CLIMATE: An analysis finds in the U.S., carbon emissions from the transportation sector have surpassed those from power plants for the first time since 1979. (Vox)
ALSO:
• California’s cap-and-trade system faces possible collapse amid daunting political challenges. (Los Angeles Times)
• Oregon studies a possible carbon trading plan linked with neighboring states. (ClimateWire)
POLLUTION: The Supreme Court lets stand a lower court ruling allowing EPA limits on mercury emissions to remain in effect while the agency calculates industry compliance costs. (Washington Post)
CLEAN POWER PLAN: Peabody Energy plans to pay constitutional law expert and President Obama’s former mentor Laurence Tribe $435,000 this year to challenge the federal rules in court. (SNL Energy)
FOSSIL FUELS: A new analysis shows coal and gas will start on a “terminal decline”in less than 10 years. (Bloomberg)
SOLAR: Advocates pack a Colorado regulatory hearing on proposed rate changes they say will stifle solar growth in the state. (Denver Post)
RENEWABLES:
• Why clean-energy advocates aren’t overly enthusiastic about a Massachusetts bill pushing for more hydropower and offshore wind. (ClimateWire)
• Vermont’s governor signs a bill giving local governments more control over siting of wind and solar projects. (Barre-Montpelier Times Argus)
• A proposed Idaho project would use pumped hydro storage to back up 150 MW of wind and solar, but faces local opposition. (Idaho Statesman)
COAL ASH: A Georgia utility says it will close all 29 of its coal ash ponds in the state within three years. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
NATURAL GAS: A proposed $3.6 billion pipeline would carry natural gas from Texas to a port city in Mexico. (Houston Chronicle)
GRID: The number of Michigan utility customers who leave the grid could increase in coming years as solar and storage costs decline, rates increase and utilities fight net metering. (Midwest Energy News)
EFFICIENCY: The U.S. Department of Energy looks to fund efficiency projects targeted at data centers. (Utility Dive)
ACTIVISM: Ten people are arrested for camping on public lands slated for oil sands development. (Deseret News)
MEDIA: The Wall Street Journal refuses to publish an ad challenging its editorial page’s ongoing rejection of climate science. (Washington Post)
COMMENTARY:
• How corporations are helping lead the transition to clean energy. (Dallas Morning News)
• “The economics of renewable energy has overtaken politics in Texas.” (Union of Concerned Scientists)