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Biden: Trump court pick would ‘touch every part’ of climate
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death is adding more heat to a campaign season already boiling over from a pandemic, nationwide protests against police violence and climate-fueled disasters. The open Supreme Court seat carries major implications for climate policy. The high court already has enshrined the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gases while blocking the Obama administration’s signature emissions regulations. More climate cases are bubbling up in lower courts. [ read more … ]
Supreme Court
An extra Trump Supreme Court justice may help cement his environmental rollbacks
A more conservative Supreme Court gives the Trump administration a greater chance of making its rollbacks of environmental rules last long after the president leaves office. Court challenges from blue states and green groups involving many issues — everything from whether Utah canyon land can be drilled, to whether oil companies can be held responsible for killing birds in spills, to if the federal government can take aggressive action to curb climate change — could be impacted.
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How a Trump appointment could shape energy policy
A new Supreme Court appointment at the twilight of President Trump’s first term could shift how justices respond to regulatory challenges and dull Chief Justice John Roberts’ swing vote in cases with important energy and environmental consequences. And if Trump loses in November, it could complicate Biden administration efforts to address climate change and make it tougher to roll back Trump’s deregulatory agenda.
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EVs
The Age of Electric Cars Is Dawning Ahead of Schedule
An electric Volkswagen ID.3 for the same price as a Golf. A Tesla Model 3 that costs as much as a BMW 3 Series. A Renault Zoe electric subcompact whose monthly lease payment might equal a nice dinner for two in Paris. As car sales collapsed in Europe because of the pandemic, one category grew rapidly: electric vehicles. One reason is that purchase prices in Europe are coming tantalizingly close to the prices for cars with gasoline or diesel engines. [ read more … ]
Climate Change
Governor Newsom poised to strengthen climate goals
Expectations are swirling around California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and his promise to accelerate the state’s response to global warming. Amid devastating fires in the western United States, Newsom pledged the Golden State would do more. An announcement could come as soon as this week, but Newsom has said little publicly about the details.
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Amid Brutal Natural Disaster Season, Nearly 3 in 4 Adults Say Climate Change Is Playing a Role
As wildfires rage on the West Coast and forecasters run out of names for major storms this hurricane season, a new Morning Consult poll shows that nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults say that climate change has contributed “a lot” or “some” to recent natural disasters. [ read more … ]
U.S. and European Oil Giants Go Different Ways on Climate Change
As oil prices plunge and concerns about climate change grow, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and other European energy companies are selling off oil fields, planning a sharp reduction in emissions and investing billions in renewable energy. The American oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil are going in a far different direction. They are doubling down on oil and natural gas and investing what amounts to pocket change in innovative climate-oriented efforts like small nuclear power plants and devices that suck carbon out of the air. [ read more … ]
Bezos pledged billions for climate. But so far? Crickets
Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos promised in February to pour at least $10 billion of his personal fortune into fighting climate change, and that the effort would “begin issuing grants this summer.” Tomorrow is the first day of fall, and the Bezos Earth Fund — as he dubbed the venture — has yet to announce a single grant. Further, there’s been little public evidence of much other work or spending. [ read more … ]
Storage
6 giant Tesla batteries keep British lights on for first time
A project using giant Tesla Inc. batteries was used to help balance supply and demand in Britain’s electricity market for the first time this week. The plant is made up of six Tesla megapack batteries that can store energy from renewable sources to be used at times of peak consumption. The National Grid Electricity System Operator uses the balancing market to fine tune supply and demand to make sure they match exactly. [ read more … ]
Fusion
Fusion reactors go small for trip to market
Urged on by the Energy Department, a top-level committee of U.S. scientists has begun planning for a pilot fusion reactor plant smaller than the typical jumbo-sized units. It would be based on the massive $25 billion fusion test facility being assembled in southern France, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). “As we take this forward … we can show people maybe a pilot plant that costs $6 billion or $7 billion” rather than $30 billion, said Steven Cowley, who heads the DOE-backed Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey, where one of the competing designs for a utility-scale fusion reactor is under development.
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Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.