Energy and Environment News Roundup – 10.19.12

This post was originally published on Marcacci Communications, a clean energy public relations company, 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.

TAR SANDS 

TransCanada shuts down Keystone pipeline, tests show possible safety issues (via Washington Post/AP)

EMISSIONS 

Australian electricity emissions intensity drops since carbon price (via CleanTechnica)

California regulators to consider price limits on GHG allowances (via E&E News)

Cement producers, eyeing their bottom line, pledge to cut emissions (via ClimateWire)

EFFICIENCY 

GSA, largest tenant in US, focuses on LED lighting (via Greentech Media)

ENERGY STAR homes=26% of new construction in 2011 (via CleanTechnica)

Oracle predicts “huge” market for UK water smart metering (via BusinessGreen)

RENEWABLES 

Global renewable investment exceeds new fossil fuel capacity by $40 billion in 2011 (via Facts of the Day)

Saudi Arabia reveals plans to be 100% powered by renewable energy (via The Guardian)

Could trade barriers help the PV industry regain its balance? (via Renewable Energy World)

Ethanol exports rise as US hits blend wall (via Houston Chronicle)

GE to set US record in 2012 for wind turbine installations (via Recharge)

SolarCity scores first utility deal, and why that’s important (via GigaOm)

Marines to get hybrid solar generators for the field (via CNET)

Green roofs have another benefit: improved solar production (via Sustainable Business)

Portable 50kW wind turbine folds itself into shipping container (via TreeHugger)

12 US shopping malls get PV solar installations (via Sustainable Business)

OIL 

US Coast Guard: Gulf oil slick comes from device used in 2010 spill (via Houston Chronicle)

Great Lakes at risk of major oil spill, report warns (via InsideClimate News)

Hofmeister: a difficult decade ahead for oil prices and supplies (via The Oil Drum)

Big Oil’s tax breaks on table in Congress? (via Politico)

ENVIRONMENT 

Clinton: rules of road needed to prevent Arctic “catastrophe” (via The Hill)

World “not on track” for temperature target: UN (via Phys.org)

ENERGY POLICY 

Clinton: “energy diplomacy” central to US foreign policy (via The Hill)

US to sell Arctic land leases in November for oil, gas production (via Reuters)

US power companies build fewer plants in 2012 than 2011 (via Reuters)

Is Michigan’s constitution the right place for energy policy? (via Midwest Energy News)

COAL 

Shale boom derails US investments in clean coal technology (via Reuters)

Are US taxpayers subsidizing Asia’s coal use? (via Washington Post)

TRANSPORTATION 

After bankruptcy of A123 Systems, Fisker keeps calm and carries on (via New York Times)

Toyota Prius is best-selling car in California; domestics lag (via Los Angeles Time)

NATURAL GAS 

Natural gas drilling payments cause a dispute in Pennsylvania (via New York Times)

Survey: Marcellus gas wells likely harming public health (via Bloomberg)

GEOENGINEERING 

Canadian geoengineering experiment outrages scientists (via New York Times)

US businessman defends controversial geoengineering experiment (via The Guardian)

POLITICS 

How climate change disappeared from the debates (via Washington Post)

Connaughton seen as early front-runner to head EPA if Romney is elected (via Greenwire)

OPINION 

Electric cars: the tipping point for the smart grid (via Greentech Media)

Who owns the energy? (via AOL Energy)

A123’s technology just wasn’t good enough (via MIT Technology Review)

Energy efficiency may run out of gas (via Forbes)

Why dumping 100 tons of iron dust in the ocean to save the planet may not be such a good idea (via StateImpact Texas)

OTHER NEWS 

An additional listing of clean energy and climate news is posted at Climate Progress