A dozen billionaires’ emissions exceed millions of households

EMISSIONS: Twelve of the world’s wealthiest people produce greenhouse gas emissions equal to more than 2 million homes via their private jets, financial investments, and other luxury purchases, researchers find. (Guardian)

EFFICIENCY: The Biden administration deploys the Defense Production Act to speed manufacturing of heat pumps, backed by $169 million in federal funding. (The Hill)

CLIMATE:

• The world on Friday likely exceeded the 2°C warming threshold compared to preindustrial levels for the first time on record. (Axios)
• Wealthy nations have ​“likely” fulfilled their 2020 goal of giving $100 billion to developing nations for climate projects, a report finds. (E&E News)

WIND:

• The U.S. Treasury Department rolls out guidance for a new tax credit that could help struggling offshore wind projects, and can be used for necessary transmission lines and grid components. (E&E News)
• Tribal nations urge the Biden administration to enlarge a proposed marine sanctuary off central California, but industry says that would hamper offshore wind power development. (Politico)
• In downtown Cleveland, old wind turbine blades get a new life as benches and tables. (Bloomberg)
• More than 90% of Iowa’s agricultural acres with foreign investments aren’t owned by foreign entities but are in long-term leases for wind farms. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Toyota announces the Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S., will only be available as a hybrid starting in 2025. (WDRB)

SOLAR: ​“This is a great time to be involved with solar technology:” Solar researchers highlight how technological improvements are quickly spreading through the industry. (Utility Dive)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• Advocates call for the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its fast-tracked transmission, solar and storage permitting rules to geothermal, carbon capture and other clean energy projects. (E&E News)
• A report on Los Angeles’s clean energy transition finds the city is not adequately investing in electric vehicle chargers, rooftop solar and efficiency improvements for low-income and non-white communities. (Los Angeles Times)

STORAGE: Southwestern U.S. ranchers, residents and advocates push back against proposed pumped hydropower storage facilities, saying they would further strain the region’s scant water supplies. (Inside Climate News)

GRID:

• Reports find that while the eastern U.S. has added ​“some window dressing weatherization efforts,” the power grid remains at ​“elevated risk” of running short of power during severe weather this winter. (States Newsroom)
• California officials and advocates say a new state law aimed at expediting grid upgrades and new transmission construction will facilitate the clean energy transition and should be a model for other states. (Canary Media)

UTILITIES:

• Critics say NIPSCO’s plan for a 400 MW natural gas-powered peaker unit at a former Indiana coal plant is unnecessary and out of line with the utility’s clean energy goals. (Energy News Network)
• Ohio’s former top utility regulator, who accepted what FirstEnergy said was a $4.3 million bribe from the utility, has not been charged with a crime three years after federal agents raided his home. (Cleveland.com)