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A Green New Deal is Technologically Possible. Its Political Prospects Are Another Question.
President Trump derided the Green New Deal as a “high school term paper that got a low mark.” Congressional Republicans mocked it as “zany.” Even Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House speaker, called the proposal a “green dream,” and some of the party’s 2020 candidates are starting to describe it as merely aspirational. Yet, despite that disdain, the goals of the far-reaching plan to tackle climate change and economic inequality are within the realm of technological possibility, several energy experts and economists said in recent interviews. Getting there will cost trillions of dollars, most agreed, and require expansive new taxes and federal programs. It certainly could not be accomplished within the 10-year time frame that supporters say is necessary, according to these experts. [ read more … ]
‘Green New Deal’ is shrinking, and it mystifies activists
In a matter of months, the “Green New Deal” has transformed the way Democratic candidates for president talk about climate change. But will they transform the “Green New Deal”? That’s the unwelcomed test faced by a fledgling movement of activists who, somehow, intensified the climate debate within the Democratic Party. Now that they’ve convinced White House hopefuls to adopt a boundless climate plan, their next challenge is to draw a boundary against modest campaign promises. [ read more … ]
Nine Key Questions About the Green New Deal
If you’ve heard a lot recently about the Green New Deal but still aren’t quite sure what it is, you are not alone. After all, it has been trumpeted by its supporters as the way to avoid planetary destruction, and vilified by opponents as a socialist plot to take away your ice cream. So it’s bound to be somewhat confusing. We’re here to help. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
In Indiana coal and gas could dominate for decades. Can that change?
A study by Indiana researchers shows coal and natural gas could dominate the state’s electricity supply for decades without changes in policy. Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Coal fuels almost 75 percent of Indiana’s electricity today and fossil fuels may continue to dominate the state’s power supply for decades unless new policies are enacted, according to a study by university researchers. [ read more … ]
Wind company might find a use for closing power plants
The Press of Atlantic City reports offshore wind company Ørsted is eying B.L. England and the Oyster Creek Generating Station as part of a plan to connect its turbines to the energy grid.Ørsted says the project could produce up to 1,100 megawatts of energy and bring 100 permanent jobs during the wind farm’s expected 25-year life cycle. An Ørsted vessel will study the coast to see whether interconnection is possible. [ read more … ]
Iowa regulators OK significant cuts in MidAmerican efficiency spending
The Iowa Utilities Board Monday approved MidAmerican Energy’s $256 million, five-year efficiency plan, which includes 14 energy efficiency and demand response programs that are expected to provide more than $700 million in net electric benefits. Total efficiency spending in the plan is approximately $163 million for electric programs and $33 million on the natural gas side of MidAmerican’s services. Demand response spending is about $60 million and includes a residential program allowing MidAmerican to control central air conditioning systems when the utility forecasts strong demand. [ read more … ]
Kids’ bid to block fossil fuels would derail economy — feds
Government lawyers say a recent attempt by young litigants to halt federally approved fossil fuel development would “throttle important government functions superintending broad swaths of the national economy.” Top Justice Department attorneys were responding to an unusual effort by plaintiffs in the so-called kids’ climate case to secure a court order suspending federal permits for pipelines, mining, oil and gas drilling, and other development. [ read more … ]
Op-Ed: ULRICH TOMBUELT: Wind energy poised to boost N.C.’s economy
With North Carolina’s legislative session well-underway, I have a renewed optimism about many exciting new economic development and employment opportunities for communities all across the state. The end of 2018 marked the end of our state’s two-year moratorium on wind energy developments, which has unnecessarily put a hold on new wind projects in eastern North Carolina. [ read more … ]
VW first carmaker to pledge ‘CO2-neutral’ manufacturing
Germany’s Volkswagen AG has committed to manufacturing a new model of electric car this year while adding zero carbon to the atmosphere — a very specific and difficult goal that no automaker has ever tried. Other automakers want to eliminate emissions from certain car models by electrifying them. Other non-auto companies, especially technology firms like Apple Inc. and Google, have made big strides in eliminating emissions from operations. But Volkswagen is the first automaker to promise carbon neutrality in the heavy, energy-intensive business of making a car. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.