View this email in a web browser.
As Coal Fades in the U.S., Natural Gas Becomes the Climate Battleground
America’s coal-burning power plants are shutting down at a rapid pace, forcing electric utilities to face the next big climate question: Embrace natural gas, or shift aggressively to renewable energy? Some large utilities, including Xcel Energy in the Upper Midwest, are now planning to sharply cut their coal and gas use in favor of cleaner sources like wind and solar, which have steadily fallen in cost. But in many regions, natural gas continues to dominate, because of its reliability and low prices driven by the fracking boom. Nationwide, energy companies plan to add at least 150 new gas plants and thousands of miles of pipelines in the years ahead [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
Ohio Senate struggles to revise nuclear subsidy bill amid intense political maneuvering
After nearly three months of committee hearings in the Ohio House and Senate, legislation crafted to subsidize two nuclear power plants while scrapping renewable energy mandates and energy efficiency programs is so bollixed that lawmakers Monday were struggling to write a new bill.
[ read more … ]
Wind company picks Rhode Island for U.S. headquarters
A company specializing in wind power blade maintenance has chosen Rhode Island for its U.S. headquarters, a sign of the state’s growing offshore wind industry. State Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor told The Boston Globe last week that British company GEV Wind Power has committed to staying at Quonset Point in North Kingstown for at least 12 years. [ read more … ]
61-turbine New Mexico wind farm to operate by 2020
A new wind power generating farm is coming to southeastern New Mexico, bringing turbines and transmission lines. San Diego-based EDF Renewables recently announced that construction on the Oso Grande Wind Project will start this year and the farm will fully operate by the end of 2020, the Carlsbad Current-Argus reports.
[ read more … ]
Wisconsin approves Alliant renewables pilot as groups decry impacts on private developers
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday approved several renewable energy programs for Madison Gas & Electric and Alliant Energy, including community solar, customer-hosted renewables and shared solar. Alliant’s customer-hosted renewables pilot project has been scrutinized by renewable energy advocates, who claim that the program’s structure is unfair to private developers. The program authorizes Alliant to install solar panels and/or battery storage systems on customer property for a hosting fee. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.