Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

House Republicans set to flesh out sweeping energy plan

Nick Juliano and Hannah Northey, E&E reporters • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:36:03

Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton this week will take the first significant step on the long road toward a new comprehensive energy bill, which would be the most ambitious overhaul to policies affecting pipelines, transmission and energy efficiency in more than eight years. [ read more … ]

Arkansas’ first wind farm planned near Springdale

By DAN HOLTMEYER, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:36:22

Plans to build Arkansas’ first wind farm have sparked interest and excitement in town and across the state, though some wind power experts cautioned against overselling the project. Representatives of Dragonfly Industries International, a Texas wind energy company, told city officials last month they hope to build dozens of turbines on more than 300 acres of rural land about a mile west of Elm Springs at a cost of at least $100 million, according to City Council and Planning Commission minutes. Power could flow to tens of thousands of homes with the farm’s expected capacity of 80 megawatts. [ read more … ]

Colorado Springs farm gets go-ahead from county

By Ryan Maye Handy, Colorado Springs Gazette • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:04

Commissioners in El Paso County, Colo., unanimously approved a wind farm yesterday just minutes before midnight, nearly 15 hours after beginning a meeting on the controversial project. A stream of local residents voiced their support and opposition to the project. Many in the Greater Colorado Springs area raised concerns about property values, views and health effects that could arise from NextEra Energy Resources’ plan to alter the route of a 29-mile aboveground power line across the plains. [ read more … ]

Minnesota’s efforts to fight climate change lose steam

By Elizabeth Dunbar and Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:23

Eight years after a historic act of bipartisanship to address climate change, whirling wind turbines dot Minnesota’s landscape, and solar panels glisten on urban rooftops. The state’s utilities are ahead of schedule in meeting a mandate to provide 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The mandate was part of a 2007 energy initiative under former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But the state is falling short of the promise made in a second law the same year, the Next Generation Energy Act, which Pawlenty signed after nearly unanimous legislative approval. It created a goal to reduce Minnesota’s share of the heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions that scientists overwhelmingly agree are driving climate change. [ read more … ]

One month in, Colorado GOP making good on rollback promises

By Lynn Bartels and John Frank, The Denver Post • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:43

A month into the legislative session, Republican lawmakers are sending a message with a concerted push to repeal contentious measures approved by Democrats in prior years. The effort is led by the new GOP majority in the state Senate, where lawmakers last week voted to cut renewable-energy mandates on utility companies and approved two measures to loosen restrictions on firearms. A bill scheduled Monday for a Senate committee would repeal provisions in state law written by Democrats two years ago related to remedies for employment discrimination. [ read more … ]

Environmental Journal: Bill charts R.I.’s renewable energy future

By Bob Thayer, The Providence Journal • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:59

Supporters of Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Standard — which sets annual targets for the amount of power the state gets from wind farms, solar arrays and the like — say it’s the backbone of local efforts to spur the development of new sources of energy. By putting in place a mandate, the law creates a demand for renewable energy that wouldn’t otherwise exist to the same extent. The law, its backers say, is crucial if Rhode Island is to do its part to reduce the carbon emissions that are driving climate change. [ read more … ]

Obama ranks climate among top national security threats

Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:38:14

President Obama today released his 2015 national security strategy, laying out his administration’s plans to tackle the “top strategic risks” to national interests. Among the most pressing threats listed are climate change and major energy market disruptions. [ read more … ]

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

Please add the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition to your address book for uninterrupted delivery View this email in a web browser.
	February 9, 2015
House Republicans set to flesh out sweeping energy plan Nick Juliano and Hannah Northey, E&E reporters • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:36:03 Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton this week will take the first significant step on the long road toward a new comprehensive energy bill, which would be the most ambitious overhaul to policies affecting pipelines, transmission and energy efficiency in more than eight years. [ read more … ] Arkansas’ first wind farm planned near Springdale By DAN HOLTMEYER, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:36:22 Plans to build Arkansas’ first wind farm have sparked interest and excitement in town and across the state, though some wind power experts cautioned against overselling the project. Representatives of Dragonfly Industries International, a Texas wind energy company, told city officials last month they hope to build dozens of turbines on more than 300 acres of rural land about a mile west of Elm Springs at a cost of at least $100 million, according to City Council and Planning Commission minutes. Power could flow to tens of thousands of homes with the farm’s expected capacity of 80 megawatts. [ read more … ] Colorado Springs farm gets go-ahead from county By Ryan Maye Handy, Colorado Springs Gazette • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:04 Commissioners in El Paso County, Colo., unanimously approved a wind farm yesterday just minutes before midnight, nearly 15 hours after beginning a meeting on the controversial project. A stream of local residents voiced their support and opposition to the project. Many in the Greater Colorado Springs area raised concerns about property values, views and health effects that could arise from NextEra Energy Resources’ plan to alter the route of a 29-mile aboveground power line across the plains. [ read more … ] Minnesota’s efforts to fight climate change lose steam By Elizabeth Dunbar and Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:23 Eight years after a historic act of bipartisanship to address climate change, whirling wind turbines dot Minnesota’s landscape, and solar panels glisten on urban rooftops. The state’s utilities are ahead of schedule in meeting a mandate to provide 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025. The mandate was part of a 2007 energy initiative under former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. But the state is falling short of the promise made in a second law the same year, the Next Generation Energy Act, which Pawlenty signed after nearly unanimous legislative approval. It created a goal to reduce Minnesota’s share of the heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions that scientists overwhelmingly agree are driving climate change. [ read more … ] One month in, Colorado GOP making good on rollback promises By Lynn Bartels and John Frank, The Denver Post • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:43 A month into the legislative session, Republican lawmakers are sending a message with a concerted push to repeal contentious measures approved by Democrats in prior years. The effort is led by the new GOP majority in the state Senate, where lawmakers last week voted to cut renewable-energy mandates on utility companies and approved two measures to loosen restrictions on firearms. A bill scheduled Monday for a Senate committee would repeal provisions in state law written by Democrats two years ago related to remedies for employment discrimination. [ read more … ] Environmental Journal: Bill charts R.I.’s renewable energy future By Bob Thayer, The Providence Journal • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:37:59 Supporters of Rhode Island’s Renewable Energy Standard — which sets annual targets for the amount of power the state gets from wind farms, solar arrays and the like — say it’s the backbone of local efforts to spur the development of new sources of energy. By putting in place a mandate, the law creates a demand for renewable energy that wouldn’t otherwise exist to the same extent. The law, its backers say, is crucial if Rhode Island is to do its part to reduce the carbon emissions that are driving climate change. [ read more … ] Obama ranks climate among top national security threats Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-02-09 06:38:14 President Obama today released his 2015 national security strategy, laying out his administration’s plans to tackle the “top strategic risks” to national interests. Among the most pressing threats listed are climate change and major energy market disruptions. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
2015 Governors' Wind Energy Coalition. All Rights Reserved.