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Strangled Ohio wind industry: ‘We don’t want to give up’
Ohio lawmakers are now considering a controversial energy bill, H.B. 6, that would eliminate or weaken the state’s renewable energy standard — a long-sought move by Republicans that would further undermine wind development there. Another legislative effort would increase the risk faced in siting new projects. Yet in spite of it all, some of the nation’s largest renewable energy developers haven’t turned their back on the Buckeye State — at least not yet. [ read more … ]
Policy & Politics
US renewable energy transition to move faster than anticipated by 2022: FERC report
By June 2022, the pace of U.S. renewables growth is going to surpass fossil fuel growth by a significantly greater margin than what FERC had anticipated as recently as April, according to the commission’s May 2019 Energy Infrastructure Update, released Friday. The renewable energy-focused SUN DAY Campaign said new renewable energy capacity would grow more than 10% by 2022 while fossil fuel capacity would only increase about 1%, compared to the April forecast of a 5% net increase. The fossil fuel dip will be largely driven by the more than 4.6 GW of coal forecast for retirement, according to FERC’s May update. [ read more … ]
Vineyard Wind project lands in rough waters
The project, jointly owned by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, had seemed to be gathering permits the way a kid gathers shells on the beach. One after another, the developer added them to the bucket. Then the snag: The Edgartown Conservation Commission on Wednesday denied an underwater cable route off the town’s coastline, citing the potential disturbance to marine habitats and other conflicts. (Local fishermen weren’t happy, either.) On Friday, Vineyard Wind vowed to get a “superseding order” from the state Department of Environmental Protection — a more sympathetic venue — that would overturn the commission vote. [ read more … ]
Maine utility regulators approve power contract for planned Hancock County wind farm
State regulators have approved a long-term power contract for a wind energy development planned for Hancock County. The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Friday unanimously supported a contract under which Emera Maine will pay Weaver Wind LLC 3.5 cents/kWh with increases of 2.5 percent annually, commission officials said in a release. [ read more … ]
Delta Air Lines And Airbus Test Carbon Neutral Aircraft Deliveries
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is taking another step towards sustainable air travel this month by making the delivery of part of its Airbus A321 fleet carbon neutral. The effort is a joint initiative between Delta, BP and Airbus, and aims to prove the viability of delivering aircraft carbon-free once assembly of an airframe is complete. On Friday, the first carbon-neutral delivery from Airbus to Delta between Mobile, Alabama and Kansas City, Missouri was complete. Delta plans to take a grand total of 20 Airbus A321 deliveries in this way by utilizing a BP biofuel mixture at the assembly plant and by offsetting the rest of the carbon burned during the delivery process. [ read more … ]
EVs could make 80% of gas stations unprofitable — report
The rise of electric vehicles may cause gas stations to shutter across much of the country and force others to reshape their business model, according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group. Efficiency gains in gas cars are already causing some refueling stations to close, while others feel pressure to spruce up or expand convenience stores and other onsite offerings. In urban areas, especially, a shift toward EVs — and ride-shares and, later, self-driving cars — will only squeeze fuel-retail owners further, the analysis says. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.