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In Iowa, voters will settle a fight for energy independence
Voters in the town of 7,900 residents in northeastern Iowa go to the polls today to decide whether to break from investor-owned Alliant Energy Corp. and form a municipal utility that could accelerate the shift to renewable energy. A pitched battle over the town’s source of electricity reflects tensions across the country between regional utilities and customers who want more choice over where their electricity comes from. In Decorah, the referendum is part of a grass-roots effort by a group of residents known as Decorah Power. They want public support to go to state regulators with a request to split with the Madison, Wis.-based utility. [ read more … ]
U.S. moves up to second most attractive renewables market after China: report
The United States moved up to second place in a ranking of the most attractive countries for renewables investment, after China, a report by UK accountancy firm Ernst & Young showed on Tuesday. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
17 states, D.C. sue EPA over bid to lower tailpipe targets
California, 16 other states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration today over its push to loosen clean car standards, the opening shot in what is sure to become a lengthy legal battle. The lawsuit alleges that EPA acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” by deciding that the Obama-era targets for tailpipe exhaust were too ambitious. Plaintiffs filed their complaint in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. [ read more … ]
Turbine bans: National security issue or smokescreen?
New York could become the latest state to limit wind energy near military airfields because of the potential effects on radar and training operations. But detractors say such bans have little to do with national security. Lawmakers are considering a bill to bar state subsidies for turbines near Fort Drum, one of the biggest employers in the northwestern part of the state. At least three other states have implemented their own bans or limits, and similar legislation has been proposed at the federal level. [ read more … ]
Oklahoma Wind Tax Bill Fails In State Senate
A bill that would have ended the tax rebate on wind energy saving the state $70 million every year failed in the state Senate. Backers of the bill said the state can’t continue writing $70 million checks to an industry that is established in the state. Opponents said that’s the deal the state made; it should stick to it. [ read more … ]
FERC picks clean energy turf battle with states, utilities
The federal government’s independent electricity watchdog has been venturing into new territory with a series of regulations for clean energy that states and utilities warn trample on state authority and could cost consumers more money. Jurisdictional battles between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the states are nothing new, but they are becoming more common as the way energy is produced and managed rapidly changes. [ read more … ]
PJM: FirstEnergy nukes can retire without reliability threat
Three nuclear plants owned by FirstEnergy can retire without threatening the reliability of electricity service, grid operator PJM said in a deactivation analysis released Monday. Any power delivery issues as a result of the deactivations can be alleviated through transmission expansions already planned for the system, PJM reported. In a separate announcement, the grid operator said there are no near-term fuel security issues posed by planned retiremen [ read more … ]
Americans For a Clean Energy Grid Files Comments with FERC on Grid Resilience
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (“ACEG”), a diverse coalition focused on improving the high-voltage transmission grid, today submitted its comments in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proceeding on Grid Resilience. The comments assert that the smart, cost-effective expansion of high-voltage transmission networks, especially on an interregional basis, is a largely untapped means of enhancing the reliability and the resilience of the nation’s electric grid. [ read more … ]
Utilities win as ALEC spars over electric vehicles
Utility groups helped defeat a Koch brothers-backed effort to eliminate state incentives for electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging last week. The American Legislative Exchange Council considered a policy against subsidies and mandates related to vehicles Friday. The organization gets conservative lawmakers and private-sector representatives together to draft model legislation language and is often credited with coordinating free-market bills across the country. [ read more … ]
Europe sees battery production as continent’s energy future
A Swedish startup based in one of the cradles of electrical technology wants to rival Asia’s giants of lithium-ion battery production. The company, Northvolt, plans to build a plant capable of turning out 32 gigawatt-hours of lithium battery capacity per year. It’s based in the city of Västerås, where light and generator manufacturer ASEA — later part of ABB Group — got its start in 1833. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.