Clean Energy - Inside Climate News

Coal Power Plunged Again in 2023 and Is Fading Away in the U.S. So What Replaces It?

By Dan Gearino — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Natural gas has filled most of the void left by the decline of U.S. coal power, but that’s not a long-term solution.

By Dan Gearino

Coal power took a big step toward the exit last year in the United States, as plants continue to close and the ones that remain are being used less than before.

California Votes to Consider Health and Environment in Future Energy Planning

By Emma Foehringer Merchant — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 08:30:00 +0000

State regulators approved a plan to determine how to weigh “non-energy benefits” in decisions about energy resources, as the state pursues 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2045.

By Emma Foehringer Merchant

The California Energy Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to begin a process to incorporate the value of “non-energy benefits,” such as health impacts and job creation, in future decisions about the state’s energy mix.

Minnesota Eyes Permitting Reform for Clean Energy Amid Gridlock in Congress

By Kristoffer Tigue — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Bills meant to streamline federal permit approvals have stalled, but states are already passing their own measures. That could be key to speeding up the energy transition, experts say.

By Kristoffer Tigue

Minnesota lawmakers are holding a hearing today to debate a proposed bill that would enact a series of changes to the way the state permits wind and solar farms, as well as the transmission lines needed to deliver the electricity they produce.

Climate Rules Reach Finish Line, in Weakened Form, as Biden Races Clock

By Marianne Lavelle — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:10:00 +0000

Allies have pressured his administration on corporate climate risk disclosure, power plant and vehicle emissions regulations, while foes wait for their chance to roll back rules.

By Marianne Lavelle

This spring was meant to bring a flowering of climate action by President Joe Biden’s administration. But the heat of the 2024 political season has scorched some of its most ambitious plans.

Understanding the Weather Behind a Down Year for Wind Energy

By Dan Gearino — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

U.S. wind energy generation fell last year, with the greatest decreases recorded in the Midwest.

By Dan Gearino

When talking about the growth of renewable energy, I often say it’s not notable when wind, solar or other technologies reach a record high, because they should be doing that every year.

Federal Data Reveals a Surprising Drop in Renewable Power in 2023, as Slow Winds and Drought Took a Toll

By Dan Gearino — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:45:00 +0000

A big increase in utility-scale solar power was not enough to offset decreases in wind and hydropower.

By Dan Gearino

U.S. utility-scale renewable electricity generation fell in 2023 due to weather patterns that reduced output from wind farms and drought that affected hydropower. Data released by the Energy Information Administration shows a decrease of 0.8 percent compared to the prior year.

A Small Pennsylvania College Is Breaking New Ground in Pursuit of a Clean Energy Campus

By Kiley Bense — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

To achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, Swarthmore College is replacing its natural gas-fueled heating and cooling systems with state-of-the-art, renewable-powered geoexchange.

By Kiley Bense

SWARTHMORE, Pa.—In the basement of Swarthmore College’s dining hall, a transformation is underway. As students eat lunch upstairs, beneath their feet, the school’s fossil fuel past is being replaced with its clean energy future.

South Carolina Welcomes Multibillion Dollar Electric Vehicle Projects, Even Though Many Echo Trump’s Harsh EV Critiques

By Marianne Lavelle — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 10:10:00 +0000

Volkswagen has made a $2 billion bet that rural Americans will fall in love with electric drive. Its formula: Resurrect a rugged, iconic U.S. brand, Scout, and court Republican state leaders, who provided a generous incentives package.

By Marianne Lavelle

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C.—On their way to a groundbreaking last week for a massive new electric vehicle plant, designed for the rebirth of an iconic American brand, guests first had to walk past a phalanx of vintage Scout sport utility vehicles.

Despite a Big Budget Shortfall, Moore Commits $90 Million to Help Maryland Cut Emissions

By Aman Azhar — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 10:05:00 +0000

A bill in the General Assembly would also help, shifting the focus of the state’s energy efficiency program, Empower Maryland, from energy saving to emissions reduction by boosting electrification.

By Aman Azhar

When Maryland Gov. Wes Moore vented his concerns in December about the $761 million hole projected for his fiscal 2025 budget, environmental activists wondered what impact the shortfall would have on the state’s ambitious climate goals, which are also hobbled by a wobbly offshore wind industry and persisting interconnection delays.

Community Opposition and Grid Challenges Slow the Pace of Renewable Efforts, National Survey of Developers Shows

By Emma Foehringer Merchant — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

“The newest bottleneck has been social acceptance.”

By Emma Foehringer Merchant

In recent months, residents in Texas rushed a community meeting to challenge a nearby wind proposal. In Indiana, more than 70 people joined a lawsuit to stop a solar project in their town. And in Michigan, the state approved language for a ballot initiative that would repeal a law that gave the state authority to permit or approve large renewable energy projects even if rejected by local governments.