POLITICS: Major utilities, solar companies, storage developers and other business leaders call on Congress to pass a reconciliation package that includes clean energy tax credits and incentives for energy efficiency and clean transportation. (Utility Dive)

ALSO:
• Sen. Joe Manchin again suggests he may only support a party-line reconciliation bill if climate and energy provisions are dropped from it entirely, citing inflation concerns. (E&E News)
• Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pushes senators to finish work on a stalled economic development package that would boost the semiconductor industry. (E&E News)

CLIMATE: A report predicts the U.S. will only curb its emissions by as much as 35% by 2030, falling far short of the Biden administration goal of halving them. (The Hill)

OVERSIGHT: House Republicans question EPA head Michael Regan as the agency pushes fossil fuel plants to shut down in favor of clean energy, claiming doing so jeopardizes grid reliability. (Utility Dive)

TRANSPORTATION: A report questions the viability of electric airplanes, finding they’ll likely mitigate just 0.2 percent of aviation’s projected emissions in 2050. (Canary Media)

EFFICIENCY: The U.S. Energy Department awards $40 million in funding for efficiency projects across the U.S. (Utility Dive)

OIL & GAS: The U.S. EPA considers tightening regulations on oil and gas facilities in parts of the Permian Basin that frequently exceed federal ozone pollution limits. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Some union leaders are unhappy with New York’s clean air plans, saying a rapid shift from fossil fuels will jeopardize jobs. (Times Union)
• A Wisconsin high school class participates in a range of community environmental projects focused on clean energy. (Energy News Network)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Electric vehicle startups are scrambling to cut costs and partner with large corporations as they compete with legacy automakers. (Reuters)
• Oklahoma loses its aggressive bid for a Panasonic battery factory when the company announces it will build in Kansas instead. (KOCO, Daily Journal)
• General Motors announces a partnership with travel center operator Pilot to develop a network of 2,000 EV charging stalls near highways. (Reuters)

GRID:
• New York utility regulators and environmental advocates urge federal regulators to pass a proposal that would have ratepayers cover the cost of transmission upgrades needed for clean energy development. (Utility Dive)
• Western utility officials say the proposed $8 billion Energy Gateway transmission network stretching from Wyoming to California is critical to decarbonizing the grid. (E&E News) 

SOLAR:
• Mississippi regulators add a $3,500 rebate for homes and businesses that purchase rooftop solar, and higher net-metering rate credits for households earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level. (Mississippi Today)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management green-lights construction of the 500 MW Oberon solar project in an area in southern California designated for renewable energy development. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY: A climate journalist laments the death of the Build Back Better package, saying even if a version of it passes now, it’ll fall far short of its original climate ambitions. (Atlantic)

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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.