EMISSIONS: Twelve of the world’s wealthiest people produce greenhouse gas emissions equal to more than 2 million homes via their private jets, financial investments, and other luxury purchases, researchers find. (Guardian)
EFFICIENCY: The Biden administration deploys the Defense Production Act to speed manufacturing of heat pumps, backed by $169 million in federal funding. (The Hill)
CLIMATE:
- The world on Friday likely exceeded the 2°C warming threshold compared to preindustrial levels for the first time on record. (Axios)
- Wealthy nations have “likely” fulfilled their 2020 goal of giving $100 billion to developing nations for climate projects, a report finds. (E&E News)
WIND:
- The U.S. Treasury Department rolls out guidance for a new tax credit that could help struggling offshore wind projects, and can be used for necessary transmission lines and grid components. (E&E News)
- Tribal nations urge the Biden administration to enlarge a proposed marine sanctuary off central California, but industry says that would hamper offshore wind power development. (Politico)
- In downtown Cleveland, old wind turbine blades get a new life as benches and tables. (Bloomberg)
- More than 90% of Iowa’s agricultural acres with foreign investments aren’t owned by foreign entities but are in long-term leases for wind farms. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Toyota announces the Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S., will only be available as a hybrid starting in 2025. (WDRB)
SOLAR: “This is a great time to be involved with solar technology:” Solar researchers highlight how technological improvements are quickly spreading through the industry. (Utility Dive)
CLEAN ENERGY:
- Advocates call for the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its fast-tracked transmission, solar and storage permitting rules to geothermal, carbon capture and other clean energy projects. (E&E News)
- A report on Los Angeles’s clean energy transition finds the city is not adequately investing in electric vehicle chargers, rooftop solar and efficiency improvements for low-income and non-white communities. (Los Angeles Times)
STORAGE: Southwestern U.S. ranchers, residents and advocates push back against proposed pumped hydropower storage facilities, saying they would further strain the region’s scant water supplies. (Inside Climate News)
GRID:
- Reports find that while the eastern U.S. has added “some window dressing weatherization efforts,” the power grid remains at “elevated risk” of running short of power during severe weather this winter. (States Newsroom)
- California officials and advocates say a new state law aimed at expediting grid upgrades and new transmission construction will facilitate the clean energy transition and should be a model for other states. (Canary Media)
UTILITIES:
- Critics say NIPSCO’s plan for a 400 MW natural gas-powered peaker unit at a former Indiana coal plant is unnecessary and out of line with the utility’s clean energy goals. (Energy News Network)
- Ohio’s former top utility regulator, who accepted what FirstEnergy said was a $4.3 million bribe from the utility, has not been charged with a crime three years after federal agents raided his home. (Cleveland.com)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West