CLIMATE: The Supreme Court declines to take up an appeal over whether cities’ climate lawsuits against fossil fuel companies should be heard in federal courts,  sending the cases back to state courts where experts say the cities have a better chance of success. (NBC News, Guardian)

ALSO:
• U.S. climate envoy John Kerry says it’s “dangerous” to believe the world can rely on carbon removal without stark emissions reductions. (Guardian)
• New York City partners with Stony Brook University and other nonprofits to build a $700 million climate research and education hub on Governors Island, with a focus on green jobs training and solutions research. (The City)

SOLAR:
• Google and clean energy developer EDP Renewables roll out a novel approach to tackling grid interconnection backlogs: a “synthetic community solar” plan to build utility-scale solar in smaller chunks that can more easily connect to the grid. (Canary Media)
• President Biden says he’ll veto a congressional resolution to undo his freeze on solar panel import tariffs if it reaches his desk. (The Hill)

OIL & GAS:
• Young voters take to TikTok to voice their frustration with the Biden administration’s approval of the Willow drilling project. (New York Times)
• U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm calls for federal regulators to proceed “expeditiously” on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, likely seeking to assuage U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin but infuriating pipeline opponents. (E&E News, Common Dreams)
• A New Mexico conservation group finds about 6% of federal land in the state is protected from oil and gas development, falling far short of the Biden administration’s goal of preserving 30% of public land by 2030. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

STORAGE: Tesla’s energy storage business is outpacing the growth of its electric vehicle sector so far this year. (Canary Media)

GRID: State utility regulators urge grid operator PJM to speed up the interconnection process for new generation as coal plants are slated to come offline. (Utility Dive)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: As Maine lawmakers consider requiring the state to prioritize disadvantaged communities when making environmental policy choices, advocates want the bill to provide a clearer definition of frontline groups and take other stronger steps. (Portland Press Herald)

POLITICS: Jurors are expected to start deliberating today after hearing closing arguments in the “ComEd Four” trial involving bribery charges against former ComEd officials and political operatives close to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. (Chicago Sun-Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors and Samsung plan to invest $3 billion in a new U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant, though they did not disclose its location. (WDIV)

ADVOCACY: Students at the University of Richmond push administrators to make it the first Virginia college and among the first in the Southeast to divest from fossil fuels. (Energy News Network)

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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.