EPA: In addition to backing from fossil fuel industries, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA, Scott Pruitt, now has support of a nonprofit that doesn’t have to disclose its donors. (Politico)

ALSO:
• Campaign finance rules would allow Pruitt’s PAC to continue raising money from industries he would oversee as EPA administrator. (EnergyWire)
• Many of Trump’s cabinet nominees have not completed background checks or ethical disclosures. (Washington Post)

***SPONSORED LINK: Connect with more than 650 of the region’s best and brightest at MEEA’s 2017 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference, February 22-24 in Chicago, featuring unparalleled networking, insightful panels and more. Register today!***

NUCLEAR:
• The Indian Point nuclear plant in New York will shut down by 2021 in a new agreement with the state. (New York Times)
• A nuclear plant in Washington state set a record for generating electricity last year. (Forbes)
• The prospect of long-term waste storage at a closed nuclear plant site dims economic hopes for an Illinois town. (Chicago Sun-Times)

OIL AND GAS:
• The White House denies six permits to companies seeking to use seismic testing to search for oil off the Atlantic coast. (Washington Post)
• Plans to open up public lands to more drilling could include Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Seattle Times)
• A report finds that Maine ratepayers would not benefit from a large proposed natural gas storage facility. (Maine Public Radio)

SOLAR:
• The country’s top solar lobbying organization names a new leader known for her “pragmatic approaches to energy policy.” (Reuters)
• A new report puts Massachusetts at the top of its list of most solar-friendly states. (Greentech Media)
• A Montana lawmaker says earlier solar bills in the state showed “a lack of consideration for stability and security of the electric grid.” (Ravalli Republic)

WIND: Wyoming lawmakers say the state should receive a share of federal fees for developing wind farms on public land. (Casper Star Tribune)

GRID:
• Oregon regulators release guidelines for the state’s energy storage requirement. (Utility Dive / Energy Storage News)
• San Diego’s water authority explores using a reservoir for 500 MW of pumped hydro storage. (WaterWorld)

HYDRO: Rules that don’t count hydropower as renewable energy complicate development in Alaska, where advocates say it is key to replacing diesel generation. (KTOO)

COAL: The Navajo Generating Station in Arizona could close as early as this year. (Arizona Daily Republic)

POLICY: Advocates call on Vermont’s new governor to “oppose any retreat” from clean energy efforts. (VTDigger)

CLIMATE: A new study says addressing climate change will require a massive acceleration in cleantech development. (BusinessGreen)

COMMENTARY:
• Why investors should still pursue clean energy regardless of Donald Trump’s politics. (New York Times)
• “When I talk about Climate Change, I don’t talk about science.” (SouthernFriedScience)