POLITICS: President Biden’s pledge to send 40% of the new infrastructure law’s climate resilience funding to underserved communities will be a challenge, experts say, because wealthier communities tend to have more resources and experience related to seeking out federal grants. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• A $29 billion provision in Democrats’ reconciliation bill is aimed at steering climate mitigation funds toward frontline communities by dispersing green investments to local financial institutions. (E&E News)
• Senate Democrats hope to solidify their Build Back Better bill this week and vote on it as soon as next week, though inter-party challenges raise doubts it can be finalized by Christmas. (E&E News)

OFFSHORE WIND: The U.S. will need 300 GW of offshore wind on the East Coast to meet 2050 decarbonization targets, experts say, creating challenges not only in deployment but in connecting all that electricity to an aging grid. (E&E News)

TRANSPORTATION:
• There could be wiggle room with President Biden’s union mandate for electric vehicle tax credits, as one Congress member says the clause is “less about unions than it is about the wages and benefits they provide.” (Bloomberg)
• Multimodal transportation advocates in Detroit call for mobility investments that go beyond electric vehicles, including transit, e-bikes and other alternatives. (Energy News Network / Planet Detroit)
• Toyota looks set to announce today it will invest billions of dollars in building a battery plant in North Carolina to help it ramp up electric vehicle production. (WAVY, Bloomberg)

SOLAR:
• The installed cost of utility-scale solar-storage systems dropped 12.3% over the last year, but supply chain issues could slow a continued price drop. (Utility Dive)
• Koch Industries announces its purchase of a solar company once owned by a Republican candidate for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat. (The Hill)
• Amazon announces a 70 MW solar farm in Georgia as part of a larger initiative to shift entirely to renewable energy by 2025. (Augusta Chronicle)

OIL & GAS:
• Some environmental advocates think the Biden administration neglected federal oil and gas leasing reforms to save political capital for more significant climate moves such as tightening methane emissions rules. (Inside Climate News)
• The Build Back Better act could help shield consumers from high gasoline prices by navigating the tricky task of winding down both supply and demand. (Grist)
• The National Park Service intends to disconnect from Philadelphia’s steam-heating system and use natural gas boilers instead to save money, though environmental advocates say it runs counter to the Biden administration’s climate goals. (E&E News)

GRID:
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Richard Glick says the regulator won’t require utilities to participate in regional transmission organizations. (Utility Dive)
• Leaders in Texas cities say they’re better positioned for a winter storm than last year, but still face shortfalls in their ability to ensure water stays on and to deliver necessary information to their most vulnerable residents. (Texas Tribune)

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.