CLIMATE BILL: Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act would lift a ban on offshore wind leasing in the water off U.S. territories, opening up the coasts of Puerto Rico, Guam and more to development. (Bloomberg)

ALSO:
• The bill would force the Biden administration to hold several offshore oil and gas drilling auctions, but the industry may not be interested as it has started shifting to onshore drilling and, in some cases, renewables. (Grist)
• As the solar industry lauds the Inflation Reduction Act’s industry-boosting incentives, analysts consider whether they’ll be enough to counter supply shortages and other factors holding solar back. (E&E News)
• A study cautions the U.S. will need to hire and train a clean energy workforce to fully implement the bill’s goals. (Axios)
• Historians consider the U.S.’s journey from first recognizing climate change to advancing this bill, and whether it will actually mark a turning point like other monumental environmental laws. (Washington Post, E&E News) 

EQUITY: Connecticut residents who struggle to pay their energy bills often suffer from physical and mental health issues as a result, according to a new study. (Energy News Network)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Automakers’ tradition of introducing new technology at a luxury price is among factors making electric vehicles unaffordable for most Americans, and federal incentives will only cut prices for a few models. (New York Times)

CLEAN ENERGY: Chicago signs a $422 million agreement to power city buildings, street lights and other infrastructure entirely with renewable energy by 2025. (Chicago Sun-Times)

CLIMATE:
• President Biden visits parts of eastern Kentucky damaged by flooding and pledges federal aid to help communities rebuild. (E&E News)
• Some cities are turning bare-bones cooling centers into climate resilience hubs that offer social services and emergency training on top of air conditioning. (Axios)
• Scientists explain how record drought can be frying the West at the same time as floods devastate Appalachia. (Vox)

NUCLEAR: A mining company attempts to buy an entire community in northwest New Mexico to avoid cleaning up contamination left by decades of uranium milling. (ProPublica)

HYDROPOWER: Washington state tribal nations urge state regulators to reject a proposed pumped hydropower storage facility along the Columbia River, saying it would destroy sacred sites and violate hunting and fishing treaty rights. (Underscore News)

GRID: A renewable energy firm seeks federal rate approval for two planned transmission lines in New Mexico that would carry power from a 680 MW wind facility proposed for the eastern part of the state. (Utility Dive)

COMMENTARY: Democrats’ climate bill promises big wins for climate and clean energy while discrediting Republican criticism by focusing on deficit reduction, columnist Paul Krugman writes. (New York Times)

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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.