EMISSIONS: As utilities shift away from coal in favor of solar, wind and natural gas, U.S. carbon emissions have slipped to their lowest level since 1994, according to a new report. (Bloomberg)
SUPERCOMPUTER: The U.S. Department of Energy will give Argonne National Laboratory $200 million for a high-performance supercomputer to develop more powerful and efficient batteries and solar panels. (Associated Press)
NATURAL GAS: Denver-based Western Energy Partners is moving forward with a 750-megawatt clean-fueled natural gas power plant meant to help replace aging coal plants in New Mexico. (Denver Business Journal)
JOBS: Missouri’s clean energy employment grew 4.8 percent in 2014 to almost 40,000, and that figure is expected to grow another 7.1 percent this year, according to a new report. (St. Louis Business Journal)
COAL: The coal economy on Indian reservations is endangered by tougher EPA pollution regulations, Montana tribal officials say. (Billings Gazette)
EXPORTS: Texas leads nation in exports, thanks to about $59.1 billion in exports of petrochemicals and gasoline. (Fuel Fix)
SOLAR: The silver lining to California’s historic drought is less rain and fewer clouds, which means more sun to generate solar power. (Grist)
EPA RULE: The EPA plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions from power plants will lower electric bills and health risks for Americans, especially in low- and fixed-income households, a new study says. (NJ Spotlight)
WIND: Government incentives, sizeable investments in infrastructure and innovative policies have fueled the Texas wind-energy boom, but profits have been the main driver. (Yale Environment 360)
METHANE: Researchers are trying to determine why the the nation’s largest methane “hot spot” hovers over the Four Corners area of the Southwest. (The Durango Herald)
BIOMASS: The California Energy Commission California awarded a $4.9-million grant for a public-private venture to build one of the first forest-sourced biomass gasification plants. (Domestic Fuel)
INNOVATION: Wells Fargo has announced its selection of four clean technology startups for a five-year, $10 million program to foster leading-edge environmental technologies. (Sustainable Brands)
DIVESTMENT: Yale University police cited 19 students after they staged a sit-in outside President Peter Salovey’s office to push for divestment from fossil-fuel companies. (Bloomberg)
EFFICIENCY: New York City announced that it will spend $100 million on what the mayor called the largest-ever public housing energy savings initiative. (The Wall Street Journal)