Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.12

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.

TRANSPORTATION

Higher MPG standard likely to bring $4.8 billion in profits for automakers (via Environmental Leader)

Polk: 35% of hybrid owners buying hybrids again (via Green Car Congress)

RARE EARTHS

China promises to strengthen environmental standards with new rare earth body (via BusinessGreen)

Molycorp’s rare earth reserves at Mountain Pass increase by 36% (via Green Car Congress)

RENEWABLES

World’s biggest wind farm planned off southern coast of England (via Telegraph)

Shares of electricity generation from renewable energy sources up in many states (via US EIA)

Natural gas prices threaten state renewable portfolio standards (via AOL Energy)

A smarter mirror for cheaper solar power (via CNET)

Why are states and utilities so bad with residential wind turbines? (via Mapawatt)

Black solar cell absorbs 99.7% of all light (via TreeHugger)

Big Apple turning green as NYC triples solar power production (via BusinessGreen)

With offshore wind gone, Maryland Assembly pushes energy from manure (via Baltimore Sun)

Solar supply shines past demand in Pennsylvania (via York Daily Record)

NUCLEAR

Japan closer to restarting first reactors since Fukushima (via Bloomberg)

GASOLINE

Average US gasoline prices may have peaked (via Los Angeles Times)

NATURAL GAS

Chesapeake Energy sells $2.6 billion worth of assets (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

Gas flaring permits surge in Texas (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT/EMISSIONS/CLIMATE

Poll shows majority support for carbon controls, but partisan split persists (via The Hill)

March was warmest on record in lower 48 states (via The Hill)

US set more than 15,000 March temperature records, NOAA (via Bloomberg)

Pressing questions for coastal communities (via Virginian-Pilot)

Windfall of cash could hit California treasury from global warming program (via San Jose Mercury News)

Ohio Gov. Kasich breaks ranks, speaks of climate change (via Columbus Dispatch)

A sacred peak with rich ore deposits (via New York Times)

GRID

Everyone wins in latest UK smart meters plans (via Greentech Media)

Infographic: who has smart meters in the US? (via AOL Energy)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Building codes: small rules that help homeowners save big on energy (via Grist)

States seek to ease financing for energy efficient upgrades (via Stateline)

The LED revolution needs dimmer-compatible bulbs (via Greentech Media)

Boston’s Big Dig getting massive $55 million LED lighting retrofit (via Inhabitat)

COAL

What happens to America’s coal if we don’t burn it (via Washington Post)

Southwest Wyoming coal mine plans expansion (via Star-Tribune)

GREEN BUSINESS

Why corporate boards should listen to investors on sustainability (via GreenBiz)

ENERGY POLICY

UN report: energy subsidies in the Arab world (via Council on Foreign Relations)

New Jersey, towns in tug of war over energy tax (via Bergen Record)