In the news today…
Grid:
- Center Square reports Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to veto a bill that would give Ameren Illinois first rights to build transmission lines, though he expects lawmakers to reconsider the topic later this year.
- Houston Chronicle reports that Texas’ grid manager predicts the state will exceed the previous record for electricity demand three times in coming days as a major heat wave brings triple-digit temperatures.
- Utility Dive reports that the federal debt ceiling law’s limited permitting reform provisions could convince Congress they don’t need to do more to boost transmission deployment, grid experts say.
Minerals:
- Financial Times reports a US-led group of 12 countries, plus the EU, plans to select large critical-minerals projects to develop by year end, in an attempt to lessen China’s dominant role in producing raw materials needed for green technologies.
- E&E Daily reports partisan finger-pointing erupted Wednesday over a contentious lithium mining project, with Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of trying to undermine the nation’s bedrock environmental law.