EMISSIONS: The Biden administration issues federal guidelines around the use of voluntary carbon offsets, as studies have undercut the credibility of such products to deliver their promised benefits. (New York Times) 

GRID: 

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Worrying headlines earlier this year didn’t tell the whole story: most electric vehicle makers have seen scorching sales growth, even as GM and Tesla struggle to find momentum. (Bloomberg)

CLEAN ENERGY: Virginia clean energy advocates fret about the relative lack of big manufacturing projects since the passage of the 2022 federal climate package, with the state attracting only four of 305 major projects spurred by the law. (Energy News Network) 

HYDROGEN: Advocates say plans to capture carbon emissions from a proposed Appalachian hydrogen hub rely on unproven technology. (Inside Climate News)

CARBON CAPTURE: Experts say the absence of a price on carbon makes it difficult to quantify the economic benefits of carbon capture and storage for corn growers. (North Dakota Monitor)

STORAGE: Texas’ battery storage sector has surged as officials increasingly rely on such facilities to stabilize the state’s power grid, but a growing number of communities oppose new projects over fire concerns. (Houston Chronicle)

SOLAR: Colorado counties temporarily ban utility-scale solar developments on private land following residents’ opposition, slowing the state’s energy transition. (Denver Post)

COAL ASH: The U.S. EPA formally rejects Alabama’s coal ash plan because it allows utilities to leave the toxic substance in unlined ponds that could contaminate groundwater, but state regulators say they’ll appeal the decision. (Inside Climate News)

NUCLEAR: 

  • A data center under development in a remote part of Wyoming agrees to purchase 100 MW of power from small modular nuclear reactor startup Oklo. (Data Center Dynamics)
  • Figuring out how to build cheaper nuclear plants will be key for the U.S. to take advantage of the technology and transition from fossil fuels, experts say. (The Atlantic)

POLITICS: Advocates say New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s claim last week that climate policies are to blame for higher electric rates in neighboring states relies on misleading assumptions and leaves out Vermont, a state that contradicts the governor’s narrative. (Boston Globe)

CLIMATE: 

  • School districts across the northern U.S. that lack air conditioning confront the academic and health risks associated with rising temperatures. (Washington Post)
  • A poll of 1,200 likely U.S. voters last month finds that a majority supports filing criminal charges against fossil fuel companies for their role in climate change. (The Guardian) 

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Dan has two decades' experience working in print, digital and broadcast media. Prior to joining the Energy News Network as managing editor in December 2017, he oversaw watchdog reporting at the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, part of the USA Today Network, and before that spent several years as a freelance journalist covering energy, business and technology. Dan is a former Midwest Energy News journalism fellow and a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communications from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.