CLIMATE: Today’s 6-year-olds will live through about three times as many climate disasters as their grandparents if current warming trends continue, a study finds. (Washington Post)

POLITICS:
• U.S. Senate Democrats are preparing a carbon tax proposal that could offset some costs of the party’s $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill and be used for direct payments to households. (Bloomberg)
• The U.S. Senate parliamentarian is expected to decide soon whether Democrats’ Clean Electricity Performance Program can be included in the reconciliation bill. (E&E News)

HYDROGEN:
• Hydrogen has been called the “Swiss Army knife” of climate solutions, but it is still a long way from viable as green hydrogen remains expensive and fossil fuel-produced hydrogen dominates the market. (Grist)
• New York’s consideration of a hydrogen and carbon capture program could set a national precedent, some clean energy proponents say; other advocates question whether the technologies are truly as clean as marketed. (E&E News, subscription)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A preliminary test suggests the U.S. and Canada could easily switch 5 million medium- and heavy-duty fossil fuel trucks to electric without disrupting the supply chain. (Canary Media)
• Some electric vehicle drivers say part of Rivian’s appeal is how different the company is from Tesla. (CNN)

UTILITIES:
• Northern California prosecutors charge Pacific Gas & Electric with manslaughter and other crimes relating to a fire sparked by the utility’s equipment last year. (Associated Press)
• Western utilities are turning to fossil fuels to replace drought-diminished hydropower generating capacity. (Bloomberg)

SOLAR: Democratic Congress members introduce a bill to spend $3.5 billion over five years to build up the country’s solar component manufacturing sector. (Florida Daily)

EMISSIONS:
• Environmental justice groups say a pledge by the U.S. and European Union to reduce methane emissions doesn’t address emissions from the heavily polluting agriculture industry. (Grist)
• Small oil and gas operators say they’ll be disproportionately hurt by the Biden administration’s coming crackdown on methane emissions and ask for exceptions to let them more slowly address their emissions. (E&E News)

NATURAL GAS: A New Hampshire law prevents local governments from adopting what advocates call one of the easiests and cheapest ways to tackle future building emissions. (Energy News Network)

WIND: The federal Bureau of Land Management orders a southern California wind farm to halt operations after a turbine collapsed this month. (Imperial Valley Press)  

COAL: West Virginia regulators consider whether to approve $443.8 million of wastewater improvements that would increase power rates and extend the lifespan of three coal-fired power plants from 2028 to 2040. (Charleston Gazette-Mail, WV Metro News)

CARBON CAPTURE: A plan to run a carbon dioxide pipeline through Nebraska and Iowa faces opposition from landowners and environmental advocates who are concerned about safety and a lack of oversight. (Omaha World-Herald)

COMMENTARY: Electric vehicles have developed to the point where they are viable for rural drivers with longer-than-average commutes, writes the director of energy solutions and clean energy for a Virginia electric cooperative. (Energy News Network)

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.