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Tariffs vex Hill; lobbyist says ‘nightmare waiting to happen’
Trump imposed a 30 percent tariff on imported solar cells and modules in January set to decline over four years. The president last week also floated an additional 25 percent fee on solar components from China. The president’s supporters say that the tariffs are rejuvenating the solar manufacturing sector, including in swing states. In March for example, China-based JinkoSolar announced that the opening of its first U.S. factory in Jacksonville, Fla., would create 200 direct jobs and support “hundreds” of additional jobs in shipping and related industries. The company tied its decision to tariffs. [ read more … ]
California Lawmakers Move Closer to Regional Electric Grid
A contentious proposal to link oversight of California’s electric grid with other states in the U.S. West narrowly cleared a legislative hurdle Tuesday, keeping alive a proposal that has divided environmentalists over the best way to expand renewable energy. The proposal, backed by influential proponents including Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, seeks to make it easier and cheaper to deploy renewable energy across the western United States. But critics say California would jeopardize renewable energy mandates by sharing grid management with states that use more coal and natural gas— a possibility they see as more likely under President Donald Trump. [ read more … ]
Nevada renewables measure poised to make ballot
A proposed constitutional amendment to emphasize Nevada’s renewable energy sector has enough signatures to make the ballot in November, supporters say. The measure would more than double the solar, wind and other renewable output by state electric utilities. The effort is led by Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future, a group funded by Democratic superdonor Tom Steyer. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
House set to debate offshore wind energy bills in U.S. waters
A U.S. House committee will kick off debate next week on three new bills aimed at boosting offshore wind energy leases in federal waters. The House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on Tuesday on three bipartisan offshore wind proposals. [ read more … ]
Coal Is Being Squeezed Out of Power Industry by Cheap Renewables
Coal will be increasingly squeezed out of the power generation market over the next three decades as the cost of renewables plunges and technology improves the flexibility of grids globally. That’s the conclusion of a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, which estimated some $11.5 trillion of investment will go into electricity generation between now and 2050. [ read more … ]
Public Power CEO hits FERC for ‘pushing’ jurisdiction
The head of the nation’s public power lobby ramped up criticism yesterday of the chief federal energy regulator for “pushing its jurisdictional boundaries at the expense of state and local authorities.” Sue Kelly, president of the American Public Power Association, in an interview said the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is “making it harder and harder” for APPA member electric utilities to manage efficiency and storage activities within their footprints. [ read more … ]
Massachusetts bill would superspeed path to all renewables
A bill to accelerate Massachusetts’ renewable energy targets, en route to a 100 percent renewable grid, is advancing in the state General Court. The state Senate last week passed S. 2545, a portfolio of energy programs that would set aggressive new goals for offshore wind, greenhouse gas cuts and energy storage, among other things. [ read more … ]
Major universities join forces to slash emissions
Public university leaders say addressing climate change is part of their social responsibility. The University Climate Change Coalition, or UC3, a consortium of 13 major universities including the University of California and State University of New York, launched this spring to combine its members’ research expertise to reduce their carbon footprint. It is also working with academic leaders in Canada and Mexico. [ read more … ]
NextEra turns tax credits into renewable fortune
Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. rarely advertises its green-power bona fides. But it has steadily taken advantage of federal and state policies — particularly federal tax subsidies — to become the world’s biggest solar- and wind-farm operator. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.