Renewable Portfolio Standard

Exurban Commute

A Path for California to Get to Zero Carbon...And Below

A new study from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory evaluates strategies to achieve former Gov. Jerry Brown's goal of carbon neutrality by 2045. Unlike other reports that study emission reductions, it evaluates "negative emissions" strategies.

February 20, 2020 - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Seattle Ferry

Washington Attempts to Adopt a Cleaner Cars and Clean Fuels Programs

A Pew Stateline article tackles the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from transportation compared to electricity generation and looks at recent initiatives announced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee aimed at decarbonizing transportation.

January 21, 2020 - Pew Stateline

Coal Power

Shuttering a Large Coal Plant: A Tale of Two States

Environmentalists in California are upset that Los Angeles will build a new 840-megawatt natural gas plant to replace a 1,800-megawatt coal plant. The coal plant has been crucial to the economic development of Millard County, Utah.

July 23, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Climate CHange

Carbon Neutrality: What Does it Mean, and Is it Possible?

Are 'zero carbon' goals the most effective way to cut greenhouse gases, or are they the most politically feasible strategies? NPR climate and environment reporter, Nathan Rott, explores the challenge in an interview on All Things Considered.

June 24, 2019 - NPR

New mexico Power

New Mexico Legislation Charts Path Away From Coal, But It Won't Be Easy

The Energy Transition Act passed the New Mexico state House on March 12 and heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state's new Democratic governor who supports clean energy, but losing a coal plant early causes far-reaching economic impacts.

March 19, 2019 - Santa Fe New Mexican

Solar Houses

District of Columbia to Adopt the Nation's Strongest Renewable Energy Target

Move over, Hawaii and California, with your ambitious goals of going to 100 percent renewable electricity generation by 2045. The District's city council passed legislation on Tuesday that sets 2032 as the target to reach 100 percent renewable.

December 23, 2018 - Huffpost

Solar and Wind Energy

Mixed Results on Renewable Energy Initiatives

Two western states had very similar renewable energy initiatives on the ballot sponsored by NextGen America requiring utilities to get 50 percent of electricity by 2030. It passed in Nevada but was rejected in Arizona.

November 8, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Downtown Freeway

State Gubernatorial Elections Have Environmental Consequences

The environment and climate change may not be top issues in the nation's hotly contested gubernatorial contests next Tuesday, but their outcomes can cause policy changes. Take North Carolina and the election of Roy Cooper, a Democrat, two years ago.

November 1, 2018 - The Charlotte Observer

Rooftop Solar

Arizona and Nevada to Vote on Renewable Energy Initiatives

Voters in two Western states next month will determine whether to require energy utilities to increase their share of electricity from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030. In Arizona, the campaign has become the costliest in state history.

October 19, 2018 - The Arizona Republic

Wind farm and greenhouse gas farm, together

California May Join Hawaii With 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2045

Senate Bill 100 by Sen. Kevin de León has one more hurdle to clear before it becomes law. While the state's greatest climate challenge isn't electricity generation, it will be helpful as more motorists turn toward electric vehicles.

August 30, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

163:365 - Green Energy

Five Key Energy Bills the California Legislature May Decide this Week

Energy stakeholders in California are watching five important bills to see which go forward with three weeks remaining in the legislative season. One would require the state to generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2045.

August 14, 2018 - The Desert Sun

Cool, California

California Reaches Greenhouse Gas Emissions Target Four Years Ahead of Schedule

It is possible to achieve state-mandated global warming reduction goals after all. The nation's first such goal, signed into law by Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, called for reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

July 13, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Solar Residential

Details of the Golden State's Residential Solar Requirement

San Francisco Chronicle energy reporter David R. Baker sheds some light on the nation's first state building code requiring that solar panels be included in new home construction, adopted by the California Energy Commission on May 9.

May 21, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco

California Progress Report: GDP Increases While GHGs Fall

California is demonstrating that improving the economy and the environment go hand in hand. A new inventory report from the state's Air Resources Board notes changes in gross domestic product, population, and greenhouse gas emissions since 2000.

June 10, 2017 - California Air Resources Board

Wind

Maryland Positions Itself as Nation's Leader in Offshore Wind Power

In a few years, Maryland is expected to be the nation's leader in offshore renewable wind power made possible by the Public Service Commission's approval on May 11 of credits to two projects by U.S. Wind and Skipjack Offshore Energy.

May 15, 2017 - Planetizen

Solar Power

Coal Country Warms-up to Solar Power

President Trump may be stuck in a past era of thriving coal mines, but at least one forward-thinking coal company sees lucrative opportunities in using reclaimed mountaintop strip mines as sites for solar farms.

April 23, 2017 - Courier-Journal

Wind Turbines

Surprising Trump Effect: Many States Seek to Ramp-Up Renewable Energy Mandates

As President Trump rolls back climate and energy regulations, many states are attempting to require utilities to get more power from renewable sources. Also, fewer states are attempting to reduce or eliminate renewable energy requirements.

March 24, 2017 - E&E News [Subscription]

Wind

The Good News that Almost Was for U.S. Offshore Wind Advocates

The anticipated approval of the largest proposed offshore wind farm in the U.S., a 90-megawatt facility off Montauk on Long Island, was unexpectedly delayed. But what will soon be the nation's first offshore wind farm did receive some good news.

July 24, 2016 - Innovate Long Island

Bill to Phase-Out Coal Power Advances in Oregon

A bill to phase out coal-powered electricity by 2030 is advancing in the legislature. It would also double the state's renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2040 for Oregon's two largest utilities.

March 1, 2016 - Think Progress

What Makes San Diego's Climate Plan Different From All the Others

It's been a month of historic announcements in the effort to combat climate change. But a vote today in San Diego might set the standard for ambitious, enforceable action.

December 15, 2015 - The Urban Edge

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