E n e r g y
P o l i c y
Energy Policy
New Climate Bill to Tackle Texas Methane Emissions
August 2022 - The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed by President Joe Biden will help make a significant cut in U.S. emissions by levying a fee on oil and gas producers with wells that emit methane above a certain threshold.
Keystone Pipeline Canceled After Biden Blocked Permit
June 2021 - he sponsor of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline said Wednesday it is pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade President Joe Biden to reverse his cancellation of its permit on the day he took office. Calgary-based TC Energy said it would work with government agencies “to ensure a safe termination of and exit from” the partially built line, which was to transport crude from the oil sand fields of western Canada to Steele City, Nebraska.
Major Blow to Keystone XL Pipeline as Judge Revokes Key Permit
May 2020 - The controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline has been dealt a major setback, after a judge revoked a key permit issued by the US army corps of engineers without properly assessing the impact on endangered species. In a legal challenge brought by a coalition of environmental groups, a federal judge in Montana ordered the army corps to suspend all filling and dredging activities until it conducts formal consultations compliant with the Endangered Species Act. The ruling revokes the water-crossing permit needed to complete construction of the pipeline, and is expected to cause major delays to the divisive project. Keystone XL is a 1,179-mile pipeline which would transport around 830,000 barrels of oil a day from the tar sands in Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska, eventually heading to refineries on the Gulf coast.
Judge Voids Oil Leases in Sage Grouse Territory
February 2020 - A federal judge today rejected a Trump administration policy to sharply curtail public participation in oil and gas leasing decisions on public lands and voided nearly 1 million acres leased under the policy. The ruling applies to lease sales in greater sage-grouse habitat across 67 million acres in 11 Western states. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Ronald E. Bush vacated five oil and gas leases in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming because the Bureau of Land Management failed to allow public participation required by law. Future leases in greater sage-grouse habitat must allow a 30-day public comment and administrative protest period.
Federal Judge Blocks Keystone Pipeline
November 2018 - In Montana, United States District Court Judge Brian Morris blocked construction of the controversial pipeline, saying that the administration failed to present a ?reasoned explanation? for the move and ?simply discarded? the effect the project would have on climate change. The pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels a day of petroleum from the Canadian oil sands to the Gulf Coast.
Court Orders EPA to Strengthen Coal Ash Rules
August 2018 - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision 8/21/2018 holding that the first-ever federal safeguards set by the Obama Administration for coal ash dumps do not sufficiently protect communities and the environment from pollution from that toxic waste. The court's decision today sided with public interest groups by concluding that the Obama-era rule failed to adequately protect against pollution from unlined and inadequately lined ash pits, many of which are already leaking dangerous pollution into rivers and streams. The Court ordered EPA to revise the rule to properly address the health and environmental threats from these dump sites. The Court also agreed with public interest groups that EPA did not go far enough in regulating coal ash dumps, holding that EPA improperly exempted coal ash ponds at closed coal-fired power plants from regulation. Rejecting industry challenges to the rule, the Court further held that EPA acted within its authority to regulate coal ash ponds no longer actively receiving waste and located at operating plants.
Federal Judge Orders Environmental Review of Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline
August 2018 - A federal judge mandated 8/15/2-18 that the U.S. State Department go back and conduct a more thorough Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL pipeline alternative route, which was approved by the Nebraska Public Service Commission in November 2017.
Judge Restores Penalties for Automakers that Violate Fuel Standards
April 2018 - The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of NRDC, Center for Biological Diversity, and Sierra Club, and overturned a Department of Transportation attempt to indefinitely delay penalties on automakers for violating fuel standards. The Court's ruling restores the proper penalty, trued up to account for decades of inflation. The updated penalty impels automakers to clean up their fleets, rather than offering them a cheap license to burn more gas if they fail to keep pace with fuel economy targets. The fuel economy standards for model years 2012 to 2025 will reduce oil consumption by 3.1 million barrels of oil per day in 2030. This in turn reduces climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding production of 570 million metric tons of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of taking 85 million cars off the roads, or 140 coal-fired power plants offline.
Zinke Says He May Back Off on Offshore Drilling
April 2018 - Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke assured the House Appropriations Committee that he plans to scale back his plan to expand offshore leasing in nearly all federal waters, after massive local and state opposition. "States matter, local voices matter, you matter, and governors matter," Zinke said, during testimony before the committee on the Department of Interior's fiscal 2019 budget. Members of both parties on the committee had criticized Zinke for his draft plan, and nearly all coastal governors, Republicans and Democrats alike, oppose it.
Court Rejects Delay of EPA's Methane Pollution Rule
July 2017 - The Trump administration cannot delay an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting methane pollution from oil and natural gas drilling, a federal court ruled. The decision means the EPA must immediately start enforcing the rule.
Methane Waste Rule Survives GOP Assault
May 2017 - The U.S. Senate failed on Wednesday to repeal a new rule that reduces waste of taxpayer-owned natural gas. The failed repeal of the BLM Methane Waste Prevention Rule marks the first victory over Trump's "anti-environment" agenda, and is a rare win against the American Petroleum Institute on one of its top priorities.
Boom for Electric Vehicles
April 2017 - Tesla says it will nearly double its global network of Superchargers this year from 5,400 to 10,000, including 1,000 new charging units in California
Conservation and Public Health Groups to Defend BLM Methane Rules in Court
December 2016 - More than a dozen conservation and public-health groups are making plans to defend the Bureau of Land Management's new methane waste rules in court, which are being challenged by two oil and gas industry groups and the states of North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. The groups recently petitioned a federal judge seeking to join the case on behalf of the B-L-M.
Feds Ramp Up Solar, Wind Energy on Public Lands
November 2016 - The Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules that encourage increased solar- and wind-energy production on public lands. The policies create a competitive process similar to how oil and gas leases are granted. The new rules also offer financial incentives to steer production away from key environmental, cultural and recreational resources.
B-L-M Pushes Renewable Energy on Public Lands
November 2016 - The Bureau of Land Management has finalized rules that encourage increased solar and wind energy production on public lands. The policies create a competitive process similar to how oil and gas leases are granted.
New Federal Initiative Aims to Help More Homeowners Afford Solar
July 2016 - The Obama Administration announced Tuesday plans to make solar an option for all homeowners by extending more zero-down loans.
Pause in Coal Program on Federal Land
January 2016 - The Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell recently announced a pause in coal leases on federal land and a review of the coal leasing program.
Obama Administration Rejects Keystone Pipeline
November 2015 - Progressive organizations say the project was designed to accommodate foreign and oil priorities at the expense of American consumers and the environment.
February 2015 - In his first presidential rejection of major legislation, President Barack Obama vetoed a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Solar Panels Finally on Top of the White House
May 2014 - The White House is finally on the solar grid in response to prodding by environmentalists.
The Wind Production Tax Credit is Extended One Year
January 2013 - Congress passed legislation that will extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for wind energy for one year.
Fuel Economy Reaches All-Time High
November -0001 - New vehicles achieved an all-time-high fuel economy in 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency announced in October, 2014. Model year 2013 vehicles achieved an average of 24.1 miles per gallon (mpg) -- a 0.5 mpg increase over the previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. Fuel economy has now increased in eight of the last nine years. The average carbon dioxide emissions are also at a record low of 369 grams per mile in model year 2013.
Tribes Sign Solar Agreement
January 2018 - The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) and Salt River Project officials are scheduled to sign a long-term solar agreement for Kayenta II on Friday in Phoenix that will result in providing additional solar energy for residents of the Navajo Nation.The agreement also lays the foundation for future renewable energy development on the Navajo Nation.The announcement of Kayenta II, which will produce 27.3 megawatts, coincides with an agreement in which the parties commit to working together to pursue the development of additional renewable energy projects on the Navajo Nation, recognizing that the Kayenta Solar Projects are the platforms for such further ventures.The agreement targets the development of at least 500 megawatts of renewable energy projects over the next 5 to 10 years within the Navajo Nation to further support their goal of charting their own energy future.
Coal-Fired Power Plant to be Shuttered for Pollution Reasons
July 2013 - Operators of the West's largest coal-fired power plant are proposing to close one of its three 750-megawatt generators by 2020. The proposal is in response to an expected EPA mandate to cut emissions at the plant and clear haze over Grand Canyon and other national parks.
Two New Solar-Power Plants Planned
July 2012 - The Interior Department has designated two Arizona sites for solar-power plants to be quickly permitted and built.
Lawsuit Challenging Arizona's Clean Elections System Thrown Out
March 2012 - A judge has thrown out the latest lawsuit challenging Arizona's Clean Elections system of public campaign finance.
Pheonix Sky Harbor Airport Implements Solar Panels
February 2012 - A massive solar panel project just completed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport will provide up to 51-percent of the energy for two parking garages and the rental car center.
Salt River Project Purchasing From Local Wind Power Source
July 2011 - Salt River Project has agreed to purchase power from a Navajo Nation wind generation project planned west of Flagstaff.
Commercial Charging Station Open in Tempe
June 2011 - The first commercial charging station for electric vehicles is open for business in downtown Tempe.
Support for Solar Power Usage Increasing
June 2011 - Surveys by Arizona's two largest utilities have found widespread support for increasing the use of solar power.
Salt River Project Increases Goal for Renewable Energy Use
May 2011 - Arizona's second-largest utility, Salt River Project, has increased its goal for energy production from renewable sources and conservation to 20-percent by the year 2020.
Free Training and Certification in Renewable-Energy Industry
March 2011 - Another federal grant is providing free training and certification for 500 Arizonans to help them find jobs in the renewable-energy industry.
New Solar Generating Station Announced
February 2011 - The state's job outlook improved in February, with a new solar generating station announced for Gila Bend, and a solar equipment plant for Surprise.
Solar Panels to Cover 70% of Buckeye School District Energy Needs
January 2011 - Buckeye schools will soon have solar panels on every one of its six campuses and district office without having to spend any money.
AZ Tops for Renewables in Schools
November -0001 - Arizona ranks third in the nation in terms of solar energy being used in public schools. That's the finding of a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association titled "Brighter Future: A Study on Solar in U.S. Schools." Steven Church is the energy education coordinator with Tempe School District Number 3. He says using solar as an energy source is a valuable teaching tool for students, and saves some money. The report concludes that 226 public schools in Arizona have some type of solar unit. The research also shows that solar savings in the Grand Canyon State amount to more than nine-million dollars per year.
Large MT Coal-Burning Facility Shutting Down Two of Four Units
January 2020 - One of the largest coal-fired power plants in the western United States is inching toward an eventual shutdown amid crippling competition from cheap natural gas and renewable energy sources. The Associated Press reports the Colstrip Steam Electric Station in Colstrip, MT, will close two of its four units by the beginning of this week, or as soon as they run out of coal. The plant has been unable to compete with other cheaper forms of energy and operating costs have risen due to mandates for stricter pollution controls.
Colstrip Units to Shut Down at End of 2019
June 2019 - Two aging Montana coal plants, part-owned by Puget Sound Energy, will cease operations by the end of 2019, more than two years before the previously announced phaseout date. The plants, Colstrip 1 and 2, were built in the mid-1970's and cannot compete with natural gas and renewable energy.
'Save Colstrip' Plan Falls Through on Last Day of Montana Legislature
April 2019 - Lawmakers ended the 87-day session 4-25-2019 by voting against amendments drawn up to commit customers of NorthWestern Energy to covering debts associated with the utility's potential purchase of Colstrip Power Plant generation and transmission lines. The proposal was billed as a way to keep Colstrip Power Plant operating as the coal-fired generator's other utility owners left; the proposal failed to pass both chambers of the Legislature.
Colstrip Bailout Bill Dies in Montana
April 2019 - Montana lawmakers failed to pass legislation that would have enabled NorthWestern Corp. to pass on $75 million in costs to customers associated with acquiring an additional 150-MW share in the beleaguered Colstrip power plant without oversight from the state Public Service Commission.
The bill, proposed by Republican Sen. Tom Richmond, died in the House on a 60-37 vote April 16, and lawmakers failed to revive it before the session ended April 26. The failure of the bill, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in this year's legislative session, could seal the fate of the troubled coal plant as states in the region attempt to move away from coal-fired generation.
Colstrip Gets $10 Million to Transition Away from Coal
December 2017 - In a major settlement, Washington state's Puget Sound Energy will provide $10 million dollars to Colstrip to help the community transition away from coal energy. Colstrip is home to coal-fired plants that are currently being phased out.
Initiative to Increase Renewable Energy in Montana Approved to Get Signatures
November 2017 - An initiative to increase the the amount of renewable energy utility companies in Montana use has been approved to start getting signatures in order to get on the 2018 ballot. The initiative would require public utility companies to gradually increase their use of renewable energy from the current level of 15 percent to 80 percent by 2050.
Missoula to Pull City's Money from Wells Fargo Over Dakota Access Pipeline
April 2017 - The city of Missoula is pulling its money from Wells Fargo over the banking institution's investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. The resolution passed 12-0. In the past, Missoula has passed a resolution in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Wind and Solar Advocates Praise Governor's New Energy Plan
June 2016 - Governor Steve Bullock's new energy plan calls for a doubling of solar power by 20-25, and for the creation of a state energy infrastructure authority to facilitate more renewables. It also directs state agencies to look at putting solar on their own buildings and begin scouting public property suitable for solar arrays.
Montana Clean Air Advocates Laud Court Decision on Clean Power Plan
January 2016 - Clean air advocates are hailing a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. to leave President Obama's Clean Power Plan in place while the suit against it goes forward.
September 2012 - There's strong support in 11 western states for developing renewable energy on public lands - and ensuring at least some of the rents or royalties from developers are used locally for conservation and recreation purposes. That's according to a new bipartisan poll (commissioned by The Wilderness Society).
Montana's Renewable Energy Standard Leads by Example
December 2010 - Montana's renewable energy standard is an example of how states are taking a leadership role to keep the U.S. competitive in an expanding global market.
