Biden offers public lands to data centers if they use clean energy

CLEAN ENERGY: President Biden issues an executive order allowing data centers to lease public land, on the condition their facilities are powered with new clean energy resources. (E&E News)

ALSO:

• The Biden administration has allocated $74 billion in Inflation Reduction Act clean energy funding, with 75% going to Republican districts, leaving $20 billion vulnerable to President-elect Trump’s pledge to end what he calls ​“the greatest scam in the history of any country.” (The Guardian)
• In his final foreign policy address, Biden calls climate change ​“the single greatest existential threat to humanity” and warns that China is poised to dominate the clean energy market if the U.S. reverses course under Trump. (New York Times)

OVERSIGHT: Trump’s nominees for the EPA and Interior and Energy departments are expected to face tough questioning from Democratic senators during confirmation hearings this week. (E&E News)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• The U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear an appeal from oil and gas companies that want to block local lawsuits seeking billions of dollars for damage linked to climate change. (Associated Press)
• The Supreme Court also refuses to hear Utah’s lawsuit seeking to gain control of ​“unappropriated” federal lands within its boundaries and loosen restrictions on oil and gas and coal development. (WyoFile)

COAL: Federal regulators propose permitting Montana’s largest coal mine to expand and increase production by about 19 million tons. (Montana Free Press)

GRID: Utilities, renewable energy companies and ratepayer advocates say PJM’s proposal to require renewable and storage projects in the interconnection queue to participate in capacity market auctions was developed with inadequate input. (Utility Dive)

SOLAR: Solar customers and installers are rushing to complete projects before President-elect Trump’s inauguration, citing uncertainty about tariffs and federal incentives. (NPR)

OFFSHORE WIND: A Maryland county government is revealed to be behind an anti-wind website that appeared last month shortly before a Delaware county held a key vote rejecting an offshore wind substation. (Spotlight Delaware)

BUILDINGS:

• PACE financing, which allows building improvements to be paid off through a property assessment, is gaining in popularity but availability varies from state to state. (Utility Dive)
• California environmental justice advocates look to expand low-income residents’ access to building decarbonization and home electrification. (Inside Climate News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Michigan State Police deploys its first all-electric vehicle that will be used for providing security at state-owned buildings around the state capital. (WOOD-TV8)