02/10/12 9:45am

Article By: energyNOW News Roundup

energyNOW! publishes a daily roundup of top news and opinion on energy and the environment. Inclusion of articles does not mean endorsement.

RENEWABLES

World’s biggest offshore wind farm opens off Britain as new minister admits high cost (via The Telegraph)

UK wants sustained cuts to solar panel tariffs (via Reuters)

What does a renewable energy developer owe the community? (via Greentech Media)

Solar tower will power Las Vegas at night (via CNET)

PG&E announces record solicitation for renewable energy (via Energy Central)

N.C. panel touts wind energy use (via News Observer)

OIL/GASOLINE

International Energy Agency trims oil demand forecast (via Agence France-Presse)

Gasoline prices continue their march to $4 (via Houston Chronicle)

North Dakota pumps record 153 million barrels of oil in 2011 (via Forum of Fargo-Moorhead)

COAL

In a border town, drawing a line on coal for Mexico (via New York Times)

Judge rejects challenge to Montana coal lease (via Bozeman Daily Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

Tesla unveils Model X at its Southern California design studios (via New York Times)

Hertz participating in Plugless Power’s pilot program for wireless EV charging (via Green Car Congress)

Chevy Volt ‘cheaper’ to own than Nissan Leaf, says Kelley Blue Book (via Autoblog Green)

NUCLEAR

Vogtle nuclear power plant wins first reactor construction permit in a generation (via Huffington Post)

New nuclear plants under cost, deadline scrutiny (via AOL Energy)

GREEN BUSINESS

UK to press for global green accounting system (via The Independent)

OIL SANDS/KEYSTONE XL

Keystone XL: State Department cleared of conflict, not ineptness (via Los Angeles Times)

Keystone backers, foes find new ammo in report on State Dept review process (via The Hill)

Canada PM vows to ensure key oil pipeline is built to Pacific (via Reuters)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Accounting giant KPMG’s new headquarters balances its energy budget to almost zero (via Inhabitat)

Fort Bragg sees green as smart meters, other actions save energy (via Fayetteville Observer)

US DoD and EPA sign energy partnership agreement (via Green Car Congress)

Experiencing an energy audit (via Energy Bulletin)

University of Vermont commits $13 million to energy efficiency (via Burlington Free Press)

Lighting startup unveils game-changing LED bulb (via TreeHugger)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Gas drilling may be leaking twice as much gas as previously thought, study finds (via Inside Climate News)

Pennsylvania shale gas regulation bill heads to governor (via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE

A very warm January (via New York Times)

Blue LED rings on famous London monuments show just how far sea levels could rise (via Inhabitat)

Texas comptroller’s report assesses drought’s impact (via Texas Tribune)

GRID

California utilities face net metering backlash (via AOL Energy)

Super-sized batteries sprout up around the world (via Greenbang)

POLITICS

Mitt Romney mixes up Solyndra and Keystone pipeline (via Washington Post)

US lawmakers want rare earth minerals on menu for Chinese VP’s DC visit (via Wall Street Journal)

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These are just some of the stories we're following today. Be sure to check our Twitter & Facebook feeds for any breaking news or stories that aren't on this list.