GRID: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission yesterday approved rule changes aimed at speeding up grid interconnection for renewable energy projects, with more than 2,000 GW waiting in queue. (Reuters)

ALSO:
• The U.S. has twice broken records for natural gas consumption this week as extreme heat increases demand on power plants. (Washington Post)
• Grid operator PJM issues an emergency alert asking all power plants to run at full capacity amid surging electricity demand for air conditioning. (Bloomberg)
• California grid operators say increased hydropower capacity due to the wet winter, more battery storage and improved contingency plans prepare them to meet this summer’s heat-driven power demand. (Los Angeles Times)

CLIMATE:
• “We are in uncharted territory”: scientists say they already have enough data to declare July the hottest month on record, with some saying the earth has not seen this much heat in the atmosphere in 120,000 years. (Associated Press)
• In a speech yesterday, President Biden announced new measures to protect workers from extreme heat but did not declare a climate emergency, which some advocates were hoping for. (Associated Press)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Federal data suggests clean energy incentives are contributing to U.S. economic growth, but it’s not clear by how much. (Washington Post)
• The federal Inflation Reduction Act has sparked more clean energy projects in Michigan than any other state, attracting more than 15,800 jobs and $21 billion in investments over the past year, a report finds. (Michigan Advance)

BUILDINGS: The Department of Energy releases guidelines for states to apply for more than $8.5 billion in federal funds for electrification and energy efficiency. (E&E News)

PIPELINES: The U.S. Supreme Court allows the resumption of construction on the embattled Mountain Valley Pipeline, clearing the way for completion of the project by the end of this year. (Washington Post, Roanoke Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A media investigation finds Tesla rigged its dashboard software to overestimate cars’ battery range, then formed a special team to cancel service appointments for customers who complained. (Reuters)
• General Motors says it won’t kill off the popular Chevy Bolt after all; meanwhile, Toyota brings back the Land Cruiser, betting that Americans will still have a strong appetite for big, gas-powered SUVs. (NPR, Quartz)
• Georgia launches a pilot program to replace gas tax revenue with a mileage-based user fee on top of its annual fees for electric vehicle owners. (WAGA)
• Connecticut’s e-bike rebate program proved more popular than funds could support, resulting in thousands of rejected voucher applications. (CT Public)

HYDROGEN: Sen. Joe Manchin prepares for another high-profile fight with the Biden administration over tax subsidies for vaguely defined “clean hydrogen” projects. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: The Tennessee Valley Authority — the largest public utility in the U.S. — begins a shift to build more solar power, but critics charge its plans still rely too much on natural gas and nuclear. (Canary Media)

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

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.