SOLAR:
• High polysilicon prices are not expected to decrease anytime soon and are jeopardizing some solar projects as developers delay installations they promised to complete on low bids. (Canary Media)
• Two eastern Kansas counties consider various utility-scale solar zoning regulations as a developer plans one of the nation’s largest solar projects there. (Energy News Network)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• A technology-neutral Clean Electricity Performance Plan could help keep some fossil fuel plants online as it opens up funding for carbon capture, experts say. (E&E News)
• Grid operators in the eastern U.S. call on Congress to include a “reliability safety valve” in any clean energy legislation that will give power suppliers more time to meet clean energy goals without jeopardizing reliability. (E&E News)
• U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine expresses skepticism that the country can reach President Biden’s annual renewable energy growth targets, pointing to the slow pace of bringing projects online in his state. (Utility Dive)

CLIMATE:
• Federal agencies and Cabinet departments release climate adaptation plans to address their realms’ biggest threats, with the Department of Energy highlighting extreme weather risks to radioactive waste disposal. (New York Times)
• A group of U.S. Senate Democrats dig in their heels against cuts to climate funding within their reconciliation bill, with Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., saying “there isn’t a middle ground between a livable and unlivable world.” (E&E News)
• New York City’s Council passes a bill requiring the mayor’s office to develop a climate resiliency plan by September 2022, in addition to a roadmap detailing how the city will tackle climate-exacerbated issues like severe flooding. (WNYC)
• Google and YouTube announce they’ll no longer let creators monetize climate denial content. (Axios)

OIL & GAS:
• President Biden restores about 2 million acres of public land to two Utah national monuments, putting the land off limits to coal and oil and gas leasing. (New York Times)
• Senate Democrats from West Coast states leverage California’s oil spill to get a ban on Pacific offshore drilling in their reconciliation bill. (Business Insider)
• A Louisiana task force formed to address climate change has instead been used by the oil, gas and chemical industries to extend the state’s reliance on fossil fuels — particularly through carbon capture. (Southerly)

HYDROGEN: Natural gas utilities have announced at least 26 hydrogen pilot projects in the past year, with more than half pursuing hydrogen production and many others exploring transportation and transmission uses. (S&P Global)

TRANSPORTATION:
• Tesla CEO Elon Musk announces the electric car company will move its headquarters to Austin, Texas, although it will continue to grow its manufacturing facilities in California. (Associated Press)
• Amtrak begins operating a Richmond-to-D.C. commuter line, the first project under Virginia’s $37 billion rail initiative that aims to expand and streamline commuter, passenger and freight rail systems to reduce emissions. (Energy News Network)

WIND:
• GE says its offshore wind prototype is operating at 14 MW, exceeding its earlier goal of 12 MW. (Utility Dive)
• Ørsted plans to build an almost $20 million operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City, Maryland, as part of the company’s plans to turn the town into an offshore wind development hub. (Salisbury Daily Times)

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.