LEED Expands to Neighborhoods; Minnesota's Solar Push; Ohio's Coal Fines; North Dakota Pipeline Leak
In a significant shift, LEED planning is expanding its scope from individual buildings to entire neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Minnesota is considering new solar standards, while Ohio's coal mines continue to challenge federal pollution fines. In North Dakota, a pipeline leak prompts shutdown and lawmakers vote to close a tax loophole. Excitement grows among investors following new Bakken reserve estimates. However, the EPA's website has removed estimates of oil recovered from the 2010 Kalamazoo River spill. In Ohio, a coalition defends renewable energy policies as a legislator plans changes based on market conditions. The fossil fuel industry is attracting cleantech investors as residents in southern Illinois and suburban Detroit brace for a fracking boom.
LEED, the most widely used green building rating system, is now focusing on entire neighborhoods. This expansion aims to create more sustainable and resilient communities.
In Minnesota, lawmakers are proposing bills to create a new solar standard and impose other solar requirements on utilities. This move aligns with the state's goal to reduce carbon emissions.
Ohio's coal mines have a history of fighting and winning against federal fines for pollution violations. This trend raises concerns about environmental regulation enforcement.
Enbridge, a Canadian energy company, has shut down a North Dakota pipeline after discovering a leak. The pipeline, which transports oil from Canada to the United States, has been temporarily closed for repairs.
North Dakota lawmakers have voted to close an industry tax loophole. This decision is expected to generate additional revenue for the state.
New Bakken reserve estimates have fueled excitement among investors. The Bakken Formation, a major oil-producing region in North Dakota, is attracting significant interest due to these updated estimates.
In a puzzling development, estimates of the amount of oil recovered from the 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill have disappeared from the EPA's website. The EPA has not provided an explanation for this removal.
A coalition of environmental and consumer groups has formed in Ohio to defend the state's renewable energy policies. This comes in response to a legislator's plans to introduce a bill that would make unspecified changes to Ohio's renewable energy standard based on market conditions.
The fossil fuel industry is attracting cleantech investors as residents in southern Illinois and suburban Detroit prepare for the fracking boom. This trend suggests a shift in investment patterns towards cleaner energy technologies.
These developments highlight a mix of progress and challenges in energy and environmental policies across the United States. From LEED's neighborhood focus to Minnesota's solar standards, Ohio's coal mine fines, and North Dakota's pipeline leak and tax loophole closure, these changes underscore the dynamic nature of energy and environmental landscapes. Meanwhile, the disappearance of oil spill recovery estimates and the defense of renewable energy policies in Ohio, along with the shift in investment patterns towards cleantech, reflect the ongoing evolution of energy policies and public opinion.
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