Energy Efficiency, Regulation, Regulation, Solar  -  September 23, 2017

Weekend reads: Obama aides launch energy group; mayor's energy use judged; Musk's solar vision & more

Every Saturday, we'll bring you five of the most interesting — or quirky; it is the weekend after all — energy stories from around the web that you may have missed this week. This weekend's reads:

Ex-Obama and Clinton aides helm new energy group (Axios): A group called New Energy America is launching that will promote renewable energy industry jobs in rural regions nationwide, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The group, which is funded by renewable energy companies, could influence lawmakers in red-leaning areas amid policy battles that affect wind, solar, biofuels, and other sectors. "The point is to make sure there is accountability in places where clean energy jobs are growing, but elected officials are voting against policies that can support the growth of clean energy," a source familiar with the group's planning tells Axios.

Elon Musk's Solar Partnership Strategy Doesn't Look So Crazy Anymore (Bloomberg): Elon Musk took a lot of heat last year when his Tesla Inc. bought solar-panel installer SolarCity for $2 billion. The synergies between his two companies didn’t seem immediately obvious, among other issues, critics said. But now other solar installers are looking to partner with companies as they wrestle with a market that is shrinking after 16 years of rapid growth. Their longtime sales model -- knocking on doors, cold calling at home, setting up mall kiosks -- has proven to be costly. Far more effective to use the umbrella of bigger established companies to find customers, they've decided.

De Blasio's Gap on Climate Policy? It's Under His Front Door (The New York Times): Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to be seen as a leader in fighting global warming, and he says that everyone needs to do their part. But when it comes to two buildings he owns in Brooklyn, it's not clear that he is following his own advice. Last week, Mr. de Blasio said that he intended to pass a law requiring the owners of medium and large buildings to carry out improvements to make their buildings more energy efficient, as a way to combat global warming. 

Administration officials meet to develop climate strategy (Politico): Trump administration officials huddled at the White House on Wednesday in a bid to chart a more cohesive energy and environmental policy strategy, including a game plan for communicating its position on climate change, according to three people familiar with the meeting. The meeting included more than a dozen deputy-level officials from the White House's various policy councils, as well as representatives from federal agencies such as the EPA and the Energy Department.

Cities and States Are Picking Up Trump's Slack on Climate (E&E News via Scientific American): With the Trump administration keeping noticeably mum on climate change throughout this year's U.N. week, U.S. cities, businesses and states were busy auditioning for understudy. Cities including Boston, Los Angeles and New York City outlined plans to further the objectives of the Paris climate agreement. Corporations, too, voiced their support for climate action and opposition to the Trump White House's decision to leave the Paris accord at forums hosted by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York and former Secretary of State John Kerry at Yale University.

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