In the news today…
Grid:
- Crain’s Chicago Business (subscription) reports that grid operator PJM warns of potential electricity shortages over the next seven years as fossil fuel generation comes offline despite growing demand, specifically citing Illinois’ sweeping clean energy law.
- Utility Dive reports that a draft Department of Energy study finds U.S. transmission capacity will need to increase by more than 50% by 2035 to accommodate clean energy growth.
Mining:
- E&E Energywire reports the White House is banking on the six-month-old Inflation Reduction Act to shift global investment away from China and into a new wave of U.S. clean energy projects, a top Biden official said Monday at one of the world’s most important energy conferences.
Permitting:
- Reuters reports that the Biden administration’s climate law, which provides hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy incentives to fight global warming, won’t be fully effective without permitting reform, executives told the CERAWeek energy conference on Monday.
- E&E Daily reports last month’s train derailment and chemical spill in Ohio has led to finger-pointing from both sides of the political aisle, but it is also now hardening attitudes on a still-live issue on Capitol Hill: permitting overhaul.
Minerals:
- E&E Daily reports House Natural Resources ranking member Raúl Grijalva is reviving legislation to block a contentious copper mine from moving forward on land considered sacred among indigenous tribes in his home state of Arizona.
- Bridge Michigan reports that Michigan should tap its abundant mineral resources to build an in-state supply of materials needed to build electric vehicles and batteries, a policy expert writes.
- The Hill carries an op-ed arguing not enough is being done to allow for domestic mining in favor of importing minerals.
Energy:
- E&E Energywire reports Texas energy giant Vistra Corp. announced plans Monday to purchase Energy Harbor, acquiring the nation’s second-largest nuclear generation fleet as the company eyes deep emissions cuts.