Energy Policy / Public News Service

Rising energy costs and a potential strain on local water resources and infrastructure are two issues linked to data center construction. (Adobe Stock)

IN AI data centers prompt environmental concerns over emissions

The Trump administration's long-term plan for artificial intelligence could have far-reaching environmental impacts across the country. His strategy …

The Alaska Energy Authority has funded three large solar energy projects in the largely rural state, efforts that could be derailed under changes in the new Trump administration budget. (Adobe Stock)

Federal budget hobbles Alaska wind and solar industries

Rural Alaska power customers are likely to pay higher electricity rates as a result of the elimination of incentives to switch away from traditional f…

Microgrids can provide up to 10 megawatts of power, enough to power approximately 2,000 homes, and can be equipped with batteries for storage. (Oulailux/Adobe Stock)

Landmark microgrid legislation boon for rural Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed into law the first set of statewide policies in the country supporting community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are …

Accurate climate and hydrologic data are essential to managing the Colorado River Basin and forecasting drought. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado officials urge congressional delegates to support public lands

On Tuesday, 20 Colorado officials sent a letter to the state's congressional delegation protesting six cuts to public lands management in the new tax …

Iowa farmers produced 2.63 billion bushels of corn in 2024, making the state the nation's number one corn producer, according to CropProphet. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa corn farmers stand to gain from tax breaks

Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Iowa corn farmers will benefit from one that was …

Nebraska farmers harvested 1.89 billion bushels of corn in 2024, ranking it third highest in the nation, according to the Nebraska Corn Board. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska farmers benefit from tax incentives for corn-based fuel

Despite the elimination of a handful of alternative energy tax incentives in the new federal budget, Nebraska corn farmers will benefit from one that …

Just 30% of U.S. solar and 57% of wind projects are expected to survive under the new GOP tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cuts to clean energy will cost Colorado $7.3 billion in GDP

More than $7 billion in Colorado's GDP and 9,600 jobs are projected to be lost under President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill which cu…

Deep-sea corals are among the species at risk from seabed mining. A greenspotted rockfish hides behind gold coral off the California coast. (Oceana)<br />

Conservation groups call for pause on deep-sea mining to assess risks

Conservation groups, including the National Wildlife Federation and Oceana, are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining for minerals until more …

Washington state has the world's largest public port system. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for WA to cut ship emissions at ports

Environmental advocates are urging Washington state lawmakers to require cargo ships to plug in while in port. The Port of Seattle will require all …

As of 2022, the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, New Mexico, has reached 100% daytime solar energy, something operators say would not have been possible under their contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Colorado electric co-op goes independent

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Places like rural Dutch Harbor, Alaska, rely heavily on diesel powered generators for a majority of their power production. (Adobe Stock)

Federal cuts threaten already challenged Alaskan power grid

Despite last-minute concessions in the Trump administration's budget, which removes alternative energy tax incentives, rural Alaska power providers …

Arizona is among the top five states in the nation for solar energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Tax incentive cuts could dim Arizona solar investment

As part of the Trump administration's new budget, Arizona's burgeoning solar industry faces the elimination of tax incentives that have encouraged …

New Mexico homeowners planning to install solar will have to act quickly to take advantage of tax credits soon to be phased out under the

NM renewable energy advocates decry 'herky-jerky' policies

Renewable energy got short shrift in the budget bill passed by Congress last week and a New Mexico trade association said companies and their employee…

Clean air advocates rallied at Los Angeles City Hall last spring to increase support for a rule to combat air pollution at the ports. (4th Street Productions)<br />

Hearing today on CA bill to limit rules on clean ports

A controversial bill on how best to clean up the air at California ports gets a hearing today in Sacramento. Senate Bill 34 would place limits on …

Iowa generates 59% of its electricity from wind, the highest share of any state. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa solar industry threatened by tax incentive cuts

Iowa is among the nation's leaders in wind energy production, and the state is looking to follow suit with solar power. But Congress has eliminated …

Utility providers in rural Alaska are using sources of alternative energy production to overcome the geographical and logistical challenges to getting electricity into some of the most remote parts of the state, seeking to reduce reliance on traditional power distributions systems. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Alaska village banks on alternative energy as economic driver

Despite debate in Washington over ending incentives to help Alaska's smallest places move away from traditional oil and gas-based power generation in …

The Citizens Utility Board says more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their utility service shut off for nonpayment last year. The board cited new research warning there would be more pressure on ratepayers if clean energy incentives are eliminated at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Under federal budget bill, how would your electricity bill fare?

