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NextEra, Renewable-Energy Giant, Seeks Greater Scale With a Duke Takeover
NextEra Energy Inc.’s pursuit of Duke Energy Corp.could result in a merger of utility giants that could speed the renewable-energy transition throughout the South and Midwest. NextEra, the nation’s largest renewable-energy company, is seeking to expand its regulated utility business. Duke, meanwhile, recently proposed plans to invest heavily in renewables as it works to cut carbon emissions and reshape a power-generation portfolio largely reliant on fossil fuels. [ read more … ]
Wind Energy
Kansas home to new clean energy project
Governor Laura Kelly says Kansas is now home to a new clean energy project from global developer Invenergy. She says the new project is called the Grain Belt Express which will bring clean, low-cost energy to states such as Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. “Kansas is uniquely positioned to be a regional and national leader in the development and expansion of clean and renewable energy,” Governor Kelly said. “The Grain Belt Express will be instrumental in helping to power Kansas and other states, and will bring nearly 1,000 jobs and billions in economic investment and energy savings to our state.” [ read more … ]
States
Colorado governor unveils road map for slashing emissions
An evolving climate road map for Colorado runs straight through the energy sector, suggesting major emissions reductions in power generation, oil and gas, transportation, and buildings.
The new draft — publicized yesterday by the office of Gov. Jared Polis (D) — could help guide the state toward cutting statewide greenhouse gas pollution 26% by 2025, 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 compared with 2005 levels.
[ read more … ]
California Car Executive Order
How a gas car ban could fail in Calif.
California must prod 10 million people to buy clean cars and install thousands of charging stations within a decade to start phasing out gas-fueled vehicles in 2035, auto experts said.
An executive order issued last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) would ban the sale of new cars with internal-combustion engines beginning in 15 years. But achieving that level of climate action hangs on a slew of uncertainties, including more renewable energy, increasing EV production, advancements in energy storage technology and the outcome of the presidential election.
[ read more … ]
FERC
FERC urged to make way for carbon pricing
Carbon pricing in regional wholesale power markets is a good if not necessary step to combat climate change and ensure reasonable rates for electricity customers. That was the consensus yesterday among 30 energy sector panelists who discussed the pricing mechanism before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In an all-day, long-anticipated virtual conference, an array of academics, grid operators and utility executives discussed FERC’s legal authority, various designs for adding a carbon price in regional markets — and potential pitfalls. [ read more … ]
Markets
Shell to slash workforce by 10%
Royal Dutch Shell PLC announced plans yesterday to shrink its workforce by roughly 10% as it ramps up efforts to become a net-zero carbon emissions business by midcentury. The Netherlands-based oil and gas major said it expects to lay off as many as 9,000 workers globally by the end of 2022 — part of a plan that the company says will save it up to $2.5 billion annually. [ read more … ]
Campaign 2020
Can the ‘Biden green deal’ appease progressives?
Joe Biden said yesterday that he can distance himself from the Green New Deal without losing progressive voters. “The Green New Deal that the president keeps trying to talk about is not a bad deal, but it’s not the plan I have — that’s the Biden green deal,” the Democratic presidential nominee said during a campaign stop in Ohio. [ read more … ]
Commentary
Renewable Energy Can Live With Trump or Biden
Renewable energy stocks are flying high in the run-up to Election Day. That isn’t necessarily a reflection of Joe Biden’s perceived edge. The last four years have shown that the renewable energy industry is resilient; tailwinds from declining technology costs and from years of federal tax credits, which have received bipartisan support, have simply been too strong. Despite President Trump’s public skepticism about environmental goals, renewable energy companies’ values and installations have been rising at a healthy clip. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.