CLIMATE:
• Employees and outside critics of the public relations giant Edelman say the company’s statements urging climate action sharply contrast its image-softening work with fossil fuel companies. (New York Times)
• The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator says the deadly tornadoes that hit the Midwest and southern states this weekend will be the “new normal” as climate change worsens. (HuffPost)

COAL:
• Coal’s accelerating demise leaves behind environmental devastation throughout the U.S., including 2,300 square miles of land scarred by mountaintop removal and other forms of surface mining. (Inside Climate News)
• The Biden administration halts financing for overseas coal plants and other emissions-heavy projects, with an exemption for existing projects. (Bloomberg)
• Public meetings began last week as part of a new Illinois law that requires coal plant owners to discuss their plans for closing coal ash impoundments and mitigating the risk of contamination. (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS:
• Biden’s executive order requiring federal agencies to decarbonize leaves questions over how the government will enforce its emissions reductions and which energy industries the move will affect the most. (E&E News)
• A Louisiana woman fights a massive build-out of natural gas export facilities that would affect her city, where nearly half the residents are Black. (Sierra)

SOLAR:
• The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Google have developed a physics-based simulation software they say will help make faster efficiency improvements to photovoltaic cells. (PV Magazine)
• Purdue University researchers study the potential of “aglectric” farming, which mounts solar panels 15 to 20 feet above ground to allow space for crops to grow underneath. (Times Herald)
• A solar development set to go online next year will power 80% of Salt Lake City’s municipal buildings and facilities and send electricity to surrounding towns and ski areas. (Salt Lake Tribune)

GRID: Regional grid operators play a major — and often overlooked — role in decarbonizing the country’s energy supply and building out clean energy and storage resources. (Utility Dive)

STORAGE: The U.S. deployed a record-breaking 3,515 MWh of new storage in the third quarter of this year, and is likely to exceed that total in the fourth quarter. (Utility Dive)

POLITICS: A Brown University study finds Connecticut utility and business interests outspend environmental organizations on lobbying 8-to-1, though an industry group says the research overstates its influence on energy issues. (Energy News Network)

PIPELINES:
• Hundreds of anti-pipeline protestors rally and highlight more than 300 water violations by the Mountain Valley Pipeline ahead of a pivotal decision this week whether to award the project a crucial permit to cross waterways. (Associated Press, WDBJ, Roanoke Times)
• Tribal leaders in Michigan express “cautious optimism” about the state’s recent legal maneuvering on Line 5, but express concerns about an overall lack of consultation on the issue. (MiBiz)

PUBLIC LANDS: U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland says her agency is currently processing 36 solar, four wind and four geothermal projects proposed for Western public lands. (Desert Sun)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors is considering a site in Lansing, Michigan, for a $2.5 billion battery cell manufacturing plant. (Detroit News)

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Kathryn Krawczyk

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.