Analysts: Net-zero ​‘actually within grasp’

EMISSIONS: Climate policy analysts say the U.S. goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 is ​“actually within grasp” if the country focuses on electric vehicles, building decarbonization and clean energy deployment. (Axios)

ALSO:

• A surge in wind and solar deployment suggests global emissions from electricity will peak this year, a climate think tank finds. (Guardian)
• Climate advocates hope the EU’s new carbon tariff and emissions reporting requirements inspire similar action in the U.S. (Inside Climate News)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Automakers, solar installers and other companies call on the Biden administration to incentivize the buildout of a low- and zero-carbon aluminum supply chain. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• City and state incentives across the country are helping to make electric bikes accessible to those who couldn’t otherwise afford them. (Washington Post)
• LG Energy Solution will invest an additional $3 billion in Michigan under a new contract to produce batteries for Toyota. (Detroit Free Press)
• Toyota ramps up hiring and training at its planned $5.9 billion electric-vehicle battery plant in North Carolina. (Winston-Salem Journal)

CLIMATE:

• Extreme heat is stretching later in the year, putting outdoor workers at risk as the Biden administration develops rules to protect them. (New York Times)
• A climate-focused research group finds at least 20 California public university board members have direct ties to the fossil fuel industry, raising concerns among advocates. (Guardian)

OFFSHORE WIND: Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island intend to jointly procure 6 GW of offshore wind power, a collaboration described as a first-in-the-nation effort that aims to lower clean energy purchase prices. (CT Post, Associated Press)

GRID: Texans prepare to vote on a constitutional amendment to create a state fund to incentivize construction of more natural gas-fired power plants, but two energy experts doubt the proposal will do much to stabilize the state power grid. (Spectrum News)

POLITICS:

• The ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker could set back climate action, as green conservatives credit the Republican with moving his party beyond climate denialism. (E&E News)
• Climate policy experts and political observers say Ohio’s gerrymandered legislative districts, dark money political contributions and voter suppression tactics insulate policymakers and limit the public’s ability to support climate action. (Energy News Network)

OIL & GAS: Texas regulators are giving the public one month to comment on draft rules over the handling of hazardous oilfield waste, but documents and interviews reveal the oil and gas industry spent nearly two years helping craft those rules. (Texas Tribune)

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SOLAR:

• Consumers Energy plans to build an 85 MW solar project at a recently closed coal plant in Michigan. (MLive)
• Agrivoltaics — co-locating solar power installations with farm crops or livestock grazing — gains favor in California as a way to reduce clean energy land-use conflicts and save water. (Civil Eats)

HYDROPOWER: Analysts predict last winter’s heavy snows will double California’s hydropower output compared to 2022, but ongoing drought will reduce Northwest production by 19%. (Canary Media)