EMISSIONS: The U.S. could cut its carbon emissions in half by 2035 if it quickly builds clean energy projects, but will fall short if fossil fuel prices stay low and renewable deployment stumbles, analysts predict. (E&E News)

WIND: President Biden will announce the first offshore wind power development rights sale in the Gulf of Mexico for three areas totaling more than 300,000 acres off the Louisiana and Texas coasts. (Reuters)

CLIMATE:
• The U.S. and China fail to make any new climate agreements after “frank conversations” between climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart. (E&E News)
• This summer is set to shatter global heat records as July remains on track to become the hottest month on record and average temperatures for several days cross a new threshold. (Axios)
• A new bill would give President Biden the power to declare smoke emergencies that would make areas affected by heavy wildfire smoke eligible for federal assistance. (Bloomberg)
• A majority of Americans say they expect to face a “significant negative effect” from climate change in their lifetime, while two-thirds say they’re concerned about climate change, a Quinnipiac poll finds. (The Hill)

WORKFORCE:
• A $150 million U.S. Department of Energy program aims to train new energy efficiency workers and boost businesses that work on efficiency and electrification projects. (Utility Dive)
• Massachusetts needs almost 30,000 people to become full-time clean energy industry workers to hit its greenhouse gas emissions targets by 2030, a state economic development agency estimates. (State House News Service)
• An industry census finds Western states’ solar energy workforce grew by more than 3,600 jobs in 2022, signaling a rebound from the pandemic-era downturn. (Solar Power World)

PIPELINES:  Sen. Joe Manchin, along with the rest of West Virginia’s congressional delegation and other lawmakers, call on the Supreme Court to intervene as the Mountain Valley Pipeline faces continued opposition. (The Hill)

SOLAR:
• Utility-scale solar deployment is set to benefit from easing supply chain problems, but rising interest rates and changes to California’s net metering policy may harm residential solar growth, analysts say. (Utility Dive)
• A Colorado farmer hopes his planned agrivoltaics vineyard will pave the way for other farm-based solar projects in the state. (Daily Yonder)

GRID: The Texas state power grid saw record-breaking demand of more than 82,500 MW on Wednesday, but generation by wind and solar facilities have kept the grid stable. (KENS)

COAL:
• Kentucky’s coal-based economy dwindles compared to past production, but a historic amount of federal funding could offer a path to a clean energy transition. (Louisville Public Media)
• NV Energy plans to retire its 500 MW North Valmy coal plant in northern Nevada by 2025 and replace the generation with new solar and battery installations and natural gas. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

BATTERIES: Environmental groups raise concerns about a developer’s plan for exploratory drilling of lithium, a key mineral in batteries, about 2 miles from Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. (South Dakota Searchlight)

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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.