POLITICS: The Biden administration has avoided antagonizing Sen. Joe Manchin, who remains an essential Democratic vote even as he criticizes the Inflation Reduction Act’s implementation. (Washington Post)

CLEAN ENERGY: A West Virginia solar installer and three Arizona battery factories are among many examples of states benefiting from the federal climate law despite opposition from Republican elected officials. (NPR, Arizona Daily Star)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Indonesia seeks to become a nickel supplier for U.S. electric vehicle batteries, but its reliance on China has been a sticking point in trade negotiations. (New York Times)
• A Washington state agricultural community becomes an electric vehicle-material and battery manufacturing hub after federal incentives entice startups to set up shop there. (E&E News)  

HYDROGEN: Critics say efforts to make Appalachian Ohio a “blue” hydrogen hub would be an energy- and water-intensive decarbonization strategy that largely benefits the oil and gas industry. (Energy News Network)

BIOENERGY: Agricultural biogas producers are lobbying to make its producers eligible for federal electric vehicle incentives, arguing that the fuel can be used to generate electricity to power vehicles. (Grist/Popular Science)

CLIMATE:
• Climate change is contributing to longer and more severe Western wildfire seasons that are increasingly threatening utility infrastructure. (Seattle Times, Northwest Public Broadcasting)
• More states, cities and counties are setting up clean air centers to help residents avoid wildfire smoke and other pollutants, but it’s unclear whether they’re more effective than wearing a mask. (Axios)

GRID:
• Industry observers say Hawaiian Electric has long known about wildfire risks its aging equipment posed but delayed making upgrades that may have prevented the deadly Maui disaster. (New York Times)
• Three battery storage system fires in New York this summer are forcing state officials to reconsider how to roll out the infrastructure to meet clean energy goals. (Canary Media)

SOLAR: California solar installers say new net metering policies render rooftop solar financially infeasible without energy storage. (Los Angeles Times)

OIL & GAS: An appeals court sides with environmentalists and shoots down a federal approval of a proposed Utah railway that would connect Uinta Basin oil and gas producers to the national rail network. (Associated Press)

WIND: Federal officials announce two offshore wind sites near North Carolina won’t be leased after military leaders warned they could interfere with supersonic flights and air combat training. (Carolina Journal)

CARBON CAPTURE: State and national groups ask the U.S. EPA to deny West Virginia’s efforts to take regulatory authority over a carbon capture operation. (WTAP)

COMMENTARY:
• The electric vehicle transition is at the heart of the UAW’s contract demands from major automakers as labor leaders seek to protect jobs building batteries and assembling electric vehicles, a columnist writes. (Michigan Advance)
• A carless New York City resident documents her difficulty renting an electric vehicle and the learning curve she went through when learning to manage its charging. (New York Times)

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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.