Biden takes aim at emissions from manufacturing

CLIMATE: The Biden administration is expected to announce a ​“Buy Clean Task Force” today aimed at procuring low-emissions materials for federal agencies, along with hydrogen and carbon capture initiatives. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• A new report reveals which U.S. private equity firms are reaping the most profits from fossil fuels; while another study finds that many banks that have made net-zero pledges are still funding the coal industry. (The Guardian, CNN)
• Multiple reports recently have questioned corporate climate pledges, which rely heavily on offsets. (The Hill)
• Researchers find climate change is largely responsible for the last two decades being the Southwest’s driest in 1,200 years. (New York Times)

OVERSIGHT: Newly released documents show Ohio’s former top utility regulator, who is linked to a $4 million payout from FirstEnergy, directed his agency to limit its response to accusations the company spent ratepayer funds to lobby for power plant bailouts. (Eye on Ohio/​Energy News Network)

For regular updates on Ohio’s HB 6 scandal, sign up for our Eye on Utilities newsletter. 

UTILITIES:
• A report by Missouri regulators finds natural gas utility Spire misled customers and ​“created unnecessary panic and confusion” when it warned of supply shortages if a gas pipeline was shut down. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
• As Exelon transitions to a primarily transmission and distribution utility, a top executive says the company plans to speed up its net-zero emissions target. (E&E News)

GRID:
• New appointees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are expected to help push the agency on clean energy, including finding ways to address interconnection backlogs. (Inside Climate News)
• Minnesota regulators direct Xcel Energy to start evaluating multiple applications at once to help clear a backlog of solar projects seeking to connect to the grid. (Energy News Network)
• A judge asks attorneys to choose five ​“test cases” to advance among the 174 wrongful-death, personal injury and property damage lawsuits filed in the wake of Texas’ 2021 winter storm and power outages. (Houston Chronicle)

MATERIALS: The Department of Energy is exploring a facility to extract nickel, cobalt and other materials critical to clean energy technology from fossil fuel waste. (CNN)

BIOFUELS: A new study partially funded by the Department of Energy finds that ethanol is at least 24% more carbon intensive than gasoline. (Reuters)

HYDROGEN: New Mexico lawmakers kill a last ditch, scaled-back hydrogen booster bill opposed by environmentalists because the fuel would be produced from methane. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

COAL: An investigation finds that four years after Pennsylvania officials announced $3 million in grants to retrain laid-off coal workers, not a single worker has been able to participate. (WTAE)

ELECTRIFICATION: New York City public housing officials kick off a small pilot program through which some residents will receive induction stoves to improve their inside air quality. (The City)