Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Board
Specifically, the Legislature should pass Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh’s LB483, which would direct the University of Nebraska to develop “an evidence-based, data-driven strategic plan to provide methods for adapting to and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events or climate” that could be considered by the Legislature. Nebraska must develop a plan to seriously address climate change. And it needs to do so as quickly as possible, after several efforts similar to Cavanaugh’s failed to advance in recent years. Read more here.
LB483 – Provide for a climate change study and action plan
Wikimedia Commons Photo: George W. Norris Legislative Chamber, Nebraska State Legislature
POWER A CLEAN FUTURE OHIO COALITION
Ohio refinery city joins coalition to support local clean energy transitions, by Kathiann M. Kowalski, Energy News Network
Ohio’s clean energy policy has moved backward at the state level over the past decade. Various lawmakers have fought against the state’s clean energy standards and have been hostile toward renewable energy, especially wind energy. Allegations of corruption also surfaced last summer around House Bill 6, which gutted the clean energy standards and codified subsidies for certain nuclear and coal plants.
Against that backdrop, various cities and communities in Ohio have taken steps to increase their use of clean energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Power a Clean Future Ohio formed last year to expand that progress. Power A Clean Future Ohio
SECURITIZATION
- As coal plants close, advocates want relief for Wisconsin ratepayers, by Kari Lydersen, Energy News Network. The expected closure of the 1,110-megawatt Columbia Energy Center and other fossil fuel plants in the coming years has utility customer advocates calling for expanded use of securitization, a tool for refinancing coal plant debt with low-interest bonds to relieve ratepayers from the burden of stranded costs.
- Indiana lawmakers advance coal plant securitization, renewable siting. bills, by Kari Lydersen, Energy News Network
- Possible hundreds of billions in US power sector securitizations spur ratepayer protection debate, by Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
XCEL ENERGY INITIATIVE
Xcel plans to double its renewable energy generation by 2030. It’ll cost consumers $8 billion to do it, The Colorado Sun
Xcel Energy will spend $8 billion to double its renewable energy generation and storage and add new transmission lines, while closing all of its coal-fired power plants in Colorado by 2040. The initiative, unveiled Wednesday, would reduce Xcel’s carbon emissions in Colorado 85% from 2005 levels by 2030.
NEVADA & OTHER STATES LEADING ON ENERGY STORAGE
Grid-scale batteries, a key player in the future of renewable energy in Nevada, Sierra Nevada Ally
Nevada is one of seven states to adopt an energy storage mandate.
RIDE SHARE PROGRAMS
Minnesota car-share program seeks to boost EV access in diverse neighborhoods
NEW BRATTLE GROUP REPORT
‘Grid-Enhancing Technologies’ Could Save $5B per Year by Boosting US Renewables Capacity, by Jeff St. John, Greentech Media
The U.S. could double its capacity for new wind and solar power, save billions of dollars and cut millions of tons of carbon-dioxide emissions from its generation fleets if federal incentives can be aligned to deploy a suite of technologies to unlock the full capacity of transmission grids. So says a new report from The Brattle Group, modeling the benefits of a set of “grid-enhancing technologies” across the wind-power-rich grids of Kansas and Oklahoma.
According to its analysis, spending about $90 million to implement these technologies could yield a payback in less than a year, with annual power cost savings of about $175 million delivering ongoing benefits for years to come. That’s because the technologies in question can drastically increase the renewable energy capacity of the grid operated by Southwest Power Pool.
BIDEN’S SUPPLY CHAIN EXECUTIVE ORDER
- WATCH: Biden to order a review of U.S. supply chains for vital goods, PBS News Hour
President Joe Biden met at the White House Wednesday with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on some of the critical supply chain issues that the U.S. is facing. The order being signed Wednesday will include sectoral reviews to be completed within one year for defense, public health and biological preparedness, information communications technology, energy, transportation and food production. - FACT SHEET: Securing America’s Critical Supply Chains, White House Briefing Room
American Clean Power Association Statement on Supply Chain Executive Order
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUELS
Exclusive: U.S. airline CEOs to meet with White House on cutting carbon footprint, Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chief executives of major U.S. airlines are set to meet virtually with two key White House advisers on Friday about efforts to reduce carbon emissions and use renewable fuels, five people briefed on the matter told Reuters.
ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
DOE Awards $46 Million for Geothermal Initiative Projects with Potential to Power Millions of U.S. Homes, Department of Energy News Release
“There is enormous untapped potential for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) to provide clean and reliable electricity to power tens of millions of homes across the country,” said Kathleen Hogan, Acting Under Secretary for Science and Energy. “These investments in EGS research support President Biden’s mission to take on the climate crisis by pushing the frontiers of science and engineering and creating jobs in cutting-edge clean energy fields.”
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are different from conventional geothermal resources that occur naturally in the U.S. and are geographically limited due to the need for underground heat and fluids. EGS are manmade geothermal reservoirs and can be engineered in most parts of the country, potentially expanding geothermal energy production and transforming the domestic energy portfolio.
Utah FORGE website.
WELLS FARGO NEWS RELEASE
Wells Fargo Surpasses $10 Billion in Renewable Energy Tax-Equity Investments
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wells Fargo Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance (REEF) today announced it recently surpassed $10 billion in tax-equity investments in the wind, solar, and fuel cell industries. Wells Fargo has invested in more than 500 projects [in 32 states], helping to finance 12% of all wind and solar energy capacity in the U.S. over the past 10 years.