CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• EPA administrator Gina McCarthy says the Supreme Court’s delay of the Clean Power Plan “doesn’t preclude states, tribes and utilities from continuing to act on climate.” (Bloomberg BNA)
• President Obama says “we are very firm in terms of the legal footing here” on the Clean Power Plan. (The Hill)
• The court’s ruling “only makes it more complex” for states as they decide how to proceed with compliance plans. (ClimateWire)
• More state-by-state updates: Midwest Energy News | Southeast Energy News
NATURAL GAS: A massive leak at a California storage site has been “temporarily controlled.” (Reuters)
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SOLAR:
• Nevada regulators are expected to vote today on a revised net metering plan that does not grandfather in existing customers. (Investors Business Daily)
• The Koch brothers’ political network has been fighting solar across the U.S., but most intensely in Florida. (Rolling Stone)
• Several legal briefs opposing a proposed constitutional amendment in Florida backed by utilities argue it exposes consumers to discriminatory charges and rates. (Utility Dive)
• Pennsylvania regulators approve new limits on net metering. (Philly.com)
CLIMATE:
• A survey finds nearly a third of U.S. science teachers are passing along misinformation about climate science. (New York Times)
• Minnesota activists target U.S. Bank for supporting the fossil fuel industry. (Midwest Energy News)
• A bill in the U.S. House would ban further fossil fuel development on federal land. (The Hill)
EFFICIENCY:
• A regional council representing four Northwest states approves a plan that aims to meet all new power needs through 2035 with efficiency. (Seattle Times)
• A project in Michigan could help overcome some of the financial barriers to energy upgrades in rental housing. (Midwest Energy News)
COAL:
• Connecticut’s last coal-fired power plant will shut down by 2021. (Hartford Courant)
• Peabody Energy still sees bright spots amid a “brutal industry backdrop.”(SNL Energy)
UTILITIES:
• Utah lawmakers advance a bill that critics describe as a free-for-all for the state’s largest utility. (Deseret News)
• A conference explores how utilities can benefit from distributed energy. (Greentech Media)
• Exelon has already spent $259 million pursuing its proposed merger with Pepco.(Washington Business Journal)
BIOFUELS: An oil industry group is suing the EPA over missed deadlines for biofuel standards. (Reuters)
TRANSPORTATION:
• UPS will increase the use of liquified natural gas in its Texas fleet. (Dallas Business Journal)
• Low gasoline prices are forcing budget cuts at Amtrak. (Philly.com)
COMMENTARY:
• Critics’ dire predictions about California’s push for clean energy have failed to be realized. (Sacramento Bee)
• Oregon legislation could set a new precedent for clean energy leadership. (The Equation)
• How utilities can overcome the solar “duck curve.” (Vox)