EFFICIENCY: Global energy efficiency investment surged last year, driven largely by increased demand for heat pumps and electric vehicles, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Renewable energy installations in the U.S. fell from 2021 to 2022 due to grid interconnection delays and permitting issues, marking their first annual decline in five years. (Grist)
• An advocacy group says the Biden administration’s proposal to establish conservation leases on public lands would help clean energy developers restore land to offset their facilities’ impacts. (KUNC)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Federal incentives are sparking a rush of domestic electric vehicle investments, but China’s dominance of the supply chain still threatens the Biden administration’s “Buy American” efforts. (Canary Media)
• Global electric vehicle sales are projected to double in the next three years, but will need to accelerate even further to keep the world on track to meet emissions goals, market researchers say. (Bloomberg)
• Electric vehicle and battery plants in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas make up a significant chunk of a new “battery belt” extending to the Midwest. (Canary Media)
• General Motors says it doesn’t plan to open or close any new plants as it transitions to electric vehicles. (Automotive News, subscription)

EMISSIONS:
• A bipartisan group of U.S. senators push legislation to calculate the emissions intensity of domestically produced industrial materials in a step toward establishing carbon import tariffs. (E&E News)
• A Virginia board votes 4-3 to withdraw from a regional carbon market, though debates are ongoing over whether the governor can continue the process without approval from state lawmakers. (Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Mercury)
• California’s oil and gas industry and other big businesses push back against state legislation that would require large companies to disclose greenhouse gas emissions across their supply chains. (Grist)

SOLAR:
• The U.S. saw a 47% increase in solar installations for the first quarter of 2023, which experts credit to more available solar panel supplies. (Reuters)
• Illinois is again offering incentives for solar projects after reforming a program that had experienced an application backlog last year. (Energy News Network)

CARBON CAPTURE: Overrelying on the promise of carbon capture technology and failing to reduce emissions now could push the world past critical climate tipping points, the United Nations’ climate chief warns. (Guardian)

WILDFIRES: Air quality in some parts of the Northeast has hit code purple or maroon — the worst-possible levels — this morning, while code red and purple levels yesterday led officials throughout the region to warn residents against outdoor activities. (Washington Post, Associated Press)

OVERSIGHT: Recent filings show Ohio utilities will resume billing customers to subsidize two aging coal plants as state regulators continue to sit on cases challenging the legality of the provisions under HB 6, the controversial bill at the heart of the state’s largest corruption scandal. (Energy News Network)

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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.