OIL & GAS: Democrats remove a provision to ban new offshore drilling off the U.S. coasts from their reconciliation bill after objections from Sen. Joe Manchin, putting a proposed ban on drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in question as well. (New York Times, Washington Post)
ALSO:
• The coronavirus pandemic and resulting sag in Louisiana’s oil industry is accelerating a transition to wind and solar. (Grist)
• Two bidders want to restart a troubled oil refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands despite two bankruptcies, a troubled environmental past and a shaky financial outlook. (Inside Climate News)
UTILITIES:
• Utilities across the U.S. are increasingly pledging they’ll reach net-zero emissions, but watchdogs and experts say they’re not cutting off fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy fast enough to do so by 2050. (S&P Global)
• A Virginia electric cooperative wants to raise its fixed rates despite critics who say doing so penalizes low-income customers and judicious energy users, and means solar power and energy efficiency measures will have a reduced effect on bills. (Energy News Network)
PIPELINES:
• Tribal members and environmental advocates who protested a proposed natural gas pipeline in Oregon sue the state, claiming it engaged in “illegal domestic spying” against demonstrators. (Grist)
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Richard Glick says the body will strengthen its oversight of natural gas pipelines and apply more rigorous standards before approving projects. (E&E News, subscription)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A new report highlights best practices for local leaders and companies to use while expanding clean vehicle production in neighborhoods historically burdened by pollution from auto production facilities. (Energy News Network)
• Electric vehicle maker Rivian confirms it will start building a $5 billion factory near Atlanta next spring, and says it expects to deliver completed electric vehicles in two years. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WABE, Georgia Recorder)
CLEAN ENERGY: Midwestern cities lag behind coastal cities in developing strong renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, according to new rankings. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR: Consumer advocates and a major environmental group have sided with utilities in the debate over California’s proposed rooftop solar reforms. (Inside Climate News)
CARBON CAPTURE: Major oil companies, tech entrepreneurs and the federal government are among the biggest backers of carbon capture startups. (E&E News)
WIND: Federal officials determine that selling up to 10 commercial or research wind development leases off Long Island and New Jersey would have “no significant” environmental impacts during pre-construction tests and surveys. (E&E News)
CLIMATE:
• The U.S. saw the most reports of hurricane-force wind in a single day on Wednesday, capping a year of extreme weather. (Axios)
• Google promised to stop running climate denial ads ahead of last month’s COP26 conference, but a watchdog says dozens of ads are still appearing. (New York Times)
MINING: A rush to mine lithium for electric vehicles in Nevada is pitting climate advocates and environmental groups against each other. (CNN)