CLEAN ENERGY: A federal report projects that renewable energy will exceed one-fourth of U.S. electricity generation for the first time in 2024. (Inside Climate News)
ALSO:
• An industry group’s report shows that Amazon, Meta and Google are the top corporate buyers of wind and solar power over the last decade. (CNBC)
• A California community energy provider says it will start delivering “24/7 carbon-free energy” to match customers’ hourly use by 2025. (Canary Media)
• The Energy Department rolls out several clean energy grant programs from last year’s climate and infrastructure laws. (E&E News, subscription)
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Advocates will be watching closely this year to ensure $60 billion in environmental justice funding from the Inflation Reduction Act benefits communities that are most in need. (Inside Climate News)
CLIMATE:
• A convergence of obstacles including staff shortages and federal court rulings threaten to delay President Biden’s climate agenda. (Washington Post)
• U.S. financial regulators release new details of how they plan to stress test big banks to see how vulnerable they are to climate change. (Grist)
• Harvard Medical School works to incorporate climate change topics into its MD curriculum. (news release)
BUILDINGS:
• Chicago environmental and consumer advocates call on city officials to pass a clean buildings ordinance that would effectively ban gas connections in most new buildings. (Chicago Tribune)
• California regional regulators consider banning sales of new natural gas water heaters and furnaces in nine Bay Area counties. (San Francisco Chronicle)
WIND:
• Federal officials seek to assuage fears that dead, beached whales along the Mid-Atlantic are the result of offshore wind development, with one saying “no information” supports the claim. (Associated Press)
• A new report projects supply chain bottlenecks and other challenges for the offshore wind industry in 2023 but pinpoints the Gulf of Mexico for its potential to generate nearly 9 GW of power. (The Hill)
SOLAR: A national coalition announces a vision for expanding community solar in the U.S. to 30 gigawatts by 2030 — nearly six times what’s installed now. (Canary Media)
GRID: Texas regulators are set to vote today on an overhaul of the state power market and grid that would raise electricity rates to incentivize power companies to be available when there’s a power shortage. (Houston Chronicle, WFAA)
OIL & GAS: Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree calls for a federal investigation into propane propaganda following a New York Times feature on the industry’s anti-electrification efforts. (Bangor Daily News, New York Times)
OHIO: Energy News Network reporter Kathiann Kowalski participates in a panel discussion on dark money and utility corruption ahead of the federal bribery trial for former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. (Ohio Capital Journal)
COMMENTARY: Businessman and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg writes that recent winter blackouts show the need to diversify the nation’s power supply with more clean energy. (Washington Post)
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