POLITICS: Project 2025, the conservative blueprint for what supporters want to see from a Trump presidency, calls for dismantling U.S. EPA regulations, cutting program funding, and otherwise undoing much of the Biden administration’s climate and clean energy progress. (E&E News, Grist)

ALSO:

  • Climate groups push President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race “for the sake of the climate,” saying he is unlikely to beat Donald Trump. (The Guardian)
  • Investors say the clean energy industry may be growing quickly enough to withstand the potential negative effects of a Trump presidency, though they warn investment will likely slow under the Republican. (E&E News)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE:

  • A U.S. EPA regulation enacted a decade ago has successfully encouraged sharp emissions cuts at most of the 130 oil refineries it targeted, pollution has skyrocketed at dozens of other facilities often located in low-income communities of color. (E&E News)
  • A natural gas-fired backup power plant for a New Jersey wastewater facility will move forward in a mostly BIPOC Newark community already burdened by industrial emissions, but with strict controls on pollution and a requirement for a solar and storage system. (Associated Press)
  • Advocates say the federal energy assistance program LIHEAP favors heating assistance in cold-weather states, and should be retooled to better support cooling assistance in warming climates. (Inside Climate News)

GRID: Louisiana and Mississippi commissions sue federal regulators over an order that sets requirements for long-term electric grid planning, one of the first challenges since the U.S. Supreme Court opened up ambiguous agency decisions to lawsuits. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: As Duke Energy prepares to face North Carolina regulators and defend its plan to invest in 9 GW of natural gas plants and delay meeting an emissions reduction mandate, it makes small concessions in a proposed settlement and wins support from the state’s ratepayer advocate. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:

  • Nearly every state so far this year has taken policy action involving distributed solar, with many focusing on compensation from net metering and valuation of distributed solar resources, according to a new report. (Utility Dive)
  • Minnesota lawmakers have budgeted $2 million for training local officials and contractors on using software that helps streamline the solar permitting process. (Energy News Network)
  • Texas saw a spike in the number of homes adding small-scale solar facilities even before Hurricane Beryl, which caused widespread outages that could encourage more state residents to install solar. (Inside Climate News)
  • Developers bring the 690 MW Gemini Solar + Energy Storage project online in southern Nevada, making it one of the nation’s largest operational facilities of its kind. (Power)

TRANSITION: In 2023, more than 90% of pipeline and refinery companies said in an industry survey that they had clean energy transition goals; today, that number has fallen to around three quarters. (The Hill)

ELECTRIFICATION: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal to ban gas hookups in new homes and buildings is dead after a majority of city council members rejected the idea amid stiff union opposition. (Sun-Times)

LITHIUM: Mining lithium needed for batteries and clean energy components can use and potentially contaminate significant water supplies, a newly published study finds. (Inside Climate News)

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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.