California Submits Application to U.S. Department of Energy for Federal Funding to Become a National Hydrogen Hub
April 2023 - The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) has submitted an application to the United States Department of Energy, as part of the Biden Administration's Hydrogen Earth Shot Challenge. ARCHES is the official applicant and organizer for California's proposal to bring a statewide Department of Energy H2 hub to the Golden State. ARCHES, announced as the organizer for California's DOE application last year, is a statewide public-private partnership designed to accelerate H2's contribution to decarbonizing the state's economy and will build on California's long-standing H2 and renewable energy leadership.
Governor Signs Bill to Fight Gas Price Gouging
March 2023 - Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to implement the strongest state-level oversight and accountability measures on Big Oil in the nation, bringing transparency to California’s oil and gas industry.
State Senate Approves Gas Price Gouging Bill
March 2023 - California lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would penalize oil companies for "price gouging" — a first-of-its-kind legislation pushed forward in recent months by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The bill would authorize the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to set a maximum gross gasoline refining margin — and then establish a penalty for any California-based refineries that exceed that margin.
Fed to Offer First Offshore Lease Sale in CA
October 2022 - The Department of the Interior today announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale on Dec. 6, 2022, for areas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off central and northern California. This will be the first-ever offshore wind lease sale on America’s west coast and the first-ever U.S. sale to support potential commercial-scale floating offshore wind energy development.
State Proposes Setbacks for Oil and Gas Drilling
October 2021 - The Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management Division has released a proposed regulation that would prohibit new wells and facilities within a 3,200-foot exclusion area - or setback - from homes, schools, hospitals, nursing homes and other sensitive locations. It would also require pollution controls for existing wells and facilities within the same 3,200-foot setback area.
Feds, State Agree to Allow More Offshore Windmills in CA
May 2021 - Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl, and California Governor Gavin Newsom announced an agreement to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California. This significant milestone is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to create thousands of jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030.
Bill Filed to Ban Fracking in CA
February 2021 - Groups that fight climate change are applauding a bill to halt new permits for fracking starting next year – and ban it altogether as of 2027. Senate Bill 467 also would apply to several other extraction methods that advocates say are harmful to human health and the environment.
CA Appeals Ruling In Suit Over Fed Rollback of Fracking Rules
June 2020 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today filed a notice of appeal in a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s decision to repeal regulations governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas wells drilled on federal and Native American tribal lands. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) 2015 Fracking Rule addressed growing concerns about fracking's impact on public health and the environment. In the filing, Attorney General Becerra argues that the Trump Administration's repeal of the 2015 Fracking Rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
CA Mandates Efficient Pool Pump Motors
April 2020 - The California Energy Commission has decided to adopt updated state standards for motors in pool pumps to require energy efficient models. The standards will ensure that every replacement swimming pool pump motor sold in California as of July 2021 is an efficient one, whether it’s for the pool in someone’s backyard, school or university, hotel, or town pool. The state is home to almost one-fifth of the pools in the United States.
Court Rules Against Kern County Oil Ordinance
February 2020 - In a monumental victory for both public advocacy groups and local farmers, a California court ruled that a Kern County oil and gas ordinance paid for and drafted by the oil industry violated the state's foundational environmental law. California's Fifth District Court of Appeals ruled that a key county analysis failed to disclose the full extent of drilling's environmental harm, in violation of state law. Kern County used the flawed study to pass an industry-friendly oil and gas ordinance in 2015 and has issued more than a thousand permits a year since it passed. The court ordered that the environmental impact report and the ordinance be set aside until the county can demonstrate it complies with the law. Kern County must stop issuing permits under the ordinance within 30 days. The ruling means environmental review of new drilling proposals in Kern County will revert back to state authorities.
LA to Retire Three Gas-Fired Power Plants, Go Renewable
February 2019 - California took a huge step toward the goal of running entirely on renewable energy, as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power announced that it's retiring three natural gas power plants. The L-A D-W-P, which is the largest municipal utility in the nation, says it will close the Haynes, Harbor and Scattergood gas-fired plants near the L-A International Airport.
Puente Power Plant Proposal Officially Dead
December 2018 - NRG withdrew its application to the California Energy Commission for approval of the Puente Power Plant, which had been proposed for construction on the Oxnard coast. On October 5, 2017, the Energy Commission Committee issued a Statement recommending denial of the project due to its significant environmental impacts and violations of local and state laws and regulations. The Statement supported the community's preference for clean energy sources and recommended an expedited study to analyze the feasibility of such alternatives.
Governor Brown Signs Bills to Block Offshore Oil Drilling
September 2018 - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed legislation - SB 834 by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and AB 1775 by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) - to block new federal offshore oil drilling along California's coast, and announced the state's opposition to the federal government's plan to expand oil drilling on public lands in California. SB 834 and AB 1775 block the Trump administration's plan to expand offshore oil drilling by prohibiting new leases for new construction of oil and gas-related infrastructure, such as pipelines, within state waters if the federal government authorizes any new offshore oil leases.
Oil Company Criminally Liable for 2015 Spill Near Santa Barbara
September 2018 - Plains All-American Pipeline was found guilty of several charges in connection with the 2015 rupture of its severely corroded coastal oil pipeline today after a four-month trial. The spill near Refugio State Beach leaked more than 120,000 gallons of oil, killed hundreds of birds and marine mammals and blackened Santa Barbara area beaches for miles. A jury found Houston-based Plains guilty of a felony for failing to properly maintain its pipeline, and several misdemeanors, including failing to timely call emergency response agencies. The spill shuttered seven offshore drilling platforms that were served by the pipeline, Line 901. Plains has applied to build a new pipeline in the same location. ExxonMobil is also seeking permits to transport oil by tanker trucks so it can restart its three offshore platforms.
Governor Signs Bill for 100% Clean Energy Goal
September 2018 - California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100 (SB100) into law, setting the fifth largest economy in the world on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. SB100 builds on California's clean energy leadership by establishing bold new clean energy targets for the state. California is now the largest global economy to commit to 100 percent renewable energy.
Alisa Canyon Blowout Settlement Announced
August 2018 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer (City Attorney), and the County of Los Angeles (County) announced a $119.5 million settlement with the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) over the unprecedented natural gas leak from a ruptured well at its Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in Porter Ranch, California.
LA Utility Invests $100 Million in Effiency
June 2018 - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power - the nation's largest municipal utility - voted to invest $100 million over five years to improve energy efficiency in lower-income rental housing, ensuring those who most need electricity bill savings will see some relief. This is the largest single allocation of energy efficiency funding aimed at affordable apartments in California as well as the biggest nationally for one metropolitan region served by a municipal utility. LADWP also allocated $10 million for new shared solar facilities, further ensuring benefits from California's clean energy economy can reach all residents, including renters.
California Moves to Require Solar on Most New Homes
May 2018 - California became the first U.S. state to require solar panels on almost all new homes, sending the clearest signal yet that rooftop power is moving beyond a niche market and becoming the norm. Most new homes built after Jan. 1, 2020, will be required to include solar systems as part of energy-efficiency standards adopted by the California Energy Commission. While that's a boost for the solar industry, critics warned that it will also drive up the cost of buying a house by almost $10,000. Solar shares surged upon the decision, while homebuilders fell.
Conservation Groups Sue Over Oil Rig Planned in National Monument
April 2018 - Los Padres ForestWatch and the Center for Biological Diversity appealed the Trump administration's approval of a new oil well and pipeline in Carrizo Plain National Monument. It is the first well the Interior Department has approved in the monument since it was established in 2001. The appeals, filed with the Interior Board of Land Appeals in Virginia and the Bureau of Land Management's California director, show that the oil well and pipeline would harm threatened and endangered wildlife and mar scenic views. The fossil fuel development would violate several laws, including the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, as well as the monument's resource-management plan.
Groups Sue to Keep Methane Waste Rule
December 2017 - Two new lawsuits have been filed in federal court to stop the Trump administration from deep-sixing rules meant to reduce pollution, fight climate change and preserve public resources. A dozen conservation groups and the state attorneys general of California and New Mexico have sued to reinstate the methane waste rule, which would force oil and gas companies to install equipment to capture excess methane gas at their wells instead of venting it or burning it off. The BLM suspended the rule until January 2019, arguing that it is too big a burden on industry.
Environmental Groups Settle Lawsuit Over Panoche Valley Solar Project
July 2017 - The Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Panoche Valley Solar LLC have entered into a settlement agreement concerning the size and location of a solar project currently under development in California's Panoche Valley. The agreement will help advance renewable energy in the state, create local jobs, and protect the environment. Once final, the settlement will permanently conserve more than 26,000 acres for wildlife habitat. Initially, 247 MW of solar generation was planned for development in the Panoche Valley, but now approximately 100 MW is instead proposed for development at a site in Imperial County, California.
LADWP Puts Hold on Gas Plants
June 2017 - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the largest publicly owned utility in the country, announced that it will pause a $2.2 billion investment in gas plants until it can do a clean energy analysis. This is a clear signal that the DWP sees clean energy and energy efficiency as a strong competitor to gas. This hold comes after a year of the community advocating at the utility for greater investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
CA Joins Lawsuit to Defend Energy Efficiency Regs
April 2017 - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, with the California Energy Commission and six Attorneys General, filed a motion late yesterday to intervene in a lawsuit in order to defend energy saving light bulb regulations. In March, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) challenging energy efficiency regulations for lamps (light bulbs). California defends these laws to safeguard their massive energy savings.
Oil Company Abandons Last Offshore Rig in CA Waters
April 2017 - Local environmentalists and community members are celebrating the announcement that Venoco has quitclaimed its oil and gas leases offshore near Santa Barbara. The leases include those supporting operations from Platform Holly and the Ellwood Pier. Holly is the last offshore rig in CA waters. The California State Lands Commission will take over the process of plugging the wells and decommissioning the structures. The Ellwood Onshore Facility (EOF), which processes oil and gas from Platform Holly, will also likely be decommissioned. The environmental community has been united against Venoco's controversial projects for decades. At various times, the oil company has used Platform Holly for Acid Well Stimulation (acidizing) and in recent years has sought authorization to expand drilling from Holly using slant drilling techniques, reaching more than four miles into a Coastal Sanctuary.
Local Board Blocks Oil Train Proposal
March 2017 - The San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors today voted to reject Phillips 66's proposed oil train offloading terminal. The project was denied with a 3-1 vote, with one supervisor recusing himself in a conflict of interest. Phillips 66 had appealed the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission decision to reject their controversial oil train project last October, which came after a nearly three-year review process. More than 25,000 Californians have opposed the project in comments and petitions, and more than 45 cities, counties, and school boards have sent letters urging the County to deny the crude-by-rail proposal. The Board of Supervisors' denial was the second community victory in less than a week, after a Superior Court judge ruled that Phillips? legal challenge to the earlier Planning Commission decision was premature.
Calif. Tops Nation for Energy-Efficiency Jobs
January 2017 - California is number one in a dynamic industry that has created almost 1.9 million jobs nationwide, according to a new report. The report, by the group Environmental Entrepreneurs, indicates that policies in California, like targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, are paying off.
Governor Signs Bill Promoting Green Energy
October 2016 - Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 1110 (Phil Ting, D-San Francisco) which sets a new standard for consumer protection in the green energy market, one that all retail suppliers will have to include in their marketing and advertising materials.
Governor Signs Bill to Rein in CPUC
September 2016 - Governor Brown signed a bill, SB 215, that limits meetings between utilities and regulators, establishes new disclosure requirements for contacts between Commissioners and self-interested Wall Street and industry representatives, and increases penalties for violations.
California Releases Proposed New Rule to Curb Leaks at Oil and Natural Gas Facilities
May 2016 - Oil and gas facilities, including storage wells like the one that created a disaster this winter at Aliso Canyon, will have to undergo rigorous new inspections, if a groundbreaking proposal released by the California Air Resources Board goes into effect.
Environmental Groups Praise Criminal Indictments on Santa Barbara Oil Spill
May 2016 - Environmental groups are applauding the criminal indictment of the company responsible for the massive oil spill last may in Refugio, about an hour north of Santa Barbara.
California Offshore Oil Fracking Permits Halted While Federal Government Performs Environmental Review
January 2016 - The U.S. federal government will stop approving offshore oil fracking operations off California's coast while it studies how damaging the practice is to the health of wildlife and the environment.
The California Public Utilities Commission Decided to Keep Net Metering
January 2016 - In a big win for rooftop solar in California, the state Public Utilities Commission rejected big fee increases and cuts to reimbursement rates on changes sought by the big three utility companies.
Water Rules Drafted in Response to Drought
November -0001 - The State Water Resources Control Board put out a framework on how the mandatory water cuts can be achieved. Also the California Energy Commission approved new standards for water appliances.
New Law to Invest $15 Million to Help Fossil Fuel Communities Transition to Renewable Energy
June 2021 - Governor Polis signed a Colorado Comeback bill to support communities transitioning away from fossil fuels. HB21-1290, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, will invest $15 million to help communities shift away from fossil fuels to more renewable sources of energy.
Governor Signs Trio of Climate Action & Clean Energy Stimulus Bills
June 2021 - Governor Polis signed into law three bills that are a part of Colorado’s recovery package, all targeting investments in the clean energy sector and energy efficiency projects: HB21-1253, SB21-230, and 231.
Broomfield City Council Imposing Moratorium on New Energy Development
May 2019 - Broomfield City Council approved a six-month moratorium on new natural gas and oil development in the city, becoming the seventh Colorado community to impose a ban since the introduction of Senate Bill 181 in March. The moratorium passed unanimously on second reading, halting the municipal approval process for energy development until December.
Bill Passes to Prioritize Health and Safety in Oil and Gas
April 2019 - Senate Bill 181 changes the mission of the state regulatory body for the oil and gas. Among other restrictions on the energy sector, it allows local governments to regulate development.
Coloradans Reject Oil and Gas-backed Amendment
November 2018 - Amendment 74 would have put local governments at risk of lawsuits if any action caused any party to lose value on their property. The move, backed by oil and gas interests, was widely seen as a counter-threat to Proposition 112 which sought to keep oil and gas operations 2500 feet away from homes and schools.
