EMISSIONS: Gas stoves often emit cancer-linked benzene fumes in levels higher than those found in secondhand tobacco smoke, Stanford University researchers find. (NPR) 

ALSO: A study suggests cutting greenhouse gas emissions without considering race could end up subjecting communities of color to more air pollution. (Grist)

COAL ASH: A proposed U.S. EPA rule could finally address unregulated legacy coal ash, but environmental advocates say it won’t guarantee the toxic waste is cleaned up. (Grist)

SOLAR: U.S. senators introduce bills to incentivize solar projects that create habitats for pollinators and boost research on how to blend solar and agricultural production. (Canary Media)

POLITICS: Republican attacks on the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy incentives are creating uncertainty in the sector, even though the incentives themselves are successfully spurring investment, experts say. (The Hill)

PERMITTING:
• The White House Council on Environmental Quality looks to develop an online portal to track environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects nationwide. (E&E News)
• A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to shrink federal wetlands protections has far bigger implications for energy project permitting than Congress’ new debt ceiling bill. (Politico)

OIL & GAS: The Texas board that oversees oil and gas companies, composed of three commissioners tightly linked to the industry, presents a significant obstacle to the Biden administration’s plans to tighten oversight of methane releases. (Politico)

PIPELINES:
• A Virginia woman who in 2018 occupied a tree sit for more than a month on her family’s property to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline now feels despondent over congressional approval of legislation to force completion of the long-delayed natural gas transmission project. (Energy News Network)
• Leaders of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa welcome a judge’s order for Enbridge to shut down Line 5 on tribal property in three years, though they say the timeframe still leaves them vulnerable to a spill. (Wisconsin Examiner)

GRID:
• Many U.S. power plants haven’t heeded previous warnings and remain vulnerable to blackouts in extreme cold, federal regulators’ assessment of 2022’s Winter Storm Elliott finds. (Utility Dive)
• PJM Interconnection officials and outside stakeholders tell federal officials that the grid operator’s capacity market functions as it should but nonetheless will need to adapt to extreme weather and an evolving power supply mix. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES: Maine’s investor-owned power companies have already spent $18.4 million on three ballot committees aimed at fighting a ballot initiative that would form a state-level public power utility. (Portland Press Herald/Floodlight)

CLIMATE: Montana officials say a youth climate lawsuit over its fossil fuel-friendly policies will not affect permitting practices, even if the state loses. (Washington Post)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors’ recent investments totaling more than $3.6 billion in Indiana means the state is “not being left behind” in the transition to electric vehicles, says Gov. Eric Holcomb. (Inside Indiana Business)

LITHIUM: Indigenous advocates continue to push back on the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada, calling it a form of “green colonialism” that threatens the environment and sacred places. (Associated Press)

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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.