Karin Rives
@karinrives
Senior climate and energy reporter at S&P Global. Any opinions expressed here are my own!
States, Native American tribes and communities nationwide learned a year ago that the Trump administration had canceled the $7 billion Solar for All program. We checked in with grantees to see what’s happened since. tinyurl.com/y6b8uedp
Amazon-Duke Energy diesel generator plans for a large data center in rural North Carolina face legal questions. At issue is how and who accounts for pollution from 649 diesel generators under the Clean Air Act. tinyurl.com/bdhr23yn
For the past two years, US power companies were rushing out plans for massive amounts of new fossil fueled-fired generation. Until the planned building boom suddenly stalled in Q2. Uncertainty over data centers may have something to do with it, analysts said. Stay tuned. tinyurl.com/mwse38d6
Power providers, state floodplain managers and emergency preparedness officials are heading into the 2026 hurricane and wildfire season with questions about what role the federal government will play if disaster strikes. tinyurl.com/3f2crs49
The US power sector now has plans to add 155 GW of fossil fuel capacity to meet mostly data center-driven electricity demand. 99% would be natural gas-fired power plants. Tackling #climate change is so yesterday. tinyurl.com/dhbn6vwj
US power companies are racing to install AI-powered smoke detection cameras, more satellite weather stations and new grid technology to get ahead of what could be an intense 2026 wildfire season. #climate tinyurl.com/ycyj3acn
US coal plants are back in favor — and carbon and hazardous air emissions are soaring. tinyurl.com/2s9pafe2
Supporting expensive and aging coal-fired power plants is becoming a consistent strategy for the Trump administration. Today’s rollback, if upheld by courts, translates into 1,000 pounds more mercury released into US air and water. tinyurl.com/ev3cp7nn
The #Trump administration will face an onslaught of legal challenges after the agency charged with protecting public health and welfare dismantles the government’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. tinyurl.com/mr2n9737
The #Trump administration faces its first industry challenge over coal plant orders that are upending utility plans and violating state laws. tinyurl.com/ba5pr8ec
Email correspondence shows how a disputed and litigated 2025 DOE climate report was crafted and used to support the Trump administration’s plan to rescind the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding. The repeal would halt future efforts to regulate climate-warming emissions. tinyurl.com/mwvrbuvh
A line for European leaders struggling to get organized around a cohesive message and course of action?
Virginia is rejoining the RGGI carbon market as @governorva.bsky.social Abigail Spanberger resets the state’s energy agenda. tinyurl.com/42wkz3er
The Trump administration could face some major legal hurdles as it seeks to halt federal regulation of climate-warming greenhouse gases. The EPA endangerment repeal is going through final White House review and could be pushlished soon. tinyurl.com/y3axt2n8
The US Department of Interior no longer mentions climate-warming methane leaking from orphaned wells. But the agency is once again offering federal grants to seal such wells. It’s a rare federal climate program to survive in 2025. tinyurl.com/nhks484e
US coal plant operators get a 5-year reprieve from Biden-era regulations seeking to limit wastewater discharges carrying arsenic, mercury and other toxins into drinking water sources. Just in time for the holidays. tinyurl.com/3f4tvpxa
Look for more unpaid power bills and service shut-offs as US energy costs soar. Average residential electricity costs have risen 32% since 2020, S&P Global data shows. #affordability tinyurl.com/tjtbpnes
The bill to reopen the US government could avoid further furloughs at already-struggling energy and environmental agencies. It would also delay layoffs, at least for a little while. Our take on today's big story in DC. tinyurl.com/d6v4afhj
The Trump administration wants to eliminate a greenhouse gas reporting program covering large US emitters. Companies warn the proposal will hurt US exports and raise business costs. An investor said it could erode “market confidence in US companies.” tinyurl.com/mr4cew5y
The US Department of Energy said a Michigan coal plant and Pennsylvania gas units had to continue to operate past their May 31 retirement to avoid blackouts. Our data shows the plants have been of limited use at best, while adding tens of millions to your power bills. tinyurl.com/2ww5kbad
2025 has seen a significant drop in "high-priority violations" that the EPA issues under the Clean Air Act, suggesting that companies are getting a break. Such violations involve pollution that can endanger public health. tinyurl.com/b8prn5py
The Trump administration's plan to rescind the 2009 greenhouse gas endangerment finding is fraught with legal risks for oil and gas companies hoping for a regulatory break. As of this morning, EPA staff had logged 351,300 public comments on the controversial proposal. tinyurl.com/mrxvwdbp
I never thought I’d live in a military state where people with machine guns try to intimidate people just going about their lives. These soldiers were at the NoMa-Gaullaudet station in Washington, DC, the other day. Photo courtesy of my friend Lisa.
My best day of staycation this past week was biking down the Capital Crescent trail to Georgetown and Theodore Island. Reminded me of what a great city Washington, DC, is!
Finally, a forecast with sunny days for the foreseeable future. Dry warm days to enjoy!
An analysis found that real-time monitoring of hazardous pollutants from coal-fired power plants can yield nine times higher emission rates than traditional stack tests. Power sector trade groups and electric utilities say the systems are too costly, asking the EPA for relief. tinyurl.com/4jec49d6