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If you’re reading this, you probably already know that modernizing and expanding the U.S. transmission and distribution system is one of the greatest opportunities and one of the most difficult challenges facing the nation’s energy industry, which also makes it one of the hottest topics for NetZero Insider reporters.


Our K Kaufmann starts our coverage with the Department of Energy’s announcement of its list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, aimed at accelerating the permitting of interregional lines and providing federal financing to help get those projects built. 


Speaking at a recent conference, New Jersey Sen. Bob Smith said the state’s grid is nowhere near what is needed to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals, correspondent Hugh Morley writes. “We now have a grid that is held together by duct tape, and not very good duct tape,” Smith said, calling for a “war-time mobilization for climate change.” 


Speaking of ambitious climate goals, Hugh also reports that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently approved new incentives to spur developers toward making all new buildings in the state net zero. 


Continuing our coverage of federal and state policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, James Downing provides a good rundown of EPA’s final rule on methane emissions from oil and gas facilities, establishing new standards and requirements for reporting and ultimately reducing emissions. 


But EPA is also getting pushback on its recently released rule setting tough requirements for cutting GHG emissions at existing coal plants and new natural gas plants, with a slew of Republican-led state attorneys general filing suit to block implementation of the rule, Kaufmann reports. 


Meanwhile in Vermont, John Cropley has the story on the showdown brewing between the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature and Republican Gov. Phil Scott over H. 289, a bill that would up the state’s renewable energy requirement to 100% by 2030. Scott has said he will veto the bill, already passed in both houses of the legislature, where Democrats have the votes to override a veto. 


Cropley also covered Maryland’s latest effort to prop up its struggling offshore wind industry, with Gov. Wes Moore signing H.B. 1296, which calls on the state’s Public Service Commission to reopen its most recent OSW solicitation to consider revised schedules, sizes and pricing for any previously approved contract. 


Our curated content reflects a roiling landscape of reactions to climate change and the growth of renewables. 


The New York Times leads off with an analysis of two new reports, one showing the global growth of renewable energy ― now 30% of generation worldwide ― and the other, the ever rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 


Another analysis of New York’s ambitious Build Public Renewables Act, by Canary Media, finds that the New York Power Authority is being criticized for a lack of transparency in how it is planning to implement the law and its choice of the consulting firm McKinsey to help it understand the challenges facing renewable developers. 


Read on for more news and analysis in this week’s Intelligence Report: 


Jump To

Equity & Economics
Finance & Investing
Policy & Politics

 
 

Equity & Economics

Economic Development

Maine

Gov. Mills Announces Clean Energy Jobs in Maine Surpass 15,000, Contribute $2.3B to State's Economy

According to the report, Maine's clean energy sector grew the fastest in New England and more than three times faster than the state's overall economy between 2016 and 2022. State of Maine


Maine

Gov. Mills Claims Maine "Clean Energy" Jobs Surpass 15K -- But She's Counting CMP and Versant Employees

The hilariously bad attempt at shoring up the green energy agenda cost Maine $35,000. The Maine Wire


Environmental Justice

Massachusetts

Court ponders environmental justice, East Boston substation

The Conservation Law Foundation and the neighborhood group Greenroots filed suit, challenging a decision by the Energy Facilities Siting Board granting a series of permits that had been stymied at the local level. Commonwealth Beacon


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Finance & Investing

International

Allete agrees to $6.2B sale to Canadian pension fund, New York private equity firm

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners plan to buy Allete, a Duluth, Minnesota-based utility company in a $6.2 billion deal, including the assumption of debt, the companies and investment board said. Utility Dive


International

High interest rates hit renewable energy harder than natural gas

A 2-percentage-point increase in interest rates pushes up the levelized cost of electricity for renewables by as much as 20%, according to an analysis by Wood Mackenzie. Utility Dive


International

How the U.S. financial system helps shelter profits from environmental organized crime

Interpol estimates that environmental crime such as poaching and illegal logging generates up to $281 billion a year, making it the third-most lucrative illegal business worldwide. The Hill


International

Loss and Damage Meeting Shows Signs of Giving Developing Countries a Bigger Voice and Easier Access to Aid

The first meeting of the board of the new climate finance fund sought to finalize operations and its partnership with the World Bank. But who will pay? Inside Climate News


International

Will a carbon market happen?

