Equity & Economics

Workforce Development

U.S.

U.S. energy transition policy is leaving vulnerable workers behind

The Inflation Reduction Act offers special subsidies for clean energy investment in a selection of "energy communities" that rely on fossil fuel sectors. But, according to our data, many of the communities with the highest carbon footprints do not qualify. The Hill

Finance & Investing

International

Climate perils costing US 0.4% of its GDP: Swiss Re

The Zurich-based group, which acts as an insurer for insurers, reaffirmed that climate change could reduce global economic output by seven to 10 percent by 2050. Energy Daily

International

World needs 'trillions' for climate action: COP28 president

With impacts accelerating as global heat records are smashed, experts say that funding agreed this year will also play an important role in encouraging governments to toughen their decarbonisation targets. Energy News Network

U.S.

Over $300 billion invested in clean tech in the U.S. since passage of the IRA

In 2023, emissions were 16 percent below 2005 levels, according to Bloomberg. GreenBiz

U.S.

Schneider Electric Announces Tax Credit Transfer Agreement with ENGIE to Accelerate Progress Toward Renewables Goal

Investment represents a new approach to using the transferability clause in the IRA to accelerate corporate renewable energy procurement. Businesswire

U.S.

SEC to vote on long-awaited climate disclosure rule, notice says

The Securities and Exchange Commission rules aim to standardize climate-related company disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions, risks and how much money they are spending on the transition to a low-carbon economy. The agency says that such information is important for investors. Reuters

U.S.

The Rise of the Green Bond

These bonds are attractive to investors for several reasons. Investments in environmentally beneficial projects reduces the risk of climate impacts on a portfolio, along with steady financial returns, the fact that green bonds do not require the passing of new legislation, and possible tax exemptions. CleanTechnica

International

Orsted Appoints New Group CFO and COO

Orsted's Board of Directors has appointed Trond Westlie as Orsted's next group chief financial officer and member of the Executive Board and the Group Executive Team effective April 1. On the same date, Patrick Harnett will join Orsted's Group Executive Team as chief operational officer. Ørsted

Oregon

Proposal to divest Oregon state retirement fund of coal stocks nears final vote

The Oregon State Treasury could soon offload up to $1 billion of stocks held in companies that mine and burn coal. House Bill 4083, also known as the COAL Act, would direct the Treasury to divest the state's $94 billion Public Employee Retirement System, or PERS, of its holdings in publicly traded companies that derive 20% or more of their revenue from coal production. It would also limit any new investment in such companies. The Senate Committee On Energy and Environment passed the proposal Feb. 27, and the act has already passed the Oregon House. Oregon Capital Chronicle

U.S.

Electric Utility Securitization Decision Hinges On How Funds Are Spent

Whether securitization of utility expenditures is a good idea or a bad idea largely hinges on which expenses can be covered by this, generally attractive, financing tool. It should be used to lower the cost to utility customers for essential resilience investments -- not shift liability from the utility to its customers, write Murray Clay, president of Ulupono Initiative, a Hawaii-focused impact investing firm, and Henry Curtis, executive director of Life of the Land. Civil Beat

U.S.

Lawmakers across the U.S. seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more extras

After a string of scandals and amid rising bills, lawmakers in statehouses across the country have been pushing legislation to curb utilities spending ratepayer money on lobbying, expert testimony in rate cases, goodwill advertising, charitable giving, trade association membership and other costs. At least a dozen states have considered bills to limit how gas, water and electric utilities can spend customers' money, according to a tracker maintained by the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group funded by environmental and climate-focused foundations that concentrates on utilities and fossil fuel interests. Arkansas Advocate

Wyoming

Gordon's key climate and energy funding tool in budget crosshairs

When the Wyoming Energy Authority's review committee for the governor's Energy Matching Funds program met recently to hear from current and prospective grantees, committee members had to be frank: Some of the already approved grants -- as well as the program itself -- might soon disappear. It all depends on whether proponents of the program can defend it against a defunding effort among some lawmakers this budget session, Energy Authority Executive Director Rob Creager said. WyoFile

Impact & Adaptation

International

Scientists Are Freaking Out About Ocean Temperatures

From his office at the University of Miami, Brian McNoldy, an expert in hurricane formation, is tracking the latest temperature data from the North Atlantic with concern and bewilderment. For the past year, oceans around the world have been substantially warmer than usual. Last month was the hottest January on record in the world's oceans, and temperatures have continued to rise since then. The heat wave has been especially pronounced in the North Atlantic. The New York Times

International

Just How Many People Will Die From Climate Change?

Estimating climate mortality involves a huge range of calculations and projections, all of which are shrouded by large clouds of uncertainty -- it's literally a climate-scale puzzle. New York Times

U.S.

NREL finds 100% renewable scenario improves LA air quality and health

NREL modeled that LA and surround counties could save over $4 billion from improved health outcomes. The most significant reductions in emissions resulted from electrification and infrastructural changes to the non-power sector, such as transportation and buildings. pv Magazine

U.S.

