Down planted acreage provides market sentiment insight
An ag economist says total U.S. planted acreage is more than three million acres below the average from 2015 to 2018. The University of Missouri’s Ben Brown blames the drop in USDA’s recent acreage report on high...
Many mayors condemn Supreme Court ruling limiting EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
Cities have doubled down on reducing emissions in recent years. Local leaders say Thursday’s 6-3 decision weakens a key federal partner that they believed would help them achieve their goals....
California passes legislation to avoid blackouts, create ‘insurance policy’ for the grid
“Yeah, it’s a lousy bill, but it’s the best hope we have for keeping the lights on,” one lawmaker said Wednesday. ...
Solar News
Priority Power energizes 2-MW Kansas solar project
Priority Power announced the official opening of the Beloit Solar Farm in Beloit, Kansas. BSF is a 2-MW solar farm that will provide renewable electric power to the City of Beloit. The Beloit community has been...
Massachusetts releases clean energy plan, roadmap to cut GHG emissions 50% by 2030
The plan focuses on improving efficiency and reducing emissions from buildings, the transportation sector, power generation and other sources, with the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050....
Advocates say solar industry will take a hit from Supreme Court EPA decision
On June 30, the Supreme Court issued a final decision on West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SCOTUS ruling constrains the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Solar advocates reacted...
Supreme Court rejects EPA ability to set fleet-wide GHG emissions standards for power plants
The ruling issued Thursday means Congress, states and markets will drive the shift towards cleaner energy, according to Advanced Energy Economy, a trade group....
New Jersey authorizes PSE&G to spend $511M on 4-year grid modernization program
The plan includes $234 million to make distribution system improvements, bolster residential reliability and prepare for growing electric vehicle adoption....
Agriculture News
Biden admin set to boost biobased products
The Biden administration announced a multi-million-dollar investment in the development of biobased products at a stop in Iowa on Tuesday. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says $10 million in grants from the bipartisan infrastructure law will help build...
Economist expects an increase in corn acres
An ag economist says he’s watching for a few things in Thursday’s planted acreage report from the USDA. University of Missouri’s Ben Brown says he anticipates an increase in corn acres. “Outside of the Eastern Corn Belt...
President Biden signs law extending funding for youth summer meal programs
President Biden has signed the Keep Kids Fed Act that extends funding and flexibilities for summer youth meal programs. Vince Hall, chief government relations officer with Feeding America, tells Brownfield the law extends child nutrition waivers that...
Economist expects a more bullish future for cattle markets
A livestock economist says there’s been a shift in the tone of the Cattle on Feed numbers. University of Missouri’s Scott Brown says the last several reports have been relatively bearish for the markets. But that’s not...
USMEF backs USDA agreement with Port of Houston
A new agreement between the USDA and the Port of Houston will increase capacity for exporting chilled and frozen ag commodities. Travis Arp with the U.S. Meat Export Federation says the plans allow the USDA to lease...