POLICY: An Oregon bill establishing a 50 percent renewable standard passes its final vote in the legislature and goes to Gov. Kate Brown, who has indicated support for the measure. (Portland Herald)
AUBREY McCLENDON:
• A day after being indicted on federal charges, former Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon dies in a one-car crash in Oklahoma City. (Politico)
• McClendon is remembered for his contribution to America’s “stunning energy renaissance.” (Texas Tribune)
GRID: A study finds the U.S. energy storage market more than doubled last year. (Greentech Media)
EPA: The White House says a Supreme Court delay of EPA mercury rules “would harm the public interest.” (The Hill)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: Virginia’s governor vetoes a bill that would have given lawmakers the final say in the state’s implementation of the plan. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
SUPREME COURT:
• A potential Obama Supreme Court nominee has a history of dealing with a variety of energy and conservation cases. (Greenwire)
• A White House senior advisor who helped negotiate the Paris climate accord is leading the team responsible for filling the Supreme Court vacancy. (ClimateWire)
CLIMATE: The Justice Department refers two congressmen’s request for a federal investigation to the FBI. (InsideClimate News)
SOLAR:
• Solar now employs more people in Utah than the state’s coal industry. (Deseret News)
• An industry study submitted in an Arizona case found rooftop solar benefits other utility customers. (Arizona Republic)
• A California utility suspends subscriptions to its net metering program. (Palm Springs Desert Sun)
• Maryland’s community solar pilot program is expected to launch in May. (Public News Service)
WIND:
• Participants in a Boston conference have high hopes for an offshore wind boom in the U.S.: “there’s a palpable sense that it’s finally happening.” (Associated Press)
• Proposed legislation in South Dakota would spread tax revenue from wind projects across the entire state instead of just local communities, diminishing a key selling point to landowners. (Midwest Energy News)
COAL:
• Montana representatives push back on a moratorium on federal coal leasing. (Billings Gazette)
• Eastern Kentucky has lost an average 900 mining jobs each year since 1979, says a new report. (Lexington Herald-Leader)
OIL AND GAS: The drilling bust in two Utah counties provides a counterpoint to the state’s otherwise booming economy. (Deseret News)
EFFICIENCY: Colorado officials expect PACE financing to spread to more counties in the state. (Colorado Public Radio)
COMMENTARY:
• Utilities are using dirty political tricks to fight rooftop solar. (Utility Dive)
• Why Leonardo DiCaprio is not a hypocrite for speaking out on climate change despite owning a yacht. (Vox)