Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Talks drag out on riders, crude exports as deadline looms

Geof Koss, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:50:45

Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) yesterday told reporters the omnibus spending bill “is kind of in a frozen state for a bit” while negotiators continue work on a tax extenders package. “But we’re making very good progress on trying to resolve the money issues,” she told reporters. “We have about 40 or 42 poison pill riders, some are really big, Hobby Lobby, campaign finance reform, things that never really should have been on appropriations. So we’re kind of stuck at the riders.” In the meantime, a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government running past Friday appears likely.
[ read more … ]

Crude exports still ‘in the mix,’ but window may be closing

Geof Koss and Hannah Hess, E&E reporters • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:51:10

According to a summary of the House extenders bill, the PTC would be extended through the end of 2016. However, the bill is silent on the extension of the investment tax credit for solar that many Democrats have wanted. The omission of the ITC from the two-year bill comes despite a plea yesterday from Nat Kreamer, chairman of the board of the Solar Energy Industries Association, who flagged his experiences serving in the special forces in Afghanistan in a letter to House Ways and Means members. [ read more … ]

Bill Gates Takes On Climate Change With Nudges and a Powerful Rolodex Photo

By CORAL DAVENPORT and NICK WINGFIELD, New York Times • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:52:11

Mr. Gates told Mr. Hollande that energy innovation needed to be a top agenda item at the climate change conference now taking place in this airport suburb outside Paris. For years, Mr. Gates had prodded governments to increase spending on research and development of clean technologies. He had sunk $1 billion of his own fortune into start-ups working on new kinds of batteries and nuclear reactors. “Honestly, I’ve been a bit surprised that the climate talks historically haven’t had R.&D. on the agenda in any way, shape or form,” Mr. Gates, 60, said in an interview last week on the sidelines of the summit meeting, which ends on Friday. [ read more … ]

The Cleanest Cities? It’s Not So Simple

By CONRAD DE AENLLE, New York Times • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:52:40

Experts in urban planning and related fields acknowledge that there are many ways to measure energy efficiency — or energy intensity, an idea that encompasses the quantity and quality of energy consumed — and that any assessment must include a degree of subjectivity. Some surveys adjust the measurement of a city’s energy intensity to include not just how much its residents consume but also how much others consume on their behalf. [ read more … ]

Power companies, states urge court to keep climate rule alive

Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:53:05

Stopping U.S. EPA’s climate change rules for power plants could hurt utilities investing to crack down on their greenhouse gas emissions, a coalition of energy companies told a federal court yesterday. A broad coalition of utilities, states and others have asked the court to issue a stay halting the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan while litigation plays out. But several power companies including NextEra Energy Inc., Calpine Corp., Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co. today urged judges to keep the rule in place.
[ 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.
	December 9, 2015
Talks drag out on riders, crude exports as deadline looms Geof Koss, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:50:45 Senate Appropriations Committee ranking member Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) yesterday told reporters the omnibus spending bill “is kind of in a frozen state for a bit” while negotiators continue work on a tax extenders package. “But we’re making very good progress on trying to resolve the money issues,” she told reporters. “We have about 40 or 42 poison pill riders, some are really big, Hobby Lobby, campaign finance reform, things that never really should have been on appropriations. So we’re kind of stuck at the riders.” In the meantime, a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government running past Friday appears likely. [ read more … ] Crude exports still ‘in the mix,’ but window may be closing Geof Koss and Hannah Hess, E&E reporters • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:51:10 According to a summary of the House extenders bill, the PTC would be extended through the end of 2016. However, the bill is silent on the extension of the investment tax credit for solar that many Democrats have wanted. The omission of the ITC from the two-year bill comes despite a plea yesterday from Nat Kreamer, chairman of the board of the Solar Energy Industries Association, who flagged his experiences serving in the special forces in Afghanistan in a letter to House Ways and Means members. [ read more … ] Bill Gates Takes On Climate Change With Nudges and a Powerful Rolodex Photo By CORAL DAVENPORT and NICK WINGFIELD, New York Times • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:52:11 Mr. Gates told Mr. Hollande that energy innovation needed to be a top agenda item at the climate change conference now taking place in this airport suburb outside Paris. For years, Mr. Gates had prodded governments to increase spending on research and development of clean technologies. He had sunk $1 billion of his own fortune into start-ups working on new kinds of batteries and nuclear reactors. “Honestly, I’ve been a bit surprised that the climate talks historically haven’t had R.&D. on the agenda in any way, shape or form,” Mr. Gates, 60, said in an interview last week on the sidelines of the summit meeting, which ends on Friday. [ read more … ] The Cleanest Cities? It’s Not So Simple By CONRAD DE AENLLE, New York Times • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:52:40 Experts in urban planning and related fields acknowledge that there are many ways to measure energy efficiency — or energy intensity, an idea that encompasses the quantity and quality of energy consumed — and that any assessment must include a degree of subjectivity. Some surveys adjust the measurement of a city’s energy intensity to include not just how much its residents consume but also how much others consume on their behalf. [ read more … ] Power companies, states urge court to keep climate rule alive Robin Bravender, E&E reporter • • Posted 2015-12-09 06:53:05 Stopping U.S. EPA’s climate change rules for power plants could hurt utilities investing to crack down on their greenhouse gas emissions, a coalition of energy companies told a federal court yesterday. A broad coalition of utilities, states and others have asked the court to issue a stay halting the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan while litigation plays out. But several power companies including NextEra Energy Inc., Calpine Corp., Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and Southern California Edison Co. today urged judges to keep the rule in place. [ 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.