Articles tagged with "energy-legislation"
Sierra Club Wisconsin Applauds New Data Center Accountability Legislation - CleanTechnica
The Sierra Club Wisconsin has praised new legislation introduced by State Sen. Habush Sinykin and Rep. Angela Stroud aimed at increasing transparency and accountability for data centers being developed across Wisconsin. Currently, data centers are not required to cover the full costs of the additional infrastructure or energy grid demands they impose, potentially leaving other ratepayers to shoulder these expenses. The proposed bill seeks to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources, promote clean energy, and safeguard workers and ratepayers by mandating quarterly reports on electricity and water usage, requiring data centers to meet labor standards and use at least 70% renewable energy to qualify for tax credits, and ensuring all data centers achieve LEED certification or equivalent. Additionally, data center owners would pay an annual fee to fund renewable energy, energy efficiency, and low-income energy assistance programs. The legislation responds to concerns about the environmental and economic impacts of large data centers, which consume vast amounts of water—comparable to the usage of towns with 10,000 to
energydata-centersclean-energyrenewable-energyenergy-legislationinfrastructureWisconsinIllinois Passes Clean Energy Bill Expected to Save Residents $13 Billion - CleanTechnica
Illinois has passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, a significant clean energy bill aimed at boosting renewable energy and reducing electricity costs for residents. The legislation mandates the development of 3 gigawatts of battery storage and the creation of a Virtual Pilot Program, which together are projected to save Illinois families and businesses approximately $13 billion on electricity bills over the next 20 years. The bill now awaits the signature of Governor J.B. Pritzker, who is expected to approve it. The act has been praised by industry leaders, including Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, who highlighted its potential to meet rising electricity demand while maintaining affordability and grid resilience. The bill is also seen as a model for other states, demonstrating how investments in solar, storage, and virtual power plants can simultaneously drive job creation, clean energy growth, and cost savings. This legislation is particularly notable given the current federal government's less supportive stance on clean energy, positioning Illinois as a leader in
energyclean-energyrenewable-energybattery-storagesolar-powerenergy-legislationvirtual-power-plantCalifornia Passes Legislation to Support Solar & Lower Energy Costs - CleanTechnica
California has recently passed two significant pieces of legislation—Assembly Bill 825 and Senate Bill 302—aimed at advancing solar energy development and creating a more integrated clean energy grid in the Western United States. AB 825 initiates the establishment of a regional electricity partnership across Western states, a move long advocated by renewable energy supporters, which is expected to enhance energy production efficiency, grid reliability, and ultimately reduce electricity costs for Californians. Senate Bill 302 aligns California’s tax code with the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) by exempting solar developers from state taxes on federal renewable energy tax benefits, a step that brings California in line with most other states and helps lower project costs. These legislative efforts come amid ongoing challenges from federal policies that have hindered solar development and increased energy prices. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) praised the bills, emphasizing their potential to expand market access for California’s solar and storage resources and to ensure that energy developers can fully benefit from federal incentives. Governor
energysolar-energyclean-energyrenewable-energyenergy-policyenergy-legislationCalifornia-energyTexans Love Their Wind Power, Even If Trump Doesn't - CleanTechnica
The article highlights the tension in Texas between the state's booming wind and solar energy sectors and the Republican-led legislative efforts to curb their growth. Despite Texas emerging as a national leader in renewable energy—surpassing California in gigawatt-hours generated from wind and solar in 2024—some Republican lawmakers, influenced by powerful anti-renewable advocacy groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, are pushing bills that could restrict landowners' rights to host renewable energy projects. These legislative moves threaten to undermine years of progress that have revitalized rural communities and provided significant tax revenue, even though most Texans support renewable energy development. The opposition to renewables in Texas is partly driven by political and ideological factors, including former President Donald Trump's well-documented disdain for wind power. Trump has repeatedly criticized wind turbines on aesthetic, economic, and environmental grounds, despite evidence contradicting his claims. This stance has influenced Texas Republicans, who appear to prioritize fossil fuel interests over the expanding clean energy sector. The article concludes by noting that
energywind-powerrenewable-energysolar-energyTexas-energy-policyclean-energyenergy-legislationContract Chaos: Texas’ Retroactive Energy Bill Shakes Market Trust
energyrenewable-energyTexas-energy-marketenergy-legislationinvestor-confidenceenergy-contractsregulatory-stabilityConnecticut Struggles To Reconcile The High Cost Of Electricity With A Push For Renewables
energyrenewable-energyelectricity-ratessolar-incentivesnuclear-powerenergy-legislationConnecticut