QUICK NEWS, May 19: WHITEHOUSE MAY PUSH EVEN HARDER ON EMISSIONS; GEORGIA UTILITY BACKS ARMY'S MARCH ON SOLAR; WIRES FOR NEW ENERGY IN TENNESSEE

WHITEHOUSE MAY PUSH EVEN HARDER ON EMISSIONS Obama Said to Consider Power-Plant Rule That Tests Law

Mark Drajem, Jim Snyder and Jonathan Allen May 15, 2014

“The Obama administration is considering cutting greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants by reaching beyond the plants themselves -- an unusual approach that could run afoul of anti-pollution laws…[T]he administration is seeking steep reductions -- as much as 25 percent -- that could be met if power plant owners expand renewable energy, improve the efficiency of their grids or encourage customers to use less power…There’s disagreement even within the administration about what’s allowable under the Clean Air Act…Some administration attorneys are warning that the government could lose a legal challenge if it seeks to regulate beyond a plant’s smokestack…The full mandate may be phased in over 15 years, as a way to soften the blow on utilities. The rules will probably draw fierce resistance from coal companies and their allies in Congress who warn of higher electricity prices and lost jobs…” click here for more

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GEORGIA UTILITY BACKS ARMY'S MARCH ON SOLAR Georgia Power plan would install solar arrays on 3 Army bases

Kristi E. Swartz, May 16, 2014 (E&E Publishing)

"Georgia Power and [he Army Energy Initiatives Task Force will] install large solar arrays at three military bases…[The Georgia 3x30 solar arrays] will lead to the Army getting 18 percent of its electricity in Georgia from [on-site] renewable fuels…The 90 total megawatts of solar electricity also will move the Army 9 percent closer to meeting federal goals for renewable energy…Adding three 30 MW arrays would continue to boost Georgia's rapidly growing solar output…The move also alleviates mounting political and public pressure on Georgia Power to remove roadblocks that some say have made it difficult for the military to meet its federal renewable energy goals…[S]tate utility regulators have been working with Georgia Power for months on a program specifically to install solar at military bases. The utility will use a 90 MW self-build project that the Georgia Public Service Commission approved in 2007 to implement its plans…[It is an extension of the push from solar advocates on the PSC to get more solar into Georgia Power’s] long-term energy plan…” click here for more

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WIRES FOR NEW ENERGY IN TENNESSEE Alexander questions wind energy transmission line

Dave Flessner, May 15, 2015 (Chattanooga Times Free Press)

“…Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and…Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tenn., asked TVA…to carefully evaluate the reliability and security of importing wind energy over a 700-mile transmission line proposed to be built from Oklahoma to Tennessee…[They] are wary about the developer of the proposed transmission line, Clean Line Energy Partners LLC, being granted utility status…TVA could use the wind power…to help replace many of the aging coal-fired units the utility is shutting down to meet stricter air quality standards…[or sell] the wind-generated electricity along its own transmission lines for use by other Southern utilities…[and companies such as Google and Wal-Mart] interested in buying renewable energy…[The] Clean Line project would spur the building of more than $6 billion of wind turbines in Oklahoma and Texas and should deliver electricity to TVA in the range of 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour…[It] would be among the biggest DC lines built in America…” click here for more

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