Energy Policy / Public News Service

New Mexico's 2021 methane waste rules require oil and gas operators to capture 98% of their produced natural gas by Dec. 31, 2026, and prohibit routine venting and flaring. (RobertCoy/Adobe Stock)

Friday, March 21, 2025

NM's state methane regulations expected to thwart federal rollbacks

Federal rules meant to better control harmful methane emissions will not take effect since Congress and President Donald Trump have intervened but the…

The Tennessee Valley Authority provides power to Orano USA's Project Ike Enrichment site in Oak Ridge. (PikePicture/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Nuclear-energy backers: Innovation powers security, economic growth in TN

Tennessee is emerging as a key hub for global nuclear energy innovation, with recent investments in the state and a commitment to expand nuclear from …

Ohio ranks 46th in the nation for renewable energy generation, with solar and wind accounting for less than 4% of the state's electricity production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Ohio Supreme Court case could set precedent for solar energy projects

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Small modular nuclear reactors can generate up to 500 megawatts. The International Atomic Energy Agency sets the limit at 300 megawatts, while Indiana law allows up to 470. (Adobe stock)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Indiana bill could push nuclear costs onto utility customers

A Senate committee will decide whether to advance House Bill 1007, which, if passed, would allow Indiana utilities to recover costs for small modular …

The Trump administration is working to lower air-quality standards, which could allow easier permitting for the oil and gas industry. (Travelview/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

CA local leaders protest massive rollback of federal environmental protections

Local leaders in California are slamming the Trump administration's moves to gut dozens of environmental policies on climate change and pollution in l…

Support for neutrality agreements comes as more public employees in the Commonwealth unionize following a 2021 bill giving them the right to form a union. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Voters support company neutrality when workers unionize

A recent poll finds that voters in Virginia and around the country view unionization efforts as widely beneficial to workers - and are more supportive…

In PacifiCorp's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan, the company's nine majority-owned coal plants all had retirement or assumed end-of-life dates by 2042. In its 2025 plan, only one plant has a retirement date. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Fossil fuel company plans for fewer renewables, gets boost from WY Legislature

In Wyoming, electric utility PacifiCorp's draft 2025 plans show a shift away from renewable energy additions compared with last year, according to a …

Clean=energy advocates say wind and solar projects in Texas are reducing air pollution, saving water, supporting the grid and combating the global warming that threatens native ecosystems. (Peter Adams/Adobe Stock)

Legislation could hinder TX wind, solar projects

Clean-energy advocates in Texas are closely monitoring a bill before the Legislature that, if passed, could stop the development and operation of …

Expanded oil and gas subsidies, included in current versions of upcoming federal tax legislation, would support a massive expansion of LNG projects to more than double national export capacity by 2030. (Jeeraphun/Adobe Stock)

Religious leaders gather in TX to fight oil and gas subsidies

Forty religious leaders from different denominations gathered in Texas this week to call for an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of related …

A recent Ohio River Valley Initiative report says the Shell petrochemical plant in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, has failed to deliver the promised economic benefits since its announcement more than a decade ago. (Dawid/Adobe Stock)

PA faith leader part of TX protest of oil, gas subsidies

A Buddhist minister from Pennsylvania joined 40 religious leaders in Texas this week to demand an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of oil an…

Summit Carbon Solutions touts environmental and economic benefits in its plan to build a maze of Midwestern pipelines to capture and store ethanol plant emissions. But environmental groups are skeptical, and affected landowners have mounted an effort to stop the project. (Adobe Stock)

MN ties to troubled carbon pipeline project come back into focus

A Minnesota organization opposed to a Midwestern carbon pipeline project plans to file a request with state regulators Thursday, asking them to …

The U.S. solar industry employs more than 263,000 workers, with jobs in installation, manufacturing, and research continuing to grow. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

MI expert predicts future of solar energy amid evolving federal policies

Michigan ranks 26th in the U.S. for total installed solar capacity, while global capacity rose 21% from 2023. However, there are industry concerns …

UT clean-energy advocates call out PacifiCorp for backpedaling

The Sierra Club's Utah chapter said electric utility PacifiCorp's long-term plan to embrace renewable energy has changed and is now placing more relia…

Many fusion startups have their sights set on being able to power the electrical grid by the 2030s and 2040s.(Adobe Stock)

As its fusion research continues, WI firm manages to make a profit

By Eric Wesoff for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-P…

A solar project in Dayton was made possible through a solar-power purchase agreement with IGS Energy, approved by the Dayton City Commission last Wednesday after a four-year evaluation process, including a feasibility study to ensure sufficient power capacity. (Yeivaz/Adobe Stock)

Ohio cities embrace solar energy with Dayton's first utility-scale array

Ohio is seeing a growing number of solar energy projects, including the first utility-scale installation in Dayton, which will help power a key water …

