NEW YORK:
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to announce a renewable energy mandate of 50 percent by 2030 as part of reducing carbon emissions by 40 percent in that time. (New York Times)
• The state’s energy czar explains how New York will achieve its bold energy plan. (Vox)
CARBON TAX: Alberta, Canada — home of the controversial tar sands oil — announces plans for an economy-wide carbon tax in 2017. (Reuters)
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NUCLEAR: Nevada officials issue a report saying a national nuclear waste dump would still negatively impact farmers and Native Americans living there. (Associated Press)
FINANCING: A new study shows Property-Assessed Clean Energy financing does not put lenders at risk and creates a sale premium on the property. (Greentech Media)
FIXED RATES: Wisconsin has gained national notoriety for large increases in fixed charges on utility bills, a strategy widely seen as a way for utilities to preserve revenues amid increased efficiency and distributed solar. (Midwest Energy News)
VOLKSWAGEN SCANDAL: The EPA announces that the automaker’s emissions scandal extends to another 75,000 vehicles in the U.S. (Reuters)
REGULATION: The Obama administration has released updated timelines for variety of new environmental regulations, including state-level compliance models of the Clean Power Plan. (Greenwire)
WIND: Amazon looks to source all of its power for an expanded data center in central Ohio from wind, reviving a 100-megawatt project that had stalled. (Columbus Business First)
SOLAR:
• The CEO for a major U.S. solar installer says extending a 30 percent tax credit is no longer necessary for continued growth of the industry. (Utility Dive)
• “YieldCos” — companies formed mostly to own solar systems generating predictable cash flows — face money challenges. (PV Magazine)
POLITICS:
• The top-ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee says the panel’s Republican chairman’s indictments against climate experts are “conjured out of thin air.” (The Hill)
• Republican opposition to wind tax credits may hurt them in swing states like Iowa. (New Republican)
MICHIGAN: Critics say the first comprehensive energy policy to move forward in the legislature will slowly erode Michigan’s retail open access law and cause relatively slow renewable growth. (Midwest Energy News)
GRID SECURITY: An industry simulation of a widespread blackout illustrates how vulnerable the North American power grid is to cyber attacks. (EnergyWire)
OIL AND GAS:
• Education officials in Texas are still preparing students for work in the oil patch despite long-term employment uncertainty. (Associated Press)
• Utility industry leaders stress the importance of diversifying energy sources so as not to over-rely on natural gas. (Forbes)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A new life-cycle analysis demonstrates how much cleaner EVs are compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. (Union of Concerned Scientists)
TRANSPORTATION: Researchers say a stronger focus on transportation policies in cities worldwide could significantly reduce projected carbon emissions. (Climate Central)
COMMENTARY: How the U.S. can get to 100 percent renewables by 2050. (Grist)