InsideClimate News: Wyoming Bill Would All but Outlaw Clean Energy by Preventing Utilities From Using It
While many U.S. states have mandates and incentives to get more of their electricity from renewable energy, Republican legislators in Wyoming are proposing to cut the state off from its most abundant, clean resource -- wind -- and ensure its continued dependence on coal.
A new measure submitted to the Wyoming legislature this week would forbid utilities from providing any electricity to the state that comes from large-scale wind or solar energy projects by 2019. It's an unprecedented attack on clean energy in Wyoming, and possibly the nation. And it comes at a time when such resources are becoming cheaper and increasingly in demand as the world seeks to transition to clean energy to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
ET Auto: Renault Unveils Two New Electric Light-Commercial Vehicles
Renault on Friday announced two world-premiere additions to its Pro+ range of electric vehicles. With four electric light-commercial vehicles (LCV), this range is the first of its kind. Moreover, the company is expanding its range of connected services for commercial customers as well as its specialist network.
“Renault Pro+ is the market leader in electric LCV sales in Europe. With New Kangoo ZE and Master ZE, Renault Pro+ is continuing to expand its...offering dedicated to professional customers, while developing connected services for business users. We are confident that our professional customers will [appreciate] our Zero-Emission connected vans, which will significantly contribute to better business as well as [a better] driving experience,” said Ashwani Gupta, global head of the company's light commercial vehicle business.
The Dispatch: Electric-Car Maker GreenTech Lays Off Miss. Workers
The future of an electric-car maker that once had grand promises for a corner of the Mississippi Delta is growing even murkier. GreenTech Automotive laid off at least some of its 75 employees at its Tunica County plant this week.
Mississippi's state employment service said it had been told the company is "shutting down," but agency spokesperson Dianne Bell said Thursday that the agency hasn't been able to reach the company to provide layoff assistance.
The company -- which has faced a federal securities investigation -- did not respond to The Associated Press on Friday.
New York Times: Scott Pruitt, Trump’s EPA Pick, Backed Industry Donors Over Regulators
A legal fight to clean up tons of chicken manure fouling the waters of Oklahoma’s bucolic northeastern corner -- much of it from neighboring Arkansas -- was in full swing six years ago when the conservative lawyer Scott Pruitt took office as Oklahoma’s attorney general.
His response: Put on the brakes.
Rather than push for a federal judge to punish the companies by extracting perhaps tens of millions of dollars in damages, Oklahoma’s new chief law enforcement officer quietly negotiated a deal to simply study the problem further.
Denver Post: Solar Company Accused of Scamming 15 Colorado Consumers of $450,000
A judge granted Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman a preliminary injunction against Lakewood-based Guaranteed Solar for allegedly selling customers solar energy systems that never materialized, scamming 15 Coloradans of a total of $450,000.
The injunction, granted Friday by a Jefferson County District Court judge, bans the company from selling solar energy systems, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office.
Kevin Ryder, 49, allegedly told customers of Guaranteed Solar and its predecessor Innersol Global that the solar energy systems he was selling were an investment and convinced them to take out home equity loans to cover their costs, according to the attorney general’s office.