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Trump picks Chatterjee as chairman
President Trump has designated Republican Neil Chatterjee as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The president announced his intent tonight, ending weeks of speculation that Kevin McIntyre, the agency’s current chairman, would relinquish his leadership role. He did that in a Monday letter to President Trump that FERC released tonight. In 2017, McIntyre had surgery for a cancerous brain tumor [ read more … ]
Scientists Push for a Crash Program to Scrub Carbon From the Air
With time running out to avoid dangerous global warming, the nation’s leading scientific body on Wednesday urged the federal government to begin a research program focused on developing technologies that can remove vast quantities of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere in order to help slow climate change. The report, written by a panel of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, underscores an important shift. For decades, experts said that nations could prevent large temperature increases mainly by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and moving to cleaner sources like solar, wind and nuclear power. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
Perry on stalled grid plan: Costs ‘minuscule’ over disaster
The cost of subsidizing America’s coal and nuclear plants would be “minuscule” compared with the overall cost of defending the country, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said today in an argument for advancing his department’s stalled proposal to prop up older forms of power generation. Perry ordered Energy Department staffers last year to investigate whether subsidies for wind and solar power were forcing coal plants to shut down early. The department submitted a plan to the White House last year that would subsidize coal and nuclear stations in the name of national defense.
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Carbon fee opponents break initiative fundraising record in Wash.
The campaign against a ballot measure creating a carbon pollution fee in Washington state has set a fundraising record for statewide initiatives. The “No on 1631” campaign, sponsored by the Western States Petroleum Association, an oil industry trade group, has raised more than $25.8 million, according to data from the state Public Disclosure Commission. [ read more … ]
New York Sues Exxon Mobil, Saying It Deceived Shareholders on Climate Change
New York’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil on Wednesday that claims the company defrauded shareholders by downplaying the expected risk of climate change to its business. The litigation, which follows more than three years of investigation, poses a financial risk to Exxon, as well as a potential reputational blow to a company that has worked to build an image of being concerned about climate change. It could also expose the company to other litigation. [ read more … ]
NextEra: Wind will be competitive after PTC sunset due to price declines
he price of wind power will continue to fall as the industry makes technological advancements, helping to keep it competitive as federal tax credits fall off, according to officials at NextEra Energy, which reported quarterly earnings on Tuesday. The company expects that wind power in 10 years will essentially cost what it does today while receiving the full federal production tax credit (PTC), thanks to taller towers, longer blades and better electronic systems, according to Armando Pimentel, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. [ read more … ]
New York Sues Exxon Mobil, Saying It Deceived Shareholders on Climate Change
New York’s attorney general filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil on Wednesday that claims the company defrauded shareholders by downplaying the expected risk of climate change to its business. The litigation, which follows more than three years of investigation, poses a financial risk to Exxon, as well as a potential reputational blow to a company that has worked to build an image of being concerned about climate change. It could also expose the company to other litigation. [ read more … ]
Kids’ climate trial might be dead. Here’s what it means
There’s been a flurry of activity in the lead-up to the trial in a landmark climate lawsuit brought by a group of young people against the federal government. Our Children’s Trust, which is representing the plaintiffs, has been selling T-shirts that say “YOUTH V. GOV” and “SEE YOU IN COURT.” Reverends are preaching about the case from the pulpit. There’s a podcast. And rallies are planned nationwide for Monday, the trial start date. But the trial may not actually happen. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.