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Top Story
Newest Democratic hopefuls split on climate
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper have a fair bit in common. Both are white men in their late 60s running for president from the perch of a Western governorship, to name just a few similarities. But on the issue of climate change, there’s enough of a difference between the two Democratic candidates that the split could have an outsized impact on both their campaigns. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
Senate energy panel leaders expect sustained action on climate
While the prescriptive solutions from lawmakers and witnesses largely reflected the dominant thought of how to better unleash low-carbon technologies through tax incentives and research funding, the hearing may have achieved more for its symbolism than immediate policy implications. It was the first ENR hearing on climate specifically since 2012. And with more coming, the committee is building to something that could introduce additional energy efficiency or research development policy levers to guide the electric sector in more carbon reduction strategies. [ read more … ]
Britain eyes 27,000 skilled offshore wind jobs by 2030
Britain plans to treble the number of skilled jobs in its offshore wind sector to 27,000 by 2030, the government said on Wednesday as it readies to publish a deal outlining support for the industry. The offshore wind deal will be the 10th so-called sector deal announced by the government as part of its industrial strategy to intervene in key sectors to tackle weak productivity and bolster businesses ahead of Brexit. [ read more … ]
In Massachusetts, both parties want $1B for climate but disagree on source
The Republican governor of Massachusetts and the state’s top Democratic lawmaker agree that they need to spend a fortune to avert damage from climate change. But they disagree where the money should come from. [ read more … ]
Washington state moves toward 100% clean energy
As Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) launches his bid to run for president on a climate change-focused platform, his state is moving toward achieving one of his big clean energy goals. On Friday, the Washington Senate passed a bill that would require the state’s electric utilities to phase out coal-fired power by 2025 and transition to 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity by 2030. [ read more … ]
Wis. mulls over proposed solar farms
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission is preparing to decide the fate of two proposed solar farms that, if built, would more than quadruple the state’s solar capacity and pave the way for more utility-scale solar. The projects are among nearly 30 large solar projects in Wisconsin that are being reviewed by grid operator Midcontinent Independent System Operator, with most of them between 100 and 400 megawatts. The falling price of solar panels, state renewable energy goals and the availability of farmland are all factors driving the projects. [ read more … ]
Walz aims for 100 percent clean energy in Minnesota by 2050
A proposal by Gov. Tim Walz to make Minnesota’s electricity providers generate all their energy from clean sources, like solar and wind, by 2050 drew immediate criticism Monday for being too costly and unreliable. “The new policies will ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity in Minnesota,” said Walz, a Democrat. “They’ll also give the state a cleaner, healthier environment and a strong clean-energy economy.” [ read more … ]
State mandates for renewables is driving new wind, solar power projects
State mandates that require power generators to produce an increasingly larger percentage of power from clean sources is driving development of renewable energy. Several states recently upped their goals, moves that will likely mean power production will continue to shift from fossil fuels to wind power, solar power and other forms of clean energy. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.