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Bloomberg announces $500M effort to shut coal plants
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is plunging $500 million into an effort to close all of the nation’s remaining coal plants by 2030 and put the United States on track toward a 100% clean energy economy. The billionaire Bloomberg’s investment in the “Beyond Carbon” initiative marks the largest-ever philanthropic effort to combat climate change, according to the mayor’s foundation. The organization will bypass the federal government and instead seek to pass climate and clean energy policies, as well as back political candidates, at the state and local levels. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
2020 Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and President Trump plan dueling campaign stops in Iowa on Tuesday
Former Vice President and 2020 Democratic front-runner Joe Biden plans to return to Iowa next Tuesday. He may bump into President Donald Trump who also plans a visit to the state that day. Biden’s campaign was mum on the details of his trip, which marks only his second visit to the key caucus state since formally declaring a 2020 run for the White House on April 25. It’s the veteran politician’s third try to win the highest office in the land. [ read more … ]
California blasts Trump proposal to freeze fuel-efficiency standards as ‘flawed’ and ‘illegal’
California officials on Friday plan to submit a 400-page repudiation of the Trump administration’s proposal to freeze fuel-efficiency standards for the nation’s cars and trucks through 2026, calling it a deeply flawed, disingenuous effort that will harm the health and pocketbooks of Americans. “Finalizing this proposal would worsen air quality for the most vulnerable, waste billions of gallons of gasoline, forfeit our best chance to fight climate change, and result in years of uncertainty in the marketplace,” reads a draft of comments from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) obtained by The Washington Post. It calls the Trump administration’s plan “a contrived solution to justify a predetermined outcome.” [ read more … ]
In quest for bigger batteries, Calif. mulls century-old idea
The push by California and other states to revive the century-old technology — called “pumped-hydro storage” — underscores the limitations of modern batteries. While utilities are aggressively installing lithium-ion systems on California’s grid, facilities like the aging one in the Sierras can deliver far more electricity than anything made by Tesla Inc. [ read more … ]
Spain’s Iberdrola to build Europe’s largest solar farm
Iberdrola SA is working to build what it says will be Europe’s largest solar farm at a cost of €300 million ($337 million). The Spanish utility has started the process with the country’s Ecological Transition ministry to build a 590-megawatt farm in the western region of Extremadura, according to a statement yesterday. The company will now follow government rules to hold public hearings and collect comments on the impact on the environment and for landowners, a mandatory process before starting the project. [ read more … ]
Green New Deal gains traction on the campaign trail
Momentum for the Green New Deal is building — not so much in the halls of Congress, but on the presidential campaign trail. Even though Senate quashed the proposal earlier this year, three different 2020 hopefuls this week continued to seize upon the moniker as they unveil climate plans that push the poles of debate to the left. Their sweeping plans to curtail climate-warming emissions globally involve both increasing diplomatic pressure abroad and ramping up spending at home, reflect the multi-faceted approach espoused by Green New Deal proponents. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.