In the news today…
Grid:
- Missouri Independent reports that critics say regional grid operators have been caught flat-footed amid the widespread shift to clean energy, creating bottlenecks as renewable energy projects seek to come online.
- E&E News reports a brief outage in Texas last year highlights the challenge of rapidly integrating large amounts of solar energy into the grid.
- NPR reports that most of Puerto Rico remains without electricity after being hit by Hurricane Fiona; the island’s governor promises power will be restored in “a matter of days.”
Coal:
- Vancouver Sun reports the longshore and warehouse union at Westshore Terminals is on strike, suspending operations at one of Canada’s largest and busiest ports for moving coal.
Minerals:
- Forbes reports the ongoing transition away from fossil fuels will likely trigger shortages of some key metals used in electric vehicle batteries requiring hundreds of new mines.
- Washington Post reports from Bloomberg that lithium prices are surging.