In the news today…
Grid:
- S&P Global reports that U.S. Senate Democrats may seek to negotiate for more aggressive transmission build-out measures under a broad energy permitting bill package the House passed last week.
WOTUS:
- Politico Pro reports a federal judge in Kentucky dismissed a challenge to the Biden administration’s new Waters of the U.S. rule brought by that state and industry groups, underscoring how differing legal rulings have begun to create a regulatory patchwork across the country that is only likely to worsen in the coming weeks.
- E&E Greenwire reports a federal judge on Friday declined to block the Biden administration’s new rule defining the scope of the Clean Water Act.
Coal:
- The Hill reports federal clean energy tax credits are accelerating a nationwide wave of coal plant closures, as those facilities can no longer economically compete. That’s driving a wave of state-level legislation and national rhetoric from the GOP aimed at keeping coal plants online.
- E&E Greenwire reports EPA is poised to propose strengthening hazardous air emissions limits on coal-fired power plants, only a month after reinstating the legal basis for those standards.
- Washington Post reports President Joe Biden’s administration is making $450 million available for solar farms and other clean energy projects across the country at the site of current or former coal mines, part of his ongoing efforts to combat climate change.
- E&E Energywire reports the Biden administration will provide additional bonus funding for clean energy projects that are located in communities where mines and coal-fired power plants have closed.