View this email in a web browser.
Icahn Tapped as Trump’s Special Adviser on Regulatory Issues
Billionaire Carl Icahn will advise Donald Trump on rescinding what the activist investor called “excessive regulation” on U.S. businesses, the president-elect’s transition team announced on Wednesday. Icahn will serve as a special adviser, not a federal employee, and he will not have specific duties, Trump’s team said in a statement. He will not take a salary, a transition aide said. The pick could draw scrutiny because Icahn, whose major investments include insurer American International Group and oil refining business CVR Energy, could help shape rules meant to police Wall Street and protect the environment. [ read more … ]
Trump team asks State Dept. what it spends on international environmental efforts
Donald Trump’s presidential transition team has asked State Department officials to disclose how much money it provides each year to international environmental groups. It’s the latest example of how the incoming administration is reassessing the U.S. government’s approach to tackling climate change and other environmental priorities. As part of a list of questions posed last week to the department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, the Trump landing team asked, “How much does the Department of State contribute annually to international environmental organizations in which the department participates?” [ read more … ]
US Sen. Markey: Trump’s win has galvanized environmentalists
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey warned Tuesday that any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to roll back renewable energy regulations will face fierce opposition from a newly galvanized environmental movement. The Massachusetts Democrat said he’s particularly concerned about the Republican president-elect’s nominees for secretary of state — Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson — and director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt. [ read more … ]
Deepwater decision delayed
Deepwater Wind’s 90MW offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island has been held up again, this time by ongoing off take negotiations. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) was expected to vote on a power purchase agreement this week on the Deepwater 1 South Fork project, however, officials have yet to wrap up a deal. [ read more … ]
Wind Energy Is Behind A Historic Shift in US Electricity Production
Wind generation has grown by more than 11 million megawatt-hours (MWh) in just a year in the huge ERCOT market of Texas. The increase, which has driven wind’s share of generation to 48 million MWh in the first 11 months of 2016 from 36 million MWh in the first 11 months of 2015, has displaced over 11.6 million MWh of electricity that would otherwise have been produced at fossil-fired plants.
[ read more … ]
Czechs Open Production of Batteries Based on Nanotechnology
A Czech company opened on Monday a production line for batteries based on nanotechnology, which uses tiny parts invisible to human eyes. The batteries are touted as potentially more efficient, longer-lasting, cheaper, lighter and above all safer. The automatic line will operate for several months to get all necessary certifications. Then, Prague-based company HE3DA said Monday it is ready to launch other lines in a new plant built in eastern Czech Republic, and at a factory in Slovakia. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.