Damian's energy dispatch

Energydesk

Obama's climate plan: 5 things you need to know
President Obama revealed his much anticipated Climate Action Plan. It's got mixed reviews - here is our initial take. 

UK

FT: Osborne to encourage energy infrastructure
George Osborne is likely to claim to be bringing forward significant investments in energy infrastructure in the wake of today's spending review. Announcements are expected on new offshore wind farms, a progress report on new nuclear and a relaxation of shale gas regulation. We may also hear the level of subsidies for renewable technologies beyond 2017 and the details of any shale gas community benefit package. 

Telegraph: Oil firms to face shale regulations
Oil firms carrying out exploratory operations onshore will need to apply for permits related to waste and flaring - under new guidelines to be announced by the Environment Agency (EA). The permits are the same as those required by shale gas firms but had not been required for oil drilling until now. The move by the Environment Agency appears to come after campaign group Friends of the Earth highlighted the need for the permits under European directives. However the EA is also planning to outline a streamlined permitting process for shale gas drilling. 

Times: Poll shows support for ban on wind turbines in Scottish wild land
75% of people support draft planning proposals in Scotland which would effectively ban the construction of wind turbines across 20% of Scotland designated as 'wild land'. 

Telegraph: Total to seek UK fracking licenses
French energy giant Total is holding talks with several companies about buying a stake in their shale gas exploration blocks.

Guardian: UK could miss 2020's targets
The government's independent advisors on climate change say the UK is on track to hit it's ambitions for 2017, but miss them during the 2020's - unless things change. 

WORLD
 
NYT: Obama climate plan to cut coal use
Stocks in a range of American coal firms fell as news leaked out that Obama's climate plan would involve capping emissions from coal plants - in a bid to stop the resurgence of the fuel as gas prices rise. The President also promised to end US support for overseas coal projects in Vietnam and elsewhere. The President also laid down new conditions for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline saying he would allow it only if it did not 'significantly exacerbate' climate change. 

WSJ: Shale well leaks cause water pollution
Poorly sealed natural gas wells are the likely cause of water pollution found in regions close to shale drilling activities - according to a study by Duke University. The scientists found that 82% of the 141 water wells they tested in a part of Pennsylvania above the rock formation known as the Marcellus Shale had elevated levels of methane, the main component of natural gas. The study comes as German geologists said they intend to develop plans for 'green fracking'. 

Guardian: Emissions trading flaws will cancel out renewables
A report by environmental think-tank Sandbag argues that the over-supply of carbon credits as part of the EU's vaguely hopeless emissions trading scheme will cancel out the positive impact of renewable energy on emissions. 

FT: BP fights oil spill payouts
BP has placed newspaper adverts accusing lawyers of encouraging thousands of claims for inflated losses as a result of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.