For Republicans, carbon tax isn't dead, just dormant
In this edition: The conservatives who support climate action; a move for coal miners and against stream protections; swords into plowshares (sort of).
What we're writing
Seen in Washington: conservatives supporting climate action
Not that long ago, the Republican Party had a presidential nominee with policies to combat global warming. (Sen. John McCain in 2008, above.) Trump and the Republican-led Congress aren't showing much interest in climate change, but the idea of a carbon tax is still percolating – and conservatives who back it symbolize a climate-action wing of the GOP that may be growing. // Zack Colman
Why a climate economist is giving carbon's 'social cost' a second look
A longtime advocate of going slow on big carbon emissions reductions is increasingly convinced that the world needs to act faster and more substantially against global warming. // David Iaconangelo
A move for coal miners, against stream protections
The House and Senate voted to revoke an 11th-hour Obama administration rule on stream protection, paving the way for a Trump signature. The mining industry is hailing the move as confirmation the president will make good on his campaign promise to 'bring the coal industry back 100 percent.' // David Iaconangelo
Seed-embedded bullets sprouting flowers?
The US Army is seeking a proposal for biodegradable ammunition that will not corrode and pollute soil and water. In fact, the goal is for the training bullets to contain plant seeds that can sprout right out of the spent rounds. // Charlie Wood
What we're reading
Record heat and drought in Amazon during 2015-16
A concern is that climate change may make extreme El Niño events, like the 2015-16 pattern, more common, affecting the rainforest's health and its ability to store carbon dioxide. // Mongabay
Saudi Aramco said to weigh $5 billion of renewable deals
The oil giant considers an old rule of investing: diversification. // Bloomberg
Growing vegetables - at the airport?
A garden at O'Hare International puts aeroponics on display, growing 44 types of produce used by airport restaurants. // Yale Climate Connections
Maryland lawmakers override a veto
The state's legislature backs a policy requiring utilities to buy more renewables. // The Baltimore Sun
Indian scientists on trail of carbon-capture technology
Here's a tale of enterprising young scientists with ideas for turning power plant emissions into useful products. // Thomson Reuters Foundation
What's trending
Clean-coal plant up and running in Texas
"The Petra Nova plant captures 90% of their carbon emissions, which is 1.6 million metric tons, meaning they emit under 180,000 metric tons of gas." // Michael McDonald in Oilprice.com
In Miami Beach, a $100 million flood prevention project
“We know we’re still having some [water pollution] issues. It’s a lot better than it was, but is that good enough? Our intent is to continue.” // Bruce Mowry, Miami Beach Engineer, as reported by The Miami Herald
Turbine sets record for wind power generated in a day
"The V164 turbine, built by Danish energy company MHI Vestas, produced 216,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in just 24 hours, enough to power 240 U.S. homes for a month." // YaleEnvironment360