Colorado Rising Submits Enough Signatures for Safer Setbacks Initiative to Qualify for November Ballot
August 2018 - Despite numerous hurdles, signatures have been submitted for 2,500-foot setbacks on fracking operations.
Governor Signs Executive Order on Orphaned Wells
July 2018 - Gov. John Hickenlooper signed an executive order that aims to address safety concerns with more than 260 orphaned wells and 360 orphaned sites in Colorado. The executive order follows a review that the governor ordered in the aftermath of the Firestone house explosion in 2017 that killed Joey Irwin and Mark Martinez and injured Erin Martinez.
Boulder City Council Approves 100 Percent Clean Electricity by 2030
December 2016 - The Boulder City Council approved a measure to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030. The Council considered the move as a major step toward reaching the city's longer-term goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050.
Feds Cancel Thompson Divide Oil and Gas Leases
November 2016 - U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze joined Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper yesterday in Denver to announce the final resolution of disputed oil and gas leases, cancelling leases in the Thompson Divide area of the White River National Forest.
November 2012 - The Colorado town of Longmont banned the practice of fracking for natural gas. This should set up quite a firestorm pitting the town's interests agains the state with a heavy influence from the energy industry constant through the process.
February 2012 - Colorado Rep. Jared Polis eliminated a measure from the House highway bill that would mandate commercial leasing of public lands for the unproven technology of oil shale development.
February 2012 - Senator Michael Bennet introduced an amendment (along with Kansas Senator Jerry Moran) to extend the wind energy production tax credit. Wind energy industries provide 6,000 jobs in Colorado.
November 2011 - Senator Mark Udall introduced legislation allowing clean energy development on federal lands, such as wind or solar energy. It's called the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act.
June 2011 - The new DOD funding bill increases goals for renewable energy on military bases. Colorado Senator Mark Udall's plans would wean the military off of billions of gallons of fossil fuels, creating huge annual savings. CNC reported on the "greening" of Colorado bases earlier this year.
January 2011 - A lawsuit was filed January 19th by a coalition of groups, including Earthjustice and the Sierra Club, challenging the Sunflower Coal Plant expansion in Kansas. It's an issue long on the radar of environmental groups sounding the alarm about pollution and questioning whether the plant is needed to meet energy demands.
December 2010 - A good sign in Colorado's push to wean the state from coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuels. Gov. Hickenlooper named wind-energy executive TJ Deora as director of the Governor's Energy Office. The idea is to facilitate the state's "new energy economy."
MA Moves Closer to Harvesting Offshore Wind Power
May 2018 - Vineyard Wind has been selected to construct the project that will generate 800 megawatts of electric power, enough for a half-million homes. The project will help the Commonwealth meet carbon emission reductions mandated by the state's Global Warming Solutions Act. In the last legislative session the State Legislature required the utilities to procure 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind by 2027 so this announcement puts the state halfway toward meeting that goal. The second solicitation for the next 800 megawatts of power is expected to be released by June 2019 but could happen sooner. Vineyard Wind estimates that the project will create about 3,600 local full-time-equivalent jobs and $3.7 billion in energy cost savings. Legislation pending during this legislative session could further expand procurement requirements for offshore wind.
Solar Progress in Bay State
February 2017 - The town of Montague approved plans for a 23-acre solar power farm. The plan calls for 18,000 solar panels to be built on land already owned by electric utility Eversource.
Massachusetts Tops in Energy Efficiency Scorecard
October 2015 - It is now five years in a row the Commonwealth rated top honors in the "Energy Efficiency Scorecard" for 2015 awarded by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Funding Comes Through for Offshore Wind Projects
December 2012 - Massachusetts' offshore wind industry got a couple of big boosts, as the Obama administration announced funding for seven projects and environmentalists reached an agreement to protect an endangered species of whales.
September 2012 - Supporters of alternative energy - and job creation - got a boost from a new report in which some of the country's most influential environmental groups said it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind energy turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 14 coastal states.
April 2011 - The sometimes controversial Cape Wind Project got the green light from the federal authorities, and construction could begin as early as this fall for the countries first offshore wind farm.
Families Get State Help with Home Heating Costs
November 2022 - With prices rising on utilities nationwide, Connecticut will be receiving $86.4 million dollars to fun the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to aid families with paying for home heating costs this winter. The funding will also be utilized for families to make home repairs that will lower energy bill costs.
Connecticut Authorizes Development of Offshore Wind Power
June 2019 - The legislation was approved last month in the House of Representatives, given final legislative approval on in the State Senate, and transmitted to the governor for signature. It authorizes the state to purchase up to 2,000 MW (or equivalent to 30 percent of state load) - the largest authorization by load of any state in the region.
State Agencies Ordered to Reduce Energy Consumption and Environmental Impacts
April 2019 - Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order that directs executive branch state office buildings and vehicle fleets to become greener and more energy efficient through an expanded "Lead By Example" sustainability initiative aimed at reducing the state's carbon footprint as well as the cost of government operations. This includes meeting the state's overall statutory goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent reduction from 2001 levels by 2030 and reducing waste disposal and water consumption by 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, by 2030 from a defined baseline of 2020.
CT Takes First Step Toward Offshore Wind
April 2018 - The bids are in on a request for proposals that will bring offshore wind energy to Connecticut. Clean-energy advocates say offshore wind is a critical technology that will mean hundreds of jobs as well as clean, renewable energy to the state. Environmentalists are calling the move an important first step, but note that bidders were only allowed to propose up to 3 percent of the state's total annual electricity usage, or about 250 megawatts of power. So to keep this growing in the future, the Legislature will need to take action to expand that authorization. With these proposals, Connecticut joins Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, which have committed to building thousands of megawatts of offshore wind-generating capacity.
Gov. Malloy Orders a Resource Assessment to be Conducted on the Economic Viability of the Millstone Nuclear Generating Facilities
July 2017 - Governor Dannel Malloy has signed an executive order directing the relevant state agencies to conduct a resource assessment to evaluate the current and projected economic viability for the continued operation of the Millstone nuclear generating facilities. The assessment is to help the state determine a path forward that best benefits the residents of Connecticut. Consumer advocates have been calling for Millstone to disclose its financial need for a state-funded subsidy by requiring the assessment include an examination of audited financial statements and other financial data when making its recommendations to the legislature for action in 2018.
Amendment to Overturn CT Pipeline Tax Introduced
June 2017 - A bill has been introduced in the Connecticut state Senate to end the Pipeline Tax passed in 2015 that would impose a surcharge on Connecticut electricity ratepayers to fund interstate gas pipelines to be built across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Should these pipeline proposals move forward, Connecticut ratepayers would be the only ones at the ratepayer level who would be subsidizing them. A recent study estimated that the proposed Access Northeast Pipeline would cost $6.6B.
September 2012 - Supporters of alternative energy - and job creation - got a boost from a new report in which some of the country's most influential environmental groups said it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind energy turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 14 coastal states.
Connecticut at Forefront of Green Chemistry and Clean Technology Development
April 2011 - A bill passed in the session ending May 5 creating a Chemical Innovations Institute at UConn Health Center (House Bill 5126) puts Connecticut at the forefront of green chemistry and clean technology development.
CT Ranks High in Energy Efficiency
November -0001 - Connecticut ranks near the top in an annual ranking of state car-related energy efficiency, but is lagging behind in home-related energy efficiency. The report from Wallethub, a financial advice, research and social networking website said when it comes to energy efficiency behind the wheel Connecticut just misses the top ten, ranking number 12 nationwide. The state came in lower at number 23 for home-related energy efficiency. Overall the state ranked number 12.
Sunshine State Leads the Nation in Growth of Rooftop Solar
October 2017 - A new report from PV Magazine finds Florida now leads the nation in solar growth. The state saw a 110% increase in new residential solar permits over the previous year. Funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Barancik Foundation, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, and now several cities and counties, Florida homeowners and businesses are now able to take advantage of some of the lowest prices for solar in the nation using a grassroots program called Solar United Neighbors of Florida (formerly FL SUN). A state-wide partnership between the latter and the League of Women Voters is being given credit for the growth.
Duke Energy Goes Big on Solar, Drops Nuclear Charge for Customers
September 2017 - Duke Energy will build nine or more solar plants and delete a controversial nuclear charge from customer bills. With 1.8 million customers in 35 counties, Duke is the second-largest in the state; the utility, however, has lagged behind other major utilities in solar energy and had drawn criticism for a pair of nuclear disappointments. The Florida president of Duke Energy, Harry Sideris, said the proposed initiatives worth $6 billion were filed Tuesday morning with the Florida Public Service Commission after months of outreach.
Legislature Approves Amendment 4
May 2017 - The Florida Legislature has officially approved a bill to implement the pro-solar Amendment 4, which voters overwhelmingly passed with 73% of the vote on the August 2016 primary ballot. The bill, S.B.90, is slated to reduce tax barriers for Floridians who want to go solar while also ensuring proper consumer protections are in place.
Florida Voters Reject Amendment 1
November 2016 - Voters overwhelmingly said no to the utility-backed Amendment 1, which would have penalized solar customers with fees and set back the effort to expand the solar market in the state.
New Biofuel Plant Will Recycle Brush
December 2012 - One of the country's first cellulosic biofuel plants is set to open in Florida in the coming months.
Federal Trade Commission Investigates Links Between Sugar Industry and Off-shore Ethanol Imports
October 2011 - FNC ran a two-part series detailing links between sugar industry interests and off-shore duty free import of sugar based ethanol--- under-cutting US produced corn based ethanol.
Fed. Judge Orders Greater Oversight of DAPL
December 2017 - A judge has ordered greater oversight measures for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The decision comes in the wake of the Keystone Pipeline spill, which highlighted the risk pipelines pose to local communities.
IL Senate Passes Clean Energy Bill
August 2021 - The Illinois Senate passed a clean energy bill in a special session. A sticking point was the timeline for closing coal-fired power plants, which this bill does by 2045. It's now up to the state House of Representatives.
Agreement Expected to Jump-start State's Clean Energy Industry
September 2013 - Illinois' largest power generator, Exelon Corp., and environmental groups have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to jump-start the state's stalled clean-energy industry.
April 2011 - To help support people using more "green" forms of transportation, Governor Quinn announced that the state will start tracking "dooring" accidents between cars and bicycle riders. The idea is to look for ways to making biking safer.
February 2011 - Governor Pat Quinn and Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support the advancement of electric vehicle and renewable energy technologies in Illinois. As part of the agreement, Illinois will receive a limited number of Mitsubishi Motors "i" battery electric vehicles (i MiEV) on a temporary basis to evaluate the new electric vehicle (EV) technology on the state's fleet. Saves 1200 jobs at Mitsubishi plant in Normal, IL.
February 2011 - The state will invest $1 million of Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding to install state-of-the-art electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the Chicagoland area. This project is expected to be the largest concentration of DC quick-charge stations in the world.
December 2010 - Developers in December agreed to build two new wind farms in Illinois. These new projects will create hundreds of jobs in construction and maintenance during the next 18 months, as well as provide valuable new landowner payments and property taxes to their host communities for years to come.
Poll Shows Support for Renewables
November -0001 - A new poll conducted by Natural Resources Defense Council found that Illinoisans are committed to renewable energy and energy efficiency. According to the survey, 70 percent of those surveyed "strongly" support energy efficiency, 64 percent strongly support increased solar energy, 59 percent strongly support more wind power, 49 percent strongly support more natural gas, and 42 percent strongly support the use of more hydropower.
Bill Would Expand Renewable Energy
November -0001 - Legislation introduced in the Illinois General Assembly will expand support for renewable energy in Illinois. Supporters say HB 3328 and SB 1879 will ensure that energy consumers and the state economy will continue to benefit from affordable power, as well as a more secure and resilient grid. The legislation package features a proposal to construct microgrids, which are small power grids that can connect to the main grid or operate independently, reinforcing reliability and resiliency during extreme weather or other events. It is expected to create at least 400 full-time equivalent jobs in Illinois.
Nipsco to Shutter at Least One Coal-fired Power Plant
August 2016 - An Indiana utility, Nipsco, plans to significantly reduce its coal-fired generation, retiring a plant by 2018 and most of another one in 2023.
Coal Gasification Plant Financing Questioned
January 2013 - Two Republican lawmakers have filed bills to reexamine the terms of a proposed $3-billion Rockpor coal gasification plant.
Solar Capacity Grows
November -0001 - Indiana ranked 14th in the nation in installed solar capacity last year, according to the recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review. In 2014, Indiana added 59 MW of solar electric capacity, bringing its total to 112 MW. That’s enough energy to power more than 12,000 homes. There are 65 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in Indiana, employing nearly 1,500 people.
Solar Net Metering Preserved for Customers of KU/LG&E
November 2021 - Kentucky’s Public Service Commission has rejected a proposal by two utilities that would have drastically reduced the value of solar energy for customers. Instead, the commission chose new rates that will only slightly reduce the value of solar for certain customers.
KY Says Solar Customers Should Keep Benefits
June 2021 - The Kentucky Public Service Commission says energy credits for customers with rooftop solar will continue, instead of being devalued by Kentucky Power. The move is a signal the state believes solar is a benefit not only to solar users but also to utility companies as well. The agency found the value to be in excess of $0.09 per kWh, rather than only $0.035 per kWh, as the utility argued.
PSC Limits Utility Rate Increase, Protects rooftop Solar
February 2021 - The Kentucky Public Service Commission voted to keep enact net-metering for rooftop solar customers and denied Kentucky Power's plan to spend tens of millions of dollars on new meters and charge customers additional fees to pay for those upgrades.
Solar Farm Makes Progress
July 2013 - A renewable-energy collaborative involving three environmental groups (including Sierra Club and KFTC) made progress on hammering out deals with the East Kentucky Power Cooperative, an electric supplier to more than a half million customers in the state.
August 2011 - A coalition of 24 governors from both major parties and each region of the country, including Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, asked the Obama administration to take a series of steps to encourage and facilitate the development of wind energy. Among other things, the letter calls for an extension of tax credits for the wind industry, currently slated to expire next year, and the establishment of an inter-state task force on wind development. Kentuckians for the Commonwealth has long pressured the Beshear administration and Kentucky legislators to increase the seriousness with which the state approaches the development of all renewable resources, including wind.
