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White House aligns with Canada, Mexico on emissions plan
The White House today formally announced an “action plan” with Canada and Mexico to address climate change that goes beyond this week’s earlier announcement that the three nations will draw 50 percent of North America’s power from no carbon sources by 2025. The United States, Mexico and Canada committed to further boosting clean energy, curbing heat-trapping refrigerants and joining an international mechanism to reduce the aviation sector’s carbon footprint.
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Obama, Justin Trudeau and Enrique Peña Nieto Focus on Climate, Both Political and Global
With the gothic spires of Canada’s Parliament as a backdrop, Mr. Obama, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico announced a landmark agreement on climate change and extolled the benefits of a Pacific Rim trade agreement. But it was the charged words in the American election and Britain’s departure from the European Union that seized most of the attention. [ read more … ]
Senate heads for exits, planning action on miners and GMOs
FAA’s current short-term authorization expires on July 15. Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) said he hopes to pass an extension that would run through the end of 2017. But said the measure would not include any tax riders, a move backers of FAA say would bog down the reauthorization. Renewable energy advocates have been pressing to fix what they call an oversight in last year’s end-of-year omnibus spending and tax package, which extended the investment tax credit for solar for five years but not other qualifying sources. [ read more … ]
Controversies can wait for conference — Murkowski
As the clock ticks down to recess, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski said none of the controversial provisions in the House-passed energy package is being “singled out” ahead of a possible conference committee to merge each chamber’s reform bill. Rather than ticking through a list of controversial provisions that could sink the effort, the Alaska Republican said she and ranking member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) were laying out a process to tackle the disagreements in conference. [ read more … ]
Siemens freezes new UK wind power investment following Brexit vote
Siemens is putting new wind power investment plans in the UK on hold due to uncertainty caused by last week’s Brexit vote, the Germany energy company has told the Guardian. A £310m manufacturing hub in Hull that employs 1,000 people will not be affected by the decision, and should still begin producing blades and assembling turbines next year. But Siemens, one of the few firms to openly back a Remain vote, will not be making new investments until the future of the UK’s relationship with Europe becomes clearer.
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Southeast emissions could rise without renewables — study
he Southeast runs the risk of increasing carbon emissions while trying to comply with the Clean Power Plan if states add natural gas generation to meet demand without offsetting it with renewables and energy efficiency, according to a new study from Georgia Tech. This is because the region likely will shutter the largest number of coal units to meet U.S. EPA’s rule, which broadly requires a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants by 2030. [ read more … ]
Nixon backs Missouri power line for wind energy
Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday he backs a proposed power line that would cut through Missouri for a multistate wind energy project, despite objections from landowners and concerns from state regulators. Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners agreed to what the Democratic governor described as landowner protections if it gets approval for the power line that would make some electricity available for state utility companies, Nixon said. “With these new protections for landowners and millions of dollars in savings for consumers, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line is a good deal for Missouri,” Nixon said in a statement. “In addition to reducing energy costs, this $500 million construction project will also boost our economy and create good-paying jobs.” [ read more … ]
Google Buys 12-Year Output From Norwegian Wind Power Farm
Google has bought the entire 12-year power production from a yet-to-be-built Norwegian wind power farm to supply its European data centers with renewable energy, its developers said on Thursday. Norway’s Zephyr and Norsk Vind Energi said the 160-megawatt capacity onshore Tellenes wind power farm south of Stavanger is expected to be fully operational in late 2017, and when built it would become the largest wind power farm in the Nordic country. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.