TRANSITION: A new report surveys how states are supporting communities in the wake of coal mine and power plant closures, and finds the best policies include retraining for workers and funding for environmental cleanup. (Canary Media)
ALSO: The firm hoping to equip the San Juan coal plant in New Mexico with carbon capture equipment says it is moving forward even though the facility ceased operations last month. (NM Political Report)
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CRYPTOCURRENCY: A study finds mining Bitcoin often causes more climate damage than the cryptocurrency is worth, rivaling the impact of the beef and gasoline industries. (Smithsonian)
UTILITIES:
• Con Edison sells its clean energy division to German company RWE, making the latter the second largest U.S. solar operator. (PV Magazine)
• NextEra Energy’s CEO sees the Inflation Reduction Act as a boon for its renewable energy development, downplaying the current challenges of high prices and supply shortages. (S&P Global)
• A new Sierra Club report blasts the Tennessee Valley Authority for its lingering reliance on natural gas, even while the federal utility has decreased its carbon emissions by nearly 60% since 2005. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
SOLAR:
• A California startup partners with Sunrun to recycle used solar panels by extracting high-value materials from them for reuse. (CNBC)
• While many Northeast and Appalachian states have gotten the ball rolling on building community solar arrays for low-income residents, Pennsylvania still hasn’t passed legislation to authorize the practice. (Bay Journal)
• A national farmland preservation group joins forces with clean energy developers to build arrays in states with strong community solar programs. (Times Union)
CLIMATE:
• Frustration mounts in Florida and Virginia as communities deal with Hurricane Ian’s lingering effects in the form of power outages and flooding, and the storm’s death toll rises to at least 103. (Associated Press, Florida Politics, CBS News)
• Adopting a global zero-waste strategy of composting, recycling and production cuts could reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to equal removing all cars from U.S. roads, an anti-waste nonprofit finds (Grist)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock introduces legislation to delay new restrictions on electric vehicle tax credits to benefit Hyundai while it builds a $5.54 billion EV factory in Georgia. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Electric truck manufacturer Rivian produced nearly 7,400 vehicles at its Illinois plant last quarter and anticipates meeting its target of 25,000 vehicles this year. (Reuters)
• General Motors is ramping up its electric vehicle assembly plans by increasing production of the Chevrolet Bolt and other models. (Reuters)
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NUCLEAR: As the tide shifts toward viewing nuclear energy as climate friendly, industry leaders say the power should be considered as in line with environmental, social and governance investing. (E&E News)
EFFICIENCY: Maine launches a $4 million program to help its smallest towns make efficient improvements to public buildings, cutting energy use and bills. (Energy News Network)
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