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California lawmakers advance Golden State-led regional grid plan
The California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee approved by a 6-1 vote A.B. 813, a bill to begin the process of turning the state’s electricity grid operator into a regional transmission organization (RTO). The prospect has long tantalized Western utilities and regulators for its potential to encourage wind and solar development in California’s neighboring coal-heavy states. But a deal has so far eluded California and the other states due to those same political differences. [ read more … ]
World on track for 50% renewables by 2050, says Bloomberg energy outlook
A new analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts a global electricity supply mostly fueled by carbon-free sources by 2050, with a “chilling” outlook for fossil fuel generators and little hope for a nuclear resurgence with today’s technology. The New Energy Outlook report concludes a “dramatic shift” to “50 by 50” is being driven by cheap renewables generation and falling battery costs. Solar and wind costs are expected to drop 71% and 58%, respectively, by 2050. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
Coal is getting caught up in Trump’s burgeoning trade war
President Trump, with nearly every energy policy decision, has privileged coal above all forms of electricity production. But one of the unintended consequences of his aggressive trade policy is that China is promising to retaliate against Trump’s imposition of new tariffs by aiming to hit the U.S. president where it hurts him politically — in coal country. [ read more … ]
Ohio Senate looks for compromise in energy stalemate
As its Great Lakes neighbors Illinois and Michigan firm up plans to add thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar energy in the coming years, a stalemate over clean energy policy drags on in the Buckeye State. The Ohio Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will try to move the debate forward this afternoon as it holds another hearing on a substitute version of a bill that passed the House mostly along party lines in March 2017. [ read more … ]
New York renewables advocates push to restore net metering
Distributed-energy advocates in New York are trying to temporarily bring back the state’s net-metering system, with a little help from Darth “VDER.” “I am Darth VDER, the Empire’s policy for crushing renewable energy projects,” the imperial villain said on a visit to the state capital last week. [ read more … ]
Defying Trump, 9 states roll out plan to boost EVs
Nine states yesterday released a bipartisan action plan for boosting deployment of zero-emission vehicles, in a rebuke to President Trump as his administration moves to weaken federal clean car rules. Together, the nine states represent about one-third of the country’s car market. They include California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. [ read more … ]
Group details carbon dividend, limited liability plan
Former Sens. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and John Breaux (D-La.) announced an effort today to address climate change, which they compared to past national crises, such as world war and economic collapse. As leaders of Americans for Carbon Dividends, a group created yesterday, they announced their support for a $40-per-ton carbon tax, charged at the source of emissions, that would return the revenue generated to U.S. citizens through dividend checks. [ read more … ]
Inhofe defends Pruitt, despite ‘questionable judgment’
Following a lengthy meeting with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt this week, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) is dismissing the host of ethics questions surrounding his onetime political protégé as “misrepresentations.” In an interview with E&E News and other media outlets in his office this morning, Inhofe pinned blame for Pruitt’s ethics scandals on California billionaire Tom Steyer, “disgruntled” former employees, the media and what he described as unprecedented security threats against the former Oklahoma attorney general. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.