ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors agrees to include electric vehicle battery manufacturing under its main agreement with the UAW, leading the union to pause expansion of its strike against the Big Three automakers. (The Hill)

ALSO:

SOLAR:

  • While most of the oldest solar panels continue to produce, experts agree owners will soon have to decide how to replace and dispose of their installations. (Utility Dive)
  • It’s currently four times as expensive to recycle a solar panel than to trash it — one of many challenges as the first wave of panels reach the end of their useful lives. (Inside Climate News)
  • At a Virginia solar farm, grazing sheep help keep vegetation from obstructing panels and provide revenue for local farmers. (Times-Dispatch)

EFFICIENCY: Startups are using artificial intelligence to monitor buildings’ energy usage and help make efficiency-boosting decisions. (Canary Media)

POLLUTION: Critics say crypto-mining operations are extending the lives of older, dirtier power plants in rural areas and failing to deliver jobs or economic development benefits promised in exchange for cheap power and tax breaks. (Daily Yonder)

GRID:

  • A $9 billion transmission project connecting power grids in the western and eastern United States would create a “superhighway to export clean energy out of the Upper Midwest,” backers say. (States Newsroom)
  • California regulators consider significantly slashing Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan to bury utility lines to mitigate wildfire risk, saying it burdens ratepayers. (Politico)
  • New Mexico clean energy industry officials say the ongoing energy transition and electrification will necessitate significant grid upgrades and modernization. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

OIL & GAS: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill requiring oil and gas companies to put up the full cost of plugging and reclaiming low-producing wells before they are transferred to new owners. (Daily Kos)

BATTERIES:

  • The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and other tribal nations in Nevada say they were not adequately consulted before federal land managers greenlit the Thacker Pass lithium mine on land they consider sacred. (Sierra Nevada Ally) 
  • Electric co-ops in Virginia and South Carolina will use federal funds to test long-duration vanadium flow batteries. (Virginia Mercury, Newberry Observer)

CLEAN ENERGY: A Cleveland green bank is leading a coalition of about 20 counties in seven states seeking $250 million in federal funding to help low-income households access solar power. (Energy News Network)

TRANSIT: Rhode Island’s transportation department releases a highly anticipated carbon reduction plan and opens up a public comment period less than two weeks before officials are required to file the document with a federal agency. (Rhode Island Current)

COMMENTARY: 

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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.