TRANSPORTATION: House Democrats unveil a $500 billion infrastructure bill that includes investments in transit, passenger rail and electric vehicles. (The Hill)
EQUITY:
• Congressional Democrats are insisting on bills to address environmental justice along with other energy and environmental legislation. (E&E News)
• Amid unprecedented racial and environmental justice protests, states have introduced bills or passed laws in recent years that increase penalties for interfering with oil and gas activity or disturbing government meetings. (Grist)
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OVERSIGHT: Former EPA employees issue a critique of the Trump administration’s weakening of the agency, saying the president’s aim is to “help polluters and harm the public, now and in the future.” (The Hill)
RENEWABLES: As renewables become cheaper than new fossil fuel generation, clean energy groups want to greatly expand market share over the next decade. (Utility Dive)
TRANSMISSION: FERC and states view interstate transmission projects as a way to jump-start economic recovery while meeting clean energy targets. (E&E News)
OIL & GAS:
• A first-of-its-kind study finds that pregnant women in rural California were 40% more likely to give birth to babies with a low birthweight if living near active oil and gas wells. (Cal Matters)
• Democratic lawmakers want to prevent future stimulus funds from supporting fossil fuel companies. (Michigan Advance)
• A report says a massive Pennsylvania petrochemical plant now under construction in the state’s shale gas region faces risks from low prices and oversupply. (Reuters)
• Former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling, recently released from a 14-year prison term for fraud, plans to start a digital marketplace for oil and gas investors. (Reuters)
PIPELINES:
• A federal appeals court overturns a Massachusetts permit for a compressor station, ruling state environmental officials failed to sufficiently assess available emissions control technologies. (Patriot Ledger)
• A New Jersey brief filed at the U.S. Supreme Court says the pipeline industry exaggerates harm caused by a state decision to block eminent domain seizures of public lands. (Platts)
EMISSIONS: A coalition of Northeastern states supports Maryland’s petition to federal environmental officials to control emissions from Pennsylvania power plants. (Bloomberg, subscription required)
CLIMATE:
• A judge dismisses a climate lawsuit brought by Florida youth, who plan to appeal. (WUSF)
• New Jersey becomes the first state in the nation to require climate change education in its standard K-12 curriculum. (Patch)
SOLAR: A suburban Omaha county passes new zoning regulations that could complicate or possibly undo a utility’s plans for a major solar project and gas plant to serve the city. (Energy News Network)
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Virginia cities are leading the way in the state on electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure. (Greater Greater Washington)
COMMENTARY:
• Black environmentalists and other activists of color talk about the relationship between social justice and climate action. (New York Times, Grist)
• An energy columnist says oil companies can help advance renewable energy by spinning off their investments. (Bloomberg)