ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in college admissions could encourage more lawsuits against the Biden administration’s environmental justice efforts, legal scholars say. (Inside Climate News)

POLITICS:
• The U.S. Senate returns from recess and resumes permitting reform negotiations as lawmakers say an agreement remains far off.  (E&E News)
• An advocacy group pushing a politically unlikely carbon tax gives oil and gas giants “the opportunity to say that they’ve done something” on climate without actually being held accountable, advocates say. (Guardian)

CLIMATE:
• As record heat swamps the U.S., advocates and officials push the Biden administration to appoint a chief heat officer to manage its response. (Guardian)
• Meteorologists say they’ve faced increasing pushback and abuse as they link worsening storms and heat to climate change. (Associated Press)
• Minnesota will use a $3 million federal climate planning grant to help make sure the state’s climate strategies will benefit lower-income communities. (Energy News Network)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Tire and brake pollution is contributing to increasing numbers of heart and lung disease — a problem that could worsen as heavier electric vehicles wear down tires more quickly. (Washington Post)
• More than 92,000 electric vehicles are in stock throughout the U.S., more than triple the number available last year. (Axios)

OIL & GAS: An expert discusses a new study that finds U.S. oil and gas production is responsible for $77 billion annually in health impacts nationwide, with Texas among the states with the most health damages. (Texas Standard)

CLEAN ENERGY: A federal report finds a handful of Western states lead the nation for the number of solar and wind-related jobs per capita. (Canary Media)

GRID:
• Wind and solar are helping to prop up the Texas state power grid through record-breaking summer temperatures, but experts say grid constraints are limiting their output. (Inside Climate News)
• High temperatures and an electric grid in transition combine for a summer likely to influence future energy policy decisions in Texas and beyond. (E&E News)
• A utility industry report predicts Pacific Northwest electricity demand will increase by nearly 25% in the coming decade, primarily driven by data centers and semiconductor manufacturing. (OPB) 

WIND: Wyoming’s Carbon County — historically a large coal, oil and gas producer — embraces an under-construction 3,000 MW wind power facility and associated transmission project. (Wyoming Public Radio)

CARBON CAPTURE: Democrats, Republicans, climate change deniers and environmental groups have aligned in their opposition to using eminent domain for carbon pipelines in South Dakota. (South Dakota Searchlight)

GRID: In New York, storms cause two separate lithium-ion battery energy storage systems to ignite on Long Island, rekindling safety concerns among local residents. (SI Advance)

COMMENTARY: A California editorial board says a new all-electric subdivision equipped with solar-plus-storage “offers a glimpse of the zero-emission future we should be hurtling toward.” (Los Angeles Times)

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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.