Energy
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Climate judicial training biasing judges in climate litigation cases, House Judiciary report finds
A House Judiciary Committee investigation into the Environmental Policy Institute’s Climate Judiciary Project confirms critics’ claims that the group’s judicial training provides activist-driven materials aimed at biasing judges overseeing climate litigation cases.
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Trump contemplating a ban on diesel exports, but experts warn relief would be temporary
As conflicts in Russia and the Middle East reduce global refinery output, the resulting high diesel prices are hitting Americans. Trump and lawmakers are looking for solutions, but experts say a ban on diesel exports would lower prices only temporarily and potentially bring long-term harms.
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Lawmakers in Ohio suspend gas tax for 90 days to give motorists relief at pumps
The suspension will cost the state treasury about $725 million and save individual motorists about $3 a week, according to lawmakers.
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For the second time in a month, a federal judge dismissed a youth climate lawsuit
The children are represented by Our Children’s Trust, an anti-fossil fuel nonprofit that organizes kids to sue state and federal agencies in an effort to get fossil fuels banned.
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Renewable proponents say batteries can stabilize the grid, but experts say costs are ‘astronomical’
The cost of replacing some of the capacity of a Maryland coal plant with battery storage would cost around $416 per kilowatt hour. By comparison, the average price of electricity in the U.S. is 16.10 cents per kilowatt hour.
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Florida regulators approve rate cut requests by two utilities
Under state law, utilities can charge customers for increased fuel charges, but when prices go down, they're also required to lower rates.
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25 states fight EPA's power plant smokestack regulations
The new EPA rule will require coal and natural gas power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shutter.
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House passes bill allowing ancillary mining activities on public land without minerals present
Federal mining law allows companies to mine for valuable minerals, but in 2022, a U.S. appellate court ruled that companies are not guaranteed the right to use adjacent federal land without a mineral deposit for purposes related to a mining operation.
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Renewables provided 30% of energy in 2023, but data disputes claims of an overall energy transition
While the report takes the 30% record as proof of the coming demise of fossil fuels, a closer look at the data over the last 30 years suggests it could be over five centuries at the current rate of reduction before use of fossil fuels reaches zero, unless the rate of decline increases sharply.
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Washington electrical customers may face grid shutdown during wildfire season
Known as Public Safety Power Shutoff, it’s considered a “measure of last resort” if the utility believes maintaining power could cause a wildfire to occur.
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As Calif. considers refinery profit caps, Ariz., Nev. fear rising gas prices
California passed SB-2 in 2023 to have the CEC explore setting a maximum refinery profit margin to “reduce price spikes and stabilize the gasoline fuel supply market."
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During electric vehicle event, governor admits demand has waned
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined the Illinois Manufacturers Association and representatives from the EV industry Tuesday for the first ever “EV Showcase Day” at the governor’s mansion in Springfield.
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Energy Department seeks more oil for U.S. stockpiles as White House says it might be tapped again
Since initiating the oil buys to refill the SPR several months ago, the DOE has procured 32.3 million barrels of oil over the last several months, according to the DOE announcement, at an average price of $76.98.