Autopilot prompts massive Tesla recall

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tesla recalls more than 2 million vehicles — nearly all of its vehicles sold in the U.S. — to update software and fix a defective system involving drivers’ use of autopilot. (Associated Press)

ALSO:

• Volkswagen was required to build electric vehicle chargers across the U.S. after its emissions scandal, but experts and drivers say they’re notoriously unreliable. (Washington Post)
• Experts say the electric vehicle charger industry faces a big dilemma as it aims to normalize charging standards and software among several manufacturers. (Canary Media)

CLIMATE:

• Some environmental advocates celebrate the new COP28 agreement to transition from fossil fuels, saying it’ll give them new leverage to push the Biden administration, while others say the nonbinding agreement marks ​“business as usual” for fossil fuel giants. (Politico, Guardian)
• A youth climate lawsuit in California accuses the U.S. EPA of violating young people’s constitutional rights by permitting oil and gas development that contributes to climate change and air pollution. (Grist)
• Researchers find human-caused climate change is warming the Arctic four times faster than the global average, leading to flooding, wildfires and other extreme weather. (OPB)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• Power generated by wind and solar is set to surpass coal-fired electricity next year, the U.S. Energy Department forecasts. (Axios)
• A new analysis finds women make up less than a third of clean energy workers as many share microaggressions and overt sexism they’ve had to overcome. (Guardian)

GRID: The North American Electric Reliability Corporation warns wind and solar projects aren’t being built fast enough to replace power lost from shuttering coal plants. (E&E News)

COAL:

• Coal advocates push to make it harder for utilities to transition from fossil fuels, even though it costs customers more and contributes to climate change. (Sierra)
• Experts warn funding to support coal-reliant and other communities during the clean energy transition will likely fall short, largely because it’s aimed at businesses with growth plans and not workers who lose their jobs. (AFP News)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• Federal officials drop a leasing area off Maryland’s coast over defense and aeronautic concerns, though officials will soon consider a second area for leasing. (Utility Dive, Offshore Wind Biz)
• Louisiana announces its first-ever approval of two wind energy projects off the Gulf Coast, triggering a surge of hope in an industry that’s seen recent setbacks. (Louisiana Illuminator, CleanTechnica)

SOLAR: Advocates say a $7 billion program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act will be a ​“great catalyst” to deploy solar projects, and lower electric bills, in disadvantaged U.S. neighborhoods and tribal land. (States Newsroom)

EMISSIONS: A Minnesota mining company and its electric utility seek federal funding to pilot a project that would significantly reduce fuel use by partially power diesel mining trucks with electricity. (KAXE/​Energy News Network)

POLITICS: Republican U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio introduces a bill to double the maximum sentence for climate protesters who vandalize exhibits at certain Washington museums and exhibits. (E&E News)