ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The White House unveils a plan to build a “convenient and equitable” network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers and expand EV access by using funding from the infrastructure and reconciliation bills and creating a federal office dedicated to the rollout. (news release, The Hill)

ALSO:
• Democratic senators’ preliminary text for their reconciliation bill includes tax credits for union-made electric vehicles despite Sen. Joe Manchin’s opposition. (The Hill)
• Analysts say the ongoing recall associated with GM’s electric Bolt suggests the automaker’s electric vehicle plans are off to a rough start. (CNN Business)
• A $3,900 kit is making it easier to convert combustion vehicles to electric. (New York Times)
• Fort Worth, Texas, courted electric vehicle maker Rivian with a $440 million tax incentive package but seems to have lost the deal to Georgia, where an announcement is expected Thursday. (Fort Worth Business Press, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

FOSSIL FUELS:
• Twenty-two House and Senate Democrats have strong approval from a major environmental advocacy group despite maintaining fossil fuel investments. (Insider)
• A Department of Justice memo from August contradicts the Biden administration’s claims it was legally bound to hold last month’s oil and gas drilling lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. (Guardian)
• A private equity fund merges two energy companies in the Permian Basin to create an oil producer worth more than $4 billion that it wants to take public as soon as next year. (Reuters)

PIPELINES: The Biden administration asks Great Lakes Indigenous tribes for input on upcoming treaty talks between the U.S. and Canada over the Line 5 pipeline. (E&E News)

GRID: Louisiana residents hard hit by Hurricane Ida say they’ve received high bills from Entergy stacked with fees and surcharges, even though some don’t have homes, are running on generator power or don’t have any power lines connected to their property. (Houma Today)

HYDROGEN: Green hydrogen could become cheaper than fossil fuel-produced hydrogen by 2030 and fossil fuels by 2050, analysts find. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES: Cincinnati and Columbus dismiss their civil lawsuit claims against FirstEnergy and Energy Harbor for the companies’ actions related to the power plant bailout law scandal after favorable court rulings and a partial repeal of the law. (Energy News Network / Eye on Ohio)

SOLAR: California regulators propose slashing incentives for rooftop solar, creating a grid participation fee, and incentivizing battery storage, drawing criticism from the solar industry and praise from utilities and some environmental groups. (Los Angeles Times) 

TRANSPORTATION: A news outlet examines the history and popularity of Amtrak’s Downeaster rail line in Maine — and why it’s hard to replicate its pandemic rebound in other states seeking more extensive transit options. (Governing)

POLICY: Iowa clean energy advocates are eager to see the impact of a newly elected Des Moines city council member who has pledged more aggressive action on climate and clean energy. (Energy News Network)

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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.