The Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2019 (RES) was introduced this week by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), along with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Angus King (I–ME). The legislation sets a national standard to ensure that investment in renewable energy and fighting climate change is a nationwide priority in…
Offshore wind tax credit extension will jumpstart U.S. industry
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) extends its support to two new bills introduced in the U.S. Senate this week, which would both extend the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for offshore wind energy. The legislation comes at a critical time for offshore wind in America, as energy developers prepare to start construction on the…
Introducing the Renewable Electricity Standard Act
Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and others have introduced the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2019 — a bill that would more than double the supply of renewable energy in the U.S. from 18% of electricity generation in 2018 to at least 50% by 2035. Starting in 2020, the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) would require electricity…
BLM seeking public input on California’s Walker Ridge Wind
The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Ukiah Field Office in California will hold a public meeting to provide information and to seek input on the proposed Walker Ridge Wind Energy Project, in Lake and Colusa counties. The 30-day public comment period for Walker Ridge wind energy project will end July 24.…
Reading, Pennsylvania sets 100% clean energy goal
The Reading City Council in Pennsylvania has unanimously voted to adopt a resolution establishing a goal of powering the entire community with 100% renewable energy by 2050. With this resolution, the City of Reading is now committed to transitioning “municipal-owned facilities and equipment to clean, renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean, renewable energy for…
Renewable industry urges Ohio Governor to oppose House Bill 6
In a letter sent today to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) urges opposition to House Bill 6, which would establish an unfair township referendum process that discriminates against wind development and eliminate Ohio’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). According to a new analysis by members of ACORE’s U.S. Partnership for Renewable Energy…
Maine Governor takes action to advance offshore wind development
Governor Janet Mills, D-Maine, has made several new announcements this week, including signing into law LD 994, legislation that requires the Public Utilities Commission to approve the contract for Maine Aqua Ventus — the first of its kind demonstration project of floating offshore wind in the United States. “With the innovative work being done at…
Anbaric advances right-of-way application for offshore wind transmission system
The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has published the official notice for comment on Anbaric’s proposed New York and New Jersey OceanGrids, advancing the projects along in the federal approval process. Anbaric is the first to present to BOEM a planned transmission system for New York and New Jersey, and to…
EPA replaces Clean Power Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final Affordable Clean Energy Rule, which replaces the Clean Power Plan with less stringent emissions guidelines for power plants. Essentially, the final ruling “restores the rule of law,” letting states can their own carbon emissions standards for coal-fired power plants — which many see as a threat…
AWEA statement on tax extenders package for wind PTCs
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has issued a statement in response to the House Ways and Means Committee’s introduction of H.R. 3301, a tax extenders package that would prolong expired tax credits or credits expiring in 2019. The proposed package would include the wind energy Production Tax Credit, extending the PTC for one year.…
New York passes historic, nation-leading climate legislation
Today, the New York State Senate passed the strongest climate legislation in the nation as part of a three-way agreement with the Assembly and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s establishes a goal for the state to cut pollution to 85% below 1990 levels by 2050 and offset the remaining 15%,…
Liz Burdock commends New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan
New Jersey recently released a blueprint of its 2019 Energy Master Plan, which provides an initial steps for the total conversion of New Jersey’s energy profile to 100% clean energy by 2050. CEO and president of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, Liz Burdock, released the following statement, thanking New Jersey for its commitment to…
Target commits to 100% renewable electricity by 2030
Target says it is taking a major step forward by committing to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The goal — which applies to all of Target’s domestic operations — will help power its stores, distribution centers, and offices more sustainably and responsibly. The new commitment also builds on the company’s…
Nevada passes unparalleled number of clean-energy bills
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and the legislature have passed, and signed into law, an unparalleled number of clean-energy bills — and in most cases with strong bipartisan support. The suite of legislation began with Senate Bill 358, strengthening Nevada’s clean-energy standards to require 50% clean energy by 2030 with a goal of 100% carbon-free energy…
New Jersey unveils blueprint for transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050
The State of New Jersey has released the Draft 2019 Energy Master Plan (EMP), which provides an initial blueprint for the total conversion of New Jersey’s energy profile to 100% clean energy by 2050, as directed by Governor Murphy’s Executive Order 28. The plan defines clean energy as carbon-neutral electricity generation and maximum electrification of the…
Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act proposed in Senate
Several U.S. legislatures introduced the bipartisan Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act, which would establish federal grants for offshore wind education and training. Led by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the bill would create a federal grant program to assist colleges, universities, state and local governments,…
Connecticut Governor signs 2-GW offshore wind bill
Governor Ned Lamont has officially signed legislation, with the support of legislative advocates, which authorizes the development of offshore wind in Connecticut. The legislation, which was approved last month in the House of Representatives, was further given final legislative approval last week in the State Senate, and the rules were suspended so that the bill…
Crown chooses wind power in long-term renewable energy initiative
Crown Holdings, Inc., a brand packaging company, has signed a 15-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) with Longroad Energy to use wind power in all of its U.S. and Canadian beverage can plants, beginning July 1, 2020. The new program will rely on a wind farm in Knox County, Texas to generate over 400,000 MWhs of…
Enbridge, EDF & GE commend French ruling that endorses offshore wind
EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the EDF Group, and Enbridge, a North American energy infrastructure company, appreciate the ruling by the Conseil d’Etat, France’s supreme administrative court. It brings to a close the appeal against the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm project’s operating permit. The ruling will allow further development of the project, with the intent of…
Minnesota school district makes 100% renewable electricity goal
This week, Minnesota’s District 197 School Board passed a resolution establishing the goal of transitioning the school district to 100% clean electricity by 2020. According to the Sierra Club, the district has made great strides toward 100% clean electricity and this resolution formalizes the district’s commitment. This effort was led by district leaders, students from…