EMISSIONS:
• U.S. carbon emissions rose only 0.7 percent in 2014, lagging behind a 2.4 percent growth in gross domestic product, which emissions have historically paralleled. (Bloomberg)
• Although Apple runs 100 percent of U.S. operations on renewable energy, the company’s greenhouse gas emissions were up in fiscal 2014, largely because of its manufacturing plants in China. (NBC News)
• Wildfires and deforestation have contributed more to greenhouse gas emissions than previously expected, according to a newly published study. (The Daily Californian)
CARBON RESERVES: The top 200 publicly traded coal, oil and gas companies now hold 555 gigatons of carbon dioxide in their fuel reserves, an increase of 10 percent in the last five years. (Guardian)
OFFSHORE DRILLING:
• Two Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey said Monday they would sponsor legislation in Congress to ban offshore drilling of oil and natural gas in the Atlantic Ocean. (The Hill)
• Oil companies have purchased the rights to drill nearly 9 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico—an area twice the size of New Jersey—since the 2010 BP blowout. (InsideClimate News)
ETHANOL: A progressive group has launched a six-figure ad campaign in the Midwest to promote the federal ethanol mandate in Des Moines, Iowa. (The Hill)
BIOFUEL: Iowa may be about to plunge into the production of renewable fuels made from animal manure, municipal waste and other organic byproducts of farming and manufacturing. (Midwest Energy News)
OIL: Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said on Monday she will introduce legislation this year to allow U.S. crude exports. (The Hill)
ENERGY MANAGEMENT: Navigant Research predicts the global market for energy management systems in healthcare facilities will double by 2024, and utilities may be major beneficiaries. (Fierce Energy)
EFFICIENCY: A New Mexico utility says it surpassed a state energy efficiency mandate, giving customers nearly $9 million in rebates and incentives last year and saving 74 million kilowatt hours of electricity. (Albuquerque Journal).
SOLAR:
• A Silicon Valley company is at the forefront of entrepreneurial firms bringing electricity to the world’s energy-poor without fossil fuels or an electric grid. (The Daily Climate)
• If pending legislation in Maine is approved, South Portland could finally move forward with plans to develop a solar farm on a landfill slated to supply electricity to 600 homes if fully developed. (Portland Press Herald)
FRACKING: The Stillwater, Oklahoma, city council decided it will not vote on a proposed ban on fracking until after the state legislature considers three related bills. (The Oklahoman)
NORTHEAST: Five of New England’s governors will meet in Hartford, Connecticut, Thursday to advance their efforts toward regional solutions to costly energy and natural gas pipeline bottlenecks. (The Associated Press)
PIPELINE SAFETY: Despite federal oversight of the nation’s sprawling network of oil and gas pipelines, last year more than 700 pipeline failures killed 19 people, injured 97 and caused more than $300 million in damage. (Politico)