RECONCILIATION:
• As he heads to the COP26 conference, President Biden is expected to announce a new framework today for a $1.85 trillion reconciliation bill that includes $555 billion for climate action, though it’s still unclear if all Democrats are on board.  (New York Times)
• Three Democratic U.S. senators say they oppose adding incentives to the bill for hydrogen produced with fossil fuels. (The Hill)

OIL & GAS:
• Executives from four major oil companies and two industry groups will testify for the House Oversight committee today as part of Democrats’ probe into fossil fuel companies’ “disinformation campaign” to block climate action. (The Hill)
• Activist investor Daniel Loeb purchases a stake in Shell and encourages it to spin off its natural gas, renewables and marketing businesses into a standalone company. (Wall Street Journal)
• New York officials block a proposed gas-fired power plant in New York City and another in the Hudson Valley, citing a 2019 state climate law in their decisions for the first time. (City Limits, Times Union)
• California labor unions and oil and gas industry workers join forces to block proposed refinery environmental and safety regulations. (Capital & Main)

EMISSIONS: The U.S. EPA is expected to propose rules soon that will crack down on methane leaks at hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells but won’t bar flaring natural gas. (Bloomberg)

GRID:
• While homeowners have been increasingly installing solar panels and electric vehicle chargers, many have found they can’t connect to their local utilities’ aging grids. (New York Times)
• A project connecting Texas to the Southeast grid that could take 17 years from conception to completion reveals it could take decades to build up the whole country’s grid. (E&E News)
• While so far only other nations likely have the means to shut down the U.S. power grid, security experts say individual actors are increasingly becoming able to wreak havoc. (Utility Dive)
• Grid operator PJM urges federal regulators to dismiss claims by the developer of a proposed 350-mile underground transmission project through Iowa and Illinois, saying the project would “subvert” PJM’s capacity market. (Utility Dive)

COAL:
• Dozens of global insurance companies have restricted their backing of coal companies, threatening investment in mines and coal-fired plants, but most major U.S. companies have so far not done so. (Washington Post)
• Republican lawmakers urge the Biden administration to refrain from reforming the federal coal lease program, claiming it could further raise energy prices. (E&E News, subscription)

SOLAR: After years of regulatory uncertainty, a Wisconsin bill would finally clarify that third-party owned solar installations are legal in the state. (Energy News Network)

POLITICS:  Observers believe a new North Carolina law aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions contains errors and ambiguities that could lead to lengthy court battles or even allow Duke Energy to build a raft of fossil gas plants in place of solar and wind farms. (Energy News Network)

FINANCE: Former Vice President Al Gore and other finance veterans launch a net-zero investment firm aimed at boosting clean energy, transportation, and other climate solutions. (Axios)

COMMENTARY: Three climate activists call out “the dirty dozen” of fossil fuel executives, lawmakers, media magnates and PR officials they deem to be “America’s top climate villains.” (The Guardian)

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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.