When renewables-novice and coal champion Donald Trump won the US presidential election yesterday, the global energy industry gawked in horror. Initial review of the Republican billionaire’s energy plans might leave the impression that the progress clean energy sources have achieved so far will be undone. A deeper look into Trump’s energy policy under adviser Kevin Cramer reveals a siege on existing regulation and a roll-back on spending.
Donald Trump once again shunned solar and other renewables in favour for coal in his characteristic “America first” energy policy, while Hillary Clinton did not fare much better, but did at least reaffirm her commitment to fight climate change, albeit as an afterthought.
The tenet of president Obama’s climate change initiative, the UN-backed Clean Power Plan, was under fire in the US Court of Appeals yesterday, where a panel of 10 judges deliberated over whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has overstepped the mark.
UK-based renewable energy companies and associations have unanimously welcomed news that the government has set the fifth carbon budget at the recommended level, but warned of the work ahead needed to meet those targets.
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister has said he believes it will be impossible to keep fossil fuel resources “in the ground” even in the next 50 years but nonetheless sees his country as an ideal potential manufacturer-exporter of PV panels.
