Western Energy News

Trump’s California fight could ripple to other states

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TRANSPORTATION: President Trump aggressively defends his plan to revoke California’s authority to set tougher auto emissions standards despite opposition from state officials. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• Auto industry experts say the Trump administration’s revocation of California’s authority to set tougher auto mileage standards will likely extend to nine other states that adopted its rules and could adversely impact the market for electric vehicles. (InsideClimate News)
• Some analysts say automakers may not drastically alter their strategies if the Trump administration cancels California’s right to set it own auto emissions standards. (USA Today)

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ELECTRIFICATION: A Seattle city councilmember is delaying a vote on his proposal to ban gas-piping systems in newly constructed homes and buildings until December or later in response to objections raised by labor unions and businesses.

U.S. Energy News

Taxpayers face financial risk from abandoned oil and gas wells

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OIL & GAS:
• Some analysts worry the U.S. shale industry is overheated and nearing a financial cliff, raising concerns about abandoned wells. (E&E News, subscription)
• A government agency says U.S. taxpayers could face hundreds of millions of dollars in cleanup costs from abandoned wells on public lands. (Associated Press)

POLICY: House Democrats float several strategies to reduce carbon emissions from industry during a first hearing on how the country could reach net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. (The Hill)

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Midwest Energy News

Iowa researchers: ‘Time is running out’ for climate action

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CLIMATE: Iowa academic researchers say “time is running out” for the state to take bold action on climate change, such as transitioning to renewable energy. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

PIPELINES:
• A federal judge puts a temporary stop to a South Dakota anti-riot law that was targeted specifically at pipeline protesters. (Sioux Falls Argus Leader)
• The federal government is contesting North Dakota’s claims that the state should be reimbursed $38 million for the cost of policing Dakota Access pipeline protests. (Associated Press)

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Southeast Energy News

Can Florida’s 100% renewable energy bill pass this time around?

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RENEWABLES: Florida Democrats file a bill that would move Florida toward 100% renewable energy by 2050 and say a “shift in tone” by Republicans on the issue is a good sign for its success. (WFSU)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Clashes between unions, politicians, and Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant are a sign of what’s to come as electric vehicle manufacturing changes the auto industry. (E&E News)

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SOLAR:
• North Carolina remains second in the nation for the amount of solar on its grid, but Florida is moving up the rankings, according to a solar industry report.

Northeast Energy News

Maine power line rerouted in bid to gain approval

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TRANSMISSION: Central Maine Power makes a last-minute change to its proposed power line route to avoid a pond that stymied its bid before state land use regulators. (Portland Press Herald)

ALSO: Residents in one community collect enough signatures to force a referendum against the project after officials declined to act, while another town will hold a town meeting on Oct.1 to consider opposition to all transmission projects. (Times Record, Sun Journal)

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