OIL & GAS: Fossil fuel companies directed more than $700 million in research funding to 27 U.S. universities from 2010 to 2020, including to top-tier schools that champion their climate research. (Guardian)

ALSO:
• Chevron received U.S. EPA approval to produce new alternative fuels from discarded plastics, even though proposed fuel could emit air pollution so toxic that one in four people exposed to it could get cancer. (Guardian/ProPublica)
• Environmentalists are uninterested in a Biden administration proposal to approve the controversial Willow oil and gas project in Alaska while banning drilling in other parts of the state, according to inside sources. (Washington Post)

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CLIMATE:
• The U.S. clean energy transition is taking hold, but not fast enough to prevent climate change’s worst effects, an analysis finds. (Canary Media)
• Global carbon emissions are still rising, but may be approaching a plateau, the International Energy Agency says. (Guardian)
• The U.S. EPA offers $250 million in grants for cities and states to develop emission reduction strategies, with another $25 million for tribes. (The Hill)

POLITICS:
• Democrats look for ways to curb agricultural emissions in Congress’ forthcoming Farm Bill renewal as Republicans vow to make sure the “farm bill doesn’t become the climate bill.” (Inside Climate News)
• The Senate votes to nullify a Biden administration rule that would let retirement funds consider environmental factors when weighing investments, saddling the president with what could be his first veto. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR: The Biden administration announces $1.2 billion to extend the lives of nuclear power plants at risk of closing or already closed. (Reuters)

WIND:
• A federal official says private developers’ focus on building transmission lines to serve single projects could slow offshore wind development. (Utility Dive)
• The growing size of offshore wind turbines isn’t a safety concern but is making it harder to standardize parts and equipment. (E&E News) 

CARBON CAPTURE: A carbon pipeline developer says it sees potential sequestration sites in a number of Illinois counties, and that its recent applications are unlikely to be the last word on its project. (Energy News Network)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Elon Musk disappoints investors with his “Master Plan 3” for Tesla, which lacked concrete plans for new, more affordable vehicles or services. (CNBC)
• North Carolina officials lay out a state clean transportation plan that calls for transitioning to electric vehicles, reducing overall vehicle miles driven, and expanding charging infrastructure. (Winston-Salem Journal)

GRID:
• A utility regulator group explores how states can encourage utilities to build more flexible power grids through performance-based ratemaking. (Utility Dive)
• Few new wind, solar and energy storage projects that have inked contracts in New York have decided to pay transmission upgrade costs and begin construction. (Politico)

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LITHIUM: A federal court rejects conservationists’ and tribes’ bid to block construction of the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. (Associated Press)

OHIO: Former House Speaker Larry Householder takes the stand in his corruption trial, disputing claims that he accepted utility money in exchange for favorable legislation. (Energy News Network/Eye on Ohio)

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Kathryn Krawczyk

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.