Berkeley tries again to oust natural gas from the city limits

The city of Berkeley, Calif., just won’t give up on its fixation about natural gas in its jurisdiction and its desire to be greener than green when it comes to greenhouse gases. At a special meeting July 30 to determine what items will appear on the city’s November election ballot, the city council unanimously approved… More Berkeley tries again to oust natural gas from the city limits

Roundup: Who knows which way the wind blows?

Denmark’s Orsted, the worldwide leading offshore wind developer, has recorded a $575 million loss in the second quarter, Reuters reports. In part, the loss is the result of disappointing developments in the U.S. The company has delayed commercial operation of its 704-MW Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut from 2025… More Roundup: Who knows which way the wind blows?

Energy Northwest goes for X-energy HTGR SMRs

Seattle’s Energy Northwest, a municipal joint action agency that provides power to 29 municipal distributors across the Evergreen State, is moving forward on a plan to build a fleet of small modular nuclear reactors on the Department of Energy’s Hanford former weapons production site. Officials from Energy Northwest are scheduled to meet with staff from… More Energy Northwest goes for X-energy HTGR SMRs

Should Central Maine Power go “dark” to the regulators?

A proposed financial reorganization of Central Maine Power (CMP), the state’s dominant electric company, is generating fierce consumer opposition at the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Augusta-based Avangrid (NYSE:AGR), CMP’s owner since 2015, is 81.6% owned by Spanish energy conglomerate Iberdrola, which wants the state regulators to rubber stamp a deal where Iberdrola would acquire the… More Should Central Maine Power go “dark” to the regulators?

Project 2025 part 3: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(A three-part series) The controversial 922-page “Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project, the Heritage Foundation blueprint for a far-right Trump government is a political prescription for various reforms of  energy and environmental programs in the Department of Energy, the Interior Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency. While Donald Trump has tried to distance himself in the… More Project 2025 part 3: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Project 2025 part 2: the U.S. Department of the Interior

(A three part series) The controversial 922-page “Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project, the Heritage Foundation blueprint for a far-right Trump government is political prescription for various reforms of  energy and environmental programs in the Department of Energy, the Interior Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency. While Donald Trump has tried to distance himself in the… More Project 2025 part 2: the U.S. Department of the Interior

Project 2025: What it says about energy, environment, and public lands

(A three part series) The controversial 922-page “Project 2025: Presidential Transition Project”, the Heritage Foundation blueprint for a far-right Trump government is a political prescription for a variety of reforms of energy and environmental programs in the Department of Energy, the Interior Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency. While Donald Trump has tried to distance… More Project 2025: What it says about energy, environment, and public lands

Review: Valley So Low: one lawyer’s fight for justice in the wake of America’s great coal catastrophe

“Valley So Low” is a gripping autopsy of the largest industrial accident in U.S., the 2008 failure of the enormous coal ash pond at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s giant Kingston power plant near Knoxville. The book provides a thorough, thoughtful, and impeccably researched history covering an event that continues to provide lessons today. Journalist Jared… More Review: Valley So Low: one lawyer’s fight for justice in the wake of America’s great coal catastrophe

Sunburn: state AGs pursue dodgy solar installers

Several state attorneys general have launched initiatives to protect consumers against shady solar panel installers. It’s a widespread problem as many states encourage rooftop photovoltaic panels and many home improvement contractors are offering to install the panels. Among the most active AGs is Minnesota’s Keith Ellison, who has been cracking down on solar scammers since… More Sunburn: state AGs pursue dodgy solar installers

D.C. Circuit slams FERC’s wink-nod pipeline greenhouse gas policy

“The ink has gone dry on FERC’s rubber stamp for gas projects,” commented Moneen Nasmith, Earthjustice senior attorney. The greenhouse gas impacts of FRC’s decisions granting authority for new natural gas pipelines has again come into public view. Yesterday (July 30) the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals bluntly rejected a January 2023 FERC order approving… More D.C. Circuit slams FERC’s wink-nod pipeline greenhouse gas policy