A new program in Puerto Rico could tap thousands of residential solar-plus-battery systems to help keep the island’s grid from going dark during the height of hurricane season. Sunrun says it’s planning to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative later this summer that will turn customers with rooftop solar panels and battery backup systems into emergency grid responders.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced last month new and more stringent vehicle emission standards, which some say could significantly help reduce harmful air pollution in Utah and across the country, as well as accelerating the automobile industry s switch to electric vehicles. While the agency s rule does not specifically require automakers to increase production of electric vehicles, the agency is saying it is most likely the way for the industry to meet the standards. Chris Harto, senior sustainability policy analyst for Consumer Reports, said it could lead to some significant changes down the line. .
A court hearing is scheduled for this week as environmental and tribal advocates continue to voice concerns about an oil and gas pipeline that runs across northern Wisconsin. Line 5, operated by Enbridge Energy, goes through a reservation that is home to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The tribe recently filed a court motion seeking an emergency shutdown of the pipeline. .
Supervisors in Tama County this week are considering an ordinance to limit the size of solar installations on farmland, to generate no more than 25 megawatts of electricity. Most utilities estimate it takes five to six acres of land to yield one megawatt. It is the latest step in the ongoing push-and-pull between farmers and alternative energy advocates. .