Tag

Energy Policy

All articles tagged with #energy policy

space15 hours ago•79 min saved

Global night glow up 16% since 2014, with pockets of dimming from conflict and policy

A Nature-published study using NASA’s VIIRS satellite data finds Earth’s night-time artificial lighting brightened by about 16% from 2014 to 2022, driven mainly by developing regions such as India, China and parts of Africa, indicating rising electricity access and activity. Yet some regions dimmed due to wars, disasters, or effective energy-saving policies (e.g., Ukraine, France), producing a flickering pattern rather than uniform brightening. The results highlight regional variability and note LED lighting can affect satellite measurements, with dimming areas expanding in certain regions even as overall brightness rises.

via Space|

#energy-policy #light-pollution #night-sky-brightness

california-news1 day ago•32 min saved

California in Focus: Lecturer Acquitted, Energy Clash, Allergy-Safe Dining, and Looming LAUSD Strike

Four California stories in one: a Cal State Channel Islands philosophy lecturer was acquitted of assaulting a federal officer after a protest; U.S. Energy Secretary visited a Long Beach oil site amid ongoing federal-vs-state disputes over California’s setback laws; a LA Local feature highlighted seven allergy-friendly dining spots; and LAUSD faces a potential three-union strike that could shutter schools starting April 14, with ongoing negotiations on pay, benefits and student support.

via LAist|

#california #california-news #education

energy2 days ago•4 min saved

New Analysis Finds AI Data Centers Do Not Drive Higher Electricity Rates

A new Institute for Energy Research analysis finds no statistically significant link between AI data-center growth and consumer electricity prices across states; states with many data centers have similar rates to others, and higher-growth states experienced smaller price increases. While data centers have boosted demand, the study argues they do not explain price rises, a conclusion that informs ongoing policy debates and proposals related to data-center energy use.

via The Washington Stand|

#ai-energy-demand #data-centers #electricity-prices

politics2 days ago•8 min saved

Oil Industry Pushes Back on Hormuz Tolls in Iran Peace Talks

Oil executives are lobbying the White House, State Department and VP to oppose Iran’s demand to toll ships through the Strait of Hormuz as part of peace talks, arguing it would raise a shipment’s costs by about $2.5 million, push up insurance, and create sanctions risk. Iran reportedly wants tolls paid in yuan or cryptocurrency, and diplomats warn such tolls could set a troubling precedent for other chokepoints, even as the administration reviews a revised Iranian proposal and reiterates its red lines on uranium enrichment amid ongoing Hormuz tensions.

via Politico|

#energy-policy #foreign-policy #hormuz

opinion-and-analysis13 days ago•25 min saved

Balcony solar in the US: DIY kits promise bill relief, but regulation lags

An opinion piece arguing that plug-in solar (balcony/diy/plug‑and‑play) can deliver immediate utility bill relief for renters by allowing 400–1,200 W kits that plug into standard outlets. The article cites Europe as a model with Ikea/Svea Solar pricing around 0.65 €/W, while US kits run about $1.58–$1.60/W, yet a field test built in the SF Bay Area achieved a 1.2 kW system for roughly $635 (66¢/W) with ~5.5 kWh/day production and ≈$50/month savings, implying payback just over a year. However, permitting, interconnection, and safety rules (UL 3700) plus changing net‑metering policies create regulatory and logistical hurdles, so wide adoption will depend on policy evolution, safer pre‑fab kits, and smarter distribution and education efforts.

via pv magazine USA|

#diy-solar #energy-policy #net-metering

energy-policy14 days ago•10 min saved

Wind-payout drama: Trump-era deal with TotalEnergies draws legal fire

The Interior Department plans to reimburse TotalEnergies about $1 billion in 2022 offshore-wind lease fees in exchange for abandoning U.S. offshore wind projects and investing in fossil-fuel infrastructure, a move that raises questions about the department’s authority to issue refunds and could face legal challenges from states and affected communities; the funds would likely come from the Judgment Fund since there’s no clear statutory process for such reimbursements.

via Canary Media|

#bureau-of-ocean-energy-management #energy-policy #interior-department

politics15 days ago•16 min saved

Johnson-Fronted GOP Lines Up Second Party-Only Budget Push

House Republicans, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, huddled to plot a second party-line budget reconciliation bill, aiming to attach conservative policy priorities to funding packages while trying to bridge a Senate gap over scope; attendees included Arrington, Pfluger, Roy, Donalds, McClintock, Brecheen, Smucker and Perry, with Johnson signaling that work to move forward is underway.

