U.S. Energy News is one of five regional services published by the Energy News Network. Today’s edition was compiled by Kathryn Krawczyk.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: As President Biden’s environmental justice plan goes largely unnoticed outside the Capitol, advocates announce they’ll track and monitor the federal government’s progress. (E&E News)

UTILITIES:
• A report analyzing the U.S.’s 25 largest utilities finds half are blocking a transition from fossil fuels via lobbying, public messaging, and political spending, while just four are engaging positively with climate policy. (Grist)
• The federal government warns energy companies of new malware that could help lower-skill hackers gain control of natural gas and electricity infrastructure. (E&E News)
• Baltimore Gas & Electric is sued by seven Black former employees who allege over a decade of consistently racist treatment and that they faced workplace retaliation for filing complaints. (Baltimore Sun)

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GRID: The debate over a proposed transmission line to carry Canadian hydropower to New York City highlights the difficult and often contentious choices governments face when moving away from fossil fuels. (HuffPost)

CLIMATE:
• A new peer-reviewed paper shows how a manufacturing group forged opposition to climate action and has influenced the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change since its inception. (Intercept)
• U.S. public school infrastructure is unprepared for flooding, storms, and wildfires set to intensify with climate change. (Washington Post)
• The world’s food system relies on limited crop varieties that can easily be shipped around the globe — and can easily fall victim to climate change-exacerbated diseases. (Guardian)

TRANSPORTATION:
• California proposes a plan to triple its zero-emission vehicle sales from 12.4% today to 35% by 2026, setting a path for other states to follow. (New York Times)
• A southern California public transit agency becomes the first in the nation to transition all of its trains to run on renewable fuel. (CBS Los Angeles)
• Studies indicate a shift from diesel to electric school buses can help reduce students’ exposure to carcinogenic fumes. (E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY: Indigenous tribes in the Southwest team up with corporate investors to build utility-scale renewable energy facilities on their lands. (Time)

TRANSITION: A small West Virginia town ponders its future after the likely sale or closure of its coal-fired power plant next year. (Mountain State Spotlight)

OIL & GAS:
• Natural gas-fired power production likely peaked in 2020 and will decline as renewables become more competitive, a report from a clean energy advocacy group finds. (Utility Dive)
• A health organization releases a white paper highlighting how Pennsylvania officials have failed to protect state residents from the health impacts of fracking. (Environmental Health News)
• An energy analysis firm says regulators issued 904 drilling permits last month in the Permian Basin, an all-time high. (Bloomberg) 

BIOFUELS: Environmental groups push back on President Biden’s plan to boost ethanol use in an attempt to combat high gasoline prices, calling it the “definition of short-term thinking.” (NBC News)

WIND: North Carolina offshore wind advocates anticipate a major federal lease sale this spring could kickstart a billion-dollar industry, but Duke Energy and state regulators are still taking a cautious approach. (E&E News)

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Kathryn Krawczyk

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.