June 2011 - Bowling Green, Kentucky, should have its first large-scale solar generating facility by the end of June. Earlier this month developers were installing poles that will hold up some of the 7,000 solar panels planned for a 10-acre site at Scotty's Development. The poles will have a metal fulcrum that allows the panels to move with the sun and collect the maximum amount of solar energy.
February 2011 - Members of the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee considered how a how Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards could also mean an economic boost for Kentucky's economy. A renewable and efficiency portfolio standard (REPS) would require electric utilities to generate a minimum portion of their electricity from clean, renewable sources and energy efficiency. Twenty-nine states have passed clean energy portfolio standards
Clean and Renewable Energy Gets $12 Million in State Funding
March 2019 - Eleven projects that will assist in the development of clean and renewable energy projects across Pennsylvania have been approved through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The projects were approved through the Alternative and Clean Energy Program (ACE) during a CFA board meeting. The projects, totaling just over $12 million, are located in Allegheny, Chester, Columbia, Crawford, Lancaster, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, and Philadelphia counties. These projects will support the construction of extremely energy-efficient school buildings; support the installation of efficient and modern power systems like biomass and combined heat and power; and assist with the costs of purchasing and installing biogas purification systems and compressed natural gas fueling stations.
New Legislation Supports Low-Cost, Clean Energy Technology in Pennsylvania
June 2018 - Governor Tom Wolf has signed Senate Bill 234, establishing Pennsylvania's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, a financing mechanism that enables low-cost, long-term funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades to commercial or industrial properties. With this legislation will save small businesses money on their electricity and water bills, create new, good-paying clean energy jobs, and add new, clean energy sources to the state's energy mix.
Mariner East Pipelines Shut Down, Again
May 2018 - Citing sinkholes, contaminated water wells and alleged poor managerial judgement, an administrative law judge has suspended operations and construction of the Mariner East pipelines. In her ruling, Public Utility Commission Judge Elizabeth Barnes said Sunoco had put profit over best engineering practices. The emergency order suspended the flow of highly volatile liquid ethane through Mariner East 1, and construction on the Mariner East 2 pipelines. Operation and construction of the pipelines has been halted before, but then allowed to resume. Sunoco has said it will ask the Public Utility Commission to overturn Judge Barnes' decision.
Electric-Vehicle Bill a Potential Win for PA
April 2018 - Pennsylvania is lagging behind some other states in creating the infrastructure to support electric vehicles, but a bill making its way through the General Assembly could help. Transportation is one of the main sources of carbon pollution. But without a reliable network of charging stations, consumers are reluctant to switch to clean electric vehicles. House Bill 1446 would establish a statewide goal for transportation electrification. The bill has passed the House Transportation Committee with strong support and is expected to reach the floor of the House for a vote in the coming weeks. The bill also would require the state's electric utilities and electric-vehicle charging service providers to create and implement a plan to meet the electrification goals.
Pennsylvania Revives Solar Initiatives to Boost Clean Energy Jobs
December 2017 - Pennsylvania's Solar Energy Program will make available $30 million in new grant funding to be used by eligible applicants to promote the installation of new solar projects. The funding will also aid in the manufacture or assembly of solar equipment in the commonwealth to further encourage the deployment and creation of solar jobs. Additionally, this month the governor signed legislation which will strengthen Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act by requiring that solar renewable energy credits used to demonstrate compliance with the Act must be generated at solar facilities delivering electricity to the grid in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York Approve Resolution to Permanently Ban Fracking in the Delaware River Basin
September 2017 - The Governors of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, comprising a majority of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), voted in favor of a resolution put forward by the commission to issue draft regulations to permanently ban hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas in the Delaware River Basin. The DRBC vote was three to one with one abstention in passing the resolution for promulgating regulations that would prohibit any water project in the Delaware River Basin proposed for developing oil and gas resources by high-volume hydraulic fracturing.
Judge Orders Halt on All Mariner East 2 Drilling
July 2017 - The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board granted the petition of Clean Air Council, Mountain Watershed Association, Inc., and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network to halt all drilling operations associated with the construction of the Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipelines. This ruling comes after last week's filing which disclosed 61 drilling fluid spills and water contamination in multiple Pennsylvania regions.
Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants Awarded to Pennsylvania Schools, Businesses, and Municipalities
April 2017 - The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded grants to 17 alternative fuel projects that will save an estimated 650 million gallons of fuel in Pennsylvania. These Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants (AFIG) will be used to develop and promote the use of alternative fuels and develop supporting infrastructure, improving air quality through alternative fuel use.
State Government Increases Targets For Renewable Energy
January 2019 - New governor Janet Mills says her administration would reach a goal of producing 50 percent of electricity from renewables - up from a current standard of 40 percent, which is a smaller step toward a larger goal that she set during the campaign of having Maine reach 100 percent renewables by 2050, according to The Free Press.
Maine House Votes to Overturn "Anti-Solar Net Metering"
June 2017 - The Maine House voted 90-54 in favor of the "Majority report" which would overturn the PUC's so-called anti-solar net metering rule. The measure (LD 1504) is opposed by Governor Paul LePage.
Solar Gets a Boost In Kennebunk
June 2017 - The Kennebunk Light & Power District signed a 20-year agreement to support a large solar array on district property. It is projected, the solar array will produce 3.9 kilowatt-hours during its first year of operation.
Portland Ranked #35 Solar Power
April 2017 - A new report ranks Portland ahead of New York and Richmond for the amount of installed solar installed per capita. The "Shining Cities" report says despite that growth the recent P.U.C. decision phase out the solar power incentive of net metering will likely leave Maine trailing cities in neighboring states in New England.
State Agency Teams-up with Nonprofits to Keep Mainers Warmer
February 2017 - The York Rotary Club, York Community Service Association, the town of York and the state agency Efficiency Maine have teamed up to winterize about 15 York houses this winter, with funds from Rotary and Efficiency Maine.
Three-Year Energy-Efficiency Plan Proposed for Mainers
December 2015 - Efficiency Maine's Board of Trustees approved a three-year plan that should save consumers almost a billion dollars.
Solar Ban Defeated
November -0001 - Maine saw a major victory on the environment when lawmakers were able to override a veto on solar development. Governor LePage made his opposition to solar clear when he vetoed the measure (LD 1263) which simply called for the Public Utilities Commission to get into gear and develop a solar policy. Apparently that was a step too far, because the vote against the veto was overwhelming in both houses.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Added
August 2021 - Governor Larry Hogan today announced that $3.7 million in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is being awarded to 37 sites using funds from Maryland’s settlement with Volkswagen (VW) for air pollution violations.
Obama Era SunShot Initiative a Success
September 2017 - The Energy Department's SunShot Initiative, started under President Obama, has reached its goal of reducing the price of utility-scale solar to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour three years ahead of schedule, prompting the Trump administration to set a new goal of 3 cents by 2030.
Two New Wind Farms for Maryland
May 2017 - Maryland's Public Service Commission approves two offshore wind farms totaling 368 megawatts.
September 2012 - Supporters of alternative energy - and job creation - got a boost from a new report in which some of the country's most influential environmental groups said it's time for a concerted effort at building and operating wind energy turbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of 14 coastal states.
Solar Projects OK for Neighborhoods
November -0001 - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill enabling the establishment of community solar projects today. Maryland is now the 11th state to allow community solar projects. Community solar projects expand access to renewable energy by allowing multiple people to invest in or subscribe to one solar energy project and offset a portion of their electric bill from the energy generated through a credit. Projects could be sited in a variety of places, like the roof of an apartment building, a community center, a church or even in an open field.
Whitmer Takes Action to Shut Down Line 5
November 2020 - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that she is ordering Line 5, a major oil pipeline that runs through the Great Lakes, to be shut down by May. The governor cited multiple instances of Enbridge violating the 1953 easement between the company and the state. Environmental justice activists who have fought for decades to shut down Line 5.
State Commerce Department Rules Against Proposed Pipeline
September 2017 - Minnesota Commerce Department submitted a formal opinion opposing Enbridge's proposed new pipeline across Minnesota. The state told a regulatory committee that it has no need for the project, and that the existing pipe should be shut.
Rural Energy Co-ops Get a Boost
June 2017 - Recently passed energy legislation in Minnesota will significantly change the state's renewable energy fund and eliminate regulatory oversight of fixed charges for rural co-ops and small municipal utilities.
Gov Vetoes Republican Budget Propsoal
May 2017 - Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has vetoed a Republican-backed budget proposals that critics say would have harmed the state's clean energy sector.
More Solar in Minnesota
April 2017 - St. Paul, Minnesota signs an agreement to power one-fourth of its municipal buildings through community solar gardens.
Minnesota Gets Solar Boost
February 2017 - The Twin Cities have powered up a couple of new, large community solar gardens, and they're expected to save the state some money by reducing the amount of fossil fuel that has to be purchased.
July 2012 - With final approval in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, construction of the final leg of the CapX2020 transmission line is now set to begin next year. The line will allow more wind-generated energy to get onto the grid.
March 2011 - Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz announced the formation of the House Energy Working Group, a bipartisan group that will introduce a clean-energy independence plan that creates a new energy infrastructure and rebuilds our country's aging roads, bridges, locks and dams.
January 2011 - U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) announced that seven Minnesota biofuel producers will receive over $748,000 to expand advanced biofuel production. The funds, authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill, will be administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels.
Coal Plant Closing
November -0001 - On April 8, the last shipment of coal was delivered to Xcel Energy’s Black Dog power plant in Burnsville, marking the end of the facility’s 60-year history of producing electricity from coal. Instead, all of the electricity produced at Black Dog will come from more efficient, cleaner natural gas, reducing the carbon-dioxide emissions from that plant by more than 690,000 tons a year.
Cleaner Diesel Coming this Summer
November -0001 - Diesel drivers on Minnesota roads and highways will be running on cleaner fuel this summer as they start filling up with the nation’s first required 10 percent biodiesel blend. Known as B10, this higher blend will be sold annually from April 1 through September 30. A 5 percent mixture that works better in Minnesota’s winter weather, called B5, will be used between October and late March each year.
MN Tops for Wind Power
November -0001 - Minnesota remains one of the leading wind power producing states, according to the recently released 2013 Wind Technologies Market Report. Minnesota ranks seventh in total electricity generated by wind in 2013 and fifth in terms of percentage of the state’s electricity generated by wind power, according to the U.S. Department of Energy report.
MN Sees a Solar Boom
November -0001 - The solar boom in Minnesota is underway. This summer the market got its biggest boost yet when Minnesota Power and the Minnesota National Guard announced plans for a new 10-MW solar electric array at Camp Ripley in Little Falls. The Solar Electricity Standard and other state policies were established by the 2013 Minnesota Legislature to accelerate the solar market in Minnesota.
Missouri Trying to Catch Energy Efficiency Train
November 2015 - The newly released state energy policy proposal recommends that Missouri enact minimum building standards aimed at increasing efficiency and saving money.
February 2011 - The CWIP (Construction Work In Progress) bill being pushed by an investor-owned utility company would have ratepayers front the cost for the construction of utility plants before they're operational. This bill repeals a portion of a consumer protection law voters overwhelmingly passed in 1976. This is the second time there's been a push for this bill. The House bill is slowly stalling after being voted out of committee.
Nevada Senate Passes Clean Energy Bill
May 2021 - The Nevada State Senate voted to pass Senate Bill (SB) 448, a comprehensive clean energy bill that would spur job development and advance the state's emission reduction goals laid out by the Nevada Climate Initiative. The bill addresses Nevada's transmission network, transportation electrification, and energy efficiency programs for low-income Nevadans and has also garnered support from labor unions and clean energy advocates.
NV Energy Reduces Energy Costs by $93 million in 2021
January 2021 - NV Energy announced a reduction in electricity rates for Nevada customers by $93 million in 2021. For individual customers the money saved depends on use, but is expected to be an average of $5/month.
Ballot Measure Filed on Renewable Energy
February 2018 - Nevadans for a Clean Energy Future filed paperwork with the Nevada Secretary of State to begin the process of signature gathering for a ballot measure to increase Nevada's use of renewable energy. This measure will require electric suppliers to provide at least 50 percent of their total electricity from renewable sources, like wind, solar, and geothermal by the year 2030. The ballot measure would change the current law, resulting in curbed energy costs, job creation, and a reduction in harmful pollution that threatens Nevada families' clean air and water.
Bill to Streamline Permitting for Renewable Energy Projects Reintroduced in U.S. House
February 2017 - Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, including Dean Heller (R-NV) re-introduced the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, S. 282. This legislation works toward an "all of the above" energy strategy by simplifying the permitting process for solar, geothermal, and wind projects on public lands.
Governor's Task Force Recommends Reestablishing Net Metering
September 2016 - Solar advocates are praising the recommendations just released by Governor Brian Sandoval's New Energy Industry Task Force to allow people to sell excess solar electricity back to the grid at reasonable rates, in exchange for a small baseline fee on their bills.
PUC Approves Grandfathered Net Metering Solar Rates
September 2016 - The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada on Friday morning unanimously approved an agreement reached by NV Energy and SolarCity earlier this week to grandfather up to 32,000 customers under older, more favorable rates for residential rooftop solar.
Energy Efficiency Push
April 2014 - Individuals and groups in Nevada are calling on state lawmakers to help the Silver State sharpen its focus on energy efficiency.
Conservative Report Finds Solar in Sunny States Can Stand on its Own
January 2013 - The fiscally conservative "Economist" Magazine gave sunny states like Nevada a strong endorsement in the renewable energy department.
Energy Efficiency Stretches Assistance for Troubled Teens
December 2012 - The Boys Town of Nevada is providing more services to troubled youth thanks to money they saved under energy efficiency measure approved the Public Utilities Commission in 2012.
May 2012 - Nevada moved closer to its goal of getting 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources as the Enbridge Silver State North Solar Project went on-line in Clark County. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was at the facility to "flip the switch" sending power to the grid from the first major solar project built on public land.
