Ground was broken in recent days in New Mexico on construction of the $10 billion wind-powered electric transmission line carrying power to Arizona. The SunZia transmission line was described by the chief executive of the company building the project as bigger than the Hoover Dam. Hunter Armistead told the Associated Press that breaking ground …
Category: Wind Energy
Quick reads
** President Biden on Wednesday said he would welcome a potential Republican investigation into the federal government’s response to deadly wildfires in Maui after he laid out what his administration has done to help the island recover. ** Rivian, an electric vehicle manufacturer, is teaming up with renewable energy company BrightNight and environmental organization The …
Public Service Company of New Mexico told it needs more renewable energy power
Public Service Company of New Mexico is being told by a nonprofit that the utility will have to add nearly 1,400 MW of wind and solar power if it expects to become emissions-free by 2040. New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act requires utilities to reach 40% renewables by 2025, 50% renewables by 2030, and 100% …
Energy briefs
** The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a rule Tuesday that could strip protections from the majority of U.S. wetlands, saying the Supreme Court forced its hand. EPA Administrator Michael Regan called the amended Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule necessary to comply with the court’s May Sackett vs. Environmental Protection Agency decision. ** …
Wind taken out of the sail for wind projects in the Gulf
The Biden administration’s hopes for development of wind power projects in the Gulf of Mexico fell flat on Tuesday when it opened two areas to build wind farms and received one bid. Two areas of the Gulf were opened as environmentalists and wind enthusiasts excitedly thought it was a chance to build wind farms. …
Headlines
** In a record-breaking year of disasters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is announcing nearly $3 billion for communities to build resiliency against climate change-fueled extreme weather. ** Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. announced the ‘Galactic 03’ flight window will open September 8, 2023, continuing a monthly cadence of spaceflights. This would be the Company’s fourth spaceflight …
Quick reads
** An Idaho company that sold tens of thousands of emissions defeating devices on diesel trucks has been fined $1 million by the EPA. GDP Tuning and Gorilla Performance pleaded guilty and agreed to pay the fine. ** According to a survey of 5,000 Tesla Model 3 owners, the top reason that they are selling …
Court ruling against Grainbelt Transmission Line project applies only in Illinois
An explanation and correction about our story last week regarding an Illinois court ruling that halted construction of the Grainbelt Express Transmission Line in Illinois. The5th Appellate Court of Illinois issued a recent ruling that said the Grain Belt Express Transmission Line cannot move forward in Illinois. The ruling does not apply to the …
Energy news headlines
** An oil and gas industry trade group, the state of Louisiana and Chevron on Thursday sued the Biden administration over its decision to withdraw acreage from an upcoming oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico to protect an endangered whale. The suit is the latest dispute between the oil and gas industry and …
Renewable power forces Wyoming utility to request 30% rate hike
Oklahomans have faced their share of electricity rate hikes in the past several years, but nothing like the ones faced by Wyoming customers—-30%. The fight is focusing on renewable power costs. It’s the hike requested by Rocky Mountain Power and this week, Wyoming customers came out in force during a hearing held by the …