CLEAN ENERGY: Researchers visualize how much land the U.S. will need to meet its electricity demands with renewable power and suggest ways to reduce the footprint of solar and wind projects. (Washington Post)
EMISSIONS:
• Air pollution from U.S. oil and gas production contributes to about $77 billion in health impacts every year, as well as thousands of early deaths and other health issues, a peer-reviewed study finds. (Axios)
• Senate Democrats hope to use a forthcoming manufacturing bill to pass new tariffs on carbon-intensive imports. (E&E News)
• An environmental advocacy group’s new report finds that almost a fifth of Pennsylvania’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from just 12 power plants and industrial sites. (WHYY)
• Rhode Island’s governor signs an executive order that sets a goal of cutting public sector emissions 40% compared to 2014 levels by 2030, among other state government-focused goals. (PBN)
FINANCE: Silicon Valley Bank announces it’s financing its first community solar project after its collapse and ownership change: a 100 MW portfolio of arrays across seven states. (Canary Media)
SOLAR: Korean company Hanwha Q Cells secures its position atop the U.S. residential and commercial solar panel markets, even before its planned Georgia factory becomes operational next year. (Korea Herald)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• As U.S. automakers look to build bigger, more popular electric SUVs and trucks, experts say smaller EVs are a better economic and environmental choice. (Guardian)
• Automakers say their manufacturing and supply chains may not be able to keep up with proposed federal tailpipe emissions rules meant to spur the electric vehicle transition. (Reuters)
• Manufacturing electric vehicles is proving to be a major job provider in one eastern Ohio county. (Ideastream)
GRID: Regional grid officials say solar and wind capacity in West Virginia’s energy queue nearly matches the footprint of the state’s coal industry — but siting and supply chain issues have delayed their progress. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charleston Gazette-Mail)
UTILITIES: Supporters of a new California law mandating income-based utility billing say it will encourage electrification, but critics argue it will discourage rooftop solar and efficiency. (Canary Media)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Michigan advocates express frustration that Democratic lawmakers, with newfound control of the legislature, have not advanced bills targeted at environmental justice or making companies pay for pollution. (Planet Detroit)
NUCLEAR: Federal regulators greenlight a proposed interim spent nuclear reactor fuel depository in New Mexico even though the state recently passed a law banning such facilities without its consent. (Associated Press)
BIOMASS: Georgia regulators approve a change to expand the definition of “biomass” to include scrap tires and even natural gas, sparking outrage from environmental groups. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
WIND: The Port of Long Beach in southern California plans to construct a floating facility to manufacture offshore wind turbines for proposed projects along the West Coast. (CBS News)
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