U.S. Energy News

Study: Planned fossil fuel extraction puts planet on catastrophic path

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Support the Energy News Network. Give today and NewsMatch will double the impact of your donation! EMISSIONS: The world’s top 10 fossil fuel-producing countries are on track to extract far more oil, gas and coal by 2030 than the planet can handle without catastrophic warming, according to a new analysis by six organizations. (HuffPost)

ALSO:
• There’s no shortage of ideas to reduce cement’s weighty carbon footprint, but most are either in infancy or face significant barriers to adoption. (Grist)
• Lawmakers from western Pennsylvania will fight Gov. Tom Wolf’s move to join a regional cap-and-trade emissions compact, saying it will hurt the fossil fuel sector and consumers.

Western Energy News

California blocks new fracking permits

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Support the Energy News Network. Give today and NewsMatch will double the impact of your donation! OIL & GAS: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has stopped the approval of new fracking in the state pending an independent scientific review as the state toughens its drilling oversight. (Los Angeles Times)

ALSO:
• Newsom also aims to speed up the timeline for closing the Aliso Canyon natural gas facility. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Colorado’s oil and gas commission declines Weld County’s offer to combine resources on an air quality and emissions study for oil and gas drilling.

Midwest Energy News

Line 5 pipeline tunnel plan divides Michigan Democrats, labor groups

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PIPELINES: Labor groups that support building a tunnel for the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac are withholding political contributions from Michigan Democrats, causing division leading up to the 2020 election. (Detroit News)

ALSO: Michigan’s attorney general weighs in on the issue, saying Democrats shouldn’t be punished by labor groups for opposing the tunnel plan. (Detroit News)

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WIND:
• Northwestern Ohio residents urge state lawmakers to back legislation allowing for a local referendum on future wind projects. (Toledo Blade)
• Construction begins on a 299 MW wind project in northwestern North Dakota.

Southeast Energy News

Solar ‘doomsday’ in South Carolina as regulators lower rate utilities pay

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Support the Energy News Network. Give today and NewsMatch will double the impact of your donation! SOLAR: South Carolina regulators vote to let utilities pay the lowest rate in the country for solar power, which solar companies say will make it impossible to finance large projects in the state. (The State)

ALSO:
• A rural electric cooperative in Georgia contracts for a new solar project that will supply energy for a Facebook data center. (Solar Power World)
• A University of North Carolina researcher is working to make a cheaper, more efficient solar cell.

Northeast Energy News

New Jersey doubles offshore wind target

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Support the Energy News Network. Give today and NewsMatch will double the impact of your donation! OFFSHORE WIND: New Jersey more than doubles its offshore wind target to 7.5 GW, which could provide half of the state’s electricity by the mid-2030s. (Greentech Media)

ALSO:
• A fishermen’s group says a proposed uniform layout of wind turbines off New England backed by the wind industry does not address their concerns. (Worcester Telegram)
• Floating wind turbines off Maine could be operational by 2022 and will be watched by the industry as a way to tap wind resources farther away from shore and avoid local opposition.