ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS

Federal Regulations and Tax Credits Support Diesel and Natural Gas Vehicle Adoption

Biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Renewables

Despite the recent surge in domestic crude oil and natural gas production, diesel-fueled passenger vehicles and natural gas-fueled fleet vehicles still face challenges in achieving large-scale adoption. Overview Diesel-fueled vehicles provide an option for manufacturers to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration average fuel-efficiency standards of 54.5 miles…...

NY Utility Resilience Initiatives and Utility Outage Alternatives

Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power

New York’s fast-evolving energy industry is focused on preparing for a future in which new technologies present broad opportunities to modernize energy systems in ways that could significantly increase resiliency. In June 2013, New York unveiled a comprehensive plan to increase infrastructure and building resilience including initiatives to mitigate weather-related impacts. These initiatives are designed…...

New FERC and EPA Regulations will Impact Cost and Security of Electricity Supply

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

Since the turn of the century, increased scrutiny has been placed on the U.S. electric grid. The threat of weather disruption, physical and cyber-attacks, and decreased regional power generation capacity due to emissions regulations are key factors framing the debate over how to achieve power security and supply. Overview In 2012, Hurricane Sandy exposed electric…...

Supreme Court Reinstates Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

Carbon Markets, Coal Power, Emissions, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities

The Supreme Court upheld EPA’s air pollution rule that regulates cross-border emissions of 28 upwind states to address downwind states’ compliance with air quality standards. On April 29, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), reversing an August 2012 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals…...

ARPA-E Announces Methane Reduction and Thermal Management Programs

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities

ARPA-E has announced two programs to address methane emissions and develop innovative heating and cooling devices for buildings. On April 29, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) announced $60M for innovative programs to reduce oil and gas sector methane emissions and facilitate energy-efficient thermal management in buildings.  ARPA-E…...

New York Green Bank to Transform Clean Energy Markets

Biofuels, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Hydropower, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On February 5, 2014, The New York Green Bank (NYGB) issued its first solicitation for project funding. With project funding commencing, NYGB aims to create a sustainable stream of private capital to replace intermittent grants and subsidies from state and federal sources, and be the first U.S. Green Bank to target $1 billion in capitalization…....

Court Upholds EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Coal Power, Emissions, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Oil

A federal appeals court upheld EPA’s regulation to limit emissions of mercury and hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants. On April 15, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam…...

Memoranda of Understanding Aim to Increase Transparency of Energy Market Oversight

Coal Power, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, EnerKnol Research Reports, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Oil, Power & Utilities, Smart Grid, Solar Power, Wind Power

On January 2, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission officially entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU). The MOUs will provide solutions for overlapping jurisdiction and sharing information of mutual interest. Overview On March 5, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced…...

EPA Releases Top 25 List of U.S. Cities With Most Energy Star Buildings

Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Markets, Power & Utilities

More than 23,000 buildings across the U.S. have earned EPA’s Energy Star Certification, saving more than $3.1B on utility bills. On April 10, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the sixth annual list of top 25 U.S. cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings.  The cities demonstrate economic and environmental benefits achieved from…...

California Approves First Forestry Compliance Offset Project

Carbon Markets, Environmental Markets

California has approved the first forest carbon offset project under the cap-and-trade compliance forestry protocol. On April 9, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced approval of the first forest carbon offset project – the Yurok Tribe/Forest Carbon Partners CKGG Improved Forest Management Project – under California’s cap-and-trade forestry offset protocol.  CARB issued 836,619…...

DOE Releases Strategic Plan 2014-2018

Biofuels, Coal Power, Electric Vehicles, Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Environmental Markets, Fossil Fuels, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, Power & Utilities, Renewables, Solar Power, Wind Power1 Comment

DOE has released a five-year Strategic Plan outlining priorities to address the nation’s energy, security, economic, and environmental challenges. On April 7, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its Strategic Plan for 2014-2018 to advance its mission of enhancing U.S. security and economic growth through transformative science, technology, and market solutions to address energy,…...