June 2011 - The Silver State became the first in the nation to pass "Smart from the Start" legislation. Under the new law (AB307) energy companies that propose renewable energy projects will have to collect a fee that will fund planning as well as mitigation efforts to protect Nevada wildlife.
April 2011 - A bill to support rooftop renewable energy was approved by the State Senate by a vote of 13-8.
Survey Shows Nevadans Want Renewable Development to Benefit State
November -0001 - Three out of four Nevadans support revenues from wind and solar energy development in the state benefiting local and state governments, as well as funding conservation projects on public lands impacted by development. That's according to the "Multi-State Western Survey" released in September. Alex Daue is with The Wilderness Society, which is among the groups that sponsored the survey. It found that 75 percent of Nevadans "strongly favor" or "somewhat favor" revenues from renewable energy being returned to the state.
NH Towns Join Push to 100-Percent Renewable Energy
January 2018 - The New Hampshire towns of Cornish and Plainfield will vote on going 100 percent renewable at town meetings coming up in March, and the movement is spreading. With the federal government now promoting fossil fuels, cities and towns in New Hampshire and across the nation are leading the way to boost renewable energy.
Last May, Hanover, New Hampshire, became the first municipality in the country to commit by community vote to achieving 100 percent renewable energy. The town is investing $50,000 every year into energy efficiency improvements and is also looking at opportunities for more solar power in the region, potentially in partnership with Dartmouth College. Hanover plans to be fueling its heat and transportation with renewable power by 2050. Nationwide, about 50 municipalities are now committed to 100 percent renewable energy.
NH Now has Targets for Energy Efficiency
August 2016 - The Public Utilities Commission approved the first-ever statewide targets for reducing energy consumption. For the first three-year period, the targets are: 0.8% for electric and 0.7% for gas in 2018; an additional 1% for electric and 0.75% for gas in 2019.
July 2011 - The green light is now on for the construction of a 48-megawatt wind farm proposed for Groton. The new project will be home to 24, 400-foot turbines and construction is expected to begin this fall.
May 2011 - A groundbreaking ceremony took place this month for a renewable energy power plant project at the Glencliff home in Benton. A new wood chip boiler will replace current boilers at the long-term nursing facility which provides care for New Hampshire residents with mental illness and developmental disabilities will continue to generate all its own heat, hot water and electricity more efficiently while also benefitting the environment. The funds for the project came in part from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Feud Over NM Coal-Plant Closure Could Cost Customers
June 2022 - The Public Regulation Commission unanimously voted that PNM violated the ETA. PNM is the largest energy provider in New Mexico. The Commission agreed with environmental and consumer groups and blocked PNM’s plan to keep charging customers for San Juan Generating Station expenses long after the plant is closed.
NM's Public Regulation Commission Rushes to Approve Solar Project
November 2018 - Considered a win for consumers, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission voted to kill an El Paso Electric proposal to build a community solar project in Dona Ana County. The PRC voted 3-2 to approve a motion from Santa Fe-based renewable energy advocacy group New Energy Economy, an intervener in the case, to reject the proposal. New Energy Economy successfully argued that the original proposal showed favoritism to the utility company over independent solar contractors, giving it an automatic advantage and denying customers the lowest price for solar energy.
NM Teams Compete to Bring Solar Power to Underserved Communities
May 2017 - New Mexico has moved from 16th to 15th in the country for providing solar and is on the increase, still.
NM Clean-Energy Advocates Undeterred by Trump Executive Order
March 2017 - In the face of Trump's executive order to rollback the Clean Energy Plan, the city of Taos has instated a goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy. No matter what the federal position on clean energy or air pollution.
Bill Reintroduced to Streamline Permitting for Renewable Energy Projects
February 2017 - A group of U.S. Senators including Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Tom Udall (D-NM) re-introduced the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, S. 282. This bipartisan legislation works toward an "all of the above" energy strategy by simplifying the permitting process for solar, geothermal, and wind projects on public lands.
Renewable-Energy Advocates to Fight PNM at NM Supreme Court
January 2017 - The state Supreme Court heard a case today pitting renewable-energy advocates against the Public Regulation Commission and P-N-M, the state's biggest utility. At issue is whether the P-R-C was right to grant P-N-M permission to buy more coal and nuclear power versus investing in more wind and solar resources.
Renewables Outpace Nuclear in N.N. and in Nation
October 2016 - Renewable energy is outpacing nuclear power in the state and nationwide, according to two new government reports. The Energy Information Administration?s latest "Monthly Energy Review" shows in the first half of 2016, domestic renewable energy production was 25 percent greater than nuclear power production. Another report, from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, says renewable energy generating capacity is now double that of nuclear.
PRC Blocks Proposed Hike in Solar Energy Fees
August 2016 - A settlement reached Wednesday means customers of Southwestern Public Service Company in New Mexico will avoid paying higher fees for producing their own solar energy. The state Public Regulation Commission voted to keep solar surcharge fees the same or lower for customers who produce renewable energy at a home, small business, municipal building or school.
Peabody and State of NM Cut a Deal on Cleanup
August 2016 - The country's largest coal producer has reached a deal with New Mexico and two other states on how it plans to cover the cost of mine cleanups. Peabody Energy has filed for bankruptcy and the company has been allowed to self-bond, which means it promises to pay for coal-site cleanup without actually setting aside the cash. Environmentalists are calling it a win.
New Renewable Energy Research
August 2013 - Sandia National Laboratories and Arizona State University have signed a partnership agreement to encourage research in renewable energy sources.
January 2012 - Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) dedicated the new Las Vegas (NM) Solar Energy Center, the last of five new utility-scale solar power plants PNM has brought online within the past year. The five solar energy centers were built as part of PNM's effort to comply with New Mexico's renewable portfolio standard, which currently requires that 10 percent of energy produced for customers comes from renewable resources.
February 2011 - Following a loss in the state Supreme Court over separate sets of rules and regulations, the Martinez administration relented in the face of a lawsuit from the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club, agreeing to publish new, "greener" building codes that were approved last year.
December 2010 - New Mexico was highlighted more than once in December for its leadership on the clean energy front, both for "Green policies" and for pursuing the state's major renewable energy potential. One report from the Wilderness Society in particular gave kudos to a proposal to harvest solar energy with minimal impacts to wildlife habitat at the Afton site near Las Cruces.
New Community Solar and Storage Program Will Create 1,250 Clean Energy Jobs
February 2021 - Accelerated plans will help local governments and state agencies build at least 40 distributed solar systems that will generate renewable energy. These projects are expected to stimulate more than $135 million in direct, private investments toward their development, construction, and operation, and create more than 1,250 short-term and long-term jobs.
Public Service Commission Approve Major Clean Energy Transmission Line Project
February 2021 - The New York State Public Service Commission approved the New York Energy Solution Project and the Empire State Line to help relieve congestion and maximize the flow of renewable resources in Western New York. These were the final major approvals required to begin construction on the 250 miles of the green energy transmission superhighway this year.
New Competitive Program Will Retain New York's Existing Renewable Energy Resources
January 2021 - A new large-scale renewable energy procurement program, known as Competitive Tier 2, will retain New York's existing renewable energy resources, promote lower statewide carbon emissions, and help support the state's economic recovery by increasing in-state competition and reducing energy costs. The program continues progress under the State's recently expanded Clean Energy Standard and advances the goal to obtain 70 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030 as mandated in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the new Competitive Tier 2 renewable energy program will ensure the state's existing baseline renewable energy generation is retained through three annual solicitations, in parallel with NYSERDA's other solicitations for new large-scale land-based and offshore wind projects.
First Community Solar Plus Energy Storage Project Completed in New York
September 2020 - The first project in New York pairing a community solar project with energy storage has been completed. The milestone project will reduce the energy costs for approximately 150 households in Westchester County and New York City as well as provide power to 12 Tesla electric vehicle supercharging stations. The completion supports the state’s goals to install 6,000 megawatts of solar by 2025 and 3,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030, as called for in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
NY Budget Bill Advances Clean Energy
April 2020 - The budget passed by the Legislature includes reforms needed to ensure the state can reach its clean energy goals. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, signed into law last year, requires the state to achieve 70% renewable energy by 2030 but more than 60 renewable energy projects that already have contracts and could start construction are being delayed by the permitting and review process. This budget bill streamlines that, improves the process and will expedite building of wind and solar projects. It also maintains New York's strong environmental and public participation standards and adds deadlines to the permitting process for transmission development by requiring a decision within 12 months on permits for building or improving transmission infrastructure.
NY Awards for Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects
March 2020 - New awards will advance 21 large-scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects across upstate New York, totaling 1,278 megawatts of new renewable capacity. The awards, totaling $1 billion in State investment, include projects that offered bids 23 percent lower than the bids received three years ago, representing considerable value for New Yorkers and highlighting the continuing significant cost declines of renewable energy. They are expected to generate over 2.5 million megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually enough to power over 350,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.3 million metric tons annually. The projects will spur over $2.5 billion in direct, private investments toward their development, construction and operation and create over 2,000 short-term and long-term jobs.
30-Day Budget Amendment Will Accelerate Renewable Energy Projects
February 2020 - A 30-day budget amendment has been introduced in the state legislature to dramatically speed up the permitting and construction of renewable energy projects, combat climate change and grow the state's green economy. If adopted, the Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act will create a new Office of Renewable Energy Permitting to improve and streamline the process for environmentally responsible and cost-effective siting of large-scale renewable energy projects across New York while delivering significant benefits to local communities.
Legislation to Make the Fracking Ban Permanent Included in FY 2021 Executive Budget
January 2020 - A bill included in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s FY 2021 Executive Budget would make New York's fracking ban permanent. The measure would restrict the Department of Environmental Conservation from approving permits that would authorize an applicant to drill, deepen, plug back or convert wells that use high-volume hydraulic fracturing as a means to complete or recomplete a well, protecting the health of New Yorkers and ensuring permanently that our environment is not harmed by this practice.
High-volume hydraulic fracturing utilizes a well stimulation technique that greatly increased the ability to extract natural gas from very tight rock. High-volume hydraulic fracturing, which is often used in conjunction with horizontal drilling, raises significant, adverse impacts. In 2014, a review by the NYS Department of Health found significant uncertainties about health, including increased water and air pollution, and the adequacy of mitigation measures to protect public health. Given the red flags raised by existing research and absent conclusive studies that disprove health concerns, DOH recommended that the activity should not proceed in New York State. The Department of Environmental Conservation officially prohibited the practice in 2015, concluding a comprehensive seven-year review process that examined potential environmental and health impacts associated with high-volume hydraulic fracturing. New York's was the first ban by a state with significant natural gas resources.
NY Dedicating $1.5 Billion in Funding for Energy Efficiency Improvements at Government Facilities Across New York
December 2019 - New York State strengthens its commitment to improving energy efficiency at state and local government buildings. The New York Power Authority Board of Trustees has approved $1.5 billion in additional program funding over the next seven years as part of the Governor's BuildSmartNY program. Today's announcement supports the targets in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most aggressive climate and clean energy law in the nation, through improved energy efficiency in government buildings that will reduce electricity demand by three percent annually, the equivalent of 1.8 million New York households, by 2025.
Contracts for Nearly 1,700 Megawatts of Wind Offshore Wind Power Finalized
October 2019 - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has finalized contracts with Equinor Wind US LLC for its 816 megawatt Empire Wind Project and Sunrise Wind LLC for its 880 megawatt Sunrise Wind Project to deliver clean, affordable renewable energy to New Yorkers. As the largest procurement for offshore wind in the nation's history, this announcement advances New York's nation-leading Green New Deal goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and position the state as the regional hub of this rapidly growing industry in the United States.
NYS Investing in Energy Storage on Long Island
July 2019 - New York State is dedicating $55 million for energy storage including commercial and residential storage projects on Long Island. This program will be launched with an initial rollout of nearly $15 million in incentives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Energy storage projects supported by this Long Island initiative will advance progress toward achieving New York's target of 3,000 megawatts of energy storage deployed by 2030 - the equivalent to powering 40 percent of New York's homes. The announcement supports a Green New Deal - a nation-leading clean energy jobs agenda putting New York on a path to carbon neutrality.
Offshore Drilling Ban in New York Waters Signed into Law
April 2019 - Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to ban offshore drilling in New York State waters (S.2316 (Kaminsky)/A.2572 (Englebright). The legislation will bar the state from granting permits for drilling, or oil or gas exploration in offshore areas controlled by the State. It will also protect New York's waters and coasts by making it more difficult for oil and gas drilling to occur close to coastal New York, even in waters controlled by the federal government. In addition, the legislation prohibits the leasing of State-owned underwater coastal land that would authorize or facilitate the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas. The bill is a direct response to the Trump administration proposal to open U.S. coastal areas to drilling.
New Program To Spur Innovations In Energy Storage And Electric Vehicle Technology
April 2019 - An innovative partnership between the New York University Tandon School of Engineering Urban Future Lab and the New York Power Authority will recruit and support startup businesses pursuing electric vehicle and energy storage technologies. The partnership will help advance Governor Cuomo's Green New Deal, a nation-leading clean energy and jobs agenda that will aggressively put New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality.
The joint program, called the NYPA Innovation Challenge, will support advanced pilot programs demonstrating new technology and business models in New York State. As the power grid inevitably transforms and begins to work with more distributed energy resources (DERs) and grid edge solutions, NYPA will be seeking additional public and private partners with expertise in innovation, energy efficiency and clean energy generation.
NY Seeking Bids for Offshore Wind Power
November 2018 - New York has issued a comprehensive solicitation seeking 800 megawatts or more of new offshore wind projects for New York. This highly anticipated first offering, issued by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority kicks-off competition for New York State's first large-scale offshore wind development contracts, an initial step toward its goal of 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030 to combat climate change.
$40 Million to Support Solar Powered Storage Projects
October 2018 - $40 million will be made available to support solar projects that integrate energy storage, accelerating progress toward New York's energy storage target of 1,500-megawatts by 2025. These projects will build toward New York's goal of getting 50 percent of the state's electricity come from renewable sources by 2030 to combat climate change and build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system.
