CLEAN ENERGY: U.S. renewable electricity generation narrowly surpassed coal for the first time last year, driven largely by new wind and solar power, though experts say quicker progress is needed to meet climate goals. (Grist)

ALSO: International energy transition investments need to quadruple and the world needs to deploy thousands more gigawatts of renewables by 2030 to meet climate goals, the International Renewable Energy Agency says. (Utility Dive)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The U.S. and Japan agree not to levy export tariffs on electric vehicle battery materials headed between the two countries. (The Hill)
• Studies and anecdotes detail the unreliability of electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S., sparking hesitancy among potential EV adopters that could slow the transition from gas-powered cars. (E&E News)
• An expanded battery recycling plant near Reno could eventually provide 10% of the materials used at Tesla’s nearby Gigafactory. (Nevada Appeal)

OIL & GAS:
• The Biden administration announces 73.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico will be auctioned off for oil and gas drilling. (Guardian)
• The National Transportation Safety Board calls the Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion a “natural gas” explosion and fire, saying preliminary information indicates a gas pipeline was involved. (NBC News)

CLIMATE:
• The United Nations will debate whether to ask the International Court of Justice to lay out legal obligations for countries to fight climate change. (Inside Climate News)
• Financial and political interests reportedly compelled the authors of the United Nations’ most recent climate report to remove references to fossil fuels and meat consumption. (Inside Climate News)

WIND: Education programs and a planned turbine assembly hub are poised to turn Staten Island into an offshore wind industry leader. (North American Wind Power)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A Connecticut bill would let state officials place conditions on permits for polluting facilities in environmental justice communities, but some advocates and lawmakers think it should go even further. (Energy News Network)

UTILITIES: Critics say a December cold snap exposed flaws in a first-of-its-kind Southeast energy trading platform as utilities effectively stopped using it during a three-day period of rolling blackouts in the region. (E&E News)

CARBON CAPTURE: A new federal tax credit sparks a rush of proposals to build more than two dozen carbon-capture facilities in Louisiana, but experts wonder if the projects can stand alone without the incentives. (Floodlight/The Lens)

GRID: Grid operator PJM plans to delay upcoming capacity auctions so it can include pending reforms to ensure power supply is available when needed. (Utility Dive)

COMMENTARY: A national network of not-for-profit co-ops could help U.S. communities electrify while lowering their power costs, a grid operator and a clean energy communications adviser write. (Utility Dive)

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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.