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Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.New York State Could Set a National Trend with its Clean Energy Standard
By Ken Silverstein, Environmental Leader.
New York State is moving forward with an idea that could become a harbinger of things to come, nationally. It’s the Clean Energy Standard, which focuses more on producing clean power and less on renewable energy standards.
Now, the purpose of New York’s Clean Energy Standard is to help the state generate half of its electricity from sustainable energy sources by 2030, which includes not just wind, solar and hydro — but also nuclear energy. At the same time, the proposal would require that coal plants be retired by 2020.
“If you care about climate change, and don’t just have an ideological stand on a particular energy source, then you know that we need all low-carbon sources as fast as possible to have any hope of reigning in the most adverse environmental effects of burning fossil fuels,” writes Jim Conca, in Forbes.
GM Plant Using Landfill Gas to Produce 54% of Its Electricity
By Megan Greenwalt, Waste 360.
A General Motors (GM) assembly plant based in Lake Orion, Mich., is ranked as the eighth largest user of green power generated onsite in the United States among the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership (GPP) partners. Over half of the automaker’s plant is powered by methane captured from a nearby landfill.
Orion Assembly, where GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV is built, saves $1 million a year by using renewable energy. The plant also is home to a 350-kilowatt solar array that sends energy back to the grid.
The EPA launched the GPP in 2001 to increase the use of renewable electricity in the U.S. It is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use, according to the EPA website.
Massachusetts Legislature passes renewable energy compromise bill
By Shira Schoenberg, Mass Live.
BOSTON - The Massachusetts Legislature late Sunday night sent to Gov. Charlie Baker a compromise energy bill that, while less broad than some senators had hoped, would require the state to purchase significantly more energy from offshore wind and other renewable sources.
"I don't think that where we ended up is nearly as strong as where the Senate was," said State Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield, Senate chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. "But both the administration and the House had a far narrower view, and that made for a rather difficult negotiation."
State Rep. Thomas Golden, D-Lowell, House chairman of the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, praised the bill on the House floor. "Today is a celebration for the Massachusetts Legislature," Golden said. "We are poised with your vote today to pass and authorize the largest procurement of renewable energy in the history of the commonwealth of Massachusetts."
N.Y. clean power plan adds teeth to Cuomo strategy
By Peter Behr, E&E reporter.
Monday, August 1, 2016 - New York state's Public Service Commission is expected to give formal approval today to key parts of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's bold clean energy plan, committing the state to a rapid expansion of wind and solar power so that half its electric power will come from renewable sources and nuclear plants by 2030.
But while the Democratic governor has the backing of state energy regulators for his transformational Reforming the Energy Vision utility strategy and his renewable energy goal, he faces new friction with the state's electricity grid and power market manager, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO).
The NYISO last month urged the PSC to hold up final regulatory approval of the "50 by 30" clean power standard until planners can map out how much new transmission lines will be needed to move large volumes of new renewable energy from the thinly settled upstate counties to customers in metropolitan New York City. As much as 1,000 miles of additional high-voltage circuits may be required, the NYISO said.
Clinton walks fine line on carbon tax
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign is leaving the door open to supporting a carbon tax, hinting that the Democratic nominee could eventually back the controversial idea.
Statements from top campaign officials made during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia could endear her to environmental activists who are pressing her to adopt more of the progressive positions of primary rival Bernie Sanders — a vocal carbon tax supporter.
But it could be a difficult decision for Clinton with clear political costs.
As showdown looms, Tom Steyer airs TV ad ripping oil industry in California
By David Siders and Jim Miller, Sacramento Bee.
With an end-of-session brawl looming in the Legislature over California climate programs, billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer on Monday will start airing a television ad accusing the state’s oil industry of putting profits over the health of children.
The ad, released on the day lawmakers return from their summer recess, comes amid wavering support for extending the state’s cap-and-trade program, in which polluters pay to offset carbon emissions.
Gov. Jerry Brown, who is trying to reach an agreement with lawmakers by the end of August to extend the program beyond 2020, said last week that he will “get it one way or the other” while acknowledging he is “still working” on a plan to extend the landmark program.
Flush, then fill up: Japan taps sewage to fuel hydrogen-powered cars
By Julie Making, Los Angeles Times.
Does the future of driving start with flushing your toilet?
When Mutsuro Yuji, chief of the central sewage plant here in this southern Japanese city, first heard about the idea of making hydrogen from biogas — the combination of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the breakdown of stinky matter — he was skeptical. “I thought it was a joke,” he says.
But after a $12-million investment from Japan’s government, plus research, engineering, design and building work by Mitsubishi, Toyota and Kyushu University, Yuji is no longer laughing. Starting late last year, drivers of vehicles like the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity have been able to roll up to the sewage plant and power up their hydrogen fuel cell cars at what you might call the world’s first toilet-to-tank filling station.
Connecticut releases new statewide waste reduction plan
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Dive Brief:
- Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has released a new Comprehensive Materials Management Strategy to help meet its existing goal of 60% diversion by 2024.
- The state's diversion rate is currently around 35%. According to DEEP, if residents continue to generate an average 3.5 pounds of waste per day then disposal costs could rise by $25 million per year.
- Proposed solutions include increased enforcement of municipal waste ordinances, more emphasis on waste reduction, extended producer responsibility requirements, and more recycling of construction and demolition waste.
Meet the man who is trying to change the GOP on clean energy
By Timothy Cama, The Hill.
Jay Faison is on a mission to change the Republican Party’s stance on clean energy.
Faison, a self-styled advocate for conservative clean energy policies, was an active presence at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, doing numerous public events and meeting with committees and lawmakers to plead his case.
"These are issues that are traditionally owned by Democrats; they're not traditionally trusted by Republicans," said the entrepreneur, who made a fortune with an audiovisual company before selling it and launching ClearPath last year. He has a staff of a dozen, split between his native North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
Where the 2016 Candidates Stand on Energy Issues: Hillary Clinton
By Simon Mahan, CleanEnergy.org.
This post is the second in a series of blogs examining where 2016 candidates for President or Governor of North Carolina stand on key energy issues. Note: The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. Links to reports, candidate websites and outside sources are provided as citizen education tools.
As the Democratic National Convention wrapped up in Philadelphia, Hillary Clinton officially became the Democratic party’s nominee for President of the United States. Clinton has a long paper trail regarding her positions on energy issues, from her time as First Lady of the United States, Senator from New York, 2008 presidential candidate, Secretary of State and now the democratic standard-bearer. While this blog is not meant to be a comprehensive assessment of Secretary Clinton’s stance on energy issues, we hope it provides a general overview for evaluating where she may stand on issues of interest to energy-focused voters: coal, climate change, renewables, efficiency, natural gas, nuclear and drilling.
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