Energy

The Only Remaining Nuclear Power Plant in California Will Close
In a surprise announcement by Pacific Gas and Electric Company on Tuesday, it was learned that California's only remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County along California's central coast, will close in nine years.

Is Glen Canyon Dam Obsolete?
As climate changes in the Rockies and the southwest, Lake Powell is gradually shrinking. The debate over Glen Canyon Dam is on again, and this time environmentalists aren't the only ones against it.

Solar Canopies Provide a Solution for New York Roofs
A design fix helps Brooklyn brownstones go green.
Shuttering of Illinois Nuke Plants Cause Enviro Groups to Rethink Opposition
The Wall Street Journal reports that the climate crisis is causing some mainstream environmental groups, including the largest, the Sierra Club, to rethink their long-standing opposition to the carbon-free power source.
Pittsburgh Suburb Rejects Zoning Change for Proposed Power Plant
A zoning controversy could continue into a legal appeal.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Choose Sides in the Solar Power Debate
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has shifted its approach to the growing U.S. solar industry, coming out on the side of utilities on the issue of net metering.

More Bad News for Coal: U.S. Supreme Court Won't Block Mercury Emissions Rule
For a second time, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to hear from 20 states that sought to block implementation of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule on mercury and air toxins that largely affects coal-fired power plants and public health.

A New Era in the U.S.: More Carbon Emissions from Transportation Than Utilities
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows that the total carbon emissions of the transportation sector is now greater than the carbon emissions of energy utilities.

Gas and Diesel Cars Could Be Banned in Norway by 2025
Norway's four major political parties appear to agree to a ban on gasoline and diesel-powered passenger vehicles by 2025. And they are not alone. Efforts are also underway in The Netherlands and India, according to the news site Electrek.

Giant Ethane Cracker Coming to a Keystone Opportunity Zone Near Pittsburgh
The state of Pennsylvania and the county of Beaver have what they wanted: Shell has decided to build a new ethane cracker facility northwest of Pittsburgh.
Will Columbia River Gorge Oil Train Derailment Be a 'Death Knell' for Bakken Crude-by-Rail?
After a long night fighting a fire that erupted when a 96-car oil train carrying Bakken crude from North Dakota derailed on June 3 in Mosier, Oregon, the fire chief called for an end to shipping the volatile oil by rail.

Seattle May Follow San Francisco in Tossing Conventional Level of Service Standards
Mayor Ed Murray released a 20-year growth plan, Seattle 2035, that retains LOS, but rather than measuring vehicle congestion, measures mode share, consistent with his vision for a green and sustainable city, but rattling The Seattle Times.

Feds Approve New Natural Gas Pipeline Despite Corruption Probe
Federal regulators approved a pipeline critical to a natural gas power plant currently embroiled in a federal corruption investigation.

EPA Releases Final Methane Rule for New and Modified Oil and Gas Wells
While the methane reduction targets are the same as the draft rule released last August (i.e., 40-45 percent reduction of 2012 levels by 2025), the new rule removes exceptions, resulting in a 30 percent improvement in reductions of methane.
An Update on President Obama's 'Better Building Initiative'
A press release and fact sheet about the accomplishments of the Obama Administration's "Better Building Initiative" includes three new national programs designed to improve the efficiency and resilience of the built environment.

Interior Department Secretary Jumps Into Fossil Fuel Debate
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell expressed a surprisingly pro-industry viewpoint in response to the growing "keep it in the ground" environmental movement.

Gas Delivery Straight to Your Vehicle. What Could Go Wrong?
Cities and fire departments around the country are struggling with the sudden explosion of start-ups promising to make your life easier by delivering gasoline straight to your vehicle.

Report Details Strategies for Energy States to Weather Booms and Busts
Some states relied more on the most recent energy boom than others, and some prepared more for the inevitable bust. A report by the Brookings Institution recommends actions for energy states to build resilience in the face of boom and bust cycles.

Ford Plans New Headquarters for a New Century
Following the example of much newer corporations in Silicon Valley, the Ford Motor Company is planning a $9 billion new campus in Dearborn, to be built over ten years.

Feds Finally Kill $400 Million Tongue River Coal Railroad Proposal
The unraveling of the coal industry, as exemplified by the demise of Arch Coal, was on display again as federal regulators put the final nail in the coffin of a proposed coal railroad.
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