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POLITICS: With about 17 working days before Congress’ August recess, Senate Democrats are at risk of again failing to pass a climate bill, which analysts and scholars say would leave the country and planet measurably worse off. (Atlantic)
EQUITY: Federal programs enacted decades ago to help elevate homes at risk of flooding may violate civil rights laws by shutting out Black, Hispanic, and low-income homeowners, an investigation finds. (Politico)
OIL & GAS: • President Joe Biden chastises oil refiners for profiteering off high gasoline prices and presses them to increase production, though analysts say there’s little the administration or oil industry can do to cut refiners’ profits. (The Hill, E&E News) • Congressional Democrats who pushed for a tax on oil companies’ windfall profits say they’re encouraged by President Biden’s criticisms of the industry. (The Hill) • Environmental groups sue the Biden administration, saying the agency violated federal law when it issued 3,500 drilling permits in New Mexico and Wyoming during the first 16 months of the administration. (CNN)
CLIMATE: • The Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, the United Houma Nation and other Native American tribes in Louisiana still haven’t recovered from extensive damage by Hurricane Ida last year, even as another bad storm season looms. (Associated Press) • The New England Journal of Medicine expands its coverage of climate change’s effects on public health, starting with a series on fossil fuel-driven health effects. (Inside Climate News) • After reluctantly rallying around President Biden as he campaigned on major climate and clean energy action, climate advocates say they’ve been let down. (Grist)
GRID: A federal energy lab will study how climate change is likely to threaten power grid infrastructure, starting with ComEd’s system in Illinois. (E&E News)
NUCLEAR: A study suggests small modular reactors may actually produce more waste per unit of power than large plants, and also face neutron leakage risks that large plants don’t. (Grist)
EFFICIENCY: A growing number of Detroit commercial building owners adopt energy efficiency measures to reduce energy waste, costs and emissions, while experts see significant potential to do more across the city. (Energy News Network/Planet Detroit)
SOLAR: California utilities square off with the solar industry after regulators reopen the record on a proposal to slash net metering payments for rooftop solar. (Utility Dive)
COAL: Plans are in the works to overhaul former coal plants across southwest Pennsylvania to support new industrial developments, like medical marijuana farming and gas fired-power production. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
CLEAN ENERGY: Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee will likely sign a bill state lawmakers passed yesterday to require 100% renewable electricity by 2033. (RTO Insider, subscription; Boston Globe)
TRANSPORTATION: The Federal Aviation Administration will soon propose airline climate standards that EPA documents suggest won’t actually reduce fuel consumption or carbon emissions. (The Hill)
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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.
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