Across several states, voter-driven initiatives rein in oil-and-gas development while promoting wind and solar.
Solar energy
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Arizona’s nuclear power caught in crossfire
A renewable energy ballot measure could up the state’s reliance on cleaner energy.
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Politics are behind a plan to prop up coal and nuclear
Discussion of a ‘grid emergency’ ignores cheaper alternatives like solar and wind.
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Solar energy deserves a place on public lands
Prioritizing oil and gas over renewables ignores market forces and climate concerns.
Posted inJuly 23, 2018: Pay for Prey
How California is bringing solar energy to low-income renters
An array on an infamous down-and-out building makes solar more equitable.
Posted inJune 25, 2018: Little Weed, Big Problem
Trump administration pauses California’s solar energy truce
The decision imperils the balance between desert conservation and development.
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The solar industry braces for impact after Trump tariffs
Analysts say the import fees will increase costs and halt hiring in the industry.
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Myths about rooftop solar are outshining the reality
Falsehoods about net metering have held it back in Western states.
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Trump considers tariffs on solar industry
Cheap solar panel imports damage domestic sales, and curbing them could drive prices up.
Posted inSeptember 18, 2017: No Hoax
Can coal remain the bedrock of Wyoming’s economy?
As companies experiment with ‘clean coal,’ cheaper and cleaner fuels are taking over.
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McCain resumes his quest for climate change action
The senator bucks his party on climate change, after years of silence.
Posted inAugust 21, 2017: Rooftop Revolution
In solar scuffle, big utilities meet their match
Solar advocates win a surprising victory in Nevada.
Posted inAugust 21, 2017: Rooftop Revolution
One grid to rule them all
And in the darkness, bind them: The West’s bid for one big electric grid.
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California enters the global climate stage
As Trump backs off climate agreement, California tackles ambitious renewables goal.
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Nevada governor signs law to revive rooftop solar industry
Public pressure prompts reversal of unfriendly solar policies.
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A New Mexico electricity co-op declares its independence
A co-op leaves its power provider, whose reliance on coal kept prices too high.
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Southwestern utilities back down from rooftop solar fight
Public support for rooftop solar has led to more moderate positions.
Posted inFebruary 20, 2017: Overdosed
Harry Reid exits the ring
In an era of political gridlock, Congress loses a leader who got things done for the West.
Posted inDecember 26, 2016: Obama and the West
Obama’s lasting legacies in the West
Under the 44th president, the West re-examined its relationship to energy and the climate.
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5 reasons to be optimistic about climate change
Recent accomplishments have paved a way forward for environmental progress.