CLIMATE:
• President Biden will virtually meet with leaders of high-emitting nations Friday to urge them to pledge major methane emissions reductions and to take further climate action. (New York Times)
• An academic coalition with former Vice President Al Gore’s backing will release data today that reveals global fossil fuel producers’ unrecorded greenhouse gas emissions and emissions from the shipping and aviation industries. (Reuters)

POLITICS:
• A U.S. House committee advances energy-related measures of Democrats’ $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill to the full House floor, including the Clean Electricity Performance Program. (E&E News)
• Senate Democrats are considering including carbon pricing measures in the reconciliation bill to help cover its costly climate measures. (E&E News)
• Environmentalists look to dissuade U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia from blocking historic reforms of federal oil and gas programs being considered in the budget package. (E&E News)
• Progressive House Democrats introduce a bill that would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure big banks make plans to end fossil fuel investments. (The Hill)

GRID:
• Experts say President Biden’s ambitious solar goals will hinge on development of a grid-forming inverter to help maintain stable electricity flow. (E&E News)
• Climate-driven weather events like Texas’ February freeze and Hurricane Ida — and the extensive power outages that have resulted — fuel soaring demand for backup generators. (New York Times)
• Inadequate tree trimming and a failure to replace aging equipment in DTE Energy’s service area has worsened power outages in southeast Michigan, grid experts and stakeholders say. (Energy News Network)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: The U.S. Energy Department launches a $16 million program that would identify and boost clean energy development opportunities in fossil fuel and environmental justice communities. (The Hill)

WIND: Vineyard Wind reaches financial close, the first commercial offshore wind farm in the country to do so; developers may now use investment funds to prepare for and begin construction. (Bloomberg)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Automakers pour resources into electric vehicle batteries in an attempt to make them cheaper and more efficient as EVs spread across the U.S. (Bloomberg)
• Electric vehicle startup Rivian seeks to raise $5 billion to $8 billion as it plans to become a publicly traded company. (Reuters)
• General Motors recommends Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle owners parking in ramps do so on the top floor or on an open level at least 50 feet away from other cars, citing potential fire risks. (Reuters)
• Battery costs and range are so far two key barriers to more widespread electric fleet vehicle adoption. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS:
• As President Biden weighs the future of oil and gas drilling, some experts point to an Obama-era report showing a federal leasing freeze could actually increase emissions, while others say the report is “deeply flawed.” (E&E News)
• Los Angeles County leaders vote to ban new oil and gas drilling and phase out the county’s 1,600 existing active and idle wells. (Associated Press)
• Dominion Energy’s failed attempt to build a compressor station and pipeline in a historic Black community in Virginia by arguing it was largely white stands as an example of how energy companies often route infrastructure projects through vulnerable, historically marginalized places. (Guardian)

COMMENTARY: “Make FERC boring again,” argues a Pennsylvania business leader who wants regulators to prioritize reliability over ambitious transmission projects. (Utility Dive)

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.