NREL Maps Path to Clean Skies and Better Health

Research demonstrates the benefits of decarbonization and renewable energy on public health outcomes. National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Wildfires

Texas

Climate Change Is Raising Texas' Already High Wildfire Risks

And that growing fire risk is beginning to affect the insurance market in Texas, raising premiums for homeowners and causing some insurers to withdraw from parts of the state. New York Times

Policy & Politics

Massachusetts

Massachusetts lawmakers urged to adopt "million solar roofs" equivalent

In California, Governor Schwarzenegger's million solar roofs initiative spurred the nation's largest small-scale solar market. Environment America created a petition to support a 10 GW buildout of solar in Massachusetts to preserve its forests and other lands. pv Magazine

New York

Hochul nominates former DEC commissioner, environmental advocate to utility regulator

Gov. Kathy Hochul has nominated two women to the powerful state Public Service Commission, which oversees the state's gas, electric and water utilities: Denise Sheehan, a former commissioner for the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Uchenna Bright, an environmental advocate, according to a person familiar with the moves. This is Hochul's first move toward reshaping the Public Service Commission, which oversees the state's gas and electric utilities and will play a pivotal role in the path forward for New York's climate targets. E&E News

Virginia

Rebooted commission could breathe new life into bills challenging Virginia's largest utility

Virginia clean energy champions have their fingers crossed that members of a resurrected legislative commission won't water down four utility-focused bills when they meet in the off-season to reshape the failed measures for next year's General Assembly. The rebooted Commission on Electric Utility Regulation, created to provide Virginia's legislators guidance on increasingly complicated energy bills, is so new that it's still hiring an executive director and other staffers. Energy News Network

Virginia

Bill to limit local restrictions on solar projects in Virginia paused for more study

The solar industry and environmental groups argued the bill was necessary for the state to meet the requirements of the VCEA given bans and limits imposed by some local governments on solar projects. Virginia Mercury

U.S.

The IRA will help 'energy communities.' But what does that mean?

Biden's green transition could overlook towns heavily reliant upon fossil fuels for industries like steelmaking and fertilizer production. Grist

U.S.

Senate Democrats ask Treasury to require American-made wafers for solar panel domestic content bonus

The group of senators is asking that solar panels not be considered American-made unless they use domestic wafers, taking the requirements one step backwards on the solar panel supply chain. Solar Power World

U.S.

SEC to scrap scope 3 reporting from climate disclosure rule: Reuters

The Securities and Exchange Commission has reportedly dropped a requirement for companies publicly traded in the United States to report their scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions as part of their climate related disclosures, Reuters reported Feb. 23. The agency's original 2022 proposal required companies to disclose scope 3 emissions "if material or if the registrant has set a GHG emissions target or goal that includes scope 3 emissions." However, the SEC has since received over 16,000 comments on the proposal, causing it to repeatedly postpone its release date as it reviewed these comments. ESG Dive

U.S.

SEC Drops Key Emissions Disclosure Requirements From Draft Climate Rules

Scaling back these rules would be a blow for President Joe Biden's agenda to address climate change threats through federal agencies. Biden, a Democrat, has been under pressure from many lawmakers in his party to do more and move at a faster pace. Reuters

U.S.

Dems Who Shrieked About 'Climate Crisis' Voted Against Bill Promoting Emissions-Free Nuclear Power

The bill would take several steps to make it easier to permit and build zero-emissions nuclear generation capacity in the U.S., but numerous prominent Democrats who advance alarmist climate discourse still voted against it despite significant projected increases in U.S. energy demand. Daily Caller

U.S.

A bureaucratic printer jam holds up a major Biden climate rule

A regulation cracking down on oil and gas pollution is finally being published March 8, ending a three-month delay that gave rule watchers heartburn. Politico

Ohio

Gov. DeWine defends top adviser after indictment questions how much she knew about H.B. 6 scandal

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is defending his top advisor after a criminal indictment alleges she knew about millions First Energy paid Sam Randazzo just before DeWine was about to select him as chair of the state's top utility regulator. She helped vet the now-indicted former chair of the Public Utilities Commission after her family had already received a $10,000 loan from him. Ohio Capital Journal

Ohio

Former Ohio Speaker Householder files appeal, says bribe payment was within First Amendment rights

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has filed an appeal against his guilty conviction and 20-year sentence by alleging the bribe he accepted, which he still claims wasn't a bribe, was within his First Amendment rights. He continues to languish in federal prison due to his involvement in the largest bribery scheme in state history. Ohio Capital Journal

New York

In New York, a Legal Debate Over the State's New Green Amendment

Do courts have authority to rule on whether the state's failure to abate air pollution around the High Acres Landfill violates the constitutional rights of the facility's neighbors? That's the key question in a lawsuit appeal in Rochester that is shaping up as a crucial test case for New York State's Green Amendment. Attorneys for the landfill's neighbors argued this week that the Green Amendment obligates state courts to act in defense of their clients' explicit constitutional right to breathe clean air; State Attorney General Letitia James disagrees. WaterFront

Montana

40 orgs, businesses, to Public Service Commission: Consider climate in utility regulation

The petition asks commissioners to adopt a new rule that requires consideration of the adverse climate impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in gas and electric utility regulation. Daily Montanan

