In the news today:
Media Alert:
- Thanks to the Waco Tribune Herald (Texas), Fargo Inforum (N.Dak.), Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Colo.), Carlsbad Current Argus, (N.M.), Yahoo News (USA), Farmington Daily Times (N.M.), Las Cruces Sun Times (N.M.), Alamogordo Daily News (N.M.) and Ruidoso News (N.M.) for carrying my op-ed where I argue that there’s a responsible way to navigate America’s energy future, but the path being taken by the Biden administration and the EPA simply isn’t it.
Permitting:
- E&E News reports that ahead of a planned Wednesday vote, lawmakers are looking for ways to garner enough support for a debt-ceiling deal that would approve the controversial Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline along with changes to the National Environmental Policy Act that include a one-year deadline for environmental assessments and a two-year deadline for environmental impact statements. The deal struck over the weekend is a hard sell for some conservatives who believe House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not get as much as he could from Democrats, while progressives believe President Joe Biden conceded too much.
- Argus reports an agreement reached between President Joe Biden and Republicans to raise the ceiling on federal debt would also include some changes intended to expedite energy and infrastructure project permitting.
Grid:
- Canary Media reports a new NRDC report warns that backlogs at PJM could undermine state decarbonization targets if the grid operator doesn’t undertake decisive reforms soon.
- E&E Daily reports the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing this week to examine the reliability and resilience of the electric grid ahead of what could be a tumultuous summer.
- Utility Dive reports that as the Southwest Power Pool expands its grid footprint into the West, some experts worry the changes could isolate California and cut off access to renewable energy and other power imports.