Energy and Environment News Roundup – 5.11.12

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.

OIL 

OPEC says ‘plentiful’ global oil supplies outpace demand (via Bloomberg)

New IMF working paper models impact of oil limits on the economy (via The Oil Drum)

True oil independence is an unrealistic dream (via Washington Post)

China’s CNOOC starts deepwater drilling (via United Press International)

New bill unveiled to kill $113 billion in fossil fuel subsidies (via TreeHugger)

CBO report: boosting oil production won’t protect Americans from gas price shocks (via Climate Progress)

GREEN BUSINESS 

AASHE sustainability review: green job training skyrocketed in 2011 (via Environmental Leader)

RENEWABLES 

Winners and losers in the renewable energy race (via Renewable Energy World)

Germany’s upper house suspends solar subsidy cuts (via Reuters)

Saudi Arabia plans $109 billion boost for solar power (via Bloomberg)

Solar installers offer deals, gaining converts (via New York Times)

How the US geothermal market is and is not growing (via Renewable Energy World)

Big oil outspends US in biofuels development (via Bloomberg)

World’s largest concentrating photovoltaic power facility begins commercial operation in Colorado (via Energy Central)

550MW California solar project underway (via EarthTechling)

Solar project in desert gets boost from California legislature (via Los Angeles Times)

CA regulators deny PG&E’s request to invest in solar manufacturing (via Earth2Tech)

Massive US drivetrain test facility for wind turbines taking shape (via Recharge)

NUCLEAR 

Southern Company faces additional $400 million bill for new GA reactors (via Washington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Over the past decade, lighting became more efficient across all sectors (via US EIA)

Consumer electronics giants challenge Energy Star testing requirements (via Environmental Leader)

KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS 

Keystone backers want transportation bill more than pipeline (via Politico)

GRID 

Is there a smart grid in Africa’s future? The answer may surprise you (via AOL Energy)

Autonomous ‘microgrid’ power trend accelerates (via Smartplanet)

New Mexico chosen for Tres Amigas headquarters (via Clovis News Journal)

REGULATIONS 

Debate rages over impact of federal regulations on drilling, jobs (via EnergyWire)

Air rule heads to scrapheap as Obama touts effort to eliminate ‘unnecessary burdens’ (via Greenwire)

TRANSPORTATION 

EU aviation emission row intensifies as China drafts ‘retaliatory’ law (via BusinessGreen)

787 Dreamliner ushers in new age of fuel-efficient flight (via ClimateWire)

Schneider joins ABB, Siemens, Eaton in EV quick charging race (via GreenBiz)

Ford Focus Electric rollout continues to crawl (via Plugin Cars)

BMW ActiveE drivers offered 30% discount on home solar panels (via Revmodo)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING 

Total will attempt to plug leaking Elgin well within days (via Houston Chronicle)

Chesapeake’s deepest well: Wall Street (via Reuters)

Landowners assert right to shale gas development in New York State (via Huffington Post/AP)

PA drilling for Marcellus gas to continue until 2070 (via Facts of the Day)

CLIMATE/EMISSIONS 

Report: carbon capture not growing fast enough to reduce CO2 pollution (via Houston Chronicle)

What happened to carbon capture in the fight against climate change? (via The Guardian)

Climate change accelerating, complicating Idaho’s spring runoff (via Idaho Statesman)

Hurricane Irene ranked most costly Category 1 storm (via Climate Central)