SOLAR: The U.S. is on track to install 24% more solar capacity this year than last, a trade industry report finds, though material and labor shortages could complicate industry growth. (Reuters)

ALSO:
• Virginia ranked fifth in the nation for new solar capacity installed in the first quarter, reflecting new policies and attitudes enabled by a landmark energy bill passed last year. (Energy News Network)
• Appalachian Power negotiates a deal with Virginia public entities to reflect more generous parameters for net metering and third-party power purchase agreements allowed by state law. (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS:
• Decades of fracking development has brought heavy industry into many rural and urban communities throughout the U.S. (Reveal/Mother Jones)
• The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirms the state’s approval of permits for the Line 3 pipeline, dealing a setback to environmental groups and tribes challenging the project. (Star Tribune)
• The former CEO of three major U.S. utilities joins the board of directors of the company that was developing the Keystone XL pipeline. (E&E News, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Lordstown Motors’ shares dropped 19% on Monday following news that the startup’s CEO and CFO resigned amid an internal fraud investigation,. (Forbes)
• The company is part of a fledgling electric vehicle and battery manufacturing hub in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, where local officials are taking steps to ensure there are enough qualified workers to fill new jobs. (Energy News Network)
• Used electric vehicles are cheaper to own than used gas-powered cars, new research from a think tank finds, even considering their higher upfront costs. (Forbes)
• General Motors plans to soon announce more U.S. battery manufacturing plants as electric vehicle sales grow. (Associated Press)
• A Nevada electric vehicle battery recycling center plans a major expansion. (Reno Gazette-Journal)

PUBLIC LANDS: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recommends full restoration of the original boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, which the Trump administration downsized to enable oil and gas exploration. (Washington Post)

HYDROPOWER: In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Interior Secretary Haaland supports removal of four Klamath River dams and hydropower facilities. (Hydro Review)

GRID: Texas’ grid manager requests state residents conserve energy to avoid overwhelming the grid after a significant number of power plants go offline for maintenance. (Associated Press, KXAS)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: U.S. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski introduce a bill to establish a revolving loan fund program for energy efficiency improvements. (E&E News, subscription)

NUCLEAR: The U.S.’s nuclear power regulator allows a company to produce uranium that’s more enriched than what’s needed for conventional reactors. (Reuters)

OVERSIGHT: The EPA will reinstate an air pollution review panel disbanded under the Trump administration. (The Hill)

CLIMATE:
• The Supreme Court deals a blow to the oil industry by refusing to hear a climate case pitting California cities against fossil fuel companies. (E&E News, subscription)
• Online and TV ads tailored to climate change-skeptical conservatives could shift their views, research finds. (ABC News)

COMMENTARY:
• The U.S. can’t return to a post-pandemic “normal” when it comes to climate change and fossil fuel dependence, a reporter writes. (Vox)
• Leaders of wildlife advocacy groups urge the Biden administration to protect Nevada’s Ruby Mountains from oil and gas development. (Nevada Independent)

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.