1. NUCLEAR ENERGY:

NRC approves construction of first new reactors since 1978

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4 to 1 today to approve construction of the first new U.S. nuclear power plant in more than three decades, with the agency chairman casting the lone "no" vote for safety concerns. Four commissioners -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- agreed to issue a construction and operation license to a consortium of utilities led by Southern Co. for two nuclear reactors at the Vogtle nuclear power plant complex about 170 miles east of Atlanta. Go to story #1

Editor's Note: Friday, May 25, 2012 -- 12:50 PM

1. NUCLEAR ENERGY:

NRC approves construction of first new reactors since 1978

Top Stories

2. KEYSTONE XL:

State IG finds no fault with department's pipeline work

3. UTILITIES:

The secret ingredient in cleaning up coal plants' mercury? It's coal

4. OIL AND GAS:

Want clear data on public-land production? Good luck

Congress

5. OIL AND GAS:

Fines for violations rare on public lands -- Democratic report

Politics

6. SOLYNDRA:

Rep. Barton suspects forthcoming report on DOE loans will be 'a whitewash'

7. MINING:

Promoters of massive Alaska project 'leery' of EPA veto power

Climate Change

8. EPA:

Think tank sees advantage in market-based GHG curbs

Law

9. COAL:

Judge says no environmental review needed yet for Mont. mining project

10. GULF SPILL:

Judge grants BP's request to keep emails out of trial

11. WILDLIFE:

Judge throws out orca enslavement lawsuit

Energy

12. BUSINESS:

Oil and gas mergers take unconventional turn

13. ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

DOE proposes standards for 'vampire' microwave ovens

14. ARCTIC:

Norway broadens search for oil near Russian waters

15. RENEWABLE ENERGY:

Wave power may be ready for prime time

Business

16. NUCLEAR ENERGY:

NEI chief touts industry safety, fiscal health in Wall Street presentation

17. OIL AND GAS:

Firms raise $1B to develop Texas shale

18. NATURAL GAS:

BHP plunges into shale industry

Federal Agencies

19. HYDRAULIC FRACTURING:

Retirement prompts leadership change for EPA 'frack' study

20. ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

EPA ties 'Lorax' into Energy Star campaign

Natural Resources

21. SALMON:

Hatchery fish fare better than wild fish in Calif. -- study

22. WILDLIFE:

Tough economy leads owners to release horses into wild

States

23. PENNSYLVANIA:

House approves shale drilling fee

24. WEST VIRGINIA:

Activists say coal company is 'moving quickly' to mine Blair Mountain

25. OREGON:

State Senate approves measure to create three new marine reserves

International

26. POLAND:

Tired of relying on Russia, nation dashes to tap shale deposits

27. CHINA:

Beijing to lower air pollution levels by 2015

28. EUROPE:

Blizzards strain grid, prompt conservation efforts

Society

29. HYDRAULIC FRACTURING:

Pro-fracking film cleans up on funding site

E&ETV's OnPoint

30. CLIMATE:

Analysis Group's Tierney discusses RGGI's move to scale back allowances

1. ADAPTATION:

Sea-level rise poses expensive questions for New York City (ClimateWire, 05/22/2012)

2. AIR POLLUTION:

Ohio EPA chief leads revolt against coalition of state regulators (Greenwire, 05/23/2012)

3. ADVOCACY:

Heartland Institute conference attendees try for a subtler skepticism, but group's leader sometimes strays off message (ClimateWire, 05/23/2012)