NY Invests$15 Million in SUNY Clean Energy Workforce Development & Training Programs
September 2018 - New York State has awarded nearly $6 million to SUNY campuses to train more workers in the clean energy sector. In addition, a request for proposals was made available to all SUNY campuses for grants totaling $9 million to provide apprenticeships, internships, and educational programs and support through industry partnerships across the state. These initiatives are part of Climate Jobs NY, a component of Clean Climate Careers initiative. As part of the $9 million RFP for additional grants, the SUNY university system will explore opportunities for partnerships with state and local agencies, including the Department of Labor, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Empire State Development, and Industrial Development Agencies. These partnerships will aim to meet existing and emerging critical workforce needs of New York's clean energy industry, drive regional economic development, and provide hands-on learning to students.
Assembly Passes Bill to Help Community Solar
July 2018 - New York's State Assembly has voted to restore net metering of community solar power. The bill would put the Public Service Commission's Value of Distributed Energy Resources, or VDER, plan on hold for three years. Net metering and VDER are methods of calculating compensation for smaller energy sources such as solar installations for the power they feed into the electric grid. Environmental advocates say restoring net metering will make solar power accessible to all New Yorkers, including almost half of state residents who rent their homes and can't install solar panels on their property. The PSC says VDER was established to fix a flaw in the net metering system and to support the state's Reforming the Energy Vision strategy. But advocates say, since the plan was rolled out last year, new solar installations have slowed significantly because VDER makes it difficult to calculate a long-term rate of return on the cost.
New Energy Efficiency Goals Draw High Praise
April 2018 - Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced new energy efficiency targets that environmental advocates say will fill in the missing piece in New York state's clean energy plan. The goal is to save energy equivalent to the amount used by 1.8 million homes by 2025. Achieving that goal will be key to meeting the state's climate goal of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 12 years. To get there the state will be investing more than $36 million to train up-to 19,500 New Yorkers for new energy-efficiency jobs. Reynolds said those would be good-paying jobs for electricians, building retrofitters, energy auditors and more.
NY Takes Step Toward Renewable Energy Future
March 2018 - Called the largest state commitment to renewable energy in U.S. history, New York awarded almost $1.5 billion in contracts for 26 large-scale renewable energy projects across the state. When all are operational, they will generate more than 3.2 million megawatt-hours of clean, renewable energy a year. Governor Andrew Cuomo's office says the projects will power more than 430,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 1.6 million metric tons. The total output will be more than twice the power the state set out to buy when it began the process.
NYS Wind Master Plan Draws Praise
January 2018 - New York state has released the first-in-the-nation Offshore Wind Master Plan. The plan starts the process of procuring at least 800 megawatts of offshore wind power over the next two years. The goal is to increase that to 2.4 gigawatts by 2030. With only one, small wind farm currently operating off Block Island, the U.S. is far behind some other nations in developing offshore wind. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) estimates that in 10 years, offshore wind will be a $6 billion industry, employing 5,000 people.
Governor Calls for Halt to Investments in Fossil Fuels
December 2017 - Governor Andrew Cuomo is calling for a plan to divest the New York State Common Retirement Fund from significant fossil fuel investments, and move to support the clean tech economy while assessing financial risks and protecting the Fund. The Common Fund is third largest in the nation, and manages over $200 Billion in retirement assets for more than one million New Yorkers.
Weatherization Measures Help Families Save an Average 20 Percent on Utility Bills
October 2017 - NYS has committed $59 million in funding through the Weatherization Assistance Program to help cut utility costs for approximately 9,200 income-eligible families and seniors across the state. Funds will be released to a statewide network of non-profit organizations to conduct energy-efficiency work including, but not limited to air sealing, insulation, upgrading heating systems, and diagnostic testing to identify hazards such as carbon monoxide and mold. Weatherization can save an average of 20 percent on utility bills. The Weatherization Assistance Program has invested more than $738 million since 2011 to make 118,600 homes safer, more resilient, and more affordable.
NY Green Bank to Raise at Least $1 Billion to Accelerate Clean Energy Solutions and Combat Climate Change
October 2017 - The NY Green Bank is seeking to raise at least an additional $1 billion in private sector funds to expand financing availability for clean energy projects. These additional funds to be raised from third-party investors will enable NY Green Bank to deliver greater environmental and cost benefits to New Yorkers and broaden the scope of investable projects beyond the boundaries of New York State.
DEC Denies Permits for CPV Power Plant Pipeline
August 2017 - The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation denied key permits Millennium Pipeline Co. is seeking for its planned 7.8-mile pipeline that would supply natural gas to the $900 million power plant being built in Wawayanda. In a decision filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DEC Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel Thomas Berkman wrote that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's environmental review of the $57.3 million project was "inadequate and deficient."
Upping the Ante for Reducing Greenhouse Gases
August 2017 - The nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is proposing lowering the cap on power plant emissions even further. Since it was created in 2005, the multi-state carbon cap-and-trade agreement, known as RGGI, has helped cut emissions from affected power plants in New York in half, and reduced coal-fired power generation statewide by 90-percent. Now RGGI wants to lower the cap an additional 30-percent by 2030. Over the next 13 years, the new cap reduction should bring total carbon emissions in the region down to 65 percent of 2009 levels.
850 Solar Projects Added in NY
August 2017 - 850 solar projects have been installed or are in development in communities across New York State through the second round of locally-organized "Solarize" campaigns. Launched by Governor Andrew Cuomo in December 2014, New York's Solarize program is an important component in supporting the State's Clean Energy Standard, which requires that 50 percent of the electricity in New York to come from renewable sources by 2030.
NY State Taking Bids for Big Increase in Renewable Energy
June 2017 - The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York Power Authority have announced plans to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates for a combined total of 2.5 million megawatt-hours per year of renewable power generation. The announcement followed Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order committing the state to upholding the Paris Agreement on climate change. The purchases could lead to the development of between 600 and 1,600 megawatts of new clean-energy generation capacity.
Cuomo Supports Major Development of Offshore Wind Farms
January 2017 - In his series of State of the State reports Governor Andrew called for approval of a 90-megawatt wind farm off Long Island, and the future development of up to 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind power. With the announced closing of the Indian Point nuclear power plants new New York City wind power will be key to achieving the state's goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. The governor has also directed state agencies to undertake a study to determine the fastest, most cost effective and responsible way for the state to reach 100 percent renewable energy.
Agreement Reached to Close Indian Point
January 2017 - New York state has reached an agreement with Entergy to permanently shut down the Indian Point nuclear power plant over the next four years. Under the agreement, the Indian Point Two reactor will shut down in 2020 and Indian Point Three the following year. The closures will mean finding other sources for about 2,000 megawatts of power. Clean energy advocates point out that the development of areas already leased for offshore wind power could provide up to 2,000 megawatts, and more offshore areas could be leased in coming years.
Cuomo Orders Investigation of Indian Point Leak
February 2016 - Following reports of "alarming levels" of radioactive tritium detected in test wells at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Station, Governor Cuomo ordered state environmental officials to investigate the source.
Governor Cuomo Launches $5 Billion Clean Energy Fund
January 2016 - Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the New York State Public Service Commission's approval of a 10-year, $5 billion Clean Energy Fund to accelerate the growth of New York's clean energy economy.
Governor Calls for Closing Indian Point
December 2015 - Governor Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stating his opposition to the re-licensing of the nuclear reactors at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Station.
Governor Vetos Port Ambrose Offshore LNG Facility
November 2015 - Governor Andrew Cuomo sent a letter to the US Department of Transportation vetoing the construction of the offshore Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Facility proposed for 20 miles off Jones Beach.
Closing of Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant Announced
November 2015 - Citing a bleak economic outlook for nuclear power Entergy, the owner of the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in upstate New York, announced that the plant will be closed by early 2017.
August 2011 - With Congress spending much of the summer focused on deficit reduction, supporters say the Power New York Act signed into law should provide a jobs jolt just when the Empire State needs it most — while at the same time, tackling climate change pollution.
June 2011 - Lawmakers passed a measure that should help New York homeowners be able to spend money to save money by making their homes more energy efficient. The measure is projected to create 14-thousand new construction jobs, and supporters say it also will prevent "dirty" power plants from being located in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
NC Commission Votes to Cap Carbon Emissions
August 2021 - The NC Environmental Management Commission votes to approve a plan to cut carbon emissions from North Carolina’s power sector. The move puts the state on a path to joining the the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Bill Signed Into Law That Boosts Solar
July 2017 - Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 589 into law, putting new regulations in motion aimed at reaching a statewide solar target of 6,800 megawatts by 2020 - more than double what it has now.
Case Builds Against Construction of Dukes Natural Gas Plant in Asheville.
February 2016 - Columbia Energy Inc in South Carolina has surplus energy from its natural gas plant and the company says that Duke is federally obligated to purchase that energy instead of building a new natural gas plant.
Direct Solar Purchase Bill Introduced
June 2015 - A House Bill - The Energy Freedom Act (HB 245) is currently being considered.
Solar Grows in NC
March 2015 - North Carolina continues to make progress with the advancement of solar energy in the state.
Avista Announces Settlement in ID Rate Case
October 2019 - Avista Utilities, which serves 133,000 customers in Idaho, has reached a settlement with stakeholders in a rate case that could reduce electric service rates for Idaho customers. The Idaho Conservation League was involved in the rate case negotiations, and voiced support for the settlement. As part of the settlement, Avista is funding a new $1.6 million program for energy savings projects in North Idaho.
Idaho Power Commits To Completely Clean Energy Sources By 2045
April 2019 - Idaho Power pledges to provide customers 100 percent clean energy by the year 2045. The company that serves over half-a-million customers calls the effort "Clean Today, Cleaner Tomorrow." Nearly 50 percent of the electricity the company currently generates comes from hydro power, and about a fifth comes from coal.
Solar Power Catching On in Idaho
January 2018 - A program called "Solarize the Valley" helped more than 100 Idaho families with the low-cost installation of solar rooftop panels. The number of solar customers has doubled in the last year, as more families look to alternative energy to power their homes.
Idaho Power to Close Coal Plants Early
May 2017 - Idaho Power has announced it will close two coal plants at Nevada's North Valmy Generating Station early. Units 1 and 2, originally set to close in 2031 and 2035, will close in 2019 and 2025, respectively.
Feds To Restructure Coal Leases
January 2016 - The Obama administration is imposing a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands, arguing that the $1 billion-a-year program must be modernized to ensure a fair financial return to taxpayers and address climate change.
Former Exec in Idaho Nuke Plant Scam Sent to Prison for 30 Months
January 2016 - The No. 2 executive of a company that roamed Idaho and beyond bilking investors of millions of dollars in a scheme to build a phony nuclear power plant was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
PUC Approves Idaho Power's 20 Year Plan
December 2015 - The Idaho Public Utilities Commission decided just before Christmas to ratify Idaho Power's latest 20 year plan, which is the first ever to include a plan to retire a coal-fired power plant.
September 2012 - There's strong support in 11 western states for developing renewable energy on public lands - and ensuring at least some of the rents or royalties from developers are used locally for conservation and recreation purposes. That's according to a new bipartisan poll (commissioned by The Wilderness Society).
Ohio Reverses Parts of Nuclear Bailout Bill
April 2021 - Governor Mike DeWine sighed House bill 128, which reverses some of the provisions of the state's controversial nuclear bailout law (HB 6). HB 128 repeals nuclear subsidies and requires a mechanism to refund money to ratepayers approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; repeals significantly excessive earnings test (SEET) provisions that benefited FirstEnergy; and repeals the decoupling measure that allowed FirstEnergy to collect hundreds of millions of dollars from Ohio's electric consumers.
Ohio Supreme Court Overturns FirstEnergy Bailout
June 2019 - The Ohio Supreme Court overturned the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's approval of a FirstEnergy bailout that left customers footing a nearly $600 million bill. The bailout misleadingly named the Distribution Modernization Rider has cost customers up to $204 million annually since it was approved in 2017 and, as the Supreme Court ruled, provided no guarantees the funds would go to grid modernization nor that there were proper customer safeguards in place.
A Step Forward for Solar in Ohio
February 2018 - The Ohio Power Siting Board approved the two largest solar arrays in the state. Hardin Solar Center in Hardin County would be 150 megawatts, and Hillcrest Solar Farm in Brown County would be 125 megawatts. The current largest project of 28.7 megawatts is in Bowling Green. The projects are happening now because of increased demand for buyers of renewable electricity and a drop in costs for the equipment.
A Boost for Ohio Weatherization Programs
September 2017 - Programs that help keep Ohioans warm and save energy costs are getting a boost. While federal rules allow up to 25 percent of Home Energy Assistance Program dollars be allocated to weatherization, Ohio only has been spending 15 percent. But lawmakers recently approved a legislative requirement in the biennium state budget that will now allow 20 percent to be spent. The increase will mean about seven million additional dollars annually for the Home Weatherization Program, which translates to about 700 more homes weatherized each year.
AEP to Refund Millions for Ohio Electric Customers
June 2017 - AEP Ohio will refund 84 million dollars to its electric customers to settle a lawsuit over rates. The company will provide credits on June bills that will average 60 dollars for households. The rate changes agreed to upon in the lawsuit are expected to save customers on average four dollars and twenty cents a month.
No Bail-out for Coal Plants
November 2015 - The Public Utility Commission of Ohio rejected AEP's request to raise rates to bail out the company's stake in the Kyger Creek and Clifty Creek coal plants.
"Right to Know" About Oil and Gas Toxins
September 2013 - Oil and gas companies are being told for the first time to give county officials and local fire departments information about the toxic chemicals drillers use to fracture shale.
Credits on the Way for First Energy Customers
August 2013 - State regulators ordered First Energy to credit its Ohio customers $43.3 million it overcharged them for renewable energy between 2009 and 2011.
February 2012 - February saw a historic win for clean air in Ohio. First Energy announced it will retire six coal-fired power plants in the state and GenOn Energy Inc. plans to close two older coal-fired power plants in Ohio, one in Avon Lake and another in Niles. Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, say it is a win for public health and another chance for Ohio to move toward clean energy.
