Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Senate Republicans, is set to step down after 17 years and will leave a significant gap in senior lawmakers focused on defending the fate of the coal industry. McConnell’s most lasting legacy could be from the judiciary, where he helped create a conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court. He also united his fellow Republicans around environmental deregulation and helped keep coal industry alive. The three most likely candidates for his successor, Sens. John Thune (R-S.D), John Cornyn (R Texas), and John Barrasso (R Wyoming), all hail from major energy-producing states. However, critics argue that their green voting records are “appalling” and that McConnell’s leadership would continue in the same direction.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
