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Governors Urge Congress to Act Quickly to Extend the Renewable Energy Production and Investment Tax Credits
The chairman and vice chairman of the bipartisan Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition sent a letter to House and Senate leadership today urging Congress to approve a multi-year extension of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) as soon as possible. The most recently passed extension expired last year. Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told Congressional leaders that the recent Wind Vision report emphasized the importance of near-term policy support to prevent an industry slow down and the loss of manufacturing to foreign markets. [ read more … ]
Governors urge PTC extension
The Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition has urged the US Congress to extend tax credits for renewable energy production. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, the chairman and vice chairman pressed Congress to approve a multi-year extension of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) as soon as possible. The most recently passed extension expired last year. Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told Congressional leaders that the recent Wind Vision report highlighted the value of near-term policy support to prevent a slowdown in the industry which would include the loss of manufacturing to foreign markets. [ read more … ]
Surge in Renewables Remakes California’s Energy Landscape
Solar farms are blooming across California’s deserts, wind turbines are climbing the Sierra, photovoltaic roofs are shimmering over suburbs, and Teslas are the Silicon Valley elite’s new ride. A clean energy rush is transforming the Golden State so quickly that nearly a quarter of its electricity now comes from renewable sources, and new facilities, especially solar, are coming online at a rapid rate. Last year, California became the first state to get more than 5 percent of its electricity from the sun.
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Westar Energy to boost Kansas wind energy resources
Westar Energy said Tuesday it plans to purchase energy from a wind farm to be developed in Pratt County, Kan. The Topeka-based utility said the purchase will boost its renewable energy commitment from all sources to about 1,300 megawatts— the equivalent of the power consumption of about half the homes it serves. [ read more … ]
Cities play critical — but unclear — role in EPA’s Clean Power Plan
There’s no question that when it comes to complying with U.S. EPA’s looming regulations requiring the power sector to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent, cities will need to play a major role. After all, as a recent report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy pointed out, two-thirds of the world’s energy consumption — and three-quarters of its greenhouse gas emissions — occurs in cities or broader urban areas. [ read more … ]
Former state energy regulator vows to fight Clean Power Plan from inside Congress
While Republicans in Congress strategize about how to gut carbon regulations for power plants, at least one among them has had some direct exposure to the critical choices states will have to make if U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan moves forward. Rep. Kevin Cramer, 54, was one of North Dakota’s electricity regulators for nine years before being elected to the state’s only House seat. His successors back home will have to help craft plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s power sector while keeping electricity affordable and reliable.
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Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.