Despite delay, states moving forward on Clean Power Plan

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Experts in China and India say the Supreme Court’s decision to delay the Clean Power Plan could upend the Paris climate accord. (New York Times)
• A White House spokesman says the U.S. can still reach its climate goals despite the delay. (Reuters)
• Texas, Georgia and Kentucky are among states that have slowed or stopped work on Clean Power Plan compliance; West Virginia and Arizona will still move forward with studying options. (Texas Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press, Arizona Republic)
• Meanwhile, New York, Virginia, California, Colorado, Washington and Pennsylvania have announced they’ll continue moving forward on compliance. (Bloomberg, Pittsburgh Business Times)
• Colorado’s governor and attorney general remain divided on the plan. (Durango Herald)
• The Clean Power Plan delay won’t stop the growth of clean energy. (Reuters)
• A national utility trade group says the Supreme Court ruling “doesn’t really change anything” as utilities will continue to shift to natural gas and renewables. (RTO Insider)

ALSO:
• Legal experts say the Supreme Court’s decision may have opened the door to other regulatory challenges. (Greenwire)
• The decision could also shape the outcome of some U.S. Senate races. (The Hill)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join more than 600 innovators and decision-makers February 24-26 in Chicago for the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference. With live demonstrations, insightful panels and unparalleled networking, MES 2016 is a can’t-miss conference. Register today!***

CLIMATE: Washington state lawmakers consider putting a price on carbon. (Oregon Public Broadcasting/KCTS9)

SOLAR:
• Thirty-five years after Ronald Reagan famously removed the solar panels from the White House roof, a solar array will be installed on a building bearing his name. (Washington Free Beacon)
• Despite the extension of federal tax credits last year, losses by rooftop solar companies have accelerated. (New York Times)
• A new report finds 20 states are currently at grid parity for residential rooftop solar. (Greentech Media)
• A Texas utility is embracing solar + storage. (Utility Dive)
• The first national trade association for community solar in the U.S. launched earlier this week. (Utility Dive)

NEVADA:
• A new draft proposal from Nevada regulators will not grandfather in existing solar customers from net metering changes. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
• Tesla joins the opposition to increased fixed charges. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
• An official with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission says solar protests “are getting really tense” and says some demonstrators are carrying firearms. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• A Montana ballot initiative seeks to increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 80 percent by 2050. (Great Falls Tribune)
• Corporations in Michigan seek to overcome policy barriers as they meet companywide goals to run on more renewable energy. (Midwest Energy News)
• Budget cuts to a state program could mean fewer clean energy projects in Alaska. (KTVA)

FRACKING:
• A Colorado county temporarily halts permits for drilling within 1,500 feet of homes, schools or public buildings. (Colorado Public Radio)
• Industry groups say a proposed severance tax increase will “spell disaster” for Pennsylvania drilling companies. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
• California’s proposed new methane rules would be the nation’s strongest. (InsideClimate News)

UTILITIES: New York’s governor wants an investigation of a utility’s decision to close a coal-fired plant rather than run it on natural gas. (Buffalo News)

EFFICIENCY: A new report says an “all hands on deck” approach to energy efficiency could meet 30 percent of the nation’s electricity system needs in 10 years. (Utility Dive)