View this email in a web browser.
The Energy 202: House GOP wants to water down tax breaks for wind energy. The Senate is unlikely to let it.
The House tax bill would make it more difficult for firms looking to build wind turbines from qualifying for a set of tax credits used to finance construction of the behemoth towers and blades, which often have high upfront costs. Even for developers that do qualify, the bill would trim the production tax credit for wind from $24 to $15 per megawatt-hour. Fortunately for the industry, the places best suited for onshore wind energy are concentrated in the Midwest and Great Plains — traditionally, rural strongholds for Republicans. Three GOP senators — Charles E. Grassley (Iowa), John Thune (S.D.) and Dean Heller (Nev.) — have come forward in opposition to altering the wind tax credits. [ read more … ]
7 states explore cutting carbon from cars
Northeastern Republicans and Democrats agree it’s time to bring down emissions from transportation. They’re just not sure how to do it. This week, seven states and the District of Columbia announced a new series of public listening sessions to get ideas about curbing car emissions — including, maybe, some sort of regional policy like a “cap and invest” program or a tax. [ read more … ]
Construction starts on Nebraska wind farm that will sell electricity to Facebook for Omaha-area data center
Construction began Tuesday on the Dixon County, Nebraska, wind farm from which Facebook will buy electricity to power its massive Omaha-area data center. Survey work and site preparation will begin immediately, officials from Boston-area Enel Green Power North America said, and turbine deliveries are expected in June. [ read more … ]
Half of OPPD’s energy will come from renewable sources by 2020, CEO says
Omaha Public Power District President and Chief Executive Tim Burke said half the energy the utility sells to retail customers will come from renewable sources by the end of 2020. Burke said in remarks over lunch at the 10th annual Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference on Monday that the utility is working on a request for proposals for up to 300 megawatts more of wind energy.
[ read more … ]
Op-Ed: Solar energy powers Iowa job market
The growing solar energy industry in Iowa is harnessing the state’s sun potential at an ever-increasing pace. A new study, “Clean Jobs Midwest,” from the Clean Energy Trust and Environmental Entrepreneurs, found that 30,418 Iowans work in the state’s clean energy sector, including more than 700 in the solar industry. [ read more … ]
Schwarzenegger calls on climate activists to change methods
Schwarzenegger spoke Sunday at a global climate meeting in Bonn, Germany, where diplomats from around the world are discussing implementing the Paris climate accord. He said: “It’s time we wake up and talk about what really matters: 25,000 people dying every day because of pollution.” Schwarzenegger also criticized the environmental community for “missing the point” with its messaging on global warming. [ read more … ]
Global CO2 rising after 3 flat years. A glitch or a problem?
Global carbon dioxide emissions are on the rise again after three years of little to no growth, dashing hopes that they had peaked for good. According to the latest report from the Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists who track the amount of carbon emitted by human activity, 2017 will see a 2 percent increase in the burning of fossil fuels, after nearly no growth in 2014, 2015 or 2016. Altogether, human-caused emissions this year are projected to reach 41 billion tons of carbon dioxide. [ read more … ]
America’s ‘Renaissance’ to Gains for Renewables: Global Energy Trends
One factor that may hamper the growth of gas: rapidly falling costs of renewable sources of energy like wind and solar installations. The average cost of electricity generated over the life of a solar power plant declined by a stunning 70 percent from 2010 to 2016, according to the agency’s report. Wind costs declined by 25 percent in that period. [ read more … ]
Energy groups tout high percentages of veterans working in their industries
Nearly 800,000 workers were employed in what the Energy Department calls “low carbon emission generation technologies,” which includes renewables, nuclear power and “advanced/low emission natural gas.” There are 102,000 workers employed by the wind industry. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.