TGIF!
In the news today…
Grid:
- Utility Dive reports that utility leaders say they “got lucky” in avoiding a harsh storm season in New England and beyond last year, and that supply chain issues could’ve delayed recovery had extreme weather taken out the grid.
- Boston Globe reports that climate activists are working to seat advocates on an ISO New England committee to steer the grid operator toward more ambitious climate action.
Congress:
- Politico Pro reports McConnell criticized Manchin for his push to halt electric vehicle tax credits that don’t meet strict new domestic sourcing requirements included in Democrats’ health care, climate and tax package from last year, which Manchin played a central role in crafting.
Mining:
- Washington Post, E&E Greenwire, Roll Call, The Bharat Express News and The Hill report the Biden administration took final actions Thursday to protect waterways in pristine northeastern Minnesota, likely halting a proposed copper mine there, a move that inflamed Republican lawmakers who want to see domestic development of minerals critical for electric vehicle batteries and clean tech. Rich Nolan is quoted.
- Politico Pro reports the Department of Interior Thursday issued an order to protect a large swath of Minnesota lakes and wilderness from mining — dealing a blow to the yearslong effort to build a copper mine in the region.
- E&E News PM reports the company that wants to develop a copper and nickel mine in northern Minnesota near the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness decried the Biden administration’s decision Thursday to order a 20-year mining ban in the region.
- New York Times reports tribal groups are fighting an Arizona project whose backers say increasing the supply of copper, crucial to batteries, would reduce fossil-fuel use.