California passes 50% renewable energy standard

CALIFORNIA: Lawmakers vote to increase the state’s renewable energy standard to 50 percent by 2030 after a controversial gasoline provision was dropped. (Los Angeles Times)

CLEAN POWER PLAN:
• Senators continue to pursue legislative delays to EPA carbon limits. (The Hill)
• Ohio’s EPA director tells Congress the Clean Power Plan is federal overreach and would be bad for the economy. (Columbus Dispatch)
• Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s defiance to implement the Clean Power Plan is pleasing some of his top political donors. (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)

CLEAN ENERGY: How Vermont became a clean-energy leader. (Christian Science Monitor)

SOLAR:
• Backers of a solar choice amendment in Florida are being dramatically outspent by utilities pushing a competing measure. (WUSF)
• A Florida company plans to use PACE financing for solar leases. (Sun Sentinel)

COAL:
• An Ohio coal executive says a new clean water regulation is ​“the single greatest threat” to the industry. (The Hill)
• A Washington state utility tries to cut loose from a polluting Montana coal plant. (Seattle Times)
• Could farming provide a way out for struggling Appalachian coal workers? (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

OIL AND GAS:
• Some oil companies are selling off their wastewater disposal operations to stay afloat. (Reuters)
• An industry group plans to drop its lawsuit over a Texas town’s now-repealed fracking ban. (Texas Tribune)

OIL BY RAIL: Railroads are scrambling over what to do with unwanted oil cars amid new safety regulations and low prices. (National Public Radio)

NATURAL GAS: A proposed Nevada natural gas plant could cost ratepayers $1 billion. (Las Vegas Sun)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Los Angeles announces plans to purchase 160 electric and 128 plug-in hybrid vehicles. (Christian Science Monitor)
• A Nebraska city embraces the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy. (Sioux City Journal)

EFFICIENCY: A Philips plant in Mississippi is ​“leading by example” by installing its own LED bulbs, and is saving about $10,000 a month in the process. (Tupelo Daily Journal)

CLIMATE: New science standards will require Alabama schools to teach students about climate change.(Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: Three ways utilities can evolve for the 21st Century. (Vox)