In the news today…
Minerals:
- E&E News PM reports the Energy Department and national labs are creating a new research facility dedicated to studying ways of securing materials needed to produce wind turbines, solar panels, electric vehicles and more.
- Politico Pro reports the United States still hopes to reach a critical minerals agreement with the European Union that would allow electric vehicle batteries made by European manufacturers to qualify for certain tax breaks provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, the top U.S. trade official said Wednesday.
Permitting:
- E&E Greenwire reports EPA launched a new online tool to track its permits as the Biden administration races to clear clean energy projects and rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
EPA:
- Inside EPA reports Utah and Oklahoma, as well as a coalition of local industry groups, are separately petitioning the Supreme Court to settle an appellate split over the appropriate venue for suits challenging EPA’s disapproval of state ozone plans, arguing venue is proper only in regional courts, in a move with serious implications for EPA’s Good Neighbor Plan (GNP) rule, and litigation over state air plans in general.
Renewables:
- Flatland reports that steadily growing power demand from large industrial customers is complicating Kansas City utility Evergy’s clean energy transition plan and the need to maintain supplies.
Nuclear:
- Utility Dive reports that the U.S. Energy Department releases an information guide finding that converting coal plants to nuclear power could increase direct employment by dozens of workers while driving new local tax revenue.