OIL AND GAS: A jury awards $4.2 million to two Pennsylvania families who say their water was contaminated by nearby fracking operations. (Reuters)
ALSO:
• The White House announces a crackdown on methane emissions from existing wells. (Houston Chronicle)
• Even though crude oil prices are on the rise, underlying market factors may continue to push some U.S. companies out of the industry. (EnergyWire)
• Construction begins on a natural gas plant in Texas that will capture all emissions for oil field recovery. (Houston Chronicle)
***SPONSORED LINK: The Advancing Renewables in the Midwest Conference, April 11-12 in Columbia, Missouri focuses on programs, policies, and projects that enhance the use of renewable energy resources in the Midwest for the economic benefit of the region. Register today!***
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Oregon’s governor signs a bill increasing the state’s renewable energy standard to 50 percent by 2040. (Oregonian)
• A partnership between the city of Minneapolis and two utilities is receiving national attention for reducing emissions through efficiency and renewables. (Midwest Energy News)
CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• EPA carbon rules factor heavily into Montana’s gubernatorial race. (ClimateWire)
• Missouri lawmakers look to postpone state work on a compliance strategy. (Midwest Energy News)
UTILITIES:
• Utah lawmakers reject, the resurrect, a bill that would transfer utility policy oversight to the state legislature. (Deseret News)
• Georgia Power is the first major retail electric utility in the U.S. to offer “green” bonds aimed at supporting renewable energy and lowering customer rates. (Renewable Energy from Waste)
CLIMATE:
• A climate pact between the U.S. and Canada addresses some of the lesser-known issues contributing to climate change, such as methane and aviation. (Climate Central)
• Scientists see an unprecedented growth rate of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2015. (Climate Central)
• An oil industry group pushes back on media investigations into Exxon’s climate disclosures. (The Hill)
PIPELINES:
• Completion of a gas pipeline in the Northeast is delayed at least six months as developers await permits from New York. (Albany Times Union)
• Iowa regulators unanimously approve a permit for the $3.8 billion Bakken pipeline to pass through the state and for the company to use eminent domain. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
SOLAR:
• New Hampshire lawmakers advance a bill to raise the state’s net metering cap. (New Hampshire Public Radio)
• A Northeast utility launches a first-of-its-kind solar marketplace for its Rhode Island customers. (Greentech Media)
• Outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia will help subsidize 1,500 residential solar installations. (New York Times)
• Dueling studies emerge in an Arizona solar case. (Utility Dive)
WIND: Sen. Lamar Alexandar wants new funds for energy research to be offset by cutting tax breaks for wind energy. (Washington Examiner)
COAL:
• Utah lawmakers approve reallocating $53 million in transportation funds to help pay for a coal export terminal in California. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Arch Coal abandons plans for a controversial surface mine in southeastern Montana. (Los Angeles Times)
TECHNOLOGY: GE is working on an energy storage system that combines solar power with sequestered carbon dioxide. (Fast Company)
EFFICIENCY: A New York utility is hoping sending detailed information to customers about their energy use will encourage conservation. (New York Times)
COMMENTARY:
• Policy consistency is needed for clean energy to grow. (Forbes)
• Automakers’ focus on vans, trucks and SUVs is jeopardizing fuel efficiency progress. (New York Times)
• Why 2016 will be a “banner year” for utility-scale solar. (Vox)