OIL AND GAS: Shell says it is leaving a U.S. oil industry trade group, citing the group’s failure to support the Paris climate agreement. (Reuters)
ALSO:
• Court records from a long-forgotten lawsuit suggest the only well ever drilled in a national wildlife refuge in Alaska produced a disappointing amount of oil. (New York Times)
• A new report says Massachusetts legislation requiring more rapid repair of natural gas leaks could cut methane emissions from the state’s pipeline system by half. (WBUR)
• It’s unclear whether President Trump’s recent permit to speed up construction of Keystone XL would survive a court challenge. (E&E News, subscription)
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TECHNOLOGY:
• Scientists warn that Trump administration budget cuts will stifle clean energy innovation. (InsideClimate News)
• The Department of Energy announces $20 million in new funding for carbon capture research. (news release)
COAL:
• North Carolina environmental regulators order Duke Energy to excavate millions of tons of coal ash at six power plants and relocate it to lined landfills. (Charlotte Observer)
• A federal judge rules the state of Washington did not break the law when it rejected a crucial water quality permit for a proposed coal export terminal. (The Daily News)
EFFICIENCY: A proposal in Massachusetts would require an energy scorecard for homes before a sale. (Energy News Network)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Duke Energy proposes a $76 million program to add more than 2,500 electric vehicle chargers in North Carolina. (WFAE)
TRANSPORTATION: Some climate-focused investors are avoiding Uber and Lyft, whose ride-hailing services have been found to increase traffic congestion in some cities. (Reuters)
UTILITIES:
• In new court filings, federal regulators say an Ohio utility and its generation subsidiary have drawn up a settlement “scheme” that is an “abuse of the bankruptcy system.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• Liabilities for California’s largest utility now total $68 billion as a result of the company’s massive wildfire costs. (The Mercury News)
SOLAR:
• Wyoming lawmakers are considering changing the state’s net metering policies. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)
• Hawaii regulators approve the largest solar farm ever built on Maui, a project that will also include a 240 MW battery system. (Maui News)
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GEOTHERMAL: SC Johnson will install a geothermal-powered heating and cooling system at its Wisconsin headquarters as part of the company’s broader shift to renewables. (Racine Journal Times)
COMMENTARY:
• A columnist for the Arizona Republic asks if it’s reasonable for the state’s largest utility to mount multi-million campaigns to elect the regulators of its choice.
• An Ohio editorial board says dwindling health care funds for retired coal miners is a “betrayal.” (Toledo Blade)