Annapolis, MD. - Earlier this week, Governor Hogan submitted legislation which he argues would move Maryland to clean energy future. The Sierra Club appreciates the governor for endorsing this important goal which has been recommended by scientists and advocates. However, in order for Maryland to achieve this critically important goal we need to end our reliance on dirty coal-fired power plants.
Conservation and consumer groups today welcomed Arizona Public Service’s (APS) announcement that will set the utility on a path toward 45 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent carbon-free electricity by midcentury. Currently, 13 percent of the utility’s electricity is generated from renewable sources.
TOPEKA, KS -- Earlier today, Kansas-based Sunflower Electric announced it was cancelling the proposed 895 MW Holcomb 2 coal plant and that it would allow a construction permit for the facility to expire in March. This followed an announcement by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, the major investor in Holcomb 2, that it would cancel the project.
Today, Tri-State Generation and Transmission made some major renewable energy announcements as part of its Responsible Energy Plan.
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 Administrator Greg Sopkin signed a proposed rule to approve Utah’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. The plan - essentially the same plan the EPA rejected twice before - rolls back emission reduction requirements for two of the state’s largest polluters, allowing the Hunter and Huntington coal-fired power plants to continue polluting the air we breathe, increasing hazy skies in Utah’s treasured national parks and adding to our climate crisis.
Today, Tri-State Generation and Transmission announced its intention to close two coal plants and one coal mine ahead of schedule. Tri-State will retire the Escalante coal plant in New Mexico in 2020 and units 2 and 3 at the Craig coal plant in Colorado sometime before 2030; Craig 1 is already scheduled for retirement in 2025. Tri-State also announced early closure of the Colowyo coal mine in Colorado.
Arkansas PSC approved the retirement of the Dolet Hills Power Station today, in a settlement with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), making it the 300th coal plant proposed to retire since the beginning of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign.
The Sierra Club sued the Trump Administration today under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for documents related to the potential development of a new biological opinion under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) instituted a disastrous new rule today that will essentially exclude new renewable energy projects from the PJM capacity market and force ComEd customers to subsidize dirty coal and gas plants, unless Illinois acts in 2020 to prevent the rule from taking effect here. Energy experts predict the decision will cost the Midwest, Appalachia, and Mid-Atlantic regions almost $6 billion annually and increase dangerous fossil fuel emissions.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) instituted a disastrous new rule today that will essentially exclude new renewable energy resources from the PJM capacity market -- a split decision that energy experts predict will cost the Midwest, Appalachia, and Mid-Atlantic regions almost $6 billion annually and increase dangerous fossil fuel emissions.
A total of 20 Utah communities have committed to 100% renewable energy by 2030, taking advantage of the Community Renewable Energy Act (HB411).
Georgia families and business will pay more on their monthly electric bills, and have less control of their energy costs, after the state’s Public Service Commission today approved a rate hike request from Georgia Power.