EMISSIONS: The Inflation Reduction Act would ramp up methane monitoring and detection, but proposed fees wouldn’t apply to about 60% of the oil and gas sector’s emissions, an analysis finds. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The U.S. Postal Service only operates two dozen electric delivery vehicles right now, but the congressional climate bill would direct $3 billion toward buying more and installing charging infrastructure. (Canary Media)
• A 17-year-old improves on a small, weak motor that doesn’t need rare earth minerals, potentially paving the way for its use in electric vehicles. (Smithsonian)
• A central Minnesota community could play an outsized role in the U.S. transition to zero-emission vehicles if a company can persuade local residents to mine the area’s vast nickel reserves. (Washington Post)
• A planned $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Kansas City underscores the industry’s own environmental challenges such as battery recycling. (KCUR)

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WIND:
• Democrats’ climate package would lift a moratorium on offshore wind leasing in the Southeast, but aside from North Carolina, most states seem more interested in participating in the wind supply chain than in building wind farms. (E&E News, Politico)
• California’s energy commission adopts a goal of developing 3 to 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045, the nation’s most ambitious target of its kind. (Reuters)
• The Ohio Supreme Court rules 6-1 to uphold a permit for what would be the Great Lakes’ first offshore wind project near Cleveland. (Ohio Capital Journal)

FINANCE:
• A spike in the Climate Tech stock market index following the announcement of Democrats’ climate deal points to investors’ belief it will succeed. (Axios)
• A growing number of small and regional Midwest banks look to help homeowners finance solar and other clean energy projects, which advocates hope will increase options for borrowers. (Energy News Network)

CLIMATE:
• Average overnight temperatures hit a record high in July across the continental U.S., while daytime temperatures made it the third-hottest July on record. (Washington Post)
• Even as Kentucky begins recovery from historic flooding, its two U.S. senators and governor avoid mentioning climate change, reflecting residents who are less likely than most Americans to believe it will affect them personally. (CNN)
• Some oil and gas industry heirs are funding climate protesters, with one citing “a moral obligation to do my part.” (New York Times)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: The Department of Health and Human Services launches an Environmental Justice Index that will score communities based on environmental conditions that may affect residents’ health. (The Hill)

COMMENTARY: A climate journalist highlights a less publicized, bipartisan clean energy-boosting bill that recently passed Congress, which will direct about $67 billion to climate-related research and technology development. (Atlantic)

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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.