CLIMATE: Editors of more than 230 medical journals sign on to an editorial calling climate change “the greatest threat to global public health” and telling lawmakers action can’t wait until after the COVID-19 pandemic is over. (Axios)

ALSO:
• Nearly 1 in 3 Americans live in a county that saw a weather disaster this summer, while about two-thirds experienced a multiday heat wave. (Washington Post)
• More than 1,500 environmental organizations call on the United Nations to postpone this fall’s COP26 climate conference, citing vaccine inequity and other pandemic safety concerns. (Associated Press)

POLITICS:
• The White House and environmental groups are seeking corporate support for Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, but even companies that have made major climate pledges have so far not come through. (E&E News)
• Hurricane Ida becomes a rallying point in efforts to pass two federal infrastructure proposals. (Associated Press) 

OVERSIGHT: Advocates and lawmakers push President Biden to nominate Neil Chatterjee’s replacement to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in order to break ties and advance climate policy, weeks after Biden was first able to do so. (Utility Dive, The Hill)

SOLAR:
• House Democrats introduce a bill to make solar companies eligible for a full-value production tax credit currently available to wind and geothermal energy. (The Hill)
• As debate continues over where best to site renewable power plants in space-constrained Massachusetts, two developers plan to install floating solar panels atop artificial bodies of water. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES:
• Utility officials report Hurricane Ida did more damage to Louisiana’s electrical grid than any other storm in the state’s history as outages remain across the state. (KATC)
• Dominion Energy overcharged customers by $1.2 billion since 2015, a consultant and former utility executive testifies on behalf of an environmental group in the utility’s triennial review. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

PIPELINES: Progressive Congress members known as the “Squad” at an event Friday called on President Biden to stop construction on the nearly completed Line 3 pipeline. (Star Tribune)

EMISSIONS: Current and planned carbon emission reductions in power generation could devalue recently retrofit coal plants by $34 billion and strand another $34 billion in new gas plant construction, according to an analysis. (S&P Global)

OIL & GAS: Divers dispatched to an ongoing Gulf of Mexico oil spill identify its apparent source as a broken pipeline displaced from a trench on the ocean floor, though the company paying for the cleanup says it does not belong to them. (Associated Press)

WIND: After recently accepting two new wind project bids, New Jersey is more than halfway toward its goal of installing 7,500 MW of wind capacity by 2035. (NJ Spotlight)

COMMENTARY:
• A former environmental journalist argues for expanding demand management programs to ease grid strain rather than building new natural gas plants. (New York Times)
• Louisiana’s prolonged blackouts in the wake of Hurricane Ida and growing reliance on the grid for things such as electric vehicles show the need for resilience investments, writes a columnist. (Reuters)
• A climate advocate outlines five ways policymakers can incentivize utilities to shut down coal plants before using public funds on buyouts. (Canary Media)

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.