A new trend, forests releasing more carbon than they capture, is expected to continue with prolonged drought and bigger and more frequent wildfires. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado forests emit more CO2 than they absorb due to insects, wildfire

Researchers at Colorado State University have found the state's nearly 23 million acres of forests are currently releasing more carbon dioxide into th…

The U.S. Energy Information said Kentucky's largest utility-scale solar photovoltaic generating facility is a 55-megawatt solar farm that came online in mid-2024, about 40 miles east of Bowling Green. (Adobe Stock)

KY animal shelter expects to save money, energy with new solar panels

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public News S…

Utilities across the U.S. are tasked with meeting various carbon-reduction goals, and with electricity demand soaring, they said natural gas has to be part of the solution, at least temporarily. Clean energy advocates suggested it is not necessary. (Adobe Stock)

As WI considers new gas plant, grid study suggests cleaner options

Wisconsin's largest utility provider is seeking approval for a new gas plant to help meet growing electricity demand, but a new report argues there …

Countries like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. are investing in small modular reactors as part of their clean energy strategies, and not without controversy. (VPales/Adobe Stock)

Plan to relaunch MI nuclear plant with new reactors sparks more backlash

Environmental groups are voicing concerns about plans to build the nation's first small modular reactors at the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Town…

Samples taken in 2017 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found increased radioactivity after a commercial deicing liquid (oil and gas brine) was applied to roadways. (Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County)

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Concerns are growing in Ohio over the use of oil and gas waste for dust control on rural roads, a practice some environmental groups argued is …

Last September, The Pines Inn and Suites in Cottonwood was able to cover 70% of the business' solar-installation cost with a $32,000 reimbursement from REAP and $23,000 from the renewable energy Investment Tax Credit. (Anna May Cory)

Rural AZ hotel's solar installation in limbo after federal funding freeze

Small businesses in Arizona are feeling the impact of the sudden federal pause on clean-energy grants. One of those businesses is the Pines Inn and …

Clean energy projects, including wind farms, continue to be developed at a rapid pace. Policymakers and industry officials are sorting out how to avoid seeing retired parts become piles of waste. (Adobe Stock)

MN debates how to help retired clean energy parts stay 'green'

Minnesota remains focused on making non-carbon sources the bulk of its energy portfolio. But policymakers are trying to figure out the best way to …

A Carbon Census sensor's sophisticated electronic components (shown here during the Los Angeles fires) can detect a variety of atmospheric compounds. (Mike Glier)

Study: L.A.’s urban trees remove more C02 than expected

A new study shows trees in mid-city Los Angeles absorb up to 60% of carbon dioxide emissions during spring and summer when the trees are most active…

North Carolina's congressional score in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard went down between 2023 and 2024. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

North Carolina lawmakers in Congress received mixed marks in the new League of Conservation Voters scorecard. The scorecard ranks members of …

Texas is already experiencing the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures creating intensified heat waves across the state. In 2023, Texas recorded its second-hottest summer on record. (Kasper/Adobe Stock AI)

Texans encouraged to 'decarbonize' buildings to fight climate change

School districts and county governments across Texas are being encouraged to consider building decarbonization to combat climate change. The process …

Some 36% of S&P 500 companies participate in carbon offsetting, according to the website CarbonNeutral.com. (Adobe Stock/generated with AI)<br />

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority is partnering with energy company Enbridge and the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, or ARCH2, to make fuel at its Ohio site using solar power. (Kathiann M. Kowalski/Canary Media)

Ohio regional transit group plans shift to 'green' hydrogen for bus fleet

By Kathiann M. Kowalski for Canary Media.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Clean energy tax incentives have added more than 1,800 jobs to the Nebraska economy, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska clean energy advocates push for saving tax incentives

Lawmakers in Congress are considering repealing financial incentives for clean energy in order to fund other priorities of the Trump administration…

Arizona currently ranks fifth in the nation for solar generation and 27th for wind generation, according to Environment Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates call for shared vision to bolster nation's energy grid

Arizona is cited in a new report that says to avoid an energy crisis, the U.S. needs to have a shared vision of what a resilient power grid looks …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, 81% of Wyomingites supported allowing oil and gas companies the right to drill only in areas where the likelihood of production is high. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: 74% of Mountain West MAGA supporters approve of U.S. Forest Service

In its 15th annual Conservation in the West poll, the State of the Rockies Project this year found support for conservation by some of the highest …

Congestion, caused by lack of of grid capacity nationwide, increased consumers' energy bills by an estimated $20.8 billion in 2022, according to a report by Grid Strategies. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Pushback against proposed AEP rate hike grows in WV

One of West Virginia's major utilities, Appalachian Power, is proposing a more than 13% rate hike, along with cuts to its current net metering rate …

