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Lawsuit Over Nation’s 1st Offshore Wind Farm Is Dismissed
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought over the nation’s first offshore wind farm. The lawsuit was filed in 2015 by plaintiffs including the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association and others. They argued that utility National Grid’s deal to purchase power from the wind farm violated federal law and would result in a significant increase to their electric bills. [ read more … ]
House bill looks to streamline permitting of renewables on federal land
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on renewable energy, Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee spoke in favor of a bill intended to streamline the permitting process for developers of renewable energy projects on federal land. By “shortcutting the tedious and costly environmental review required by the National Environmental Policy Act,” the bill, the Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2015, H.R. 2663, would help renewable projects that are “hampered by bureaucratic red tape,” Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., said at a July 13 hearing held by the subcommittee. [ read more … ]
Merkley plans 100% renewable power push
Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley is planning to introduce multiple bills in coming months to move the U.S. power mix to 100 percent renewable sources by midcentury. The plan is backed by environmentalists like 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben. Merkley made the announcement last week at the Netroots Nation conference in St. Louis on a panel with billionaire green activist Tom Steyer, which focused on Merkley’s “Keep It in the Ground Act.” [ read more … ]
GOP convention kicks off — minus climate-friendly Republicans
Eleven House Republicans who are trying to change their party’s attitude on climate change appear to be skipping the GOP convention beginning here today. Several also say they won’t vote for presumed presidential nominee Donald Trump. The decision signals a sense of foreboding about Trump’s candidacy by some of the party’s most visible supporters of tackling global warming. The group of lawmakers are working on a package of bills to cut greenhouse gas emissions by promoting clean energy and other programs that they believe could appeal to some conservatives.
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Solar energy powering up in Illinois
Solar energy may finally be rising out of the darkness in Illinois. “The (solar) market is beginning to ripen here in the Midwest. The industry has been strong for a number of years on the east and west coasts,” said Jason Hawksworth, founder of Hawk Energy Solutions in Washington. Hawk Energy, a company that designs, builds and provides financial information on solar projects, recently collaborated with Ruyle Mechanical Services, a business in Downtown Peoria, on the installation of a solar system on the company’s roof. The solar system is expected to yield a $22,000 profit in five years along with covering the system’s $62,500 cost. [ read more … ]
Clean energy on the rise in Texas, and that’s good news
As a native Texan, summer brings to mind many activities, like swimming, outdoor concerts and family barbecues. It also makes me think of the hot summer sun. But this year, as millions of Texans are cranking up the AC to stave off heat, I can rest a little easier knowing that our state’s electricity is increasingly being powered by cleaner, less polluting resources. That’s because market forces are leading to coal’s rapid decline, resulting in a cleaner electric grid in the Lone Star State. According to a new analysis from the Brattle Group and the Texas Clean Energy Coalition, natural gas and renewable energy — such as that from wind turbines and solar panels — are on the rise in Texas. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.