Energy

Oil and Gas Extraction

Will Anybody Drill for Oil in the Pacific Northwest, Now That They Can?

Now that the Trump Administration has reopened the U.S. coastlines to oil and gas extraction, it's unclear whether anyone will take up the opportunity in the Pacific Northwest.

January 28, 2018 - EarthFix

Nuclear Power

South Carolinians Still on the Hook for Failed Nuclear Plants

“It has to be one of the greatest wastes of money in any state’s history,” Alan Greenblatt writes.

January 27, 2018 - Governing

Silicon Valley

New Tariffs Will Shake Up the Solar Industry

The first protectionist policies implemented by the Trump Administration, a key part of the president's campaign platform, will affect the renewable energy industry.

January 26, 2018 - New York Times

Electric Car Charging

Energy Transformation Predicted in 12 Years

By 2030, the world's consumption of oil will drop due to increasing electric vehicle sales, according to a report by Bank of America. Other researchers disagree on the timeframe. The report is useful for highlighting the term, "peak oil demand."

January 26, 2018 - Bloomberg News

A private club located in Florida

Why Zinke Gave Florida a Break on Drilling

After announcing the coast of almost all states would be open for oil and gas production, the Secretary of the Interior changed his mind on one after meeting with Trump’s favored candidate for Senate.

January 19, 2018 - The New Yorker

Solar Powered City

Residents Move Into America's First Solar Powered Town

Residents will live in solar powered homes and ride around the community in self-driving, solar-powered shuttles. Babcock Ranch outside of Fort Myers, Florida, has been in the making since 2005. A city of 50,000 is forecasted.

January 18, 2018 - CBS This Morning

Skyline and Beach

Largest Desalinated Water Reserve Ever Unveiled in Abu Dhabi

The UAE has created a storage facility under the desert that can provide up to 100 million liters per day in the event of an emergency.

January 17, 2018 - Quartz

Rose Bowl

What's a Climate Action Plan if it Has No Teeth?

The city of Pasadena has released its draft Climate Action Plan, but how will the city achieve an 83 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if the plan sets no mandates?

January 10, 2018 - Pasadena Star-News

Oil Rig

Despite Bipartisan Opposition, Trump Administration Opens Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling

In a major blow to former President Obama's restrictions on offshore drilling in sensitive areas, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that he would open the Outer Continental Shelf in four regions: Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic, and the Gulf Coast.

January 8, 2018 - The Washington Post

Scott Pruitt

Scott Pruitt and the 'Paradigm Shift' at Trump's EPA

In just his first year, the high-profile and controversial cabinet member “has begun to dismantle former president Barack Obama’s environmental legacy.”

January 8, 2018 - The Washington Post

pallets of green oil barrels stacked

U.S. on Track to Record Oil Production This Year

The current U.S. record is 10 million barrels per day set in 1970. Last year averaged 9.2 million b/d. Experts believe that record will be reached this spring, if it hasn't already. Can Trump claim credit for the surging production?

January 6, 2018 - NPR

Downtown Honolulu as seen from the top of Diamond Head

Hawaii Cities Commit to Fully Renewable Ground Transportation by 2045

Mayors and civic leaders from across the Hawaiian islands signed a commitment to target 100 percent renewable ground transportation by 2045, both public and private.

January 6, 2018 - Hawaii Reporter

Urban Solar Power

California Program Promotes Multifamily Rooftop Solar

The state's SOMAH program, now finalized, provides rebates to multifamily affordable housing developments that use solar, and lets tenants share in the benefits.

January 1, 2018 - PV Magazine

White House

The Most Popular Posts of 2017

All the planning news that's fit to print.

December 26, 2017 - James Brasuell

Caribou and Brooks Range, Arctic NWR

Drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Allowed with Passage of GOP Tax Bill

When President Trump signs the tax-cutting bill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will have achieved a family dream of opening up the pristine refuge, created 37 years ago, to drilling.

December 24, 2017 - The New Yorker

Natural Gas

Another Environmental Regulation Rollback Finalized by Trump Administration

A one-year suspension of an Obama-era rule to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas drilling on Federal and Indian lands will increase global warming and reduce federal revenue. Trump took action after Congress failed to repeal the rule.

December 16, 2017 - The Washington Post

BART Train

BART Goes Renewable

The Board of Directors approved a path to 90 percent renewable energy.

December 11, 2017 - San Francisco Examiner

Cincinnati Switching to 100% Renewable Energy for Municipal Facilities

Almost all of Cincinnati's police and fire stations, health clinics, recreation centers, and administrative buildings will run on renewable energy.

December 6, 2017 - Smart Cities Dive

Greener Gasoline to Come from Solar-Powered Oil Wells in California

Crude oil from Kern County's Belridge field will soon have a much lower life cycle carbon intensity thanks to new solar technology used to extract hard-to-get oil. The renewal of California's carbon cap-and-trade market made it possible.

December 4, 2017 - The Washington Post - Energy and Environment

Palm Springs

San Diego Explores its Options for Getting to 100 Percent Renewable Energy

San Diego's Climate Action Plan has set an ambitious goal for renewable energy, and now the investor-owned utility San Diego Gas & Electric is competing for a chance to deliver on those goals.

November 29, 2017 - San Diego Union Tribune

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