ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A New York state program could provide a blueprint for the Biden administration as it seeks to define the “disadvantaged communities” that at least 40% of infrastructure and clean energy spending is meant to benefit. (Grist)

POLITICS:
• Senate Republicans block further debate over a bipartisan infrastructure bill, arguing it’s not ready yet, though top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer says he’ll bring it for a vote again as early as next week. (Reuters)
• U.S. Rep. Sean Casten launches a “Hot FERC Summer” campaign that aims to draw attention to the regulatory board and introduces bills to codify FERC’s ability to consider climate impacts when approving projects. (Utility Dive)

STORAGE: Massachusetts startup Form Energy says it has built an inexpensive battery out of iron that can store massive amounts of renewable electricity on a power grid so it can be used around the clock. (Wall Street Journal)

BUILDINGS:
• The Department of Energy says adopting the latest commercial and residential model building codes would save $138 billion over the next 30 years. (The Hill)
• A study shows how making buildings more efficient could expedite the clean energy transition by turning buildings into grid resources. (news release)

COAL:
• The U.S. Commerce Department announces it’s allocating $300 million in pandemic relief funds to coal communities to help them recover from the pandemic and create new jobs. (ABC News)
• U.S. senators from West Virginia and Wyoming strike a deal to renew the fee that coal companies pay to clean up abandoned mines and infuse the Interior Department’s reclamation fund with an additional $11.3 billion. (E&E News)

UTILITIES:
• Pacific Gas & Electric says it will bury 10,000 miles of its power lines to reduce fire hazard as yet another wildfire potentially sparked by its equipment burns in California. (New York Times)
• Rural Colorado electric cooperatives seeking to split from power wholesaler Tri-State Generation face estimated exit fees ranging from hundreds of millions of dollars to more than a billion. (Colorado Sun)

CLIMATE:
• Senior Biden administration officials say the Midwest will play a key role in emission reductions as part of the U.S. climate strategy. (Indiana Environmental Reporter)
• Utah Republican U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney says a failure to act to prevent global warming due to politics would be “an extraordinary lapse in America’s judgment.” (Deseret News)

OIL & GAS:  A new report by an environmental group calls for stricter standards around radioactive waste from oil and gas production that states often ignore. (news release; E&E News, subscription)

SOLAR: Duke Energy announces plans to build four new solar facilities in northern Florida as part of a $1 billion, 10-site solar infrastructure plan that will produce 750 MW once it is completed. (The Capitolist, WMBB)

PIPELINES: Minnesota law enforcement agencies in charge of policing Line 3 pipeline protests expect to benefit from additional funding if the project is completed. (The Intercept)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Quickly transitioning to electric vehicles proves a major challenge for large fleets, which need to figure out how to charge dozens of vehicles for hours while avoiding timed fees that could balloon their electric bills. (E&E News)
• In Boston, a new electric vehicle rental program offers income-tiered prices, allowing those who receive city social services to access the vehicles for half the price. (Boston Globe)

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.