CLIMATE BILL: Clean energy provisions in Democrats’ climate bill outweigh concessions to the fossil fuel industry, analysts find. (Inside Climate News)

ALSO:
• Still, some environmental justice leaders condemn the bill, saying the fossil fuel perks — such as support for the Mountain Valley Pipeline — discredit its climate bonafides. (Inside Climate News, Bloomberg Law, Reuters)
• The bill could be a tipping point for decarbonizing heavy industry like steel and cement, as it would funnel $5.8 billion toward slashing these major sources of emissions. (E&E News)
• The bill contains significant boosts for electric vehicles, but omits tax credits for electric bicycles and other cycling incentives included in previous iterations. (Washington Post)

GRID:
• Regional and interregional transmission links could help cut electricity costs but aren’t being properly valued by grid operators, according to a recent study. (Utility Dive)
• Federal regulators and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation call on an energy standards board to help the natural gas and electric sectors coordinate to boost integration and reliability. (Utility Dive)
• A California nonprofit begins restoring dilapidated homes that will be sold to low-income families and equipped with solar and batteries to become part of a virtual power plant. (Grist)
• Three new transmission lines with an estimated cost of $2.2 billion are planned through Wisconsin under a recent buildout plan approved by grid operator MISO. (Wisconsin Public Radio)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Xcel Energy proposes a $300 million electric vehicle plan that would include deploying hundreds of high-speed charging locations across its service area and a focus on school bus electrification. (Star Tribune, E&E News)
• General Motors will prepay a company $198 million in cash for a guaranteed six-year supply of lithium to support electric vehicle manufacturing. (Reuters)
• California advocates say incentive programs helping low-income residents purchase electric vehicles are plagued by inadequate funding, long waits and rising car prices. (CalMatters)

WIND: Texas’ state grid operator often instructs wind turbines in the High Plains region to shut down during times of high power demand because the state’s transmission network lacks the infrastructure needed to ship the energy elsewhere. (Texas Tribune)

CLIMATE: Scientists urge more research into worst-case climate scenarios that could arise if the world reaches the higher end of predicted temperature increases. (Axios)

ELECTRIFICATION: A New Jersey-based chef is working to convince restaurants to swap their gas stoves for induction stoves and other electric appliances. (Canary Media)

SOLAR: In Vermont, training programs, mentorship and representation help usher more female workers into the solar industry. (NBC 5)

OIL & GAS: The U.S. EPA begins helicopter searches for large sources of methane and smog-forming compounds in the Permian Basin, saying violations will be met with “significant penalties.” (E&E News)

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.