Low-carbon fuel standards make headway in OR and CA, climate pledges fall short of 2˚ goal but buy time for further progress, renewables surpass coal as UK’s #2 power source, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions

Sweden sets goal of going completely fossil-free, China to work with US on utility innovation and decarbonizing cities, union opposes coal port in Oakland, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions

Former EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson once named energy efficiency the “silent hero” in the climate crisis. Republican Governor Butch Otter of Idaho called efficiency the “low hanging fruit in the energy orchard.” We know that a key way to reduce our climate pollution is to reduce our energy demand. By reducing energy use, we also save money on our utility bills. So why are there still barriers to homeowners embracing deep energy efficiency? 

Tell Interior Secretary Sally Jewell that we must account for global warming pollution resulting from the leasing of federal coal.

Obama brings climate road show to Alaska, solar industry ponders a future unsupported by tax credits, Citibank and IEA see clean energy reaching cost parity, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions

This week in Anchorage, President Obama offered a beautiful, strong speech about the need for an epic response to climate change. But across the Northwest, our region still burns; and the President is permitting Shell to fan the flames with Arctic drilling. 

Solar prices dropping, global temperatures rising, wind farms producing more energy for every megawatt of capacity, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.

Is the new federal Clean Power Plan strong enough? Does it expand the bounds of the possible, so we can do what’s necessary to address the climate crisis?

Second-largest U.S. coal company files for bankruptcy, small businesses can finance solar arrays on their property tax bills, UPS aims for 12 percent renewable fuel by 2017, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.