
EMISSIONS: The U.S. EPA prepares to propose power plant emissions limits so strict that they’ll likely require operators to capture most of their emissions or switch to new fuels altogether. (Washington Post, E&E News)
ALSO: A loophole in the U.S. Clean Air Act has let fossil fuel power plants collect emissions allowances even after they shut down, and then sell those allowances to other plants that exceeded their own emissions limits. (Reuters)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Land use is quickly becoming an issue as the U.S. looks to build out all the solar and wind power it needs to meet clean electricity goals. (Washington Post)
• Conservative Texas lawmakers pursue legislation to boost natural gas and add obstacles to wind and solar projects, which critics fear could dampen the state’s status as a renewable energy powerhouse. (E&E News)
• Maryland’s governor joins developers to break ground on a new offshore wind construction facility and signs four bills to boost the offshore wind and electric vehicle industries. (Maryland Matters, Delmarva Now)
• Minnesota lawmakers propose investing $45 million for a state green bank program that would offer businesses and homeowners more favorable terms on clean energy financing. (Energy News Network)
SOLAR: The CEO of solar panel recycling startup SolarCycle discusses its partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to extract valuable minerals from retired arrays. (Utility Dive)
POLITICS:
• Republicans’ federal debt ceiling bill becomes a vehicle for their energy priorities as they seek to pass an energy package and repeal parts of the Inflation Reduction Act with it. (Inside Climate News)
• Critics say GOP lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, contradict themselves by supporting renewable energy but opposing environmental, social and governance investing. (Bloomberg)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Colorado regulators approve rules aimed at reducing pollution from trucks and expediting medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle adoption. (Colorado Newsline)
GRID:
• Puerto Rico residents and advocates envision ways to make their power grid more reliable after the Biden administration launches a study and fund to do so. (Grist)
• Federal regulators approve plans for California and New York’s grid operators to use dynamic line ratings when measuring how much power their transmission systems can carry. (Utility Dive)
JOBS: A lack of funding for and emphasis on trade education in U.S. high schools is one of many factors worsening the country’s electrician shortage — a growing issue as homeowners look to switch off fossil fuels. (New Yorker)
OFFSHORE WIND: The fishing industry worries offshore wind development, especially in untested West Coast waters, will decimate ecosystems it relies on. (Civil Eats)
PIPELINES: A third-party review confirms that a crack originating from the Keystone pipeline’s construction caused a 500,000 gallon spill in late December. (Nebraska Examiner)
CLIMATE: The U.S. Interior Department awards $125 million to local climate resiliency projects, with much of it going to Western states. (Idaho Capital Sun)
NUCLEAR: Idaho researchers work to develop the world’s first 100 kW nuclear microreactor that could be commercialized and deployed in remote locations. (Kentucky Lantern)
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