Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Panel aims to ‘refocus’ State Energy Program that Trump wants to kill

Sam Mintz, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 06:27:42

The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing Wednesday to look at the State Energy Program, which was authorized in 1975 and provides federal and technical assistance to states. In recent years, it has been funded for about $50 million in the federal budget. According to a press release, the committee’s Republican leadership thinks the program’s current purpose and scope — focusing on energy conservation, energy assurance planning and technology development — are insufficient to “fully address today’s evolving energy landscape.” Lawmakers will look at ways to refocus the program toward the mission of energy security. The State Energy Program, along with other programs in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, such as the Weatherization Assistance Program, has been defended by activists, states and members of Congress, including some Republicans [ read more … ]

Competition for Offshore Wind Ramps Up in Massachusetts

By Philip Marcelo, Associated Press • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:32:27

Massachusetts’ bid to become the nation’s leader in offshore wind power is ramping up. The state’s electric utilities — National Grid, Eversource and Unitil — are slated to release by June 30 their requirements for projects seeking to develop the state’s first ocean-based wind farm. That sets in motion an ambitious effort to put Massachusetts ahead of states like New York, New Jersey and Maryland also seeking to establish their presence in the nascent U.S. industry. [ read more … ]

The U.S. solar industry is doing just fine under Trump — for now

By Chris Mooney. Washington Post • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:32:54

Coming off a record year for U.S. solar installations in 2016, the first quarter of 2017 wasn’t so bad either, according to data released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the industry’s lead trade group. The U.S. saw the installation of more than 2 gigawatts, or billion watts, of new solar capacity, a quarter of it on individual rooftops, according to a Thursday report by SEIA and GTM Research. That ranks solar second to natural gas overall for new U.S. electricity installations in the quarter, and was only a slight — 2 percent — year-on-year decline. [ read more … ]

EPA sends draft rollback to White House

Emily Holden, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:33:24

The Trump administration made its first formal move to roll back Obama-era climate standards for the power sector. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget yesterday received from U.S. EPA a proposed rulemaking for rescinding the Clean Power Plan. [ read more … ]

AWEA, GEA and SEIA call on Nevada governor to back 40% renewables target for 2030

By Renewable Energy News • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:33:46

US business groups from the geothermal, solar and wind power industries have written to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval asking him to sign a bill expanding the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 40% by 2030 from the existing 25% target by 2025. The American Wind Energy Association, Geothermal Energy Association, and Solar Energy Industries Association said: “Our organizations represent thousands of leading renewable energy companies in the United States who have invested billions of dollars in the country’s growing clean energy economy. [ read more … ]

Can California really hit a 100% renewable energy target?

ByRob Nikolewski, San Diego Union Tribune • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:34:15

“I don’t think it’s a big stretch, politically,” said Senate President pro tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), who introduced a bill in Sacramento that would lay down the zero-carbon sources threshold. The legislation, Senate Bill 100, passed the California state Senate on May 31 on a party-line 25-13 vote and now moves to the Assembly. With the state Legislature in Sacramento dominated by Democrats and two and a half months still remaining in this year’s session, the chances of Senate Bill 100 moving onto Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk look promising. [ read more … ]

Grid watchdogs raise concerns about panel design

Hannah Northey, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:34:38

Grid overseers are raising concerns about and citing problems in solar panels across the United States following a yearlong investigation of a major wildfire and blackout in Southern California last year. The North American Electric Reliability Corp. yesterday released its investigation of the Blue Cut wildfire last August, which forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in California near the Oregon border, burning 37,000 acres and destroying more than 100 homes. [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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	June 12, 2017
Panel aims to ‘refocus’ State Energy Program that Trump wants to kill Sam Mintz, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 06:27:42 The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy is holding a hearing Wednesday to look at the State Energy Program, which was authorized in 1975 and provides federal and technical assistance to states. In recent years, it has been funded for about $50 million in the federal budget. According to a press release, the committee’s Republican leadership thinks the program’s current purpose and scope — focusing on energy conservation, energy assurance planning and technology development — are insufficient to “fully address today’s evolving energy landscape.” Lawmakers will look at ways to refocus the program toward the mission of energy security. The State Energy Program, along with other programs in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, such as the Weatherization Assistance Program, has been defended by activists, states and members of Congress, including some Republicans [ read more … ] Competition for Offshore Wind Ramps Up in Massachusetts By Philip Marcelo, Associated Press • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:32:27 Massachusetts’ bid to become the nation’s leader in offshore wind power is ramping up. The state’s electric utilities — National Grid, Eversource and Unitil — are slated to release by June 30 their requirements for projects seeking to develop the state’s first ocean-based wind farm. That sets in motion an ambitious effort to put Massachusetts ahead of states like New York, New Jersey and Maryland also seeking to establish their presence in the nascent U.S. industry. [ read more … ] The U.S. solar industry is doing just fine under Trump — for now By Chris Mooney. Washington Post • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:32:54 Coming off a record year for U.S. solar installations in 2016, the first quarter of 2017 wasn’t so bad either, according to data released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the industry’s lead trade group. The U.S. saw the installation of more than 2 gigawatts, or billion watts, of new solar capacity, a quarter of it on individual rooftops, according to a Thursday report by SEIA and GTM Research. That ranks solar second to natural gas overall for new U.S. electricity installations in the quarter, and was only a slight — 2 percent — year-on-year decline. [ read more … ] EPA sends draft rollback to White House Emily Holden, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:33:24 The Trump administration made its first formal move to roll back Obama-era climate standards for the power sector. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget yesterday received from U.S. EPA a proposed rulemaking for rescinding the Clean Power Plan. [ read more … ] AWEA, GEA and SEIA call on Nevada governor to back 40% renewables target for 2030 By Renewable Energy News • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:33:46 US business groups from the geothermal, solar and wind power industries have written to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval asking him to sign a bill expanding the state’s renewable portfolio standard to 40% by 2030 from the existing 25% target by 2025. The American Wind Energy Association, Geothermal Energy Association, and Solar Energy Industries Association said: “Our organizations represent thousands of leading renewable energy companies in the United States who have invested billions of dollars in the country’s growing clean energy economy. [ read more … ] Can California really hit a 100% renewable energy target? ByRob Nikolewski, San Diego Union Tribune • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:34:15 “I don’t think it’s a big stretch, politically,” said Senate President pro tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), who introduced a bill in Sacramento that would lay down the zero-carbon sources threshold. The legislation, Senate Bill 100, passed the California state Senate on May 31 on a party-line 25-13 vote and now moves to the Assembly. With the state Legislature in Sacramento dominated by Democrats and two and a half months still remaining in this year’s session, the chances of Senate Bill 100 moving onto Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk look promising. [ read more … ] Grid watchdogs raise concerns about panel design Hannah Northey, E&E News reporter • • Posted 2017-06-12 04:34:38 Grid overseers are raising concerns about and citing problems in solar panels across the United States following a yearlong investigation of a major wildfire and blackout in Southern California last year. The North American Electric Reliability Corp. yesterday released its investigation of the Blue Cut wildfire last August, which forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in California near the Oregon border, burning 37,000 acres and destroying more than 100 homes. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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