World:
¶ A recent, widely seen documentary on air pollution in China, “Under the Dome,” appears to have had a strangely pronounced effect on the Chinese government. Rather than stifle those involved, or brush the matter aside, some higher-ups have even praised the documentary. Does it indicate a sea change? [CleanTechnica]
¶ China will boost efforts this year to rid itself of its addiction to coal in a bid to reduce damaging pollution and cut the energy intensity of its economy, which is expected to grow at its lowest rate in 25 years. The National Development and Reform Commission says it will reduce coal consumption in polluted regions. [Reuters]
¶ The City of Oslo, Norway, has committed to divesting its $7 million worth of coal investments from its pension fund. The news comes only weeks after Global Divestment Day. This makes Oslo one of almost 40 cities around the world that have committed to divest from fossil fuels, and the first capital city to do so. [CleanTechnica]
¶ The EU took a step to reduce its energy dependence, especially on Russia, by improving transmission connections between Spain and Portugal, and the rest of Europe. The leaders of Spain, Portugal and France pushed moving spare renewable energy produced south of the Pyrenees to the rest of Europe. [The Local.es]
¶ Italian renewable energy firm Enel Green Power has completed a 102-MW wind farm in Mexico. Located in the state of Oaxaca, the wind farm features 34 3-MW turbines that will generate about 390 GWh of energy per year. Enel Green Power invested about $160 million in the project. [Clean Technology Business Review]
¶ EU State Aid approval for the Hinkley Point nuclear plant will be challenged in court by German green power supply company Greenpeace Energy, in the latest blow to the high-profile project, dubbed by its critics as ‘the world’s most expensive power plant’. Greenpeace Energy is a renewable energy cooperative. [Business Green]
¶ Area members of Renewable Power – the Intelligent Choice are joyfully greeting the news that a nuclear waste site won’t be built in northern Saskatchewan. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization announced on Wednesday that Creighton was no longer under consideration. [Prince Albert Daily Herald]
¶ Court battles are the sole remaining obstacle to nuclear restarts in Japan. The fight in the courts means power companies face the risk of further delays in firing up idled reactors if judges side with local residents worried about nuclear safety. Four reactors owned by two utilities cleared regulatory safety checks. [The Japan Times]
¶ A former UK opencast mine is to be home to a solar and wind energy site after property regeneration company Harworth Estates and RES, a leading renewable energy company, secured planning consent. The 7.5-MW scheme will cover 48 acres and generate enough energy to power 1,500 family homes. [Click Green]
¶ A surprise reduction in the cost of the UK’s offshore wind energy is one of the dominant themes in a new report to be published later today by the Offshore Wind Programme Board, a joint government and industry-backed group tasked with identifying and addressing barriers to the sector’s development. [Business Green]
¶ German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel has ruled out supporting EU subsidies for nuclear energy projects. His comments came ahead of a meeting of energy ministers. He was adamant on Thursday that atomic energy was the most expensive form of power generation that also bore “significant risks” to people and the environment. [Deutsche Welle]
US:
¶ The US Senate tried, but failed, to override President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline on Wednesday. The measure drew 62 “yes” votes, with 9 Democrats joining Republicans in voting to override the veto. Separate consideration is ongoing, and the issue is not over. [Huffington Post]
¶ Solar (and wind) giant SunEdison announced it was acquiring the project development team, four existing projects, and roughly 100 MW of project pipeline of Solar Grid Storage. The Philadelphia-based startup specializes in packaging lithium-ion batteries and inverters with commercial solar PV projects. [Greentech Media]
¶ To the dismay of many climate activists, a major natural-gas pipeline expansion project that will impact southern New England, New York and New Jersey has been approved. The proposal has drawn grassroots opposition along the pipeline’s 1,127-mile path between New Jersey and Beverly, Massachusetts. [ecoRI news]
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