OIL & GAS: A petroleum industry group has spent millions of dollars to spread what it calls “provocative anti-electrification messaging” on TV, social media, and in print, including paying an HGTV star for propane-boosting spots. (New York Times)
ALSO:
• The Biden administration elevates a strong clean energy supporter and former Interior Secretary candidate to lead the agency overseeing offshore oil, gas and wind leasing. (Washington Post)
• After a top federal consumer safety official suggests banning gas stoves, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin joins Republicans’ displeasure, saying “the federal government has no business telling American families how to cook their dinner.” (E&E News)
• New York’s governor proposes a statewide ban on gas heaters and appliances in new buildings, a first-of-its-kind policy on the East Coast if codified. (E&E News)
Sponsored Link
Happy New Year from Green Neighbor Challenge!
Start the new year off right – with energy action! The Green Neighbor Challenge’s free resident-centered tools are designed to help everyday people accelerate their home energy transition. Try them out, then challenge family and friends to do the same!
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: The U.S. EPA directs $100 million to community-based nonprofits and state, local and tribal governments for environmental justice projects. (E&E News)
TRANSPORTATION: The U.S. Transportation Department releases a blueprint for reducing the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, prioritizing efficiency, convenience and a transition to clean transit options. (Utility Dive)
GRID:
• Homeowners looking to install solar panels and electrify their homes face long delays and exorbitant costs thanks to a nationwide electrician shortage. (Grist/Post Script Media)
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signals support for a grid redesign that aims to improve reliability by encouraging the construction of more natural gas-fired power plants. (Dallas Morning News)
CLIMATE:
• Two months after global leaders agreed to create a climate aid fund for developing countries, officials still haven’t pledged any money. (E&E News)
• The last eight years marked the world’s hottest on record. (New York Times)
• Excess heat in the Earth’s oceans reached a new high in 2022, marking the fourth year of record highs in a row. (Inside Climate News)
• The U.S. saw 18 natural disasters costing more than $1 billion in 2022, with extreme weather causing $165 billion in damages last year. (The Hill)
OFFSHORE WIND: A bipartisan pair of Congress members reintroduce a bill to bar energy companies from hiring non-U.S. workers to more cheaply build offshore wind turbines and oil rigs. (E&E News)
STORAGE: Korean battery maker SK Innovation juices pay and benefits at a Georgia factory as it looks to boost its U.S. workforce, illustrating the challenges finding skilled workers for the clean energy transition. (Reuters)
BUILDINGS: After hosting a startup’s successful carbon-capture pilot project in one of its New York City high rise buildings, a real estate firm orders five more systems for its other rental complexes. (Canary Media)
UTILITIES: Federal prosecutors reveal new details and outline evidence ahead of high-profile utility bribery trials in Illinois and Ohio. (Chicago Tribune, Ohio Capital Journal)
Sponsored Link
Fresh Energy is hiring!
Fresh Energy is seeking a Senior or Managing Director of Inclusive Finance to join the Energy Access and Equity Team. This role will focus on equitable implementation of federal funding in Minnesota, building a resilient clean energy economy, and beyond.
GEOTHERMAL: Organizers of the Burning Man festival sue the Biden administration over its approval of a proposed geothermal power development in Nevada, saying it ignored potential impacts on springs and wildlife. (Reuters)
PIPELINES: Michigan’s attorney general is considering all legal options to bring a lawsuit against the Line 5 pipeline back to state court. (Michigan Advance)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West