GRID: As distributed resources change the way electricity flows on the power grid, energy researchers are borrowing a concept from hydrology to study how the increasingly complex system works. (Energy News Network)

ALSO:
• Burying power lines largely eliminates the chance that they’ll spark wildfires, but some experts say a price tag of $4 million or more per mile makes it prohibitively expensive. (Inside Climate News)
• More than 1,500 Powerwall energy storage owners enroll in a Tesla and Pacific Gas & Electric pilot program that will use the batteries as a virtual power plant. (Green Car Reports)

OVERSIGHT:
• Environmental groups call on the U.S. Senate to confirm a leader of the EPA’s enforcement office, more than a year after President Biden first nominated someone to the post. (Washington Post)
• An appeals court ruled Friday that federal energy regulators did not violate property owners’ constitutional protections when they granted a certificate for a natural gas pipeline between Ohio and Michigan. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The U.S. has seemingly hit the tipping point for electric vehicle adoption as it sees EVs make up 5% of new car sales. (Bloomberg, subscription)

OIL & GAS: The Biden administration releases a draft environment review for a proposed Alaskan drilling project by ConocoPhillips, opening the door for approval of a scaled-back version of the project environmentalists call a “carbon bomb.” (New York Times)

CARBON CAPTURE: The 2020 closure of a carbon capture facility in Texas looms over hopes to use the technology to reduce carbon emissions, despite a rush of federal funding. (E&E News)

CLIMATE: A Pennsylvania judge approves an injunction against the state’s entrance into a regional carbon pricing program, ruling in favor of fossil fuel interests claiming it’s a tax that requires legislative approval. (Penn-Live Patriot News, Associated Press)

POLITICS: The U.S. Supreme Court’s power-plant ruling is unlikely to affect North Carolina’s efforts to reduce emissions because the state legislature established detailed standards to reduce its energy sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, while Congress did not. (Winston-Salem Journal)

SOLAR: Virginia regulators approve a $55.10 minimum bill for Dominion Energy’s shared solar program, which critics say is the highest such charge in the U.S. (Virginia Mercury)

COMMENTARY: To end the U.S. solar industry’s reliance on China, Congress needs to pass a spending agreement that contains solar manufacturing tax credits and other clean energy development funding, an Obama administration trade representative writes. (New York Times)

More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West

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.