CLIMATE: An analysis finds that three quarters of board members at seven major U.S. banks have current or past ties to the oil and gas industry or other “climate-conflicted” companies or trade groups. (The Guardian)

ALSO:
• JPMorgan Chase privately lobbied the Trump administration to bail out the oil and gas sector last year while publicly claiming it would adjust its portfolio to match Paris agreement goals. (Mother Jones)
• Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the Biden administration will “encourage financial institutions” to align their portfolios with Paris agreement goals, and promises to utilize tax policy to encourage “a transition to a decarbonized economy.” (Bloomberg)

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EMISSIONS:
• The White House will debut a more ambitious emissions reduction goal ahead of its April 22 climate summit, with environmentalists hoping it will promise at least a 50% cut by 2030. (Axios, Bloomberg)
• The EPA expects to announce new vehicle emissions standards by the end of July, agency head Michael Regan says, and will allow California to set its own vehicle emissions goals. (Bloomberg)
• The tech industry is leading the rest of the world’s biggest companies when it comes to setting net-zero targets, with an analysis finding they “go beyond a company’s own operations and address its broader impacts on climate and society.” (Bloomberg)
• Hundreds of environmental groups petition the EPA to remove ethane and methane’s exemptions from emissions limits under the 1977 Clean Air Act. (The Hill)

UTILITIES: An investment fund seeks to buy a utility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but some residents are skeptical that the deal would help reduce its rates, which are some of the highest in the country. (Energy News Network)

GRID: Texas’ grid operator releases a report on February’s storm-related outages in which power plants operators attribute their problems as “weather related,” sparking outrage and mockery. (Austin American-Statesman; E&E News, subscription)

INFRASTRUCTURE: A ruling by the Senate parliamentarian could let Democrats pass the White House’s clean energy-focused infrastructure bill using the reconciliation process, provided the whole party signs on. (CNN)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors announces plans to build the electric Chevrolet Silverado, which is expected to get 400 miles of range per charge, at its new Factory ZERO in Detroit. (Detroit Free Press, Associated Press)

SOLAR: Maine regulators open an investigation after solar developers complain about potential delays and steep charges to connect to Central Maine Power’s grid, which the utility says are necessary to cover the cost of unexpected substation upgrades. (Bangor Daily News)

OIL & GAS:
• Tribal leaders tell Interior Secretary Deb Haaland that the Bureau of Land Management hasn’t done enough to protect New Mexico’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil and gas development. (Associated Press)
• Massachusetts’ utilities intend to make billions of dollars worth of upgrades to their natural gas distribution networks — plans that environmentalists say are at odds with decarbonization goals recently signed into law. (Boston Globe)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• The developers of three proposed offshore wind projects in federal waters off Oahu, Hawaii, hope for success under the Biden administration but face opposition from shoreline communities and fishing groups. (E&E News)
• California may miss out on the nation’s first wave of offshore wind development because the state’s steep ocean shelf makes anchoring turbines impractical, an industry expert says. (Capital Public Radio)

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COAL: The United Mine Workers of America announce a tentative deal with Warrior Met Coal that could end a strike for 1,100 workers in Alabama — including Kentucky miners who previously worked for bankrupt Blackjewel. (AL.com, WYMT)

COMMENTARY:
• The White House needs to make sure its proposed investment in electric school buses stays in its infrastructure bill to reduce kids’ exposure to harmful diesel fumes, a columnist writes. (Vox)
• An editorial board advocates for rooftop solar, saying it would be unwise for California regulators to undermine “one of the state’s most successful green power revolutions.” (Los Angeles Times)
• Considering the Biden administration’s decarbonization goals, New York’s Indian Point 3 nuclear facility shouldn’t be retired, a former state energy employee says. (lohud.com)

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.