CLIMATE: The International Energy Agency’s latest emissions reduction roadmap suggests “staggering” clean energy growth could ensure global fossil fuel use peaks this decade, but countries still need to deploy clean energy more aggressively to reach net-zero by 2050. (Guardian)

ALSO: Student organizers at 50 high schools across the U.S. partner to push for a “Green New Deal for schools” that includes electric school buses, climate change curricula, and career pathways to green jobs. (The Hill)

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SOLAR:

  • Ohio-based First Solar kept making solar panels long after other domestic manufacturers gave up and now serves as a guiding light as the Biden administration seeks to ramp up U.S. solar component production. (New York Times)
  • A solar startup building high-efficiency panels awaits a federal loan as it looks to build a manufacturing facility in New Mexico. (Canary Media)
  • A Minnesota tribal member who founded a solar installation company in 2017 is partnering with an industrial electrical company to create a pilot job-training program in Indigenous communities. (MPR)

NUCLEAR: U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says the Biden administration wants to build a commercial nuclear fusion facility within a decade, even as the technology remains in its early stages. (Associated Press)

OIL & GAS

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Ford halts construction on a $3.5 billion Michigan electric vehicle battery plant until the company is “confident about our ability to competitively run the plant.” (Detroit News)

HYDROPOWER: A proposal to tear down fish-harming hydropower dams in the Northwest pits climate advocates who value the clean energy sources against tribal nations and environmentalists looking to restore the rivers. (Los Angeles Times)

WIND:

  • Federal officials say offshore wind lease sales are on track to be held next year for parcels in the central Atlantic and Gulf of Maine. (Reuters)
  • California researchers find wealthy, white communities are more likely to oppose wind energy projects than other communities. (CNN)

HYDROGEN:

  • Critics of efforts to create a regional hydrogen hub in Appalachia raise concerns that the plan would raise electricity prices on consumers and fail to deliver promised jobs and emission reductions. (Inside Climate News)
  • Oregon and Washington state leaders look to fast-track a green hydrogen industry but say water scarcity, community opposition and labor shortages could hamper efforts. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)     

CARBON CAPTURE: Critics worry about the implications of storing carbon underground in places like Louisiana, which already has more than two dozen underground storage sites. (Floodlight/Louisiana Illuminator)

STORAGE: Entergy’s 100 MW solar and battery storage facility in Arkansas stands as an example of how battery storage can deliver benefits for the power grid. (States Newsroom)

BUILDINGS: An analysis finds LEED ratings that honor buildings for their sustainable designs are overlooking how flooding puts many so-called green buildings at risk. (Politico)

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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.