👋 Hello and welcome to Energy News Weekly! I’m glad to be back this week, so let’s dive in.
The Biden administration spent the last year preparing to roll out one of the biggest emissions-fighting regulations the U.S. has ever seen. Now, one of its most ambitious provisions may not happen.
As far as climate regulations go, this one was pretty big: The U.S. EPA would require all new and existing fossil fuel plants to sharply cut or capture their emissions in the next decade, or else face shutdown. But now, the agency has decided to exempt the nation’s 2,000 or so existing gas plants, E&E News and other sources reported last week.
The EPA said that it’s instead planning a “stronger, more durable” rule for existing gas plants that also would crack down on how they pollute nearby, often disadvantaged communities. But the New York Times reports that agency officials also worried the rule could be overturned in court, and that it wouldn’t help get skeptical voters on President Biden’s side before the election.
Whatever comes next, if it doesn’t get done well before November, the EPA may miss its chance to regulate gas plant emissions altogether.
It’s only been a few weeks since reports suggested the EPA would also weaken its proposed tailpipe emissions rule, which would push automakers to speed up their transition to electric vehicles. But after automakers raised concerns about EV costs and still-weak charging infrastructure, it too may be on the chopping block.
More clean energy news
🌎 Kerry’s last stand: As John Kerry steps down as U.S. climate envoy, he made a final push for phasing out new gas infrastructure construction and cautioned that capturing carbon emissions won’t replace the need to decarbonize. (The Guardian)
🛰️ Measuring methane: A methane-tracking satellite launched Monday, and aims to collect emissions data and map out leaking oil and gas infrastructure around the world. (NPR)
💰 Rural clean energy boost: The U.S. Department of Energy announces $366 million for rural renewable energy projects across 20 states and 30 tribal nations. (The Hill)
💸 Cracking down on utility spending: At least a dozen states seek to limit utilities from spending ratepayer money on lobbying, advertising, and other costs in the wake of corruption scandals like the FirstEnergy scandal unfolding in Ohio. (States Newsroom, Floodlight/Mother Jones)
🌊 Offshore wind’s ‘terrifying’ threat: Offshore wind industry leaders say former President Trump’s election poses a “terrifying” threat to their already struggling industry, with one official saying that “anyone who is telling themselves that they’ll find a way around it is kidding themselves.” (E&E News)
☀️ A big leap for solar: A clean energy group’s analysis finds a $7 billion federal program is on track to help more than 700,000 lower-income households install solar and storage systems, making it the largest such investment in U.S. history. (Canary Media)
🔥 Energy storage heats up: At least 30 startups look to store renewable power by heating up rocks and other materials, hoping thermal storage can solve solar and wind’s intermittency challenges. (Canary Media)
🧟 Zombie hunt: Environmental groups propose policies that could help states clean up and repurpose nearly 1 million acres of idled, unreclaimed “zombie” coal mines across 12 states. (Daily Yonder)
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