If the federal government finalizes the budget reconciliation bill in play, pro-consumer voices in Minnesota warn the changes will not be friendly to …

The Montana Environmental Policy Act, which supports the state constitution, was weakened by a bill that passed in the state this session. Some involved with the legislation expect lawsuits will challenge the new law. (Adobe Stock)

Montana governor vetoes several bipartisan conservation bills

Environmental and wildlife conservation in Montana took hits during this year's state legislative session, including vetoes from the governor on …

Some 77% of Americans favor solar power but it is down from about 90% in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Big federal budget bill advances with help of Utah senators

After being debated for days, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, are among those who voted to advance the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. (Adobe Stock)

Relentless AZ summer is here with higher energy bills

Temperatures are on the rise across Arizona and so are energy bills. The anti-poverty nonprofit Wildfire and the Arizona Public Interest Research …

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WI solar project invests in rural youth, community

A 100-megawatt solar project in rural Polk County set to begin operating this year has a unique focus on investments in youth. Developers said the …

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for electric vehicle-related manufacturing jobs, with more than $3 billion invested in recent EV and battery projects, according to EV Jobs Hub. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio manufacturer warns federal rollbacks could stall EV progress

Ohio's fast-growing electric vehicle sector could face serious setbacks if proposed changes to federal clean energy tax credits move forward…

A House version of the budget reconciliation bill keeps a small EV tax credit through 2026 but only for manufactures that have sold fewer than 200,000 electric vehicles. (Optimal EV)

IN factory braces for end of EV tax breaks

Indiana workers could feel the effects of a sweeping federal bill targeting electric vehicle tax credits. Optimal EV's plant in Elkhart employs 35 …

In Pennsylvania, EV advocates rallied support for cleaner transportation. They're urging U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to protect federal funding for EV infrastructure and tax credits. (Courtesy of Rachael)

PA leaders urge Congress to safeguard EV tax credits, citing savings, clean air

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles are helping drive clean transportation in the Lehigh Valley, but advocates warn they're at risk of being …

Solar giant Mosaic, based in Oakland, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few weeks ago, citing uncertainty around solar tax credits. (Surangkanang/Adobe Stock)

Clean-energy advocates: Spending bill before Senate would cost jobs in CA

Groups representing workers in the renewable power sector are slamming the possible repeal of clean-energy tax credits in the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

Utilities have invested nearly $700 million in renewable energy projects throughout the last decade across Alaska, from small rural villages to Anchorage, according to The Nature Conservancy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tax incentive cuts could stall rural Alaska deployable power

Potential cuts to alternative energy tax incentives could slow alternative energy distribution in the rural parts of Alaska. Lawmakers in Congress …

Ethanol sales bring in nearly $3 billion to Indiana every year, according to the industry watchdog group, Growth Energy. (Adobe Stock)

IN ethanol industry is robust but criticism is surfacing

A new report questions the sustainability of biofuels. Biofuels, or ethanol, are produced from fermented sugars and starches found in corn and …

Tennessee now ranks 10th nationwide for clean-energy growth, with 18 new projects bringing in $6.6 billion and supporting nearly 7,000 jobs across sectors such as electric vehicles, solar and battery tech. (gokturk_06/Adobe Stock)

Federal tax credits boosting Tennessee’s battery supply chain

Federal tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act are fueling big growth in Tennessee's battery supply chain. The Volunteer State has become a …

A clean energy project in Cuyahoga County will leverage $60 million in federal tax credits and create over 250 jobs, including retraining coal plant workers for solar and battery storage roles, according to Power a Clean Future Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio groups: Reconciliation bill threatens jobs, schools, energy future

Ohio union and clean energy leaders are urging their U.S. Senators to reject a sweeping reconciliation bill they said would devastate families and …

Most Americans support requiring oil and gas companies to pay pollution fees, according to recent polling from Global Methane Hub. (Adobe Stock)

AZ air quality could take a hit if Congress delays methane polluter fee

As Congressional leaders continue debate over the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," environmental advocates are concerned about changes which could transl…

A poll showed Americans largely support requiring oil and gas companies to pay pollution fees but Congress wants to delay a polluter fee established under the Biden administration. (Heidi/Adobe Stock)

GOP aims to roll back methane rule Americans largely support

New Mexico is a leader in trying to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas industry but Congress wants to prevent implementation of a federal r…

Minneapolis Climate Action says a 365-kW community solar garden atop North High School produces enough clean energy to power dozens of Minneapolis homes and apartments every year. (Photo courtesy of MPS)

Community solar lives on in Minnesota

Minnesota's high-profile community solar program will stick around after state lawmakers opted not to approve a sunset provision. Assistance groups …

The Inflation Reduction Act will create approximately 11,500 jobs annually in Utah between 2025 and 2035, according to the American Clean Power Association. (Adobe Stock)

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' could mean big changes for Utah

Utah communities could feel many effects from proposed changes within President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Several of the Republica…

