largest rooftop solar cogeneration array (via Energy Central)

COAL 

Environmental groups sue EPA to force coal-waste rules (via The Hill)

CLEAN TECH

Sucking carbon dioxide out of the air: neat idea, but impractical (via Washington Post)

Power outage? Utilities could soon call on drones to help (via Greenbang)

Finned LED streetlights go for flashy look (via CNET)

State and utilities leading way on industrial energy efficiency programs (via Environmental Leader)

Visualize climate change data with free NASA iPhone app (via Treehugger)

NATURAL GAS

Slumping natural gas prices fuel concern in Wyoming over state revenues (via The Republic)

GREEN BUSINESS

Shareholder interest in triple bottom line ‘increasing’ (via Environmental Leader)

Are businesses missing out on a sustainability goldmine? (via GreenBiz)

Most respected US companies revealed (via Environmental Leader)

The plastic bag war is moving toward the produce aisle (via Good)

TRANSPORTATION

California charges forward with EVs (via Sustainable Industries)

Is the Chevy Volt’s payback period really 26 years? (via Midwest Energy News)

OPINION 

Subsidies 101: A guide to corporate handouts, and why we shouldn’t stand for them (via Grist)