POLITICS: The results of down-ballot races in several states could have big climate impacts, including one race for a Texas regulatory post that oversees some of the state’s biggest emitters, and another that could determine the fate of a Michigan oil and gas pipeline. (Vox)

ALSO:
• Democrats running in close U.S. Senate races look to shift the blame for high gas prices off the Biden administration and onto oil and gas giants. (Politico)
• Oil and gas industry lobbyists, expecting Republicans to take over Congress next year, are already working with GOP lawmakers to undercut Biden administration clean energy programs. (New York Times)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The Biden administration awards a total of $2.8 billion in grants to twelve states to boost production of electric vehicle batteries. (Associated Press)
• States that voted for Donald Trump will receive most of those grants, along with a windfall of other clean energy subsidies and private investment, despite Republican leaders denying climate change and decrying the spending as wasteful. (New York Times)
• A study finds electric vehicles’ climate footprint from battery production and fossil fuel-generated electricity is negated in less than two years via reduced tailpipe emissions. (New York Times)
• The Inflation Reduction Act sets federal rules mandating accountability within the global electric vehicle battery supply chain, potentially driving a crackdown on human rights abuses in the industry. (Washington Post)

GRID:
• Developers are fighting a Federal Emergency Management Association proposal to toughen construction standards for wind and solar projects to improve reliability in extreme weather, saying the new rules will kill projects. (Utility Dive)
• Only eight U.S. companies manufacture the massive transformers the country needs to improve and expand electric distribution, and deliveries have fallen behind due to pandemic and supply challenges. (E&E News)
• Xcel Energy is seeking to expand its work on community microgrids in Minnesota, with critics saying the utility would hold an unfair advantage over other developers. (Energy News Network) 

CLIMATE:
• The U.S. agrees to support United Nations discussions of reparations for developing countries that have produced few fossil fuel emissions but face an outsized number of their climate effects. (Bloomberg)
• The International Energy Agency estimates global carbon emissions from fossil fuels will rise 1% this year over last, down from 2021’s 6% growth from the year before. (Axios)

SOLAR: Inflation and supply chain constraints further delay construction and increase costs for New Mexico solar projects aimed at replacing the generating capacity of the now-shuttered San Juan coal plant. (NM Political Report)

HYDROPOWER: As long-term drought diminishes hydropower production on the Colorado River, rural electricity cooperatives must turn to more expensive power sources. (Nevada Independent)

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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.