Alabama

Alabama Public Service Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh faces Robert McCollum in Republican primary

Alabama Public Service Commission President Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh will face challenger Robert McCollum in a bid to keep her position. Cavanaugh and McCollum will be on the ballot statewide in the March 5 Republican primary for PSC President. The winner of the GOP contest faces no opposition from the Democratic Party in November's general election. Alabama Media Group

Minnesota

Minnesota coalition seeks to remove barriers to building power lines along highways

A coalition of labor and environmental groups is putting its support behind perennial Minnesota legislation meant to lift a barrier to building power lines in the rights-of-way of federal highways in the state. NextGen Highways is a national collaboration that promotes co-location of utility infrastructure in existing highway corridors as a way to accelerate expansion of the electric grid. Energy News Network

Michigan

Health, clean energy and environmental advocates oppose ballot initiative eliminating siting law

The bill's sponsors argued these changes would help expand the build out of clean energy and would allow farmers who may have been blocked from leasing their land to energy developers, to secure additional income by hosting solar panels or wind turbines. Michigan Advance

Massachusetts

OPINION: A warning about radioactive air pollution from Pilgrim

The surrounding communities of Pilgrim have already been disproportionately subjected to the negative health impacts of excess radiation exposure and deserve better. Releasing this radioactive contaminated air is a risk to health and safety -- an unacceptable one, write Drs. Joe Hodgkin, Susan Racine and Brita Lundberg of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. Commonwealth Beacon

Maryland

Ocean City 'cannot be bought,' mayor told US Wind in community benefit package rejection

Ocean City, Md., Mayor Rick Meehan announced recently that he had rejected a proposed community benefit package from offshore wind developer US Wind in December. Meehan said US Wind had offered packages to neighboring Delaware communities that promised benefits in exchange for "local government officials... [refraining] from making any negative comments or objections" about proposed projects, and offered Ocean City "the same opportunity." Utility Dive

International

N.Y. State Sues JBS, the Brazilian Beef Giant, Over Its Climate Claims

New York Attorney General Letitia James on Feb. 28 sued JBS USA, the American arm of the world's largest meatpacker, accusing the company of making misleading statements about its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The lawsuit is a major setback for JBS, which is based in Brazil, as it pursues a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The lawsuit alleges that JBS has made a series of deceptive statements about its record on climate change, including claims that it will achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. The New York Times

International

Companies risk greenwashing with their trade group activities, report says

Companies with ambitious environmental objectives are failing to reconsider or disclose their affiliations with trade groups that actively lobby against climate goals and decarbonization policies, a new study by think tank Planet Tracker has found. The study has revealed how major corporations in the consumer goods and chemicals sectors that are signed up to the Climate Action 100+ initiative remain members of a number of trade associations that are routinely "misaligned" with the goals of the Paris Agreement. GreenBiz

Georgia

Georgia Power hikes prompt legislation to restore consumer advocate for PSC electricity rate cases

House and Senate Legislative committees have unanimously backed proposals that would shift the responsibilities of Georgia's utilities regulators. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed Senate Bill 457, which would create a consumer's utility counsel to advocate for the public in electric rate cases. And a House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee passed a proposal to place the Public Service Commission in charge of private water companies. Both bills now head before their respective Rules Committees that determine which bills go before the full chambers. Georgia Recorder

Georgia

EPA objects to Georgia Power coal ash storage plan

Federal regulators are pushing back on a Georgia Power plan for storing coal ash that had been approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. In a letter last week, U.S. EPA echoed concerns raised by environmental advocates about the ash from a retired coal-fired power plant in North Georgia. Georgia Recorder

Florida

OPINION: By deleting mention of climate change, Florida legislators try to hide from the problem

Florida will continue to spend an ever-increasing amount of taxpayer money on pipes and pumps and seawalls, but we consider anything that might deal with the causes of climate change to be "an obsolete program or whatnot." As a result, we'll have to continue "taking whatever the climate sends us," including increased heat, stronger hurricanes, and so forth, writes award-winning environmental reporter Craig Pittman. Florida Phoenix

Colorado

Colorado updates climate 'road map' as data shows it falling short of emissions goals

Colorado will continue to pursue a laundry list of new policies aimed at helping the state meet its greenhouse gas emissions goals, Gov. Jared Polis said -- but his administration shows little sign of fundamentally shifting course on an approach that appears likely to fall short of the first of those targets next year. Colorado Newsline

California

Climate Takes a Back Seat in High-Profile California Primary Campaigns. One Candidate Aims to Change That

Californians are still reeling from devastating floods and fires worsened by climate change, yet global warming isn't a key issue for most voters in the primaries. That's why Joby Bernstein is running for Congress. Inside Climate News

Wyoming

Gov. Gordon vetoes portion of Secretary of State Gray's ESG rules

Secretary of State Chuck Gray went outside the scope of his statutory authority in rules he proposed related to environmental, social and governance investments, also known as ESG. That's according to Gov. Mark Gordon, who line-item vetoed portions of Gray's proposed rules Feb. 27. The remainder of the rule, which focuses on disclosure requirements, goes into effect immediately. WyoFile