U.S. Energy News is one of five regional services published by the Energy News Network. Today’s edition was compiled by Kathryn Krawczyk.
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MINERALS:
• The Biden administration considers using the wartime Defense Production Act to boost procurement of minerals needed for electric vehicle and grid-scale batteries. (Politico)
• Climate-focused federal lawmakers are split on their support of the mining expansion, with some expressing concern about potential abuse and abandonment of mines. (E&E News)
CLIMATE:
• Scientists are increasingly envisioning what the world would look like if we meet our emissions reduction targets but later than necessary to avert catastrophic warming. (Grist)
• Facebook’s algorithm nudges climate-skeptical users toward misinformation that could fuel their doubts, a human rights group finds. (BBC)
• A San Francisco startup hopes to be a “Zillow of clean energy” by connecting building operators with solar, battery and electric vehicle charging businesses. (Bloomberg)
OIL & GAS:
• The Biden administration considers releasing up to 180 million barrels of oil from its reserves over the next few months to combat rising fuel prices. (Reuters)
• Fossil fuel financing remains dominated by four U.S. banks that have led a surge in recent loans and other capital for the oil and gas industry, according to a new report from environmental nonprofits. (MarketWatch)
EFFICIENCY:
• The White House announces it will spend $3.2 billion to retrofit homes in low-income communities to make them more energy efficient and lower power bills. (Washington Post)
• A Minnesota lawmaker proposes $60 million in weatherization funding over the next three years, which would nearly double current funding and help address crucial pre-weatherization work. (Energy News Network)
CLEAN ENERGY: U.S. production of renewables hit an all-time high in 2021 and outpaced nuclear and coal energy production, an analysis of federal data finds. (news release)
HYDROGEN: President Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin share a desire to expand hydrogen use in the U.S., but Biden wants to make the fuel with clean energy while Manchin envisions producing it with fossil fuels. (E&E News)
UTILITIES:
• Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are expanding their solar, wind and battery portfolios and rebuilding the power grid to meet clean energy goals established by Virginia law. (Virginia Business)
• Three nominees to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board will go before a Senate committee next week for confirmation hearings. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
EQUITY: Pennsylvania environmental officials begin revising their decades-old environmental justice policy to account for communities disproportionately impacted by local gas drilling and climate change. (Bay Journal)
SOLAR: The day after receiving approval for a solar panel manufacturing plant in upstate New York, a renewable energy company announces plans for a second facility nearby. (NNY360)
WIND: A regional economic development group releases a study showing southwestern Virginia looks well positioned to manufacture components for offshore wind energy development in Virginia and beyond. (Bristol Herald-Courier)
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