Can the EPA survive another Trump term?

POLITICS: The U.S. EPA rebounded from mass departures during the Trump administration, but current and former officials say a second Trump term could further dismantle the agency, along with emission reduction policies passed under President Biden. (New York Times)

ALSO:

• A Trump presidency and Republican-controlled U.S. Senate could eventually remake the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but recent appointments mean Democrats could retain power for at least 18 months. (Utility Dive)
• A news organization spotlights three U.S. Senate and two congressional races that are expected to be pivotal for the continued rollout of clean energy incentives and climate policies. (The Hill)
• Climate advocates launch a final push of phone banking, door knocking and advertisements as they look to push Vice President Harris to victory. (The Hill)

FOSSIL FUELS: A study in the Lancet says world governments are funding a global health crisis by continuing to direct trillions of dollars toward fossil fuels. (The Hill)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• Four offshore wind lease areas in the Gulf of Maine net nearly $22 million at auction, but four more parcels go unclaimed as the wind industry slows. (Maine Public)
• The offshore wind industry needs to push back against opponents along the East coast who are spreading deliberate misinformation and unsubstantiated claims, industry leaders say. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: A coalition of solar developers say they’ll lobby Virginia lawmakers to restrict local bans against such projects, spotlighting the local rejection of 33 utility-scale facilities totaling 3,236 MW over the past year and a half. (Virginia Mercury)

GRID: A federal judge rejects a Texas law that restricts the construction and operation of new transmission lines to companies already running such facilities in the state, finding it unfairly restricts interstate commerce. (Reuters)

EFFICIENCY:

• Experts say the U.S. is on the cusp of a passive house boom as technological advances make ultra-efficient home improvements more affordable, but lower-income households are still left behind. (Washington Post)
• The U.S. Energy Department invites K-12 schools to apply for technical assistance as they decarbonize buildings. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• While Ford had an early lead among U.S. automakers in the transition to electric vehicles, the company’s EV division is now losing money while General Motors EVs surge. (New York Times)
• The geopolitical tension of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers gaining a foothold in Mexico adds to an ongoing debate in the U.S. over the transition to EVs and how domestic automakers can compete. (Inside Climate News)
• Labor unions have won a series of victories at Southeast electric vehicle factories this year, prompting states to propose anti-union legislation in response. (E&E News)

CARBON CAPTURE: Industry experts say Indiana is an ideal location for carbon capture and storage based on the state’s porous subsurface rock. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)