In Indianapolis, some of the EPA funding was to be used to transform an old landfill on the southeast side into a solar farm, providing an alternative energy source for nearby homes. (Adobe Stock)

EPA funding freeze darkens Indiana's solar plans

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

Line 5 transports crude oil and natural gas liquids from Canada through Michigan to refineries in the U.S. and Canada. (SNEHIT PHOTO/Adobe Stock)

MI environmentalists alarmed about potential Line 5 emergency permit status

Michigan environmental groups are pushing back as Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel faces "emergency" review, potentially bypassing full scrutiny and public …

After public outcry over the firing of thousands at the National Park Service and the Forest Service, the Trump administration has moved to re-hire some dozens of employees and additional seasonal workers. (BLM)

Poll: MAGA voters oppose cuts to parks, forest, wildlife agencies

People in Colorado and seven other Mountain West states may want to see changes in the federal government writ large but they oppose cuts to agencies …

Drones are among the many new tools now used to detect methane leaks at drilling sites. (tostphoto/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico's methane mitigation jobs beat national average

A study commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund showed the industries developed to find and repair methane leaks have grown by 88% over the pas…

Energy site NationalGrid.com reported storage sites for CO2 emissions should be 0.62 miles or more underground. (Adobe Stock)

OH residents watching bills proposing carbon-dioxide storage under homes

A bill which could approve the injection of large amounts of carbon emissions or industrial carbon dioxide into underground Ohio wells is raising conc…

In January, President Joe Biden permanently protected more than 625 million acres of federal waters, including areas in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific and Alaska. (JT Jeeraphun/Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups challenge offshore protection rollbacks in AL, U.S.

Environmental groups are suing to stop plans to expand offshore drilling across 625 million acres of federal waters. Advocates argue President …

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said after nearly two decades of stagnation, electricity demand is starting to grow and is not expected to slow at all in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

As electricity demand soars, U.S. urged to find power grid consensus

South Dakota is cited in a new report which argues to avoid an energy crisis, America needs to have a shared vision of what a strong power grid looks …

Median wages for methane mitigation jobs are $127,000 a year in manufacturing, and as high as $145,000 in service-sector jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's methane waste-reduction industry surging

An industry that got its start in Colorado finding and fixing methane leaks at oil and gas sites is on the rise. There are now some 74 sites where …

There are currently 23 oil and gas facilities in federal waters off the coast of California, including one near Santa Barbara. (Oceana)

Conservation groups sue feds to protect coast from offshore drilling

A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Trump administration to reinstate protections against new offshore drilling. President Donald Trump …

An attempt to open up the Arctic and Atlantic oceans to drilling was blocked by environmental groups during Donald Trump's first term as president. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit aims to block Trump's plans for offshore drilling in WA

Environmental groups have sued to block President Donald Trump's offshore drilling plans following his order to open the entire West Coast, including …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, 86% of Montanans prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals including rangers, scientists and firefighters, rather than officials appointed from other industries. (U.S. Forest Service)

Poll: 2 of 3 Republicans oppose funding cuts to federal land management

In its 15th annual year of polling on Conservation in the West, the State of the Rockies Project this year has found support for conservation by some …

Plaintiffs in a pair of new lawsuits against the Trump administration noted leaders in both political parties, thousands of businesses and millions of Americans support permanently protecting our coasts from offshore drilling. (paxphongtrinh/Adobe Stock)

Trump administration faces lawsuits over oil and gas drilling

Several environmental groups concerned about increased offshore drilling have a filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit …

Data centers and the computer servers they hold can take up several hundred thousand square feet of property. (Adobe Stock)

MN could join data center 'gold rush,' but at what cost?

The Minnesota Legislature and a regulatory agency will be busy this week weighing demands for large data centers. Business leaders say this digital …

Pollsters found 85% of Utahns prefer decisions about public lands, water and wildlife be made by career professionals such as rangers, scientists and firefighters rather than newly appointed officials who come from other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Utahns value their public lands, want continued protections

As President Donald Trump starts dismantling agencies managing and protecting public lands, a new poll indicates it is unpopular in states across the …

Under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Joe Biden withdrew specific offshore areas from oil and gas leasing. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups sue Trump administration over offshore drilling policy

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its revocation of President Joe Biden's …

New York City's program is the only one charging drivers to get into the congested area, but New York isn't the only city with congestion pricing. (Adobe Stock)

NYers push back on federal attempts to end 'congestion pricing'

As the U.S. Department of Transportation tries to end New York City's congestion pricing program, the move is getting some pushback from people who …

President Joe Biden used the authority granted by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw specific offshore areas from oil and gas leasing. (wasi1370/Pixabay)

Trump administration sued over offshore drilling policy

A coalition has filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration after it revoked protections for 625 million acres of federal waters…

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