CLIMATE: A new study says that holding warming to 2 degrees Celsius could prevent millions of premature deaths in the U.S., as Bill Gates warns climate change will be deadlier than COVID-19 by midcentury. (The Hill, CNET)

UTILITIES: The governors of New York and Connecticut call for investigations into whether utilities were prepared for Tropical Storm Isaias, which spawned the worst string of power outages since Superstorm Sandy. (NPR, New York Times)

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PIPELINES: A federal appeals court overturns an order and allows oil to keep flowing through the Dakota Access pipeline for now, though an environmental review is still needed for a key water-crossing permit. (Bismarck Tribune) 

COAL:
• Colorado is looking for ways to help towns cope with a coal-free future, but possible state aid and help from foundations and other sources is complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. (Energy News Network)
• Analysts say coal generation could recover next year from recent low levels in grid operator PJM’s territory due to an anticipated natural gas price resurgence. (S&P Global)

UTILITIES:
• About 50 companies urge Ohio lawmakers to repeal HB 6, the state’s nuclear and coal bailout law at the center of an alleged bribery scheme. (Columbus Dispatch)
• An Illinois coalition calls for legislation that makes ethics reforms recently imposed on ComEd after its role in a bribery scheme apply to all utilities in the state. (Daily Herald)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Massachusetts lawmakers appear likely to pass a landmark clean energy bill this year, though details have yet to be worked out. (E&E News)
• Massachusetts rolls out final rules for a new “clean peak” standard requiring clean energy to be prioritized during times of peak demand. (State House News Service)
• A lawsuit alleging Oregon Gov. Kate Brown exceeded her authority with an executive order to reduce carbon emissions could face preliminary difficulties. (Capital Press)

SOLAR: The chairman of Mississippi’s utility commission drafts orders to approve a pair of $80 million solar projects. (Associated Press)

NUCLEAR: A Utah city considers backing away from its contract with an increasingly expensive small modular nuclear reactor project, as a taxpayers group urges other cities to do the same. (Cache Valley Daily, Power Magazine)

HYDROGEN: Energy experts debate whether renewable hydrogen is the future or is overhyped. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: EV charging station operator ChargePoint raises an additional $127 million from investors to expand its charging network ahead of anticipated demand from business and commercial fleets. (Forbes)

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JUSTICE: People of color pay disproportionately high amounts for electricity bills — a divide that is especially glaring in the South. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY: Why some advocates say it is “perverse” to use oil money to fund conservation efforts. (Gizmodo)

 

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.