GRID: Democrats and Republicans are reportedly close to a deal that would fast-track permitting for new transmission lines, while including “modest, tech-neutral” changes to the National Environmental Policy Act that would benefit the fossil fuel industry. (E&E News, Washington Post)

ALSO:
• The Biden administration completes its environmental review of a 470-mile transmission line, proposed to carry up to 4,000 MW of mostly solar power across western Nevada. (The Hill)
• A new paper concludes multiple approaches are needed to deal with interconnection delays for clean energy and storage: “No single solution is a silver bullet.” (Utility Dive) 

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CLEAN ENERGY:
• The International Energy Agency says clean energy investment is moving “faster than many people realize,” with investments in solar expected to outpace those for oil production for the first time next year. (Reuters)
• California acquired 37% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2021, setting a new record. (Mercury News)

ELECTRIFICATION:
• A Philadelphia nonprofit launches a “heat pump training lab” to an equity-focused job center as the city faces growing demand for the new technology. (Canary Media)
• Ithaca, New York, wants to help mobile home owners install 50 heat pumps by the end of the year to help reduce energy costs and emissions associated with the affordable but notoriously inefficient housing option. (Grist)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Many advocates say the U.S. needs a law mandating electric vehicle battery recycling, as the first wave of EVs nears retirement by the end of the decade. (Grist)
• Ford announces a deal that would allow the company’s electric vehicles to have access to 12,000 Tesla Supercharger stations around the country; meanwhile the company’s CEO says Chinese companies will be its main competitor, rather than GM or Toyota. (Associated Press, Reuters)
• Minnesota lawmakers set aside $4 million for rebates for electric bikes, which are growing in popularity among residents. (MPR News)

UTILITIES: As judges deny sentencing delays for two key figures in the Ohio’s power plant bailout scandal, former FirstEnergy executives fear they will be indicted next. (Ohio Capital Journal)

CARBON CAPTURE: Environmental groups call on the Biden administration to halt carbon pipeline construction until more federal safety regulations are adopted. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

OIL & GAS: A federal Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auction in New Mexico generates more than $78 million after advocates called for a halt to the sale. (Reuters, Carlsbad Current-Argus)

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NATURAL GAS: A pair of gas turbines at a Louisiana power plant emit more carbon dioxide than any other units in the U.S., data show, but would be exempt from the EPA’s draft rule for power plant emissions because they don’t run frequently enough. (E&E News)

WIND: A student wind turbine competition inspires a Virginia high-schooler to pursue an engineering degree in hopes of a career designing the next generation of offshore wind turbines. (Energy News Network) 

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.