QUICK NEWS, April 10: Can States Take Trump Down On Climate? Michigan Wind Adds To Property Values; Coal Mining Museum Is Solar-Powered

Can States Take Trump Down On Climate? New York, California Lead State Efforts On Climate Change As Trump Retreats

Chelsea Harvey, April 9, 2017 (Fusion via Newsweek)

“…[The sweeping executive order signed by President Trump moved to roll back the Obama administration’s flagship Clean Power Plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions from power plants is] the latest in a series of efforts by Congress and the White House to repeal various Obama-era rules…[But] state governments are stepping up…California and New York currently maintain some of the nation’s most ambitious state-level climate action plans, including goals in both states to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below their 1990 levels by the year 2030, and 80 percent by the year 2050. Both states also have plans for the advancement of clean energy and energy efficiency programs and both participate in carbon pricing schemes…[And] New York and California are hardly the only states in the nation with climate action plans…Altogether, 34 states, including both red and blue states, have adopted some form of a climate action plan…” click here for more

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Michigan Wind Adds To Property Values Property values surge in Michigan counties with wind energy – but why?

Andy Balaskovitz, April 5, 2017 (Midwest Energy News)

“Agricultural land was the only property type in Michigan to have increased in overall value since 2008 and through the Great Recession…[and areas that had] significant wind energy development…[also had] some of the greatest property value increases…While the reasons for those increases are complex, some energy analysts and researchers are quick to suggest that the correlation with wind farms may not be coincidental…[In 2014, lease payments to Michigan landowners for wind turbines totaled $4.6 million and the four counties that hosted the most wind turbines in 2014-2015] saw more than $45 million directed to communities in those areas…[Farms] with turbines on their property invested twice as much in their farms in the last five years than neighboring landowners without turbines…” click here for more

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Coal Mining Museum Is Solar-Powered Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Harlan County switches to solar power

Travis M. Andrews, April 6, 2017 (Washington Post)

“Housed in a former commissary building and tucked into the hollers of Harlan County — the heart of Kentucky mining country — is a museum dedicated to all aspects of extracting coal from the state’s mountains…Mining equipment decorates its walls, while a two-ton block of coal at the front door greets visitors…Not much about the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum screams modern…[But the] museum is switching to solar power in hopes of saving money on energy costs…[The installation of solar panels is expected to] save at least $8,000 to $10,000 off the energy costs…About 85 percent of Harlan County voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. The disparity between Hillary Clinton’s [promise to put coal companies out of business] and Trump’s campaign promises [to eliminate environmental regulations] almost assuredly played a factor in that vote…[Experts say] deregulation won’t be enough to bring back coal jobs…” click here for more

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