via Politico|

#budget #congress #energy-policy

politics16 days ago•26 min saved

Democrats unveil a five-point, affordability-first energy plan for 2026

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rolled out a five-point energy and climate agenda aimed at making clean energy cheaper, reviving Inflation Reduction Act incentives, easing permitting for wind/solar, expanding transmission and storage, and broadening the energy mix to include geothermal and nuclear, with a focus on lowering electricity bills and creating jobs ahead of likely midterm shifts in power.

via Politico|

#affordability #clean-energy #climate-change

politics16 days ago•11 min saved

Governors shrug off gas tax holidays as prices rise in energy shock

Amid rising pump prices driven by the Iran war and a tighter global energy market, governors from both parties are largely avoiding gas tax holidays, noting that past attempts in 2022 provided little relief and that state budgets are stretched. Economists say suspending gas taxes would likely deliver minimal savings and could strain transportation funding, making federal action the more plausible lever, even as political calculations differ by state.

via Politico|

#energy-policy #gas-tax-holiday #gasoline-prices

politics17 days ago•2 min saved

Oklahoma taps energy executive Alan Armstrong for Mullin's Senate seat

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Alan S. Armstrong, a longtime Williams energy executive who has led its board, to fill the remainder of Sen. Markwayne Mullin's term after Mullin resigned to join President Trump’s DHS leadership. Armstrong was sworn in and says his focus will include overhauling energy infrastructure permitting, aiming to advance the GOP's infrastructure agenda, while acknowledging a learning curve as he works with Senate leadership. The term runs through January 2027, and state law prevents Armstrong from running for a full term; Trump has endorsed Rep. Kevin Hern for the next full-term race.

via Roll Call|

#alan-armstrong #energy-policy #kevin-stitt

politics-california17 days ago•21 min saved

California Reassesses Chávez Names as Schools and County Move to Farmworkers Day Amid Controversies

California news today centers on rethinking public commemorations of César Chávez: LAUSD votes to rename two César Chávez Academies and remove Chávez murals by fall 2026, while designating Farm Workers Day on calendars; Los Angeles County votes to rename the Chávez holiday as Farmworkers Day and to inventory and remove Chávez names from county assets. Separately, California sues the federal government to block a Defense Production Act order to restart an offshore oil operation, arguing it oversteps state authority, and USC cancels a gubernatorial debate amid criticism over candidate inclusion and debate criteria.

via LAist|

#california-politics #cesar-chavez #energy-policy

energy-and-climate18 days ago•2 min saved

Trump Admin Pulls Offshore Wind Leases, Redirects $1B to Oil and Gas

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné announced the cancellation of federal offshore wind leases worth about $1 billion and redirected the investment to oil and natural gas projects in the U.S., signaling a rare policy shift under Trump away from offshore wind despite prior support; environmentalists criticize the move as wasteful and contrary to clean-energy goals, while supporters note offshore wind remains costly and that policy must align with domestic oil and gas priorities; observers wonder if this signals more one-off deals and whether the U.S. offshore wind industry can regain momentum.

via Axios|

#burgum #energy-and-climate #energy-policy

energy18 days ago•2 min saved

US Pays TotalEnergies Almost $1B to Scrap Offshore Wind Leases

Amid a fuel crisis driven by the Iran war, the Trump administration will reimburse TotalEnergies about $928 million to cancel two offshore wind leases off New York and North Carolina, effectively killing plans for wind farms and moving nearly $1 billion toward LNG and oil/gas projects; critics call it a taxpayer-funded blow to homegrown clean energy, while supporters say it cuts stranded costs.

via The Guardian|

#energy #energy-policy #lng

climate-policy18 days ago•22 min saved

US pays TotalEnergies $1B to halt two offshore wind farms and redirect investment to fossil fuels

The Interior Department announced a $1 billion settlement with TotalEnergies to stop development of two offshore wind farms off New York and North Carolina, directing the funds toward oil and gas projects amid national-security concerns.

via The Washington Post|

#climate-policy #donald-trump #energy-policy

politics19 days ago•50 min saved

Pump Prices Surge: Americans Roar as Gas Costs Hit New Highs

Gas prices across the U.S. are rising sharply, with a California station reportedly charging $7.19 per gallon and social-media outrage following the spike. The BuzzFeed News piece ties the price surge to geopolitical tensions and domestic politics, citing Trump’s Reuters interview remarks and JD Vance’s comments, and comparing U.S. costs to Europe’s healthcare tradeoffs as readers debate energy policy and its impact on everyday Americans.

via BuzzFeed|

#economy #energy-policy #gas-prices