EQUITY: The U.S. Census significantly undercounted people of color in 2020, which could cost minority communities clean energy and environmental justice investments. (Grist)

ALSO: A leader of the Building Electrification Institute discusses how cities can equitably shift buildings away from fossil fuel reliance. (Canary Media)

POLITICS:
• Sarah Bloom Raskin withdraws her nomination to oversee the Federal Reserve after Sen. Joe Manchin blocked her nomination over her lack of commitment to an “all-of-the-above” energy policy. (New Yorker)
• A news outlet fact checks five energy-related claims by U.S. politicians amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (E&E News)
• The small climate aid investment allocated in Congress’ 2022 spending bill will weaken the country’s hand in international climate negotiations, experts say. (New York Times)

SOLAR:
• Installing home solar panels has become more affordable, but developers across the country say connecting those arrays to the grid has become an often-overlooked challenge. (E&E News)
• U.S. solar industry leaders say a federal investigation of solar imports from southeast Asia could chill foreign investment into the U.S. industry. (Bloomberg)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Switching to electric models of light-duty pickups, sedans and SUVs could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from driving by two-thirds in the near term, according to Ford and University of Michigan researchers. (MLive)
• Starbucks is partnering with Volvo and Chargepoint to install electric vehicle charging stations in its parking lots along a route from Seattle to Denver. (Fast Company)
• Mercedes opens an electric vehicle battery factory in Alabama to support its plans to make two electric SUVs at a nearby assembly plant. (Associated Press)

GRID: Managing homes’ electricity use would give utilities more power to prevent blackouts during weather emergencies, national lab researchers say, especially as homes increasingly rely on electricity to power their vehicles and appliances. (E&E News)

OIL & GAS:
• Fossil fuel-reliant states are passing legislation to steer away from doing business with financial groups that divest from fossil fuels, and the push seems to already be yielding some results. (NPR)
• Disney World’s Epcot Center operated an Exxon-sponsored ride for 35 years that used celebrities to extol the benefits of fossil fuels. (The Guardian)

LABOR: A Massachusetts internship program that attracted mostly “White males from private universities” has been retooled to open doors for people of color to access clean energy job opportunities. (Energy News Network)

CLEAN ENERGY: Puerto Rico’s public utility says it doesn’t think it can reach a mandated goal of 40% renewable power by 2025, even with a promised $12 billion in federal aid. (Inside Climate News)

COMMENTARY: An editorial board calls on President Biden to reinstate a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline to bring oil to Texas refineries and reduce reliance on exports. (Dallas Morning News)

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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.