Trump Signs Military Funding Bill That Includes Focus on Energy, Climate Security

While the Trump administration denies climate change, U.S. armed forces are preparing for energy and climate resiliency.

President Donald Trump on Monday signed into law a military spending authorization bill that includes a mandate to prepare and protect bases from floods, storms and energy supply disruptions from climate change — something Trump has said is a hoax. Adapting to climate change has been a priority for military planners long before Trump’s election. 

How Trump Can Beat China Without a Trade War: Make America a Renewable Energy Superpower

So far we have let China dominate renewable energy industries. Why not catch up and take the lead, like we did in the space race?

If I were President Trump’s trusted adviser, this is what I would tell him. 

You can make America great again and beat China. It’s up to you. China is well on its way to becoming the renewable energy superpower of the future. We can still come from behind and take the lead — if you make it a national priority. 

New Bipartisan Legislation Would Repeal Trump’s Solar Tariffs

“I don’t know what good can possibly come as a consequence of stifling the growth of solar power.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation that would throw out Trump administration tariffs on imported solar products.

"Under this legislation, duties and tariffs would default back to previous rates and would allow companies that imported any affected solar products under this new tariff to receive retroactive reimbursement," according to a press release. 

Lawmakers Pass Spending Bill With Funds for Clean Energy

UPDATE: On Friday after threatening to veto the bill, which would have caused a government shutdown, President Trump signed the bill. "There are a lot of things that I'm unhappy about in this bill," he said. "I say to Congress, I will never sign another bill like this again. I'm not going to do it again." 

Congress cleared a spending bill Friday for the 2018 fiscal year that allocates $1.3 trillion. Despite the Trump administration’s requests for drastic cuts, lawmakers set aside increased funds for clean energy programs. Trump tweeted Friday that he may veto the bill. 

Effects of Trump Solar Tariff Could Put Net Metering Back on the Table

This week, the Trump administration ruled in favor of two U.S. solar technology manufacturers to place a tariff on solar panels imported from abroad. The imports will be taxed by 30 percent, a move that some say will slow growth of the solar adoption in the U.S. and which may eliminate jobs in the solar installation sector.

The news arrives at a time of uncertainty for solar installers in Indiana who are still reeling from the decision to phase out an incentive for rooftop solar. The 2017 law was intended to sunset what some called a subsidy for an industry that had outgrown it, but critics say it could strike a blow to an infant industry in the state.

Trump Says US Is ‘Getting Out’ of Paris Agreement, But Will Negotiate a Fair Deal

In a statement today from the White House, President Donald Trump fulfilled his campaign promise to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.

“We’re getting out, but we’ll start to negotiate, and we’ll see if we can make a deal that’s fair,” he said.

The Paris Agreement, approved in December 2015, committed nearly 200 countries to work to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

As Trump Bows Out, States Set to Fill Void on Climate Change

As President Donald Trump scales down federal efforts to combat climate change, states are ramping up.

California’s Air Resources Board broke with Trump and voted to uphold auto fuel efficiency rules, while Illinois offered a bail out to carbon-free nuclear producers. Iowa and Michigan have moved to increase incentives for renewable energy, and Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan is poised to sign a statewide ban on fracking.

Will a Trade War With China Help or Hurt the American Solar Industry? It’s Complicated...

Yet another area of speculation and uncertainty in the Trump era.

The election of Donald Trump raises a lot of questions for the U.S. solar industry. Trump hasn't exactly been supportive of solar energy, but he hasn't made it an explicit target of his ire either.

President Trump's impact on the solar industry could come through trade policy, an area where the president has fairly wide latitude to make rules. If he labels China a currency manipulator, as he has promised, it would give him wide authority to draw up tariffs on Chinese imports, which he has suggested may be as high as 45 percent -- although a 25 percent across-the-board tariff seems to be a more common proposal. Tariffs that high could have a mixed impact on the economy broadly, and could lead to a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.

Merkel Plans to Challenge Trump on Renewables in G-20 Forum

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, fresh from taking over the presidency of the Group of 20 nations, plans to use her leverage to challenge Donald Trump’s skepticism about the value of renewable energy by pointing out where it’s a viable business.

The strategy is aimed at reducing the risk that Trump will upend work by Europe and the rest of the G-20 to rein in greenhouse gases and advance the cause of low-pollution fuels, according to a senior German official.

Instead of gathering G-20 energy ministers and risk disagreements on policy, Germany will seek to keep the political gatherings focused on areas where business is earning returns from wind and solar farms, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t yet public.