Energy

Gov. Newsom's Phase-out of Oil Production Prompts Backlash in Kern County
Almost 80% of oil extraction in the nation's sixth largest oil-producing state occurs in Kern County. Supervisors see the California governor's climate plan to reduce oil production as a threat to the county's economic well-being.

New Oil and Gas Drilling in California May Be Subject to Moratorium
Gov. Gavin Newsom pleased environmentalists by doing what his predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, refused – halting all new oil and gas fracking and placing a moratorium on another extraction method linked to a massive oil spill in Kern County.

L.A. County Plans for Electrification
Los Angeles County's Minh Le discusses the county's priorities for moving forward with recent technological advancements in solar and energy storage.

California's Priorities for Electrification and Resilience
CEC Chair David Hochschild shares the commission’s strategy for improving the current grid system and how California has been, and will continue to be, a global leader in clean energy innovation.

Santa Monica Designs Greenest Municipal Building in the World
Amber Richane, Project Manager for the city of Santa Monica's new City Services Building, on the city's commitment to building the world's most sustainable public building.

To Reduce Carbon Emissions, Focus on Existing Buildings
Architects are uniquely positioned to reduce global warming, argues the CEO of Urban Green Council—but first they need to rethink their role.

N.Y.C. Looking at Deal for Canadian Hydroelectricity
The city is considering a contract to purchase hydroelectricity from Quebec and might also provide funding for the energy infrastructure.

Chuck Schumer Lays Out Ambitious Clean Vehicle Plan
The Senate Minority Leader's plan calls for federal grants to subsidize electric vehicle purchases, build out charging infrastructure, and retool automotive manufacturing.

Just What the Planet Needs: More Oil Production
A surge of oil from four countries—Norway, Guyana, Canada and Brazil—will more than compensate for slowing growth of U.S. oil production. The new sources might cause oil prices to dip to $50 a barrel and slow the transition to electric vehicles.

Sudden Demise of Solar Project Raises Questions in Ohio
The Ohio Power Siting Board through a wrench in plans for a solar project in southern Ohio, raising questions about the viability of renewable energy in the state.

The Affluent, White Suburb With Toxic Polluters in its Midst
Ascension Parish, Louisiana, located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans along I-10, would look like a typical affluent, growing suburb, if it weren't for the toxic pollution emitted from nearby petrochemical facilities.

Big Box Stores Leading the Shift to Renewable Energy
The cheap price of solar and wind energy have corporations "falling all over themselves" to embrace renewable, according to this article. Target and Wal-Mart lead the green arms race.

What if the Greenest Building Isn't the One Already Standing?
Renovating old buildings instead of demolishing them as the better "green" option is preservation orthodoxy. But what if the decision between renovation and demolition is less than clear-cut?

The Case for Banning SUVs
Global SUV ownership is skyrocketing, with consequences for carbon emissions and traffic safety. A few voices are now calling for bans on the large vehicles.

Bipartisan Coalition of Mayors Support Tax Credits for Solar Power
One issue has solidly bipartisan support at the local level: tax credits for investments that build new solar power capacity.

Controversial Decision Limits Solar Panels on Historic Homes in D.C.
"I realize that we are in crisis politically as well as sustainably. But…"

Lessons in Electric Bus Deployment From 6 U.S. Regions
U.S. cities and regions are both showing how electric buses can be done and taking too long to do it. A new report focuses on success stories.

Trump Administration Reopens California Public Lands to Oil and Gas Drilling
A decision by the Bureau of Land Management on Oct. 3 may reverse the outcome of a 2013 lawsuit against the Obama administration by two environmental groups that effectively halted drilling in Fresno, Monterey and San Benito counties.

Improved Electrical Grids Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Preventing electricity losses makes power generation more efficient. Those efficiencies translate into lower emissions.

World's Largest Off-Shore Wind Farm to Begin Generating Power in 2020
The United Kingdom’s new off-shore wind power facility brings the country closer to its goal of generating a third of its power from off-shore wind by 2030.
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