Solar troubles on rooftops
In the realm of energy and climate, several notable developments have been unfolding across the United States.
Fervo Energy is making waves in the geothermal sector with its latest achievement. The company's new 15,765-foot well at its Cape Station facility in Utah showcases the rapid advancement and scalability of enhanced geothermal systems, according to a news release.
Meanwhile, a study reveals that developers have proposed more than 100 gas-fired power plants totalling 58 GW in Texas. These proposed plants, if built, could potentially emit an estimated 115 million metric tons of greenhouse gases every year, as reported by Inside Climate News.
Safety concerns have arisen in the construction of Hyundai's EV and battery factory in Georgia. Tragically, three workers have lost their lives, and another 15 have been seriously injured during the construction process, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The U.S. EPA is reportedly moving to roll back two Biden-era rules that require power plants to curb toxic pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions or shut down. This decision, supported by the Trump administration, aims to abolish EPA's regulatory powers over greenhouse gases during its tenure, as reported by E&E News and the New York Times.
Governors in PJM's territory are voicing criticism and even legal action against the grid operator, claiming it's driving up power prices by paying generators too much and lagging on adding new solar, wind, and battery projects, as reported by the New York Times.
Utilities around the country are awaiting a decision on the fate of $23 billion in federal loan guarantees intended to bolster transmission projects and prepare the grid to carry a growing power load, according to E&E News.
In a move that might surprise some, General Motors' $4 billion plan to move vehicle production from Mexico to the U.S. includes making gasoline-powered vehicles at a Michigan plant that was previously retooled to produce electric vehicles, as reported by the Detroit News.
President Donald Trump planned to sign three resolutions revoking California's vehicle emissions standards, as reported by Politico.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have found that solar farm development has a relatively minor impact on most residential property values, though its effect depends largely on local attitudes toward solar, according to a news release.
Minnesota clean energy advocates express concern that quickly repealing federal tax credits could decimate the state's burgeoning wind and solar industries at a time when electricity demand is growing, as reported by MPR News.
House Republicans are considering removing provisions opening up mining in northern Minnesota from the bill they already passed, according to E&E News.
Prominent solar companies, including residential provider Sunnova and lender Solar Mosaic, have filed for bankruptcy amid mounting challenges for the industry, as reported by Canary Media and Jeff St. John.
The Trump administration has taken steps to alter or eliminate national monuments designated under the 1906 Antiquities Act, opening the door for energy development on millions of acres of Western lands, as reported by Landmark and Bloomberg Law.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright defends the Trump administration's decision to allow the Empire Wind project to move forward, according to E&E News.
The U.S. Justice Department has found that the 1906 Antiquities Act authorizes the president to alter or eliminate national monuments designated under the law, as reported by Landmark and Bloomberg Law.
In a congressional hearing, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called for Congress to preserve tax credits for nuclear, geothermal, and fusion research and development, according to E&E News.
A new survey reveals a decline in support for renewable energy among both Republicans and Democrats over the last five years, while backing for expanding fossil fuels and nuclear production has grown, as reported by Canary Media and Pam Radtke.
These developments underscore the dynamic and evolving landscape of energy and climate policies in the United States.
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