COAL: More than 500 days into office, President Biden has yet to appoint a new director for the agency that oversees surface coal mine reclamation, prompting calls for action from environmentalists and coal mining communities. (Inside Climate News, West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

ALSO: The U.S. EPA has developed a list of 160 unlined coal ash storage sites that could pose a threat to groundwater if formally closed. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: NextEra Energy and its subsidiary Florida Power & Light unveil plans to eliminate carbon emissions by 2045 by shifting to wind, solar, battery storage, nuclear, green hydrogen and other renewables. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Southern Illinois community leaders share a growing faith that clean energy will gain a foothold in the region that has long been economically and culturally tied to the coal industry. (Energy News Network)
• Some energy policy observers aren’t confident that New York can reach its climate targets after state legislators failed to pass bills that would have brought the state closer to its goals. (E&E News)

CLIMATE:
• Climate and clean energy groups’ midterm election strategies include a focus on state races, voter turnout and protecting vulnerable Democratic incumbents. (Washington Post)
• A 1977 memo from a top White House science adviser accurately forecast how carbon emissions would warm the planet and could have spurred action but was largely ignored. (Guardian)
• Nearly every part of the continental U.S. is facing extreme weather this week, ranging from fires and heat waves to floods and tornadoes. (Washington Post)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Ford recalls more than 48,000 Mustang Mach-E electric cars over a battery issue that may render the vehicle immobile. (CNBC)
• To alleviate traffic congestion and make progress toward carbon neutrality, UPS launches a pilot program in New York City for small, specialized battery-powered delivery vehicles. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: White House officials meet with domestic solar manufacturers to elaborate on new federal actions meant to boost solar panel production and lower costs. (Bloomberg, subscription)

GRID: Federal energy regulators receive proposed new interconnection rules from PJM Interconnection, which would prioritize connecting “first-ready” projects to the grid. (RTO Insider, subscription)

OIL & GAS:
• President Biden plans to tell major U.S. oil producers that he may invoke emergency powers to boost refinery output. (Axios)
• The American Petroleum Institute pushes the Biden administration to lift restrictions on fossil fuel development to increase supply. (Reuters)
• 21 state attorneys general urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to object to the Biden administration’s proposed review of a nationwide pipeline permitting program. (WIBW)

STORAGE: A U.S. Army base in Colorado plans to install a 10-hour battery, the first megawatt-scale, long-duration energy storage system at a Defense Department facility. (news release)

COMMENTARY: A journalist suggests four ways state and federal policymakers  can boost the burgeoning battery recycling industry. (Canary Media)

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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.