SOLAR: A coalition of justice, environmental, and renewable industry groups are pushing Congress to revise a longstanding home solar tax credit to more immediately benefit low-income people. (Axios)

ALSO: A new study finds California’s grid constraints could leave disadvantaged populations with “disproportionately less grid capacity to host renewable solar energy,” piling more difficulties on top of high costs that already limit solar adoption. (The Hill) 

POLITICS:
• The Biden administration is set to advance its climate goals within the Departments of Energy and the Interior this fall and install a new FERC member, though unfilled vacancies and missed deadlines could slow plans. (E&E News)
• The U.S. House’s energy committee has so far advanced a methane emissions fee and environmental justice grants for inclusion in Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill, with further markup to continue today. (E&E News)
• Six moderate Democratic House members say the reconciliation bill is “targeting the U.S. oil, natural gas, and refining industries” and say the package should consider natural gas as a clean energy source. (The Hill)

EMISSIONS: The U.S. and European Union have reportedly pledged to cut methane emissions by about a third by 2030. (Reuters)

OIL & GAS:  The Biden administration terminates an offshore oil royalty break meant to support operators during the pandemic. (E&E News)

UTILITIES:
• Documents show that while Tennessee Valley Authority officials denied involvement with an industry group that challenged pollution rules, one of its key environmental managers was kept in the loop about litigation and signed off on billing statements that mentioned legal fees. (E&E News)
• An independent audit finds several minor violations by FirstEnergy utilities related to the state’s corporate separation rules and recommends more compliance measures from the company. (Cleveland.com)
• A judge questions the Pacific Gas & Electric troubleman who first came upon the Dixie Fire in an effort to determine the utility’s role in sparking the blaze. (San Francisco Chronicle)

COAL:
• Democrats’ clean energy payment plan could eliminate coal in the U.S. by 2030, a coal producer trade group says. (Bloomberg)
• Hedge fund investors brought environmental and cultural changes to the coal industry that left long-term scars in Appalachia, writes a journalist in a new book. (Guardian)
• Delaware’s last coal-fired plant may stay online beyond its previously announced 2022 closure date because grid upgrades needed to ensure reliability won’t wrap up until at least 2026. (Delaware Business Times)

NUCLEAR: Federal regulators approve plans for a company to store nuclear waste in west Texas despite the objections from the local community, state, and oil companies. (Bloomberg)

GRID: Hurricane Nicholas makes landfall in Texas as more than 110,000 customers in Louisiana still lack power after Hurricane Ida. (Newsweek, S&P Global)

BIOFUELS: Past failures and questions over the actual environmental benefits of biofuels complicate the U.S. airline industry’s new sustainable fuel goals. (New York Times)  

CLIMATE: President Biden will visit the Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado today after touring California wildfire damage yesterday, calling the fires a“code red for our nation.” (Associated Press, New York Times)

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Kathryn Krawczyk

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.