CLEAN ENERGY: The U.S. is on track to install 27 GW of new wind generation and 44 GW of solar next year, representing a plateau for wind but a doubling of solar from 2021, according to a new market research report. (Utility Dive)

POLITICS:
• President Biden signs the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, setting into motion funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and grid improvements. (E&E News)
• Attention moves to Democrats’ reconciliation bill, which would rewrite clean energy tax codes to require developers to use union- and American-made materials. (E&E News)

GRID:
• Power sector leaders say they’re concerned about rising fuel prices and how supply chain problems could slow renewable development, but see opportunity in the federal government’s new focus on transmission and clean energy. (E&E News)
• Analysts and grid operators tell FERC to avoid creating rules that could lead to overbuilding of transmission assets as the regulatory body looks to push grid upgrades. (E&E News)
• Increasingly severe storms are taking an unprecedented toll on the country’s infrastructure, including its electrical grid. (Wall Street Journal)
• Southwest Power Pool, Xcel Energy and California Independent System Operator vie to form a Western regional transmission organization. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR:
• Advocates push Virginia lawmakers to expand access to solar-subscription programs that let residents buy into shared solar projects, following the lead of a Dominion Energy program approved last year. (Energy News Network)
• After six years of twists and turns, northern Minnesota’s first solar-storage project, a $6 million effort combining 2 MW of solar with 1 MW of storage, is nearly complete. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES: Con Edison pledges to both reach net-zero emissions at its facilities and provide 100% clean electricity for its customers by 2040, putting the utility in line with state goals. (NY1)

TRANSPORTATION:
• Georgia officials and electric truck and SUV maker Rivian discuss opening a vehicle manufacturing and battery plant east of Atlanta. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• The U.S. EPA says it will not rewrite airplane emissions rules finalized under the Trump administration that environmentalists say don’t go far enough to regulate the sector. (Reuters)

LITHIUM: Drilling begins at a General Motors-backed effort to extract lithium for batteries and produce geothermal power at southern California’s Salton Sea. (Los Angeles Times)

COAL: A judge extends a temporary restraining order preventing striking Alabama coal miners from picketing as the union files plans to resume. (AL.com)

COMMENTARY:
• Continued progress toward Paris Agreement goals and a bevvy of international agreements provide hope for the future after COP26’s close, David Roberts writes. (Volts)
• States and cities are failing to consider policy and process barriers to their net-zero goals and need to recruit new, diverse employees to help them drive these plans, energy analysts write. (Utility Dive)
• The Biden administration’s resumption of lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico shows the energy transition will still include oil and gas production and petrochemical manufacturing for the foreseeable future, writes an editorial board. (The Advocate)

Kathryn brings her extensive editorial background to the Energy News Network team, where she oversees the early-morning production of ENN’s five email digest newsletters as well as distribution of ENN’s original journalism with other media outlets. From documenting chronic illness’ effect on college students to following the inner workings of Congress, Kathryn has built a broad experience in her more than five years working at major publications including The Week Magazine. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism and information management and technology from Syracuse University.