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DOE moves to slash cost of carbon capture for coal-fired power plants
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday announced up to $30 million in federal funding for research into carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies, specifically solvent, sorbent and membrane technologies that could help keep coal-fired generation competitive. President Donald Trump campaigned hard on saving the coal industry and often talks of clean coal, but the costs of capture technology have been high enough to keep utilities from embracing it. [ read more … ]
Wheeler touts health efforts as top official sidelined
Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler today touted his agency’s efforts to protect children’s health as questions swirled around a recent move to put the top official overseeing those efforts on leave. “That is why we are here today, is to get the word out on EPA’s many programs and grants that can help states, local governments and schools protect our nation’s children,” Wheeler said at a press event today. He said several programs and offices at EPA, including its Office of Children’s Health Protection, are geared toward reducing hazards like lead and other toxins that can harm kids. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
PJM renewables future includes ‘significant chunk’ of corporate procurement, analyst says
A “significant chunk” of future renewable energy in the PJM Interconnection will come from corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) and direct merchant generation, said Andrew Levitt, PJM senior market analyst. “I would say corporate procurement through PPA of solar is like a great point of pride of ours,” Levitt told Utility Dive on Wednesday at Energy Storage International / Solar Power International. [ read more … ]
Community college leaders united to promote Iowa’s wind industry
Newhouse and Iowa Lakes sustainable energy director Dan Lutat pointed out the Iowa wind energy industry requested the up front tax incentives, which it currently receives, to sunset in 2020. Newhouse explained issues she would like to see addressed by the Iowa Congressional Delegation include support to improve transmission of wind energy to the larger energy grid and measures to allow for further sustainability of the industry such as favorable logistical support regarding regulations governing the distance between turbines and turbine set backs. [ read more … ]
Calif. aims for zero-emission bus transit by 2040
California is heading toward a zero-emission bus fleet, but hurdles remain. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is nearing the finish line on a regulation that would aim to have the state’s more than 200 public transit agencies exclusively using zero-emission buses by 2040. The agency held a hearing on the proposal last week and heard from transit agencies around the state that are worried about increased costs and potentially reduced reliability of battery-electric and fuel-cell buses. [ read more … ]
The bank where greens put their greenbacks
Amalgamated Bank is a blip compared with banking behemoths Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. — a midsized outfit with a sliver of their assets. But the institution, founded by union workers in 1923 and based in New York, is carving out a niche as the go-to bank for environmentalists, who say they’re drawn to its progressive legacy and climate policies. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.