GRID: Overwhelmed grid operator PJM Interconnection seeks a two-year pause on reviewing more than 1,200 mostly solar proposals across its jurisdiction spanning 13 states. (Inside Climate News)

ALSO: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says the state’s electrical grid is prepared for a winter storm set to arrive today that could push electricity demand close to what the state experienced last year when communities suffered widespread blackouts. (Dallas Morning News, Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers $2 billion to communities looking to fortify against climate change. (The Hill)
• Researchers find that increasing humidity associated with climate change will only exacerbate the harmful effects of a warming plant. (Associated Press)
• While global carbon emissions rose significantly from 2020 to 2021, increases fell short of what scientists predicted. (Bloomberg)
• Advocates developing Vermont’s Climate Action Plan consider new strategies to reduce transportation emissions after the apparent collapse of the regional Transportation and Climate Initiative. (Energy News Network)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: New York environmental justice leaders develop new criteria to identify disadvantaged communities as they look to prioritize those areas when enacting climate and clean energy provisions. (Grist)

POLITICS:
• U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says she believes the Biden administration’s revised Build Back Better package will win over Sen. Joe Manchin. (Politico)
• Michigan’s two U.S. senators reintroduce a bill that would appropriate $1.7 billion to the Department of Energy over five years for research and development on fuel-efficient vehicle technology. (Detroit News)

OIL & GAS:
• The U.S. Interior Department feels pressure from the fossil fuel industry and environmentalists after a judge remands the question of offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico back to it to decide whether to cancel, change or maintain the sale. (The Hill)
• ExxonMobil boosts its low-carbon division and accelerates its greenhouse gas emission reduction schedule, including a new goal of reaching net-zero carbon from its own operations in the Permian Basin by 2030. (E&E News, S&P Global)

CLEAN ENERGY: Amazon and Microsoft together purchased 12.4 GW of wind and solar generating capacity in 2021, making them the top two global corporate clean power buyers. (GeekWire)

UTILITIES: Victims of wildfires sparked by Pacific Gas & Electric’s equipment say California regulators’ renewal of the utility’s safety certification is a “license to burn.” (E&E News, subscription) 

HEATING: Massachusetts regulators approve $4 billion in new energy affordability incentives that include hundreds of millions of dollars for customers to install electric heat pumps. (Boston Globe)

TRANSPORTATION: Michigan plans to install a 1-mile road system near Detroit that can charge electric vehicles while they are stationary or in motion. (Crain’s Detroit Business)

COMMENTARY:
• An editorial board urges President Biden not to extend tariffs on solar products from China if he wants to meet emissions reduction goals. (Washington Post)
• Aerial monitoring with drones and making smart grid investments are alternatives to expensive underground transmission lines that can benefit the U.S. power grid, a columnist writes. (Governing)

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.