January 2011 - The Buckeye State is blazing some trails in green energy. According to the Department of Energy, more than 300-thousand homes have been weatherized through stimulus funding... and the Buckeye State is in the lead with 23-thousand homes weatherized. And when it comes to job creation in Ohio, the wind and solar energy supply chain is a generator. A new report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center says at least nine-thousand jobs in the state are tied to the wind and solar energy sectors.
Permanent Offshore Oil Drilling Ban OK'd By Oregon Lawmakers
March 2019 - Oregon state lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a permanent offshore oil drilling ban as the Trump administration forges ahead with a plan that could open up the Pacific coast for petroleum exploration and extraction.
The House voted 47-8 to prohibit drilling and exploration in the state?s marine waters, extending a temporary 10-year ban that was set to expire next year. The measure already passed the Senate and will be sent next to Gov. Kate Brown. Brown, a Democrat, has previously spoken out against offshore oil drilling and has pushed for strong climate protections in the state.
Portland Clean Energy Initiative Passes
November 2018 - The Portland Clean Energy Initiative was passed by voters. Now large retailers operating in Portland help pay for an additional investment of roughly $30 million per year in revenue in cleaner energy projects and job training.
Oregon Gov. to Sign Executive Order Banning Offshore Drilling
October 2018 - Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says she will sign an executive order banning offshore drilling because she's tired of waiting for the federal government to come to their senses and realize this is a terrible mistake."
Ore. Supreme Court Declines Review of Portland Oil Terminal Ban
July 2018 - The Oregon Supreme Court declined to review Portland's City Council decision from 2016 to prohibit new fossil fuel infrastructure such as oil and gas terminals within the city. Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Audubon Society of Portland, the Center for Sustainable Economy, and Columbia Riverkeeper intervened in the case and welcomed the news that Portland?s fossil fuel policy can move forward.
NW Utility Has No New Plans for Natural Gas Plants
May 2018 - PacifiCorp, a Portland, Oregon-based utility serving six Western states, said it has no plans to build new natural gas plants in the coming decades. Instead, the company is embarking on a wind binge, with plans to install enough turbines to power 400,000 homes by 2020.
Governor Brown Signs Executive Order on Electrifying Transportation in Oregon
November 2017 - Governor Kate Brown signed an executive order to help the state reach the goal of registering more than 50,000 electric vehicles. The order also helps the state reach its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
Energy Company Hit with Deluge of Opposition to Expanding Natural Gas-Fired Plant
February 2017 - More than 7,000 comments were submitted regarding Portland General Electric's proposed plan to increase its natural gas-fired capacity at its Boardman plant, most of them in opposition to the plan. Oregon Department of Energy says it was the most comments it had ever seen by far, with the previous high around 1,000.
Solar Jobs: Get Your Feet Warm, and Get In Early
March 2016 - Oregon legislature passed a bill that will increase the amount of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, to 50 percent of the state's requirements by 2040.
OR Selected for Offshore Wind Energy Development
May 2014 - Oregon has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of three demonstration project sites for offshore wind energy development.
Solar Soars in Oregon
January 2014 - Oregon ranks thirteenth in the nation for per-capita solar installations, according to a report released at the end of January by the Environment Oregon Research and Policy Center.
Energy From the Sea Plans Move Forward
January 2013 - Oregon's Territorial Sea Plan will allow future siting of wave energy projects, with an amendment passed in January.
June 2012 - Twenty farms and small rural businesses around the state learned in June that they're receiving federal grants to help them reduce energy consumption and/or look into using renewable energy. The Oregon grants total $242,000 and are part of the 2008 Farm Bill funding, through the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program.
April 2012 - Gov. John Kitzhaber asked federal agencies to conduct more thorough analyses of the "environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy security impacts" of proposed coal exports to Asia before any further permits or leases are made to build coal terminals. He points out that Oregon and Washington would feel the effects of increased coal exports more keenly than any other state.
March 2012 - At month's end, Columbia Biogas and the City of Portland announced plans to develop a facility to turn food waste into an energy source. The biogas plant is expected to eventually generate enough power to serve 3,000 homes. Construction will employ about 85 people, with 20 ongoing operations jobs.
March 2012 - USDA's Rural Development office has put out the word that it wants "innovative, affordable and energy-efficient" ideas for building single-family houses for low-income residents of rural Oregon. Builders and developers have until July 6 to submit their proposals.
New Report on Green Jobs in Oregon
February 2012 - The Oregon Employment Department estimates about 3 percent of Oregon's jobs are "green."
June 2011 - State lawmakers also passed "Cool Schools," the bill to finance energy-efficiency projects to make public schools less expensive to heat and cool, while putting people to work repairing and retrofitting the buildings.
January 2011 - Portland now has 600 residential solar electric systems that total 1.6 megawatts, and residents in North and Northwest Portland are starting the year with workshops so more homeowners can learn about how to "go solar" and even band together for discounts on purchasing the equipment. The effort is called Solarize Portland.
Clean Fuels Law on the Books
November -0001 - Gov. Kate Brown signed SB 324, Oregon’s “Clean Fuels” legislation, into law. Among the most controversial bills in the session, it continues a 2009 program to require 10-percent less “carbon intensity” in vehicle fuel in the next decade. Critics predict unintended consequences – including higher fuel prices – but Brown says Oregon needs to “keep its end of the bargain,” as California and Washington are taking similar steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Fed. Judge Orders Greater Oversight of DAPL
December 2017 - A judge has ordered greater oversight measures for the Dakota Access Pipeline. The decision comes in the wake of the Keystone Pipeline spill, which highlighted the risk pipelines pose to local communities.
TVA Looks to Expand Solar
January 2018 - TVA is looking to construct a solar facility in the coverage area of Limestone, Alabama for completion in 2018. IIt hasn't been approved yet, but represents good movement in the utilities' participation in solar and clean energy.
February 2011 - The U.S. Department of Energy has cleared construction of a 5-megawatt solar array in West Tennessee, ruling that the project will have no significant impact on the surrounding environment. Energy officials approved the solar farm near I-40 in Haywood County under the National Environmental Policy Act, the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
More Texas Solar Jobs
November -0001 - Texas has the country's sixth highest number of workers in the solar industry at nearly 7,000, according to the latest National Solar Jobs Census.
Utah Cities to Switch to Renewable Energy
November 2017 - As the Trump administration continues to roll back Obama-era policies designed to slow climate change, a new report from the Sierra Club shows how 50 cities across the U.S., including three in Utah, are taking steps to remove fossil fuels from their energy portfolios. Moab, Park City and Salt Lake City all have made official commitments to begin a glide path away from fossil fuels.
Proposed Settlement Provides Path for Sustainable Rooftop Solar
September 2017 - State and local government entities, Rocky Mountain Power, solar industry participants, and non-governmental interest groups have proposed a settlement of net metering and distributed generation matters. The agreement was filed with the Utah Public Service Commission
Utah Earns Good Grades for Conservation
May 2014 - Utah lawmakers are scoring good grades with an energy conservation group for enacting laws and policies that benefit electric vehicle use.
New Solar Program Announced
April 2014 - The University of Utah is partnering with a nonprofit organization to get more homes solar-powered.
Solar Jobs Grow
November -0001 - Utah ranks 27th in the U.S. in the most recent National Solar Jobs Census. 2014 was a year of growth for Utah's solar sector as the cost of residential solar products has dropped by two-thirds in recent years, which drives demand and job growth. The Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan is also predicted to grow the solar sector. It calls on states to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.
Funding Will Replace Virginia Diesel School Buses with Electric and Propane Ones
September 2021 - Governor Ralph Northam announced more than $10.5 million in funds from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, administered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, to replace 83 diesel school buses with electric and propane buses in 19 school districts across Commonwealth. The grant that provides the money for this initiative came from a Trust funded by the Volkswagen settlement that is working to reduce emissions and support environmental programs.
Offshore Wind Development Agreement Reached
August 2021 - Governor Northam announces that the Port of Virginia has reached an agreement to lease a portion of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal to Dominion Energy—dramatically accelerating the largest commercial clean energy offshore wind development in the United States and creating a place in Virginia for a new American industry to emerge.
November 2012 - Virginia will be one of three states included in a first-ever renewable energy lease sale on the outer continental shelf. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced that the proposed offshore lease in Virginia totals about twenty-three nautical miles, and is expected to support more than two-thousand MW of wind generation and enough electricity to power 7-thousand homes.
August 2012 - Health organizations and environmentalists breathed a sigh of relief this month, as a The Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC) put its plans to build a new coal fired power plant in Hampton Roads on hold. According to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, a group that opposed the plant, the delay means about 2 million cars worth of carbon dioxide will not be released into the air. Groups plan to continue a dialogue with ODEC in hopes the company will move toward creating more climate friendly fuels.
February 2012 - Offshore wind projects are one step closer to reality…The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced it is moving forward with the next phase in offshore wind energy development off the Virginia coast. The BOEM is publishing the call for information and nominations targeting industry interest from developers. Once responses are received, BOEM will determine their leasing process.
October 2011 - Virginia landed a collaborative project to establish a facility for the testing and certification of large offshore and land-based electricity-producing wind turbines. The project, called "Poseidon Atlantic" will be the first such facility in the United States and will fill a growing need for facilities that test and certify wind turbines. The initial phase of the project is to be developed on Virginia's Eastern Shore in Northampton County. The project is expected to create 25 new jobs within two years.
July 2011 - Legislation aimed at promoting alternative fuel use for government vehicles was signed by the governor this month. A new plan requires the Department of General Services along with the secretary of administration, and the governor's senior advisor on energy to develop a plan for the replacement of all government vehicles with vehicles that will use electricity or other alternative fuels.
Clean Energy Bills Signed
November -0001 - Governor Terry McAuliffe today signed into law several pieces of clean energy legislation passed by the 2015 General Assembly. The bills signed include legislation doubling the cap on the size of solar energy systems that Virginia businesses are allowed to install to offset their own energy usage (HB 1950/ SB 1395), and legislation creating a new Virginia Solar Development Authority (HB 2267/ SB 1099).
Gov. Inslee Urges Federal Regulators to Reject GTN Pipeline Expansion
March 2023 - Gov. Jay Inslee has sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission urging members to reject a proposed expansion of the Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) Xpress pipeline, saying it does not serve a public need, would harm consumers and sharply conflicts with the state's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy.
WA County First in Nation to Ban Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
July 2021 - Whatcom county in Washington state has become the first such jurisdiction in the US to ban new fossil fuel infrastructure, following a lengthy battle over the impact of oil refineries on the local community. Whatcom county’s council unanimously passed a measure that bans the construction of new refineries, coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuel-related infrastructure. The ordinance also places new restrictions on existing fossil fuel facilities, such as a requirement that any extra planet-heating gases emitted from any expansion be offset.
Developers End Pursuit of World's Largest Methanol Refinery Planned for Washington
June 2021 - In a stunning climate victory, Northwest Innovation Works, which backs a controversial fossil fuel processing and export proposal in Kalama, Washington, officially abandoned its fracked gas refinery and pipeline proposal, terminating the company’s lease with the Port of Kalama. The decision comes after years of local and regional activism to stop the massive fracked gas refinery, resulting in a series of legal defeats for the project. In January Washington state denied a key permit, citing the refinery's significant climate and shoreline impacts. That decision followed state and federal court rejections of other permits for failing to fully analyze the project’s harm to climate, water quality and the public interest. This would have been the world’s largest methanol refinery. "After many years of fighting dirty coal, oil and fracked gas, we are looking forward to a clean energy future in Washington," said Brett VandenHeuvel, executive director with Columbia Riverkeeper.
Puget Sound Energy Withdraws Proposed Coal Plant Sale
October 2020 - Puget Sound Energy (PSE) announced they will no longer pursue a plan to sell their stake in Colstrip Unit 4 and transmission capacity to Montana’s NorthWestern Energy and Talen Montana, following near-unanimous opposition to the deal. This decision leaves the future of the plant in doubt and speaks to the need for the plant’s owners to negotiate an orderly retirement and transition plan for workers and the local community.
Gov. Inslee Signs 'Strongest' Clean-Energy Bill in Nation
June 2019 - Governor Jay Inslee has signed one of the most comprehensive clean energy bills in the country. Washington state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 5116, committing the state to a carbon-free electricity grid by 2045, and the bill lays out, step by step, how it will get there. By 2025, the Evergreen State will completely phase out coal, which currently supplies about 14 percent of its electricity.
Washington State Ferries Reveals Plan for Younger, Greener Fleet
January 2019 - Washington State Ferries has come up with a plan to replace more than half of its fleet with new, electric-powered ferries. The nation's largest ferry system would become younger and greener, but not much bigger under a strategic plan just delivered to the Washington Legislature. The blueprint for the next two decades envisions buying 16 new ferries to update the aging fleet and to have more vessels in reserve. The proposal could also help quiet the sound for orcas, which biologists say is crucial for their survival.
Council Advises Gov Inslee to Reject Vancouver Oil Terminal
December 2017 - The Washington State Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council voted to reject a large oil terminal in Vancouver. The terminal would have moved 360,000 barrels of oil from North Dakota and Montana to West Coast refineries and eventually overseas. Governor Jay Inslee has two months to decide whether to follow the council's recommendation.
Washington Dept. of Ecology Denies Largest Proposed Coal Terminal in Country Key Permit
October 2017 - A proposed coal terminal for Longview that would have shipped up to 44 million tons annually to Asian markets appears to have been given a final setback, when the Washington Department of Ecology denied the Millennium Bulk Terminal a key water-quality permit.
Seattle Cuts Ties with Wells Fargo over Dakota Access Pipeline
February 2017 - Seattle will no longer rely on Wells Fargo for city financing after a unanimous vote by the city council. The council decided to cut ties with the bank because its involvement in financing the Dakota Access Pipeline. It also cited the bank's financing of private prisons.
State Denies Lease for Coal Export Terminal
January 2017 - Washington state will not allow aquatic lands on the Columbia River in Longview to be used for a major coal export terminal. The denial deals a serious blow the Millennium Bulk Terminals project. The Department of Natural Natural Resources said the project manager has shown a "chronic failure" to provide "essential and accurate information."