An enormous amount of work is underway to remove carbon from the atmosphere, but who will pay for it? The New York Times


Michigan

Senate passes expansion of prevailing wage law to wind and solar projects

Michigan Senate Democrats have pushed through an expansion of the state's prevailing wage law that would apply to renewable energy projects. Michigan Advance


Pennsylvania

Pa. Senate committee advances bill to defang PUC amid broader deregulatory push

The Pennsylvania Senate has advanced a bill that could sharply limit the Public Utility Commission's regulatory powers in the interest of saving ratepayers money. It was one of several bills that moved in the chamber this week intended to deregulate utilities and the energy producers that supply them. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star


U.S.

$6B in Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for advanced energy projects open this month

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service will issue up to $6 billion in 48C tax credits in a second round of funding set to open this month, according to a release. Manufacturing Dive


Insurance

International

Globally, 70-85% of Wind Turbines and 95% of Solar Assets are Not Adequately Protected from Fire

This is despite the fact that the average turbine has a 1 in 100 chance of catching fire over an expected 20-year life, based on data from Wind Power Engineering. North American Clean Energy


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Policy & Politics

International

High Court deems Britain's climate action plan unlawful, mandates revision amid net zero goals

The court's judgment -- that carbon budgets set by the government in 2023 to meet the UK's target of net zero emissions by 2050 were set without evidence they could be achieved means Britain will have to submit a new plan for a second time. Firstpost


International

Is the EU going cool on Net Zero?

Farmers protests and the rise of populist parties have put the eco-zealots on the back foot. Spiked


International

Podesta Meets With China's Climate Envoy Amid Deep Economic Tensions

The world's two most powerful countries, the United States and China, are meeting this week in Washington to talk about climate change. And also their relationship issues. The New York Times


International

The Doom vs. Optimism Debate

Yes, planet-warming emissions are still on the rise, and the effects of climate change are growing worse. And also, yes, renewable energy is coming online at record rates, and there is a huge global effort to deal with an overheating planet. The New York Times


International

The great corporate decarbonization derby is on

Some major producers (including ExxonMobil, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum) are building new businesses (often underwritten by generous public subsidies) designed to capture their own emissions while marketing technologies and services to other firms. GreenBiz


Missouri

Missouri House endorses bill to ban eminent domain for wind and solar energy

In the race to the Missouri Legislature's finish line is a bill that would block companies from using eminent domain to seize private property to build wind and solar farms. The state House has passed a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain to "essential public utilities and infrastructure." Missourinet


New York

A year in, New York's pioneering public power law makes uneven progress

New York Power Authority is preparing to build state-owned clean energy projects for the first time -- but advocates want more transparency. Canary Media


New York

John Howard talks serving on the NY Public Service Commission and what's next

Howard has been a pragmatic and moderate voice on the commission after being a top aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. E&E News


U.S.

At a Dinner, Trump Assailed Climate Rules and Asked $1 Billion From Big Oil

At a private meeting at Mar-a-Lago, the former president said fossil fuel companies should donate to help him beat President Biden. New York Times


U.S.

OPINION: If EPA's latest power plant rules seem familiar, don't get fooled again!

The power plant rule that EPA announced on April 25 closely resembles Obama's Clean Power Plan in key respects -- and it will almost certainly suffer the same fate, writes Sam Thernstrom, founder of the Energy Innovation Reform Project. Utility Dive


U.S.

Poll: Biden touts his four major infrastructure and clean energy laws. Voters doubt they're working.

Even when they do see positive benefits, many voters aren't giving the credit to Biden, a new POLITICO poll shows. Politico


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