Methane and other emissions at oil and gas operations, when combined with sunlight, can produce dangerous ground-level ozone pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Moves to delay methane polluter fee could impact Colorado air quality

As Congress debates the GOP's sweeping budget reconciliation bill, some lawmakers are working to include a provision which would delay a methane …

Energy Innovation projects the bill would reduce Ohio's new electricity capacity by 7.8 gigawatts by 2035, including a drop of 8.7 GW in solar, 0.9 GW in wind, and 1.4 GW in battery storage. (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans face higher bills under House energy plan

Ohioans could soon feel the pinch of rising energy costs. A bill passed by the U.S. House, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," would repeal key clean …

There are about 30 rules to which the EPA is considering repeals or rollbacks. (Adobe Stock)

EPA proposed rollbacks on pollution rules could come at high cost

As federal lawmakers move forward with proposed environmental protection rollbacks, advocates are sounding the alarm and requesting additional time …

According to Cox Automotive, U.S. electric vehicle sales hit 1.3 million in 2024, a 7.3% increase over 2023, accounting for roughly 8.1% of new car sales. (skyNext/Adobe Stock)

MI nonprofits help roll out plan to close EV equity gap

As Michigan aims to support 2 million electric vehicles by 2030, the new "Equitable EV Action Plan Framework" could help local leaders with the …

Thermal imaging of emissions rising from Total's Bruder drill site in Arlington, Texas. (photo courtesy EARTHWORKS)

'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' could mean big changes for TX environment

As Congress continues to debate specifics of the budget reconciliation bill, also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," environmental rights …

Fossil fuels are responsible for nearly a third of methane emissions tied to human activity. While agriculture and waste also release a lot of methane, experts say plugging leaks from oil and gas drilling is the fastest way to reduce them. (Dennis/Adobe Stock)

Congress could delay Methane Emission Reduction Program in PA

As Congress debates the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," environmental groups are watching closely for changes that could weaken the Methane Emission Red…

Indiana is home to more than 90,000 clean-energy jobs, spanning solar, wind, battery manufacturing and energy efficiency. (Adobe Stock)

$8 billion at stake for Indiana in Congress' budget fight

Workers and families in Indiana could feel the impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" moving through the U.S. Senate. The legislation would roll …

As passed in the House, the tax-cut and spending legislation filed in Congress as the

Utah weighs cost of repealing clean-energy tax credits

The tax-cut and spending proposal known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" would mean big changes to federal policy - changes that, in Utah…

Apalachicola Bay used to be the historic epicenter of the U.S. oyster industry, once producing 90% of Florida's oysters and 10% of the nation's supply. (Margaret Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

FL shellfish industry, communities push governor to ban Apalachicola drilling

A critical decision now rests with Gov. Ron DeSantis, as Florida coastal communities and shellfish farmers urge him to sign a bill permanently …

By 2030, Iowa would see a decline of nearly half a gigawatt of wind energy generation as the result of a proposed restructuring of the tax incentives in the federal budget reconciliation bill, according to Energy Innovation. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa alternative energy sector stands to lose tax incentives in budget bill

Iowa stands to lose tax incentives created in the Inflation Reduction Act which have helped the state invest in alternative energy and manufacturing j…

Shipping pollution also contributes to cardiovascular health issues and cancer in port communities. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Shore powered cargo ships help ocean, port community health

June is World Oceans Month, and advocates are warning that industrial shipping pollution hurts both oceans and port communities. At least 31 …

Across the U.S., solar capacity jumped 51% in 2023, reaching a record 32.4 gigawatts added, making up 53% of new grid capacity. (wjarek/Adobe Stock)

Federal bill would dim rooftop solar’s future, says Michigan CEO

A federal proposal moving through Congress could stall Michigan's booming rooftop solar industry by ending key tax credits that have fueled clean ener…

The majority of Alaska's energy producers are small, municipally owned companies and did not qualify for most energy tax credits before the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Big budget bill would roll back tax credits for AK power co-ops

Energy experts said cuts proposed for renewable energy tax credits in President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" could be a significant blo…

Critics of the federal reconciliation bill said it could worsen pollution and climate change by slashing clean energy incentives, boosting fossil fuel development and rolling back emissions rules. (industrieblick/Adobe Stock)

Could Congress' big budget bill derail PA's clean energy progress?

Pennsylvania's clean energy progress could stall if the U.S. Senate passes what's known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The legislation would …

According to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, more than 500,000 Hoosiers work in manufacturing, a sector increasingly dependent on affordable, renewable energy to stay competitive. (Adobe stock)

Proposed budget could drive up Indiana power bills

Indiana's economy could take a major hit under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," now advancing in Congress. Michael Hicks, director of the Center …

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