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Federal judge upholds Colo. renewables law, but opponents plan appeal
Supporters of state renewable energy mandates won a major legal victory last week as a federal judge upheld Colorado’s standard, rejecting claims that it violates the Constitution by discriminating against other energy sources. The ruling late Friday in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado is the first to address the constitutionality of a state renewable energy standard (RES), and supporters say it could set a legal precedent for the more than 30 other states that have adopted similar standards. Colorado’s RES requires that 30 percent of the electricity from investor-owned utilities come from renewable sources by 2020. [ read more … ]
From termites to turbines, interest groups pile on in last-minute EPA power plant rule filings
Since the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register in January, close to 1 million comments have been filed, according to the rule’s online docket. Many of them make common arguments for or against the rules: that climate change is a serious issue that must be addressed by regulation, that carbon capture and storage (CCS) is an unproven technology that should not be considered the best system of emissions reduction, or that EPA may be overstepping its legal authority in setting different standards for coal and gas. [ read more … ]
Growing worldwide coal use ‘overshadowing’ gains in renewable power — IEA
The growth of coal-fired power generation is “unsustainable” without carbon capture and sequestration technology, the International Energy Agency said in a report released today. The report describes efforts to manage electric power production to achieve climate goals as bleak. IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said an autonomous body of 29 member countries saw coal use as a serious problem. In previous estimates, the group predicted coal demand would grow 2.3 percent per year on average through 2018. [ read more … ]
Scientists Warn of Rising Oceans From Polar Melt
A large section of the mighty West Antarctica ice sheet has begun falling apart and its continued melting now appears to be unstoppable, two groups of scientists reported on Monday. If the findings hold up, they suggest that the melting could destabilize neighboring parts of the ice sheet and a rise in sea level of 10 feet or more may be unavoidable in coming centuries. Global warming caused by the human-driven release of greenhouse gases has helped to destabilize the ice sheet, though other factors may also be involved, the scientists said.
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Clinton Library docs show freewheeling energy, environment honchos
In a memo to President Bill Clinton, then-Energy Secretary Bill Richardson pulled no punches. “I think we need to turn this into a concerted campaign. I’m ready to hit the trail,” Richardson wrote. But Richardson wasn’t talking about heading off to Iowa or New Hampshire to secure votes for the president from the campaign stump. Instead, he was asking for White House support on his effort to win the backing of the developing world for a fight against climate change. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.