County supervisors kicked off their effort for a greener Loudoun with a workshop on updating the county’s energy strategy Wednesday. The biggest driver of Loudoun’s greenhouse gas emissions increase is not the growth in population, but the increasing size and energy demands of the commercial sector.
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More DMV News
Virginia Department of Energy Takes New Name as Commonwealth Looks to Transition to Renewable Energy
WAVY
As of October 1, the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy is now the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy). Earlier this year, the Department was reorganized to help focus on clean energy initiatives.
The Region Can’t Meet its Climate Change Commitments without Reducing Car-Dependence, a Study Reveals
Greater Greater Washington
Last month the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the region’s lead transportation planning agency, presented two important initial findings from its Climate Change Mitigation Study on what it must do to tackle climate change.
PJM’s ‘Focused’ MOPR Takes Effect, Boosting Renewables and Nuclear as FERC Commissioners Deadlock
Utility Dive
The “focused” minimum offer price rule (MOPR) will allow resources like wind farms and nuclear power plants with state subsidies to take part in PJM’s next capacity auctions without the threat their bids will be increased by the grid operator’s current market rules.
Ocean City Officials Make Last-Ditch Effort on Offshore Wind, But They’re Outnumbered at Hearing
Maryland Matters
Two energy companies are awaiting final U.S. government approval to build the first phase of Maryland’s offshore wind development off the coast of Ocean City. During a virtual hearing of the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC), about three-quarters of the people testifying favored expanding the lease area in federal waters.
National and International News
What’s the Trick to Keep Grids Humming Along on Solar, Wind and Batteries Alone?
Canary Media
Someday, power grids could run entirely on solar, wind, batteries and other sources of carbon-free energy — but the grids will need a new type of beating heart at their center. Testing and demonstrating the technology necessary for that job is no simple task.
21 States Urge Biden to Consider Stricter Car Emissions Rules than Proposed
The Hill
Last Monday, a coalition of 21 state attorneys general urged the Biden administration to consider tighter vehicle tailpipe emissions standards than what the administration has currently proposed.
Dem Divisions, Manchin Demands Highlight Climate Struggles
E&E News
Climate policy has emerged as one of the toughest challenges in striking a deal on Democrats’ reconciliation package, with a chasm between Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin and much of the rest of the party.
Here’s Why Some Utilities Support, and Others Are Wary of, the Federal Clean Energy Proposal
Inside Climate News
A utility’s ability and willingness to comply with the proposal comes down to variations in companies’ comfort levels with making big investments in carbon-free energy, plus local issues like the availability of wind and solar power within a utility’s territory and the politics of state legislatures and utility commissions.
An “Attack on American Cities” is Freezing Climate Action in its Tracks
Vox News
The natural gas industry was losing in cities across the US. Then came an obscure partisan tactic called preemption — passing a state law that natural gas utilities are “not subject to further regulation by a municipality.”