Wyoming
Longtime University of Wyoming professor David Romtvedt urges people to read SF 44 and to speak with their local senators about the bill, to encourage them to support measures to help work together in making decisions for the benefit of all. WyoFile
Virginia
The fight between Virginia solar developers and Dominion Energy over who should pay for upgrades to the electric grid needed for small solar projects will continue after legislative proposals to shift or split the costs failed. Currently, solar developers in Virginia are responsible for paying the costs of connecting their projects to the larger grid operated by Dominion, including any upgrades the utility says are necessary. Virginia Mercury
U.S.
Slowing electric car sales, anxious union workers and the president's campaign difficulties in Michigan are complicating one of his most ambitious climate policies. Politico
U.S.
The Inflation Reduction Act primarily reduces emissions through financial incentives, rather than binding rules. But in addition to all its well-known carrots, lawmakers quietly included a smaller number of sticks -- particularly when it comes to the potent greenhouse gas methane, which has proven to be a pesky source of increasing climate pollution with each passing year. New research suggests that those sticks could soon batter the oil and gas industry, which is responsible for a third of all methane emissions in the U.S. Grist
U.S.
Many of the world's biggest financial firms spent the past several years burnishing their environmental images by pledging to use their financial muscle to fight climate change. Now, Wall Street has flip-flopped. The reasons behind the burst of activity reveal how difficult it is proving to be for the business world to make good on its promises to become more environmentally responsible. The New York Times
U.S.
Executives of companies with clean energy projects are facing questions about the potential for a rollback of the law and its incentives if a Republican wins. New York Times
U.S.
The United States has experienced a surge in clean energy projects, representing more than $200 billion in new investments since President Biden signed an expansive climate bill into law more than a year ago. But the election and the potential for a Republican takeover is prompting concern that key parts of the law could be upended. The New York Times
U.S.
He would seek to undo much of the Biden administration's work to fight climate change if he returns to office after November's election, and launch new efforts to expand fossil fuel production, according to Republican policy experts and Trump's campaign website. Reuters
Virginia
General Assembly grapples with whether the state should be able to override local denials. Virginia Mercury
Oregon
Among rural communities, Grants Pass, Ore., has notched an unlikely win: a sustainability plan. But lack of dedicated staff and resources to secure federal grant funds threaten its success. The Daily Yonder
Virginia
Legislation proposed in Virginia with the aim of increasing the amount of third-party generating capacity in Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power's service areas in the state has been tabled in the House and continued to the next session in the Senate. Utility Dive
Virginia
Members of the State Corporation Commission review compliance with the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which mandates the utilities decarbonize the grid by 2050. Inside Climate News
Wisconsin
News of the Pelican River Forest conservation area and new wind and solar energy projects are signs of a huge step in the right direction. But new carbon-emitting energy infrastructure threatens to undermine all these gains. The state needs to put its foot down on the Nemadji plant and ensure a renewable future for all of us, writes sophomore Jack Rogers, a student of Chinese, economics and political science. The Badger Herald
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Senate Republicans rejected four appointees of Gov. Tony Evers on Feb. 20, including one to the Natural Resources Board and three to the board that oversees the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority. One GOP senator said Natural Resources Board (NRB) appointee Todd Ambs was being fired because of a now-deleted tweet attacking Republicans and Fox News. But none of those who voted against the three UW Health board members explained their reasons on the Senate floor Feb. 20. Wisconsin Examiner
Wyoming
A group known for promoting misleading information about climate change won the attention -- and hearts -- of many Wyoming lawmakers last week. WyoFile
Wyoming
Four of six bills intended to give state electric utility regulators more powers to scrutinize system investments that may cost Wyoming ratepayers advanced this week out of the Senate Corporations, Business and Economic Development Committee. WyoFile
U.S.
