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Monthly Archives: September 2015

U.S. and China Outline Agreement on Combating Climate Change

President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping today issued a joint announcement laying out the details of a landmark climate deal between the world’s two largest carbon polluters. The deal includes a promise by China to develop a national cap-and-trade program and to prioritize low-carbon-emitting sources in its electric dispatch. In return, the U.S. will complete new rules for heavy duty vehicles and phase down hydrofluorocarbons, a greenhouse gas that traps a lot of heat but spends less time in the atmosphere than carbon.

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US House Committee Moves Oil Export Bill

The House Commerce and Energy Committee wrapped up its work last week with a meeting to mark up H.R. 702, “To Adapt to Changing Crude Oil Market Conditions.”

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Secretary Moniz Unveils Roadmap to Double U.S. Energy Productivity by 2030

In support of the President’s goal to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030, Secretary Moniz unveiled a strategic plan today laying out a path businesses, state and local governments, consumers and other stakeholders can use to achieve this goal.

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EPA Seeking Comments on National Enforcement Initiatives

The EPA last week published its proposed National Enforcement Initiatives for FY 2017-2019, and began a 30 day comment period ending October 14, 2015. For the six existing initiatives, the EPA asked for public comment on whether each NEI should continue into the FY 17-19 cycle and invited comments on new areas of focus within those NEIs.

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DOE Announces $50 Million in Funding for New Technologies and Solar Innovation

To continue driving down solar PV costs beyond the current SunShot goals, the Energy Department today announced $20 million available to further improve PV module performance, reliability, and manufacturability, while also advancing next generation PV concepts. In addition to typical multiyear research projects, this funding opportunity includes a topic area dedicated to small, single-year projects aimed at demonstrating the potential for expanded work in cutting-edge PV research. This funding opportunity aims to reach solar PV costs by the year 2030 that are one-half to one-third of the original SunShot goals, in order to support widespread deployment of PV.

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Stopgap Budget Next Step?

Now in the third month of a budget stalemate between the General Assembly and Governor Tom Wolf, the State Senate announced plans to come back for voting session September 16, 17 and 18. The House is scheduled to come back for session the week of Sept. 21.

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Marcellus Shale Revenue Predicted to Decline

The state’s Independent Fiscal Office recently released a report that shows a considerable decline in total revenue collected from the impact fee Marcellus Shale drillers pay annually.

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DEP to Hold Listening Sessions on Clean Power Plan

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is announcing more than a dozen listening sessions and a 2-month comment period on the federal Clean Power Plan to hear from Pennsylvanians about the plan to cut carbon pollution. Fourteen listening sessions in locations across the state will take place between September and November.

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Bill Introduced to Prevent Limits on Alternative Energy Reimbursements

The House Consumer Affairs Committee heard from advocates of a bill that would prevent the PUC from implementing caps on reimbursement to farmers, businesses and homeowners who generate electricity from alternative sources during a hearing last week.

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PUC Approves New Assessments for Energy Suppliers

As part of a last minute addition to Act 155, passed last October, that reauthorizes a 2004 consumer protection law; the PUC will now begin charging suppliers of electricity and natural gas as part of their annual assessments.

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