Energy
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Truckers, builders celebrate repeal of carbon emissions rule for highways
Without the repeal, state transportation departments would have had to measure carbon dioxide emissions on federally funded highways, set goals for emissions reduction, and send the data to federal agencies.
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Activists use AI to identify climate 'deniers' and pressure social media companies to censor them
"Hot Air" created a database of online content the researchers call climate "misinformation." They are asking social media companies to moderate the content. Critics say they're disguising a campaign for censorship against climate skeptics as a concern for the spread of false information.
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Texas breaks jobs records again, but oil-gas sector outlier indicates volatility
Texas employers reported the largest labor force in state history again with a new record of 15,778,500, marking 57 of 59 months of growth. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force added 301,400 workers, more than any other state.
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Building code council resists emergency adoption related to natural gas initiative
I-2066 requires utilities and local governments to continue providing natural gas to customers and prevents utilities from restricting access or making it too expensive.
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GM pulls out of Lansing battery plant deal; GOP calls move betrayal to taxpayers
GM’s reasoning is that the other battery plants covered by the project – one in Warren, Ohio, and the other in Spring Hill, Tennessee – are enough to meet the demand for electric vehicles.
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Maine school districts face repaying grants for EV buses, despite problems making them inoperable
Nearly $3 billion has been doled out to school districts across the country to help them replace all diesel-powered school buses with electric and natural gas-powered buses. Many districts have reported having problems with the electric buses.
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ESG firms invested in coal industry they tried to reduce, while reaping big profits, lawsuit alleges
BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard had substantial investments in all publicly traded coal companies, and used that leverage to reduce production. Smaller producers couldn't increase output, in part due to banks' ESG policies. The three investment firms reaped huge profits.
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North Carolina ups penalties for critical infrastructure crimes
The 40-page law addresses public water systems and wastewater treatment facilities; public utilities and manufacturing facilities; and energy, water, wastewater and manufacturing facilities.
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Texas AG Paxton files lawsuit alleging BlackRock and other firms colluded to hurt coal industry
According to the lawsuit, the three asset managers acquired substantial stockholdings in coal companies, and then used their influence to pressure the companies to adopt ESG goals and reduce output.
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Despite election losses, waning public support, climate groups, politicians say won’t change plans
Larry Behrens, director of communications for Power The Future, a nonprofit that advocates for energy, called these politicians and activists “climate election deniers.”
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Maine attorney general files lawsuit against 'big oil' over fossil fuels
Republican attorneys general in 19 states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block several Democratic-led climate change lawsuits against the oil and gas industry that have been filed in state courts.
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Court hears arguments in challenge to Dept. of Energy's natural gas furnace rules
The American Gas Association has mounted a legal challenge to the U.S. Department of Energy’s final Consumer Furnace Rule, establishing new standards for residential furnaces to make them more energy efficient.
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Trump promises lower electricity costs, but incentives and state regulations may hold him back
In addition to state requirements for renewable energy, financial incentives to shut down coal plants and build out more wind and solar farms may keep utilities on the path to net zero, a new report from the Heartland Institute shows.