Posted on December 6, 2022
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has so far only approved two of the 16 offshore wind farms President Biden wants implemented during his first term — a goal that has become more urgent since Republicans took over the House. (E&E News)
TRANSPORTATION:
• As airlines and airports look to electrify ground operations and eventually their planes, finding enough space and power to plug in poses a challenge. (Axios)
• Tesla will deliver its first battery-powered semi-truck to Pepsi this week. (Canary Media)
• Commercial electric vehicle startup Lordstown Motors begins shipping its first batch of 500 trucks from a former General Motors plant in Ohio. (Associated Press)
SOLAR: In New Jersey, one of North America’s largest capped landfills — and a former Superfund site — becomes a solar farm capable of powering more than 4,000 homes. (NJ Spotlight)
CARBON CAPTURE: Digital illustrations envision what direct air carbon capture plants could look like in different settings, from a small modular plant atop a warehouse to a mega plant in a rural area. (Grist)
UTILITIES:
• Many of the U.S.’s top-performing utilities saw continued revenue growth in 2022, though not as much as other Fortune 500 companies. (Utility Dive)
• Republican attorneys general from 13 states object to a major institutional investor’s request from federal energy regulators to purchase shares in U.S. utilities. (S&P Global)
CLIMATE:
• Global weather disasters caused $260 billion in losses this year, with Hurricane Ian bringing in $50-65 billion in insured damages, a reinsurance research group estimates. (Bloomberg)
• The White House launches a new effort to include centuries of Indigenous observations in climate research and policy decisions. (E&E News)
COAL:
• Democratic senators from coal mining states call for action after years of black lung activists pressing federal regulators to tighten silica exposure limits. (Ohio Valley ReSource)
• Westmoreland begins reclaiming its San Juan coal mine in New Mexico, further dimming Enchant Energy’s prospects of reviving the shuttered power plant and running it with carbon capture. (Farmington Daily Times)
EFFICIENCY: Rural and high-poverty school districts can apply for $80 million in federal grants for building efficiency improvements, renewable energy installations, and alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure. (Utility Dive)
STORAGE: Researchers say aqueous zinc-ion batteries, promised as a cheaper and safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries, likely won’t live up to that goal. (Utility Dive)
OIL & GAS: The House oversight committee says it’s wrapping up its investigation of the oil industry and will soon issue a report. (E&E News)
RENEWABLES: North Carolina researchers study how ocean currents can be harnessed for energy generation, particularly around the Gulf Stream. (Coastal Review)
EQUITY: A coalition of solar developers, community organizers, environmental groups and faith leaders is granted intervenor status for the first time in a Minnesota utility rate case and will advocate for equity and justice as regulators consider an Xcel Energy rate increase. (Energy News Network)
