Joe's CREB Shack (Politico)

www.politco.com

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The IRS has a total of $1.4 billion worth of so-called New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds ready for reallocation, the agency says. Congress in 2008 and 2009 allocated a total of $2.4 billion worth of CREBs, which can be used by power providers and others to finance renewable energy projects by giving the bondholder federal tax credits instead of part of the typical bond interest. The CREBs had to be used within three years of issuance, however, and a bit more than half of the volume cap remains now that that time has passed. The IRS says it has available $517 million of CREBs for projects to be owned by public power providers, $597 million for governmental entities like states or cities, and $281 million for electric co-ops. An IRS notice describes the application process for new CREB allocation: http://1.usa.gov/1zQHfnr

Emails Show Pacific Gas & Electric Targeted Critics after San Bruno Blast (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/PG-E-targeted-critics-after-San-Bruno-blast-6054156.php

Oregon Legislature to Consider Ban on Electricity from Coal-Fired Plants (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2015/02/legislature_to_consider_ban_on.html

Sick Sea Lions Washing Ashore in California; Rescuers Brace for Bad Year (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article8865596.html

Sea Lions Find New Places to Snack on Pacific Northwest Fish (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/sea-lions-find-new-places-to-snack-on-nw-fish/77571

In Net Neutrality Push, FCC Is Expected to Propose Regulating the Internet as a Utility (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/technology/in-net-neutrality-push-fcc-is-expected-to-propose-regulating-the-internet-as-a-utility.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Quadrennial Energy Review Now at White House (Politico)

(WASHINGTON, DC) --  The Energy Department has sent the draft Quadrennial Energy Review to the White House for review, a spokeswoman confirmed to ME. By executive order, the report was due to the president on Saturday. It's unclear when the White House plans to release the review, which is meant to outline the nation's various energy challenges. The QER task force was overseen by the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and Domestic Policy Council, with DOE coordinating the nearly two dozen departments and agencies involved. The report is due every four years, leaving the 2019 iteration in the hands of the next administration.