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Op-Ed: Ex-Maryland Gov O’Malley: States must reassert authority on clean energy policy
As a former governor who passed one of the most ambitious state renewable energy requirements, and as the first candidate for national office to call for 100% renewable energy nationally, I am acutely aware of the important role that states need to play on clean energy policy. Unfortunately, federal authorities are proactively attempting to block state progress. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
Department of Energy Announces $28 Million in Funding for Wind Energy Research
Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $28.1 million in funding aimed at advancing wind energy nationwide across the land-based, offshore, and distributed wind sectors. While utility-scale wind energy in the United States has grown to 90 gigawatts, significant opportunities for cost reductions remain, especially in the areas of offshore wind, distributed wind, and tall wind.
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Broad infrastructure bill may not happen — Chao
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao conceded yesterday that Congress may not be able to pass the broad infrastructure package sought by President Trump and leaders of both parties. Chao told Senate appropriators that lawmakers face a “compressed time frame” for moving the infrastructure package before the August recess.
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Americans split on nuclear energy — poll
Forty years after the Three Mile Island disaster, Americans are evenly split in their opinion of nuclear power, according to a new poll. The Gallup analysis found 49 percent of respondents favor nuclear power — up 5 percent from three years ago, the last time Gallup surveyed the issue. Support for nuclear power has fluctuated over the years and appears to be a response to energy prices, experts said.
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Democrats try to reset climate debate after Green New Deal defeat
On the heels of the Green New Deal’s defeat in the Senate, Democrats tried to prove they would not give up on tackling climate change — an issue that has energized their base and that they think is a political winner for them. Even though the nonbinding resolution to drastically curb climate-warming emissions over the next 10 years will not move forward, Democrats sought to put the onus back on Republicans. They renewed calls for the White House and Republican lawmakers to start taking seriously what they, and much of the scientific community, see as a crisis that could imperil future generations. [ read more … ]
Dems say ‘I love you, I love you not’ to Green New Deal
House Democrats yesterday introduced their latest proposal to fight climate change — without mentioning the Green New Deal. At the bill’s crowded rollout, eight lawmakers — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — spoke about House Democrats’ plan to keep the United States in the landmark Paris climate agreement. [ read more … ]
Klobuchar unveils $3T infrastructure plan
Klobuchar’s infrastructure plan “will be her top budget priority, and she will work to get it done during the first year of her presidency,” the Medium post says. Notably, the plan seeks to leverage $650 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects. That’s more than three times the amount Trump requested last year. [ read more … ]
New carbon bill emerges as select committee convenes
The Select Committee on the Climate Crisis gathered this morning to shoot down a series of Republican amendments to its rules during the panel’s first formal meeting. It came as Democrats introduced a new carbon pricing bill, yet another sign of just how much the caucus wants to talk about climate. [ read more … ]
Millions of electric cars needed in war on pollution
Germany will need a massive jump in the number of electric cars plying the autobahn highways to make serious progress in cutting carbon emissions from the transport industry. While Germany is shutting coal plants to make its power generation cleaner, greenhouse gases from the transport sector have proved harder to tackle. A strong car lobby, around 800,000 automotive sector jobs and a nation in love with home-built combustion-engine cars have made politicians wary of increasing fuel taxes. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.