Phoenix, Ariz. – Today the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) approved conversions of two coal-fired power plants to burn methane gas without reviewing the environmental impacts of those changes, leaving customers paying fuel costs for decades. The Commission also voted to repeal Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST), which has supported the development of renewable energy like solar power, bringing clean energy jobs and investment to Arizona.
Boston, MA - Last night, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled that Donald Trump’s executive order banning wind projects in the United States was unlawful and vacated the order.
Washington, D.C. - Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior has effectively cut off federal land leases for renewable energy. The new rules require that leases can only be made if the renewable energy project can produce the same amount of energy as that of coal, gas, or nuclear per acre.
Washington, D.C. - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has rescinded all designated wind areas on the outer continental shelf. Over 3.5 million acres of public waters that had gone through a thorough vetting and approval process to be leased for offshore wind projects are no longer eligible for federal leases.
St. Louis, Mo – The Department of Energy (DOE) cancelled its loan for the shovel-ready Grain Belt Express transmission project that would quickly strengthen grid reliability and resilience, create jobs during construction, and lower electricity costs for small towns throughout Kansas and Missouri.
Columbia, Mo – People gather in Columbia today for the Missouri Nuclear Summit to highlight an industry plagued by economic disasters. South Carolina utility customers paid $9 billion for a nuclear reactor project that was cancelled, creating zero kilowatts of electricity.
Washington, D.C. – Less than a month after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied MISO’s discriminatory energy plan, the grid operator ran roughshod on the stakeholder process and resubmitted an updated discriminatory plan with federal regulators. There are issues with both the content of MISO’s updated ERAS proposal and its process.
Washington, D.C. - Attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C. are suing the Trump Administration for its actions blocking onshore and offshore wind projects.
WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, the Biden Administration and the Department of Interior (DOI) announced the approval of the nation’s seventh commercial-scale offshore wind project, Sunrise Wind. Sunrise Wind, which is expected to be operational in 2026, will be built off the coast of New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and will power more than 320,000 homes per year. Late last month, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded the power purchase agreements for Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind 1 projects.
NEW YORK -- Today, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded the fourth round of offshore wind power purchase agreements to Empire Wind 1 (Equinor) and Sunrise Wind (Orsted and Eversource). The development of Empire Wind 1 will provide 810 megawatts of energy and Sunrise Wind will provide 924 megawatts of energy, which together will power one million homes in New York once operational. Sunrise Wind is expected to be operational in 2026 and Empire Wind 1 in 2027.
NANTUCKET, MA. – After years of tireless work from grassroots groups, labor unions, and government officials, Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, is officially online. Sierra Club Massachusetts and its Cape Cod group submitted hundreds of pieces of testimony and comment to state legislators, local municipalities, and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management over the last 15 years to encourage the development of a responsible offshore wind industry in America. Sierra Club applauds the monumental achievement from Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and is excited for our new energy future.
BATON ROUGE, LA -- Yesterday, the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) approved Southwest Electric Power Company’s (SWEPCO) request to provide up to 464 MW of renewable wind energy to its customers in the state. SWEPCO expects the wind energy investment will save its customers an estimated $2 billion over the 30-year life of the project and create hundreds of jobs.