According to the utility watchdog group Energy and Policy Institute, lawmakers in eight states, including California and Maryland, have introduced bills this year that would block utilities from charging customers for the costs of lobbying, advertising, trade association dues, and other political activities. The measures build on a growing trend in state policy: Last year, Colorado, Connecticut, and Maine became the first states in the nation to pass comprehensive laws preventing utilities from passing on the costs of lobbying to ratepayers. Grist
Oregon
In May 2023, the Grants Pass City Council passed a one-of-a-kind sustainability plan that, if implemented, would transition publicly owned buildings and vehicles to renewable energy, diversifying their power sources in case of natural disaster. While passing the sustainability plan in this largely Republican county was an enormous feat on its own, actually paying for the energy projects proves to be Grants Pass' biggest challenge yet. Oregon Capital Chronicle
California
At hearings, press conferences and happy hours, lawmakers are talking about how much they've been hearing from their constituents about rising utility bills. Politico
Maine
Amy Dumeny has been named administrative director of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, effective Feb. 12. Dumeny has been with the commission since 2020, serving as assistant administrative director, overseeing the commission's budget and finances as well as all human resources functions. She has served the state of Maine since 2008 in various roles, including business operations manager with the Department of Marine Resources, and budget analyst, financial analyst and senior staff accountant with the Department of Financial and Administrative Services. Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel
California
There is intensifying political pressure on state lawmakers to do something about utility bills that have shot up by as much as 127 percent over the last decade. Politico
Hawaii
Lawmakers are calling for significant changes at Hawaiian Electric Co. in exchange for letting the utility charge a new fee to customers to raise money to deal with wildfire costs. The fundamental change sought by HECO would allow the company to impose new fees on its 460,000 customers statewide outside the standard ratemaking process. The utility could use the fees to finance bonds at a lower interest rate than it could otherwise obtain, which could ultimately mean lower costs to customers. Civil Beat
International
Climate hawks have long questioned the financial industry's commitment to sustainable investing. But few foresaw JPMorgan Chase and State Street quitting Climate Action 100+, a global investment coalition that has been pushing companies to decarbonize. Meanwhile, BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, scaled back its ties to the group. All told, the moves amount to a nearly $14 trillion exit from an organization meant to marshal Wall Street's clout to expand the climate agenda. The New York Times
International
Aid for victims of climate change is in danger of being delayed as wealthy countries brawl over who gets to sit on the board of a new global fund. Politico
International
Focusing solely on net zero for CO2 emissions is insufficient. Achieving net zero CO2 emissions without reducing non-CO2 emissions results in a lower probability of successfully limiting warming to 1.5C. Forbes
Iowa
The fate of several county ordinances that restrict the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines in Iowa might hinge on the federal court appeals of two lawsuits. Shelby and Story counties were the first of five counties sued by Summit Carbon Solutions over their ordinances that require the pipelines to be located minimum distances from places where people and livestock congregate. Summit wants to build an $8 billion, five-state pipeline system that would connect to about 50 ethanol plants, half of which are in Iowa. Iowa Capital Dispatch
Maryland
They worry about the bill's impact on the state's energy marketplace, whether the funds would reach the communities that needed them most, and whether the bill's costs would be borne by consumers. Maryland Matters
Oregon
More than two dozen Oregon lobbyists are advocating policies on behalf of industries that contribute to climate change while also representing those that fight and respond to climate challenges, according to a report from a lobbying watchdog group. Researchers at the group, Pennsylvania-based F Minus, launched last summer, compiled a database that shows that more than 1,500 lobbyists across the country are working at the state level for the fossil fuels industry as well as for conservation groups, public health entities, social justice organizations and local governments trying to respond to environmental and health issues caused by the burning of those fuels. Oregon Capital Chronicle
Maryland
A bill to make fossil fuel companies pay for Maryland's climate degradation ran into some skepticism Feb. 20 at its first public hearing of the General Assembly session -- from climate-friendly Democrats. The RENEW Act of 2024 -- Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather -- seeks to levy penalties on the 40 biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in Maryland over the past two decades -- and use the funds for an array of climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation initiatives. Maryland Matters
Maryland
We can't continue to kick the can down the road. We must take action now to protect our planet for future generations. Our taxpayers shouldn't be burdened with the cost of mitigating the damages pollution has caused to the state, writes Wandra Ashley-Williams, Maryland regional director for Climate XChange, a national organization promoting climate action at the state level. Maryland Matters
Montana
Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer is encouraging Montanans to run for the state's utility commission, citing regulatory decisions that have hit consumers in the wallet. Schweitzer, speaking at a forum sponsored by Montana Conservation Voters, said the state Public Service Commission hasn't acted in the consumers' interest for several years, seizing on an October decision by the five-member PSC that made residential and small business electric rates the highest in the region for customers of NorthWestern Energy. Billings Gazette
Montana
State Sen. Jeff Welborn announced Feb. 20 he is running for the Public Services Commission District 3 seat in the Republican primary. A release from Welborn's campaign said Welborn decided to run due to "his desire to stand up for Montana ratepayers and ensure Montana's energy sector remains strong and reliable for those it serves." KULR-TV
Ohio
Many politicians -- especially conservatives -- are loath to approve anything that could be construed as a tax increase. But since 2009, Ohio's leadership has gone along with a number of questionable rate hikes demanded by regulated utilities. They've functioned in the same manner as tax increases -- regressive ones with unsavory origins. Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio
The announcement Feb. 12 of new felony indictments against players in Ohio's massive bribery scandal is again raising questions about what Gov. Mike DeWine knew before and after he nominated Sam Randazzo to be the top utility regulator in the state. The indictment contained new allegations of a long, nefarious relationship between Randazzo, one of the state's biggest utilities and a group of industrial users. DeWine's spokesman has since reiterated that the governor believed in 2019 that Randazzo was qualified to be the top regulator because of his prior representation of utilities and large ratepayers. Ohio Capital Journal
Ohio
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio announced Feb. 21 that its investigations related to FirstEnergy and House Bill 6 will resume. Crain's Cleveland Business
Carbon PricingU.S.
It might be considered easier for their emissions to be rapidly phased out by treating them as extensions of the government, without needing to rely on the incentives, fines or sanctions usually necessary to make private firms act. So far, however, things have not proved to be so simple. TechXplore
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