POLITICS: Congressional Democrats consider reviving a carbon tax proposal after U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s opposition effectively killed the reconciliation bill’s proposed clean electricity program. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• Democrats highlight carbon and methane emissions fees and clean electricity tax credits as notable climate measures still in the reconciliation bill. (The Hill)
• A study suggests the clean electricity program would lead to large electricity sector emissions reductions in the next decade, while the infrastructure and reconciliation bills without it would increase emissions. (Canary Media)
• Attorneys general in Southeast states ask Congress to reject methane taxes in the infrastructure and reconciliation bills. (SCNow)
• The U.S. Senate’s 2022 appropriations bills would increase spending on public lands and environmental priorities by $6 billion from 2021 levels. (E&E News, The Hill)

CLIMATE: Rich countries’ pledges to cut emissions with pandemic recovery spending largely failed, with a good deal of funding directed toward polluting industries and fossil fuels. (Politico)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• So far this week, five major automakers have announced plans for electric vehicle component and assembly plants, or plans to raise capital for the transition from internal combustion vehicles. (Associated Press)
• Uber and Lyft are lobbying federal Democrats to include electric vehicle incentives in their reconciliation bill. (E&E News)

FOSSIL FUELS:
• In a U.S. House hearing, Democratic lawmakers accuse the owner of the pipeline that ruptured off southern California’s coast of delayed reporting of the spill and criticize the company for receiving $31 million in federal royalty relief. (E&E News, subscription; Los Angeles Times)  
• U.S. coal generation is expected to be 22% higher this year compared to 2020 due to soaring natural gas prices and relatively stable coal prices, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Reuters)
• A grassroots group formed to fight a now-canceled Virginia gas plant takes aim at a second power plant, its accompanying pipeline and a growing landfill working with a renewable gas generator. (Energy News Network)
• An environmental nonprofit’s new report finds western Pennsylvania has nearly 9,000 abandoned oil or gas wells, each a source of methane emissions. (WHYY)

HYDROGEN: A new partnership announces plans to build what will likely be the country’s largest renewable hydrogen hub in Mississippi, even as it remains uncertain how much support the industry will get in Congress’ infrastructure bills. (E&E News)

OVERSIGHT: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission nominee Willie Phillips’ experience with utility shutoffs and dedication to the “human side” of energy services will likely be among his focuses should he be confirmed to the board, supporters say. (E&E News)

STORAGE: A California company has successfully spent a year storing solar power in used Nissan Leaf batteries and selling the electricity when prices rise at night. (Canary Media) 

GRID: Texas regulators propose plans to winterize power plants, beginning with addressing issues that resulted in last winter’s outages, and eventually incorporating year-round weatherization standards. (KXAS)

FINANCE: NextEra Energy, PG&E and 13 other companies are removed from the Global Clean Energy Index amid moves to further reduce the index’s carbon footprint. (Bloomberg)

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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.