QUICK NEWS, February 15: SCALIA’S PASSING COULD SAVE THE CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT; BUFFETT GETS “BERN’D” ON NEVADA SOLAR; WITH MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE PLUG, RANGE ANXIETY FADES

SCALIA’S PASSING COULD SAVE THE CLIMATE CHANGE FIGHT What Scalia’s Death Means For Climate Change

John Upton, February 14, 2016 (Climate Central)

“…[Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia’s] death means it is now more likely that key EPA rules that aim to curb climate pollution from the power industry will be upheld…[The Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, designed by the EPA] to reduce carbon pollution from power plants…bypassed Congress, which is opposed to passing laws regulating greenhouse gas pollution…But coal companies and some two dozen states have sued, arguing that the plan violates federal law. Their legal challenge is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court…Scalia was a dependable vote against environmental regulations…

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“Last week, Scalia and four other justices ruled to “stay” the Clean Power Plan while litigation moves forward. The 5-4 ruling effectively put a freeze on the new EPA rules…[The] appeals court is a liberal one…[Routine appeals will] send the case to the Supreme Court…Last week’s ruling suggested to many onlookers that the Supreme Court might make a similar ruling on the Clean Power Plan case, striking down the rules…The court is now down to eight justices. If the rulings from those justices on the legality of the Clean Power Plan match their rulings from last week, the outcome would be a 4-4 verdict. Such a scenario would uphold the looming ruling from the [liberal] federal appeals court…[If the Senate allows a new justice tpo be put in place, it’s unlikely the President would nominate one] who would oppose his landmark climate rules… Scalia’s passing means the pact seems safer now…” click here for more

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BUFFETT GETS “BERN’D” ON NEVADA SOLAR Sanders calls out Warren Buffett over solar energy

Harper Neidig, February 13, 2016 (The Hill)

“…[Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who is backing Sanders's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton for president, to support solar energy in Nevada, where Buffett owns NV Energy, the dominant electric utility, and] the state's public utility commission recently issued a ruling that activists say has hampered the solar industry…[Sanders said the commission made ‘a terrible, terrible decision’ and called on Nevadans to write to Buffett and tell him his utility is] ‘exactly wrong’…[Solar advocates say] the ruling has effectively eliminated the return on investment for those using solar in their homes…Sanders, an outspoken proponent of fighting climate change, called the use of alternative forms of energy a ‘moral responsibility’…[and said the commission should ‘be making it easier for people to move to sustainable energy like solar, not harder.’” click here for more

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WITH MORE CONFIDENCE IN THE PLUG, RANGE ANXIETY FADES Is electric car range anxiety diminishing?

February 15, 2016 (Echomento)

“In the five years that modern electric cars have been widely available, range anxiety has been one of the biggest issues for consumers. The relatively short ranges and long charging times of most electric cars induce worries about getting stuck…But the situation may be improving…Companies are backing the installation of more charging stations, and getting ready to introduce longer-range models…Out of 14 survey respondents who currently own an electric car, none cited range as the main drawback. Respondents seemed more concerned with a perceived lack of public charging stations…[L]ong ranges may not be entirely necessary to attract more electric-car buyers…[O]f course, improving range is a priority for manufacturers. The second-generation Volt has an electric range of 53 miles, and Chevy will start production of the 200-mile, all-electric Bolt EV before the end of this year. Tesla is readying its 200-mile Model 3, and Nissan is expected to increase the range of the LEAF to around 200 miles…’ click here for more

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