TRANSMISSION: The bipartisan infrastructure bill will let FERC overturn state objections to transmission projects, as well as let it more frequently examine where transmission corridors are needed, likely boosting the federal government’s ability to build out the grid. (E&E News)
COP26:
• Former President Barack Obama uses his COP26 speech to discourage global leaders and young people from becoming cynical about climate action, and condemns Republicans for making climate change a partisan issue. (New York Times)
• Countries are unlikely to leave COP26 with an agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, but advocates hope deals that were made will push nations to more quickly reduce emissions. (New York Times)
• States and provincial leaders, including several U.S. governors, speak at COP26 to share how they’ve made emissions reduction pledges that go beyond their federal governments’ commitments. (RTO Inside, subscription)
POLITICS:
• Environmental advocates say it’s a “lie” to label the bipartisan infrastructure bill a climate victory and criticize progressives who voted to pass the measure before the reconciliation bill. (The Hill)
• Newly emboldened Virginia Republicans aim to roll back the state’s landmark clean energy reforms but face numerous obstacles that include a Democratic-controlled state Senate and market forces already embracing renewables. (Energy News Network)
• Major Ohio utilities’ spending on lobbying and political contributions continued this year in the wake of the scandal surrounding House Bill 6. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR:
• Google covers its newest office buildings with overlapping “dragonscale” solar panels that are expected to generate 40% of the buildings’ electricity needs. (Grist)
• The largest solar project in the U.S. under development in northwestern Indiana is poised to provide huge financial gains for dozens of local landowners and the two counties where it’s located. (Indianapolis Star)
OVERSIGHT:
• Power producers ask a U.S. appeals court to overturn a PJM Interconnection market rule that set a minimum price for state-subsidized energy from nuclear plants and wind farms. (E&E News)
• Federal regulators order a trading firm and its two founders to pay nearly $230 million in fines for allegedly manipulating PJM Interconnection’s financial transmission rights market. (Utility Dive)
PIPELINES: The Biden administration confirms it is reviewing the potential environmental impact of replacing the Line 5 pipeline but that it has not made a decision on the existing pipeline. (Detroit News)
NUCLEAR:
• While the U.S. has long financed fusion energy research, private investors are finally rivaling that support and putting money into fusion startups. (Quartz)
• Keeping Diablo Canyon nuclear plant running for 20 years beyond its 2025 retirement date would reduce California’s carbon emissions and dependency on natural gas, researchers say. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
• As COP26 draws to a close, climate envoy John Kerry and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky urge countries to embrace climate solutions that can also create jobs and drive economic growth. (Boston Globe)
• The Biden administration should avoid government intervention and subsidies and instead encourage competitive electricity markets to encourage clean energy development, a think tank fellow writes. (Utility Dive)
• Two climate experts and a scientist outline why the world needs to quickly reduce superpollutant and methane emissions to curb devastating temperature rise. (New York Times)