In the news today…
Energy:
- Axios reports that in his first memo to his department, new Energy Secretary Chris Wright tells the department he’s planning a comprehensive review of appliance efficiency standards and outlines other priorities.
Grid:
- New York Times reports that utilities have extended the retirement dates of nearly one third of coal plants across the country, even as a study shows that it’s more expensive to run nearly every U.S. coal plant than to build renewable replacements.
- Note: Of course, renewable energy resources do not have the same attributes as thermal energy resources–renewable energy resources are not dispatchable and operate intermittently, unlike thermal resources. Thus, renewable resources cannot “replace” thermal resources.
Climate:
- Iowa Capital Dispatch reports that Iowa lawmakers advance a bill, backed by a GOP lawmaker and frequent critic of carbon pipelines, to prohibit state regulators from considering climate change when issuing a permit for carbon, oil and gas pipelines.
Minerals:
- Mining.com reports China unveiled a series of retaliatory measures against the United States on Tuesday, including restrictions on the export of five critical metals used in defence, clean energy, and other industries.