Weatherization Day Commemorated in Washington
November 2015 - Oct. 30 was "Weatherization Day" in Washington, a nod to the program that will help improve energy efficiency in about 2,250 lower-income homes this year.
April 2011 - Gov. Gregoire has signed much-anticipated legislation to transition the state's only coal-fired power plant off of coal. The bill requires TransAlta to significantly reduce haze pollution from its Centralia plant by Jan. 1, 2013; phase out coal use between 2020 and 2025; and provide $30 million for economic development and another $25 million for clean energy technology development in the state.
January 2011 - Washington's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says it managed to save $3 million in costs last year by eliminating 125 vehicles from its agency motor pool and reducing employee travel. Going forward, it predicts annual savings of $300,000, as fewer vehicles will mean lower operating costs. The agency is also looking into the use of biofuels for the heavy equipment it operates to save money and curb emissions.
Energy efficiency targets are on target
November -0001 - In November, the Northwest Energy Coalition reported 2013 was the ninth straight year that Northwest utilities and their customers beat the regional targets for energy efficiency outlined in the Sixth Northwest Power and Conservation Plan. Energy efficiency has become the region’s second-largest power source, after hydropower – and the utilities say they’re on track to exceed their 2014 efficiency target, as well.
Regional Plans to Respond to Oil Spills
November -0001 - Washington has nine new geographic response plans (GRPs) to guide responses to oil spills. The Legislature allocated one-time funding for the Ecology Department to work on the plans, in light of increased oil shipments through the state. They were developed jointly with the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard. The new plans focus on marine and coastal spills; next, the state will be working on similar plans for inland areas.
Collaboration with China for Clean Energy
November -0001 - The Washington State Dept. of Commerce has inked a deal with China to collaborate on clean and low-carbon energy technologies. One potential project involves two gas-to-methanol plants for the Ports of Kalama and Tacoma, each worth $1 billion, to create cleaner-burning methanol for shipment to China.
More Awards for the “Greenest” Building
November -0001 - A Seattle structure that has been dubbed “the world’s greenest commercial building” received more honors in June. The Bullitt Center (1501 E. Madison St.) uses just one-fourth the energy of a similar new building, and its rooftop solar panels generate more power than it uses – even in cloudy Seattle. The NW Energy Coalition chose the building for its Headwaters Award.
Renewable Energy Standard Update Proposed
November -0001 - Some Washington lawmakers are already thinking ahead about what happens when the state’s renewable energy standard expires in 2020. Utilities have until then to generate at least 15 percent of their power through energy-efficiency and renewables. They’ve beat their targets so far, and legislation (HB 2073) would allow them some flexibility, not requiring that they add more renewable capacity if efficiency measures mean they don’t need to generate as much electricity.
Coal Backed Group Loses Fight To Block Gas Plant
November 2018 - A so-called "citizens" group - backed by a huge coal baron - had been attempting to block the construction of a gas-fired power plant, but finally lost in court. WVNS was the first general media outlet to cover the link between the coal boss and the group.
Energy-Efficiency Program Likely to Survive Regulatory Challenge
December 2017 - An energy efficiency program run by American Electric Power looks likely to continue in spite of challenges. The power company had been reluctant to back energy efficiency, but has changed its position, largely credited to the public making their support known.
WV Solar Ag CO-OP Helps Farmers Cut Their Power Bills
July 2017 - A non-profit is helping state farmers cut costs and supply a great deal of their own renewable energy in the process. Between the falling price of solar panels and good deals the non-profit can get, farmers and ranchers are seeing green from going green.
Appalachian Power to Expand Use of Wind Power
July 2017 - The huge electrical utility, part of what was once the largest consumer of coal in the world (AEP) has said it will buy wind farms as part of its diversification of its power fleet. The wind farms are in Ohio and WV, and the customers for App Power are in WV, VA and TN.
Public Weighs In on Reroute of Controversial Line 5 Project
March 2022 - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has, once again, extended the public input period for the controversial Line 5 project. Line 5's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the focus of the comment period, has come under fire from critics for numerous alleged shortcomings.
Wyoming to Receive $25 Million for Orphan Wells Under Infrastructure Bill
October 2022 - President Joe Biden's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to Wyoming to clean up and plug so-called orphaned oil and gas wells on public lands.
Gov. Gordon Tackles Electric Vehicle Grid for Mountain States
February 2020 - Wyoming and other western mountain states are pressing ahead with a joint effort to deploy electric vehicle charging stations along interstate corridors and state highways. Gov. Mark Gordon recently signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the infrastructure project, joining governors from Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
Study: Renewable Industry Could Absorb Coal Layoffs
August 2016 - The growth of solar- and wind-related jobs could easily absorb coal-industry layoffs over the next 15 years and provide full-time careers, if investments are made to retrain workers.
Air Quality Regulation Board Looking at Extending Environmental Regulations to Entire State
October 2015 - In a new move, Wyoming regulators are considering a plan to place tighter oil and gas restrictions in Laramie County and other parts of eastern Wyoming.
Fracking in Wyoming
January 2015 - The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will be updating its policies regarding industry requests not to disclose hydraulic fracturing chemicals in the name of "trade secrets."
J u s t i c e
Social Justice
Chauvin Conviction
April 2021 - Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted in the murder of George Floyd. The verdict was seen as a monumental step in seeking justice for Black residents who have been long mistreated by police.
Photojournalists Acquitted In Felony/Free Speech Trial
December 2017 - Photojournalist Alexei Wood was accused of participating in a riot while covering violent protests during the inauguration of Donald Trump. But he was acquitted along with five others facing felony charges in the first of a series of related trials. The jury seemed to accept defense arguments that Wood and the others had not actually destroyed property or attacked people.
Virginia Voters Rebuke Trumpism
November 2017 - In what could well be seen as a stinging rebuke for the right-wing stance of the president, in spite of a very ugly (and many would say racist) campaign, voters in Virginia chose Democrat Ralph Northam for governor, and returned all of the state-wide seats to Democrats. Many of the the losing candidates closely followed a Trump script.
The US Treasury Department is cracking down on corporate inversions.
April 2016 - In response to the proposed merger between pharmaceutical giants Allergan and Pfizer, the Treasury Department proposed new rules that would "wipe out" the massive tax benefits of the largest corporate inversion in our nation's history.
Prison Phone Calls
October 2015 - After a decade of organizing, this morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on rules to rein in the predatory prison phone industry.
FCC Regulates Prison Phone Call Rates
October 2015 - Nationally: After a decade of organizing, this morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 on rules to rein in the predatory prison phone industry.
FBI Redefines Legal Definition of Rape
January 2012 - The Obama administration has announced that the FBI has redefined the definition of rape it uses in the Uniform Crime Report.
Remote Arizona Reservations Receiving High-Speed Internet Access
March 2011 - Four remote Arizona reservations will be getting cutting-edge Internet access, thanks to federal stimulus funds.
First-ever Presidential Memorandum Calls for Hiring Diversity in Federal Agencies
January 2017 - In the Obama administration's last days, President Obama called for Department of the Interior, the Forest Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as other agencies, to be more inclusive in hiring practices and community outreach.
New Calif. Law Helps Protect Child Victims of Sex Trafficking
January 2017 - Starting this week, a new state law is in effect aimed at protecting minors who are part of the sex trade. Law enforcement officers can no longer arrest them for prostitution, which shifts the focus onto getting help for these juveniles instead of locking them up.
Low-wage Workers Win Minimum-Wage Increase in Calif.
January 2017 - Low-wage workers won a victory with California's minimum-wage increase, in effect starting this week. California's minimum wage is now $10.50 an hour, up from $10, and will ultimately rise to $15 an hour by 2022.
Dark Money Targeted in New Law
May 2014 - The California state legislature passed SB 27, a bill to make dark money nonprofits reveal their secret funders by becoming campaign committees when they spend over $50,000 on California campaigns.
Colorado Senate Defeats 'Religious Exemption Bill in Disguise'
April 2017 - The Colorado State Senate voted down Senate Bill 283, a bill that would have allowed businesses to claim that any belief, including religious beliefs, gives them the right to refuse to follow non-discrimination laws they don't like.
CT, NY, MD and NJ File of Appeal in Multi-State Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's SALT Reform
November 2019 - Connecticut, New York, Maryland and New Jersey filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to continue litigation against the federal government for its unlawful and unprecedented cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. This appeal challenges a September 30, 2019 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that rejected the states' suit, which argues that the SALT cap is a politically motivated bid to effectively raise property taxes in predominately Democratic states. The 2017 Tax Act, which resulted from the Trump administration's partisan agenda, reversing over a century of precedent in the federal tax code, drastically curtailed the state and local tax deduction by capping it at $10,000. An analysis by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance projected that the cap would increase New Yorkers' federal taxes by up to $15 billion annually. As one of the nation's top donor states, this attack is significantly more damaging to New York than many other states. Prior to enactment of the 2017 law, New York State already had the widest disparity among all states when factoring how much money New York sent to Washington and the funding it received in return. Other donor states, including Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey are being similarly injured.
CT Task Force Recommends Greater Access to Legal Assistance
January 2017 - A state task force of judges, attorneys, law enforcement and educators have issued a report saying a person's access to an attorney in some civil court proceedings should be a right. A new report from the Task Force to Improve Access to Legal Counsel in Civil Matters found that many Connecticut residents can't afford a lawyer to help them protect their essential needs. The report recommends making access to legal counsel a statutory right for cases involving restraining orders, child custody and residential evictions.
Ballot Selfie's Given Okay by Federal Judge
November 2015 - A federal judged ruled in favor of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana's challenge of an Indiana law that would have made it illegal for a voter to take a "ballot" selfie at the polls or share it on social media.
November 2012 - Voters legalized same sex marriage. ME was one of 4 states to support gay marriage on Election Day - MD, WA, MN
As Bias Crimes Surge, Maryland to Strengthen Holocaust Education
November 2019 - Just days before the anniversary of last year's Pittsburgh synagogue shootings, Maryland's education department announced that it will be expanding Holocaust instruction in its schools. Religious leaders troubled by a recent survey that found a large knowledge gap on the Holocaust joined with lawmakers to push for the change.
November 2012 - Voters legalized same sex marriage. MD was one of 4 states to support gay marriage on Election Day - ME, WA, MN
Governor Signs Bills to Establish Only HBCU in Michigan
December 2021 - Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills to facilitate the reopening of the state's only HBCU, the Lewis College of Business.
MN Gov't. Eliminates Gender Wage Gap for Public Employees
March 2016 - For jobs of equal value, the gender wage gap in Minnesota's state and local governments has been eliminated, according to a new report from the state's Office on the Economic Status of Women.
November 2012 - Voters rejected a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Same-sex marriage remains illegal under state law. MN was one of three states to support gay rights on Election Day - WA, MD and ME legalized marriage for same-sex couples.
December 2010 - The Local Community Radio Act was signed into law by the US Senate. The new law will enable non commercial entities such as churches and schools to establish low power FM radio stations across the Bay State and nationwide.
NY Legislature Passes State E.R.A
February 2023 - The New York State Legislature passed the New York State Equal Rights Amendment, which will go before voters in November 2024. The new amendment would create new anti-discrimination protections to the state's Constitution, including explicit guarantees for reproductive rights and marriage equality.
Gov. Hochul Signs Legislation to Counteract Recent Supreme Court Rulings
June 2022 - Since the rulings on the cases of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Center, West Virginia v. EPA, and NYSRPA v. Bruen; Gov. Kathy Hochul called for an extraordinary session of the NYS Legislature. In that session, legislation has been passed to maintain and advance New York's 2030 climate goals, and to refrain from people bringing guns into sensitive location/private property. Additionally, legislation is being worked on for a New York State version of the Equal Rights Amendment to ensure women of all race and ethnicities rights are protected.
NY, CT, MD and NJ File of Appeal in Multi-State Lawsuit Against Trump Administration's SALT Reform
November 2019 - New York, Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to continue litigation against the federal government for its unlawful and unprecedented cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT. This appeal challenges a September 30, 2019 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that rejected the states' suit, which argues that the SALT cap is a politically motivated bid to effectively raise property taxes in predominately Democratic states. The 2017 Tax Act, which resulted from the Trump administration's partisan agenda, reversing over a century of precedent in the federal tax code, drastically curtailed the state and local tax deduction by capping it at $10,000. An analysis by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance projected that the cap would increase New Yorkers' federal taxes by up to $15 billion annually. As one of the nation's top donor states, this attack is significantly more damaging to New York than many other states. Prior to enactment of the 2017 law, New York State already had the widest disparity among all states when factoring how much money New York sent to Washington and the funding it received in return. Other donor states, including Connecticut, Maryland and New Jersey are being similarly injured.
Human Trafficking Law Makes Court Debut
December 2012 - Ohio's most recent human trafficking law has been used for the first time to prosecute a trafficker.
Texas Broadband Expansion Plan to Debut Mid-June
May 2022 - In June, Texas will unveil its first plan to expand broadband. The Biden administration made broadband expansion a priority in its funding for infrastructure and COVID-19 stimulus bills, prompting the Texas Legislature to set up an office to identify the state's internet shortfalls and solutions.
June 2011 - The Commonwealth released a new broadband availability map this month as part of an effort to ensure all residents have access to affordable and reliable internet access. The map is a collaborative effort of the Center for Innovative Technology, The Virginia Information Technologies Agency's Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN), and Virginia Tech's eCorridors Program.
November 2012 - Voters legalized same sex marriage. WA was one of 4 states to support gay marriage on Election Day - ME, MD, MN
Supreme Court To Review WI Gerrymandering Case
June 2017 - The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it will review the lower court decision regarding partisan gerrymandering in the 2011 redrawing of Wisconsin's 99 Assembly districts. The lower court held that Republicans drew the maps with the intent of disenfranchising Democratic voters. The Supreme Court decision, which will likely come this fall, could become a national landmark case. PNS/WNC has run a number of stories over the past 4 years decrying the unfairness of the way the political boundary maps were drawn in Wisconsin in 2011.