POLITICS: President Biden launches his re-election bid, spotlighting his success in shepherding the biggest-ever U.S. climate spending package through Congress, but he will have to win over environmentalists who aren’t pleased with his failure to halt new fossil fuel extraction. (E&E News, Inside Climate News)

ALSO:
• The Biden administration’s proposed power plant emissions rules risk the re-election prospects of Democrats in fossil fuel-dependent states, while a Republican could overturn the regulations if President Biden doesn’t win a second term. (Politico)
• Democrats look to boost awareness of the Inflation Reduction Act’s benefits during the 2024 campaign cycle, especially as Republican-voting states stand to gain the most from the law. (Axios, Bloomberg)

GRID: Utilities have successfully pushed for laws in 12 states that give them first rights to build interstate transmission projects despite concerns from critics that it will stifle the market and increase costs for customers. (Inside Climate News)

COAL: An Appalachian coal company’s 2019 bankruptcy spotlights how coal companies use the practice to shed their environmental obligations, leaving behind polluting mines. (Mountain State Spotlight/ProPublica)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• General Motors will stop producing the Chevrolet Bolt — one of the U.S.’s cheapest electric vehicle models — this year to free up factory space for bigger, more expensive and more popular electric trucks. (E&E News)
• New electric vehicle rebates are expected to become available in Massachusetts in early summer, some nine months after lawmakers passed a bill calling for the incentives’ immediate implementation. (Energy News Network)

EMISSIONS: The U.S. EPA’s proposed power plant emissions rules reportedly have different standards for lower-capacity gas and coal facilities, meaning they probably won’t have to install carbon capture to meet the regulations’ emissions goals. (E&E News)

OFFSHORE WIND:
• Educational institutions in Louisiana and elsewhere scramble to train workers for offshore wind after a researcher projected the industry will need more than 44,000 workers by 2030 and nearly 33,000 additional workers in supporting jobs. (Floodlight/The Lens/Louisiana Illuminator)
• Federal ocean energy officials take a first step toward bringing offshore wind projects to the Gulf of Maine with a new call for information to understand commercial interest and public sentiment. (Offshore Wind BIZ)

CLIMATE: A U.S. EPA report links warming temperatures with achievement declines and more emergency room visits among children. (The Hill)

OIL & GAS: Colorado’s attorney general urges the Biden administration to revoke its approval of a proposed Utah oil railway that could send trainloads of crude along the state’s waterways. (Colorado Newsline)   

SOLAR: Observers say California solar installers must expand into distributed battery storage to survive under the state’s new net metering policy. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIFICATION: Airbnb launches new incentives to help Massachusetts owners make energy efficient home improvements and install heat pumps. (Canary Media)

FINANCE: Major U.S. and European venture capital firms partner to make sure startups they back adopt net-zero goals and meet them as their operations grow. (Axios)

More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West

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.