CLEAN ENERGY: As states struggle to meet their own clean electricity goals, some are changing definitions to include nuclear, natural gas and biomass generation. (E&E News)

POLITICS:

  • House Republicans pass a bill to gut energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, including electric appliance rebates and funding for local governments to update building codes. (The Hill)
  • A Republican senator insists a bill that would establish a tariff on carbon-intensive imported goods isn’t a carbon tax, highlighting GOP lawmakers’ attempts to distance themselves from climate action. (E&E News)

GRID: As long backlogs threaten the Biden administration’s clean electricity goals, the U.S. Energy Department releases a draft plan for speeding the country’s grid interconnection process. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS:

  • Xcel Energy says it must double its grid capacity in the Permian Basin to meet anticipated demand from oil and gas industry electrification and a growing population. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
  • Enbridge reaches an agreement with Minnesota regulators that requires the oil company to commit $61 million a year into a fund to pay for the eventual decommissioning of the Line 3 pipeline. (Star Tribune)
  • A federal appeals court pauses an earlier order requiring the Biden administration to hold a Gulf of Mexico drilling lease sale next month, though it’s still required to hold the sale under the Inflation Reduction Act. (The Hill)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

BUILDINGS:

WIND: Wind development is outpacing grid expansion in Oklahoma and other parts of the Southwest Power Pool, prompting companies to also invest in storage. (Reuters) 

CLIMATE: Los Angeles region governments and nonprofits develop a climate roadmap calling for ambitious emissions reductions and investment in clean energy leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games. (Los Angeles Times)

SOLAR: Residential solar installation costs dropped in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the year before, while utility-scale installation costs rose, researchers find. (Utility Dive)

BATTERIES: University of Maryland researchers say they’ve created a new way to develop lithium-ion batteries to make them less prone to combust while increasing energy storage. (news release)

UTILITIES: A North Carolina manufacturers group moves to block a Duke Energy customer assistance program designed to reduce energy burdens on the utility’s poorest residential customers. (Energy News Network)

COAL: Tribal nations call for a meeting with the U.S. and Canadian governments to address cross-border selenium water contamination from coal mines. (Missoulian)

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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.