COP27: A first draft of this year’s COP27 agreement would accelerate coal’s phase out but again stops short of calling for an end to fossil fuel use; U.S. climate leaders support calling for the “phase down” of all fossil fuels. (Guardian, Bloomberg)

POLITICS:
• Republicans secure a majority in the House, opening the door for oversight hearings critical of Inflation Reduction Act spending, but observers don’t see a major threat to the law’s clean energy incentives. (E&E News)
• Democrats avoided a washout in last week’s midterms, showing climate action motivated voters even amid high energy and gasoline prices, environmental groups say. (The Hill)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A company creates a database of electric vehicle battery data to extrapolate the life and health of different models’ batteries at different ages, paving the way for a more accurate used EV market. (Canary Media)
• The U.S. Energy Department awards $74 million for electric vehicle battery recycling and reuse projects. (Associated Press)
• General Motors will partner with a southern California utility on a vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging program for electric vehicles to act as a local energy source. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR:
• The largest solar panel manufacturer in the U.S. announces it will build a $1.1 billion factory in Alabama. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
• Researchers find performance incentives are better at motivating low-income residents to adopt solar than tax rebates. (news release)

WIND:
• The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announces eight areas off the North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware shores for future wind energy development. (news release)
• Local coverage of a self-described New Jersey community group opposed to offshore wind development neglects to mention it’s funded by a think tank that receives hundreds of thousands of dollars from the oil and gas industry. (Popular Information)

FOSSIL FUELS: Environmental groups call on the Biden administration to institute tough air quality standards for fossil fuel soot pollution, saying they could prevent thousands of deaths from respiratory illnesses. (Inside Climate News)

CLIMATE:
• Health care experts draw a connection between climate change and an increase in health problems including auto-inflammatory diseases, skin conditions and cancer. (Tennessee Lookout)
• California releases an ambitious climate plan outlining measures to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing electric vehicles and the amount of wind and solar power, but critics say it relies too heavily on carbon capture. (Los Angeles Times)

ELECTRIFICATION: Developers of an experimental all-electric California subdivision equipped with a solar-plus-storage powered microgrid say it will be a model for future housing developments. (Bloomberg) 

BATTERIES: The U.S. Defense Department launches a project in Alaska to develop a battery-integrated microgrid that can withstand extreme cold and winter conditions. (Energy Storage News)

GRID: Federal and state utility regulators consider whether independent transmission monitors could ensure utilities’ transmission projects are fully scrutinized. (Utility Dive)

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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.