Clean energy cancellations top $22 billion

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

CLEAN ENERGY

• Businesses canceled, closed, and scaled back more than $22 billion of new clean energy projects and factories in the first half of this year, and canceled $6.7 billion in June alone, a new E2 report finds. (news release)

• A city manager, a tribal leader, and others who lost federal climate grants and jobs share how their work benefited their communities. (Grist)

• Biden administration Treasury official Wally Adeyemo warns the federal tax credit rollback will leave U.S. consumers vulnerable to sanctions-related volatility on the global oil market. (Semafor)

NUCLEAR

• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues key approvals for the restart of Michigan’s Palisades nuclear power plant that will allow the owner to start loading fuel next month. (Michigan Public)

• Texas, Utah, and nuclear developer Last Energy sue the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to force it to relinquish its authority to license small nuclear reactors to individual states. (E&E News)

GRID

• Following the Trump administration’s cancellation of a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for the massive Grain Belt Express transmission project, developer Invenergy indicates the plan would move forward with private financing. (Associated Press)

• The decision to cancel the Grain Belt Express’ loan was reportedly made against the recommendation of career Loan Program Office attorneys and without the involvement of career staff who worked on the agreement. (Latitude Media)

• Bank of America Institute forecasts U.S. electricity demand will grow at a 2.5% compound annual growth rate through 2035, up from .5% over the last decade. (Utility Dive)

OFFSHORE WIND

• Vineyard Wind, the offshore wind farm off Massachusetts, is now sending power to the grid from 17 of its planned 62 turbines, and another six are fully installed. (New Bedford Light)

STORAGE

• Puerto Rico’s initially modest virtual power plant pilot program has grown into a crucial pillar of support as solar and storage boost the island’s dilapidated grid. (Utility Dive)

• Google signs a partnership deal with Energy Dome, an Italian long-duration storage startup that’s developed a carbon dioxide-based battery. (Latitude Media)

CLIMATE

• China and the EU pledge to join together to slow global warming, tacitly calling out the U.S. by saying it’s ​“crucial that all countries … step up efforts to address climate change.” (New York Times)

POLITICS

• U.S. Department of Energy budget cuts are driving national labs to consider laying off thousands of employees. (Utility Dive)