In the news today…
Grid:
- Utility Dive reports that developers are fighting a FEMA proposal to toughen construction standards for wind and solar projects to improve reliability in extreme weather, saying the new rules will kill projects.
Minerals:
- Associated Press, Fortune and KOAM report the Biden administration on Wednesday awarded $2.8 billion in grants to boost domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles in 12 states.
- Politico Pro reports the Biden administration on Wednesday announced $2.8 billion in grant awards to support domestic electric vehicle battery production and a new initiative to secure a “reliable and sustainable supply” of EV minerals.
- Charleston Gazette-Mail reports positive results in efforts to obtain rare earth elements from coal mining waste.
Coal:
- OilPrice.com reports BlackRock will not stop investing in oil, natural gas, or coal, the world’s largest asset manager told a UK parliamentary committee in written responses to an inquiry on the role of the financial sector in the UK’s net-zero transition.
Sustainability:
- The Washington Post reports the difficulty electric carmakers face building supply chains free of human rights and environmental violations came into focus earlier this year, when U.S. investigators completed their probe of a massive mining tragedy in Brazil.