OIL & GAS: The U.S. Interior Department says it knows of 130,000 abandoned oil and gas wells throughout the country — more than double its 2019 count — as dozens of states prepare to seek federal funding for cleanup. (The Hill)

ALSO:
• A decade later, a survivor of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster struggles to process the trauma and the oil industry’s subsequent response. (Guardian)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management formally proposes to ban new oil and gas drilling on 351,000 acres of public land surrounding New Mexico’s Chaco Culture National Historical Park, beginning the public input and tribal consultation process. (news release)

CLIMATE:
• More than 40% of Americans live in a country that faced climate-related extreme weather in 2021, while 80% experienced a heat wave. (Washington Post)
• U.S. carbon emissions rose 7% through the end of October, despite President Biden aiming to cut emissions in half by 2030. (E&E News)
• Climate advocates say they’re feeling hopeful after Sen. Joe Manchin expressed openness to advancing climate provisions in the Build Back Better bill. (The Hill)
• Two studies find climate change-exacerbated extreme heat, drought and other weather events could affect the West’s power grids by depleting hydropower generation, decreasing system reliability and increasing electricity prices. (news release)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• General Motors announces it will roll out an electric Chevy Silverado pickup truck and Equinox and Blazer SUVs in 2023, alongside other electric vehicle debuts at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. (Axios, Utility Dive)
• The U.S. will need to triple its rate of installing electric vehicle chargers if it hopes to meet President Biden’s goal of having 500,000 charging ports in place by 2030, a study finds. (IHS Markit)

AIR POLLUTION: Most people living in cities around the world are exposed to unsafe air pollution each year, leading to an estimated 1.8 million excess deaths in 2019, a study estimates. (Axios)

EFFICIENCY: As Vermont aims to weatherize 90,000 homes this decade, lawmakers, advocates and nonprofit leaders propose coordinating training programs and appealing to the existing clean energy workforce to gather enough workers to finish the job. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:  Shell-backed solar company Silicon Ranch raises $775 million from investors as solar experiences a dramatic expansion across the U.S. (Reuters)

POLICY: New York Gov. Kathy signals her support for a statewide gas ban, bolstering electric vehicle infrastructure, and electrifying millions of homes in her annual State of the State speech. (E&E News, WWLP, news release)

OVERSIGHT: Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin names former coal lobbyist and Trump administration U.S. EPA chief Andrew Wheeler as secretary of natural resources, prompting outrage from environmental groups. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, Associated Press)

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.