TRANSPORTATION: The Biden administration issues guidance to states on accessing $5 billion in federal funding to build electric vehicle charging stations along interstate highways, asking them to specify how they’ll equitably distribute the funding. (Washington Post, The Hill)

ALSO:
• Federal infrastructure funding will likely worsen the U.S.’s climate impact if it’s not spent carefully, as states are eager to build out highways and likely increase emissions at the same time. (New York Times)
• Republican lawmakers tell governors to ignore federal government guidance compelling states to spend infrastructure funding on public transit and climate resilience projects and build roads and bridges instead. (E&E News)

UTILITIES:
• In a meeting with President Biden, energy utility executives say they’ll support the stalled Build Back Better bill and other aggressive climate measures and lobby lawmakers to pass the package. (E&E News)
• Emissions reductions pledges from investor-owned utilities will likely only result in a 2.9% decrease in overall U.S. emissions by 2050, the U.S. Energy Information Administration finds. (Utility Dive)
• Clean energy tax credits included in the Build Back Better bill would reduce the cost of cutting power sector emissions and bring big financial benefits to the sector, an analysis finds. (Axios)

PIPELINES: More than a dozen states have passed laws criminalizing protests on “critical infrastructure,” and pipeline advocates say law enforcement uses threats of felony charges to deter activists. (The Guardian)

SOLAR:
• Grid operator PJM Interconnection proposes to prioritize shovel-ready solar projects to help clear a backlog of thousands of interconnection requests. (NJ Spotlight)
• Florida lawmakers advance a utility-backed bill to require new rooftop solar panel customers to pay higher rates as solar workers rally against the legislation. (Florida Politics, Electrek)
• An Ohio bill that already passed nearly unanimously in the state senate would prevent all but “reasonable restrictions” on solar installations by homeowner associations. (Energy News Network)

CLIMATE: The White House is expected to soon release social cost figures for carbon, methane and other greenhouse gas emissions meant to quantify their risks to public health and other factors. (E&E News)

COAL: Dozens of conservation and Indigenous groups nationwide plan to sue the U.S. EPA, saying the agency has failed to enforce regional haze rules and reduce coal power plant pollution. (KNAU) 

FINANCE: New York’s state pension fund, the third-largest in the country, will sell $238 million worth of stock and debt in 21 shale companies it says aren’t trying to lower emissions, but will keep its holdings in another 21 shale companies. (Reuters)

OIL & GAS: A major natural gas trade group claims the industry can grow by 24% over the next 30 years while also repairing and preventing leaks to stem its climate impact. (Grist)

STORAGE: Georgia Power announces plans to install and test a novel iron-air battery to provide long-duration energy storage and maybe become part of its shift to clean energy. (Canary Media)

COMMENTARY: A columnist argues for abandoning the term “natural” gas, saying it has long led people to believe the fossil fuel is harmless and helped it flourish. (Vox)

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.