Unusual coalition fights Washington state carbon tax proposal

ELECTION: Climate activists and members of the fossil fuel industry have ​“twisted the usual alliances” by teaming up against a ballot measure that would establish a carbon tax in Washington state. (Washington Post)

ALSO:
• Florida’s Amendment 1 is one of several potentially misleading ballot measures being decided around the country today. (Slate)
• Three of five seats on Arizona’s regulatory body will be decided today, potentially having a major impact on solar development. (Arizona Public Media)

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NUCLEAR: The administration of New York governor Andrew Cuomo is defending itself on multiple fronts over its conflicting positions on nuclear power. (Politico)

OIL & GAS: Regulators say a magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Oklahoma did not damage oil infrastructure in an area that holds nearly 60 million barrels of crude, but the quake has triggered safety concerns. (The Oklahoman/​Reuters)

PIPELINES:
• A pipeline investment fund is offering up to $24 million to help businesses and organizations build pipelines in Pennsylvania. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
• A panel of New Jersey judges says a proposed gas pipeline that would pass through protected forest must be approved by a 15-member commission board. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Over two dozen environmental groups send an open letter urging banks to stop loaning money to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline project. (New York Times)
• At least seven journalists covering the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in North Dakota have been charged with crimes. (Forum News Service)
• Charges are dropped against two filmmakers who recorded a climate activist attempting to shut down an oil pipeline during a protest in Washington state last month. (Los Angeles Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Colorado environmental groups want to use $9.2 million of the state’s Volkswagen settlement money to build electric vehicle charging stations. (Denver Post)
• Tesla attorneys tell Utah’s Supreme Court that the company should be allowed to sell its electric cars in the state, despite a law that bars car makers from owning dealerships in Utah. (Associated Press)
• Tesla Motors says it will end free use of its worldwide charging station network for its vehicles ordered after Jan. 1, 2017. (Associated Press)

COAL: A coalition of environmental groups is suing to force BNSF railway to cover its coal-train cars. (Seattle Times)

POLICY:
• Portland becomes the first city in Maine to require large businesses and residential buildings to report their energy consumption. (Portland Press Herald)
• Conservationists are butting heads with wind and solar industries over a new rule that governs renewable energy on public lands. (The Hill)

SOLAR: Idaho regulators approve the state’s first utility solar project. (Associated Press)

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GRID: A Chicago company has played a significant role in the innovation and build-out of the country’s grid. (Midwest Energy News)

COMMENTARY: Clean energy will continue to thrive no matter who wins the U.S. presidential election. (CNBC)