EQUITY: The Build Back Better Act would eliminate barriers for lower-income households to claim clean energy incentives, but an equitable rollout would still hinge on how the programs are promoted and perceived locally. (Grist)

ALSO: Majority Black and Latino communities across the U.S. produce fewer carbon emissions than white neighborhoods, but still have to devote far larger portions of their income to energy costs, a study finds. (Grist)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The fate of the Biden administration’s plans to boost electric vehicles is up to state utility commissions, which have the sole power to incentivize customers to install charging connections. (E&E News)
• Tesla files paperwork to formally move its headquarters from California to Austin, Texas. (Newsweek)
• Smart-charging technology could help avoid the need for grid upgrades by shifting charging to when electricity demand is low and allowing EVs to work as virtual power plants when demand is high. (Axios)

OIL & GAS:
• Fossil fuel industry groups lobby Sen. Joe Manchin to fight proposed increases to drilling royalty rates on federal land. (E&E News)
• Formal talks between Canada and the U.S. should start soon over the fate of the Line 5 pipeline. (Reuters)

CLIMATE: An influential group that represents CEOs of major U.S. companies says it supports much of the Build Back Better Act, namely its climate provisions, but opposes business tax hikes. (Bloomberg)

TRANSPORTATION: Massachusetts environmental and transit advocates see an opportunity to make even more equitable and effective policies to fight the climate crisis following the state’s decision to withdraw from a regional transportation emissions pact. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:
• Two years after opening the gates for small-scale renewable development in Maine, officials turn to a stakeholder advisory group to determine how to situate new projects in prime spots on the grid. (Energy News Network)
• Duke Energy and solar advocates announce a net-metering agreement in North Carolina that includes time-varying solar rates and incentives for residential customers to invest in smart thermostats, battery storage and more. (WFAE, Canary Media, Utility Dive)

ELECTRIFICATION: A planned 19,300-home Southern California development agrees to incentivize electric vehicles, ban natural gas hookups, and require solar power for residences, in exchange for an environmental group dropping its legal challenges. (Los Angeles Times)

LITHIUM: A Paiute activist says a proposal to build a lithium mine on a historic massacre site at Nevada’s Thacker Pass is like putting a “mine on Arlington Cemetary.” (Guardian)

BIOFUELS: Renewable fuel advocates want Senate lawmakers to clarify in the Build Back Better Act that refineries that co-process petroleum with small amounts of biofuel feedstocks shouldn’t qualify for certain tax credits. (E&E News)

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.