"Revival of 'Zombie' Power Plant Proposal in Massachusetts"
In a landscape of shifting policies and political currents, the future of clean energy and climate action in the United States remains uncertain. Here's a roundup of recent developments that shed light on this evolving picture.
Solar Savings Threatened
A North Carolina food bank is set to save $143,000 annually thanks to its rooftop solar array. However, federal incentives that made this possible are under threat, with Republicans' proposed budget bill set to gut these incentives (Canary Media).
Fossil Fuel Costs Rise
President Trump's orders to keep fossil fuel-fired power plants open in Michigan and Pennsylvania could cost consumers millions of dollars (New York Times). Meanwhile, an investment analyst predicts no new offshore wind projects will proceed in the U.S. under current economic and political conditions (Heatmap).
Bipartisan Support for Clean Energy
Thirteen Republican House members from various states have urged the Senate to preserve clean energy tax credit provisions in the president's budget. A handful of Senate Republicans have also indicated they'll look to extend the 60-day phaseout of clean energy tax credits proposed in the House's "Big, Beautiful Bill" (Canary Media).
Regulatory Challenges
Maryland regulators have approved the construction of a 114-turbine offshore wind farm, despite local opposition and potential Trump administration intervention. However, New York's planned cap-and-invest system has been delayed due to a lack of robust stakeholder engagement, with the governor's administration doing little to reach out to climate and environmental justice advocates since then (New York Focus).
States Grapple with Energy Issues
Maine will form a state commission to explore the potential of using geothermal networks to heat and cool groups of buildings. Maryland could face regular rolling blackouts if energy production is not increased in the state. States' efforts to reduce energy costs following a high-bill winter could have unintended long-term costs and consequences for customers (Baltimore Sun, RTO Insider).
Environmental Concerns and Controversies
An oil spill in Baltimore Harbor has reached 5,000 gallons, more than double original estimates, but most of the oil has been recovered. Environmental groups in Pennsylvania have asked regulators to reject a gas utility's rate hike request and require the company to address the climate crisis, with the utility responding by requesting the groups' internal documents. A controversial wood-burning power plant plan is revived in a Massachusetts city with high asthma rates (Baltimore Sun, WHYY, our website).
Innovation in Clean Energy
Chicago-area startup Sun Metalon aims to reduce steel industry emissions with an oven-sized box that cleans and melts down waste metal into recyclable pucks (Canary Media). The Massachusetts company producing low-carbon cement will continue to grow with support from private investors and high-profile customers, despite losing $87 million in federal funding (Boston Globe).
As these developments illustrate, the landscape of clean energy and climate action in the U.S. is marked by a complex interplay of challenges, opportunities, and controversies. Stay tuned for more updates as these issues continue to unfold.
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