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)
***SPONSORED LINK: The ESA Annual Energy Storage Conference & Expo (#ESACon20) is a true 360-degree conference experience – gone digital. Featuring one-on-one conversations and interactions, keynotes and educational content, demos of real projects from exhibitors in the eMarketplace, and more. Use code ENN2020VTL for 5% off. ***
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)
***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for emPOWER20 August 26-28, emPOWER is a virtual experience with 30 sessions and 40+ hours of content designed to foster a new kind of energy leadership. Join experts across the clean energy industry in finance, policy, and technology.***
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)