OIL & GAS: President Biden threatens oil companies with higher taxes if they don’t use recent windfall profits to increase production and lower prices. (The Hill)

ALSO:
• U.S. oil output climbed to nearly 12 million barrels per day in August, the highest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
• Maryland’s state utility commission cites a climate denier as it asserts there is no such thing as clean energy in a case related to natural gas marketing claims. (Inside Climate News)

ELECTIONS:
• Republicans map an energy agenda they aim to implement if they retake Congress next week, which includes faster fossil fuel permitting and a probe into the Inflation Reduction Act’s rollout. (Politico, Vox)
• Young climate activists could be a deciding force in next week’s midterms. (Washington Post)
• GOP candidates spin falsehoods about electric vehicles in campaign ads to attack President Biden and Democrats. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE: The U.S. has contributed more than $9 billion to oil and gas projects in Africa since signing the 2015 Paris agreement, making up two-thirds of its global fossil fuel funding. (Guardian)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• A federal agency designates nearly 700,000 acres in two areas in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore wind energy development. (Houston Chronicle)
• Some observers say investing in offshore wind projects in Connecticut isn’t straightforward, with duplicative processes and an undeveloped “offshore wind identity.” (The Day)

COURTS: The U.S. Supreme Court’s dominant conservative branch seems to favor race-neutral college admissions in a case that could undermine the Biden administration’s plans to address disproportionate pollution in Black neighborhoods. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Maryland finishes construction of what officials say is the largest bus microgrid and vehicle charging infrastructure project in the country. (Canary Media)

GRID: Federal regulators approve a Southwest Power Pool proposal for spreading the costs of certain transmission projects in areas with large amounts of wind generation across its footprint. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR:
• As Wisconsin regulators consider whether to allow third-party-owned solar projects, advocates say utilities’ fears have not materialized in Iowa since that state authorized the financing mechanism eight years ago. (Energy News Network)
• Two Pennsylvania utilities want to incentivize solar projects in their territories, a sign that the resource is becoming mainstream. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

NUCLEAR: Pacific Gas & Electric applies to renew the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant’s federal license and postpone the facility’s planned 2025 retirement by five years. (Sacramento Bee) 

COAL: Xcel Energy expands a regional commitment and says it will stop using coal nationwide by 2030 after announcing that it will close a large Texas coal plant four years earlier than planned. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

BIOGAS: The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for biogas, which supporters say will help the sector scale up while critics worry about nearby residents’ exposure to health hazards. (Grist)

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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.