Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Bipartisan Governors Coalition Wants to Prepare Nation’s Grid For More Wind Energy

Brandon Baker, Ecowatch.com • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:17:20

A coalition of governors who advocate for wind energy want to work with the nation’s energy regulators to prepare the grid for more wind. Members of the Governors Wind Energy Coalition got the ball rolling earlier this month in a meeting with Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners (FERC), discussing transmission development, grid modernization, regional cooperation, coordinated regional operations and other ways in which the parties can promote the deployment of wind energy. “The value of wind energy resources to our states’ economies cannot be unlocked unless they have access to a market,” South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, chairman of the Coalition, said in a statement. “Long-distance transmission is the critical link between these resources and the customers who want clean and less expensive energy.” [ read more … ]

Will State Legislatures Join Congress And Cut Green Energy Incentives?

Ken Silverstein, Contributor, Forbes • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:17:56

What’s happening in Kansas could be happening in your state. It’s not completely clear that the efforts to rollback the statewide renewable energy requirements there — and in 16 other states — will succeed. But it is obvious that, nationally, the tax preference given to renewables is fading. Here’s the parallel: Most free market planners are opposed to mandatory statutes that require utilities to offer certain amounts of green energy. Kansas has those, along with about 30 states — in some form or another. Meantime, the production tax credit given to wind energy expired at year-end 2013. While it could get resurrected in a tax compromise, it could also permanently die down. [ read more … ]

House votes to scrap EPA power plant rules

Jean Chemnick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:18:22

The House voted 229-183 to block U.S. EPA’s plans to limit power plant carbon emissions, striking at the heart of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. The measure by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) would prevent EPA from finalizing its proposal to require carbon capture and storage technology for all new coal-fired power plants and would make rules for existing power plants contingent on congressional approval. Ten Democrats crossed the aisle to vote for the bill, and Republican Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Chris Gibson (N.Y.) and Frank LoBiondo (N.J.) voted against it. [ read more … ]

ENERGY ROUTES IN PLAY AS REGION’S LEADERS MAP OUT THEIR NEEDS

By Andy Metzger, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:18:48

While Gov. Deval Patrick has made trips to Quebec for discussions about importing electricity from the Canadian region’s enormous hydroelectric facilities, Sullivan said that is not the only form of green energy in play. “It may very well be hydro, but it also could be on-shore wind, could be off-shore wind,” Sullivan said. There are a number of proposed wind farms seeking permits or in development in Maine and New Hampshire, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, including Oakfield Wind, a 150,000 kilowatt permitted project near the Canadian border in Maine and North Country Wind, a 180,000 project under development in New Hampshire, north of Mount Washington. [ read more … ]

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse plans Iowa visit; wants climate change as 2016 caucus issue

Written by William Petroski, Des Moines Register • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:19:20

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said Wednesday he plans a trip to Iowa this month, hoping to make climate change an issue in the 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses. Whitehouse, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, is coming to Iowa at the invitation of state Sen. Robert Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who has written a book about the impacts of climate change. Whitehouse plans stops in Des Moines and Shenandoah, and will also visit Omaha, Neb. [ read more … ]

Boots on the ground at CEQ

Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:19:47

“It takes about two minutes for me to just become ‘Boots’ to everybody,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s easy. There’s a lot of Mikes in this world.” He added, “I can count on one hand the number of people in this building who call me by my first name.” [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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	March 7, 2014
Bipartisan Governors Coalition Wants to Prepare Nation’s Grid For More Wind Energy Brandon Baker, Ecowatch.com • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:17:20 A coalition of governors who advocate for wind energy want to work with the nation’s energy regulators to prepare the grid for more wind. Members of the Governors Wind Energy Coalition got the ball rolling earlier this month in a meeting with Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioners (FERC), discussing transmission development, grid modernization, regional cooperation, coordinated regional operations and other ways in which the parties can promote the deployment of wind energy. “The value of wind energy resources to our states’ economies cannot be unlocked unless they have access to a market,” South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, chairman of the Coalition, said in a statement. “Long-distance transmission is the critical link between these resources and the customers who want clean and less expensive energy.” [ read more … ] Will State Legislatures Join Congress And Cut Green Energy Incentives? Ken Silverstein, Contributor, Forbes • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:17:56 What’s happening in Kansas could be happening in your state. It’s not completely clear that the efforts to rollback the statewide renewable energy requirements there — and in 16 other states — will succeed. But it is obvious that, nationally, the tax preference given to renewables is fading. Here’s the parallel: Most free market planners are opposed to mandatory statutes that require utilities to offer certain amounts of green energy. Kansas has those, along with about 30 states — in some form or another. Meantime, the production tax credit given to wind energy expired at year-end 2013. While it could get resurrected in a tax compromise, it could also permanently die down. [ read more … ] House votes to scrap EPA power plant rules Jean Chemnick, E&E reporter • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:18:22 The House voted 229-183 to block U.S. EPA’s plans to limit power plant carbon emissions, striking at the heart of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. The measure by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) would prevent EPA from finalizing its proposal to require carbon capture and storage technology for all new coal-fired power plants and would make rules for existing power plants contingent on congressional approval. Ten Democrats crossed the aisle to vote for the bill, and Republican Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.), Chris Gibson (N.Y.) and Frank LoBiondo (N.J.) voted against it. [ read more … ] ENERGY ROUTES IN PLAY AS REGION’S LEADERS MAP OUT THEIR NEEDS By Andy Metzger, STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:18:48 While Gov. Deval Patrick has made trips to Quebec for discussions about importing electricity from the Canadian region’s enormous hydroelectric facilities, Sullivan said that is not the only form of green energy in play. “It may very well be hydro, but it also could be on-shore wind, could be off-shore wind,” Sullivan said. There are a number of proposed wind farms seeking permits or in development in Maine and New Hampshire, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, including Oakfield Wind, a 150,000 kilowatt permitted project near the Canadian border in Maine and North Country Wind, a 180,000 project under development in New Hampshire, north of Mount Washington. [ read more … ] U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse plans Iowa visit; wants climate change as 2016 caucus issue Written by William Petroski, Des Moines Register • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:19:20 U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said Wednesday he plans a trip to Iowa this month, hoping to make climate change an issue in the 2016 Iowa presidential caucuses. Whitehouse, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, is coming to Iowa at the invitation of state Sen. Robert Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, who has written a book about the impacts of climate change. Whitehouse plans stops in Des Moines and Shenandoah, and will also visit Omaha, Neb. [ read more … ] Boots on the ground at CEQ Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2014-03-07 07:19:47 “It takes about two minutes for me to just become ‘Boots’ to everybody,” he said in a recent interview. “It’s easy. There’s a lot of Mikes in this world.” He added, “I can count on one hand the number of people in this building who call me by my first name.” [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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