Climate activists: ​“we have to make them see it’s not a tomorrow problem”

CLIMATE: As short-term economic concerns erode political support for climate action, activists seek a path forward. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• The Biden administration can still use executive actions to slow emissions, but they likely won’t be enough to meet a pledge to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. (New York Times, Washington Post)
• A survey finds that while 9 in 10 utility executives say reducing emissions is a priority, only 38% of their companies are doing anything about it. (E&E News)
• Activists are pushing companies to adopt policies to actually cut emissions rather than relying on offsets to meet net-zero goals. (ABC News)
• A poll shows Republicans have a generational divide on climate change, with more than half of conservatives under 30 supporting policies to cut emissions. (Axios)

CRYPTOCURRENCY:
• A congressional investigation finds that seven major cryptocurrency companies use enough electricity to power all of the homes in Houston, pushing up costs for other energy consumers. (Grist)
• A Colorado county shuts down four methane-powered cryptocurrency mining operations at oil and gas wells to allow it time to formulate rules for the facilities. (Denver Post)

GRID:
• A team of U.S. researchers studies how power outages affect public health, part of a growing new field known as climate epidemiology. (Inside Climate News)
• Xcel Energy partners with community groups to develop ​“resilience hubs” in three Minneapolis neighborhoods where solar and storage-powered microgrids will provide emergency back-up power and added grid balancing options. (Energy News Network)
• A report finds smart electric panels can help reduce the need for costly grid upgrades. (Canary Media)

TRANSMISSION: While natural gas companies have spent millions to oppose the Clean Energy Connect transmission line in Maine, backers of the project say Hydro-Québec’s missteps have not helped. (The Narwhal)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• General Motors CEO Mary Barra says she believes the company can overtake Tesla this decade as the top U.S. seller of electric vehicles. (Associated Press)
• Surging demand for materials to make electric vehicle batteries has put a spotlight on a Michigan nickel mine, the only one in the U.S. (MLive)

OIL & GAS:
• Navajo Nation citizen scientists and advocates monitor oil and gas facility emissions in areas where regulators can’t — or won’t — go. (Nexus Media News)
• Environmentalists call on the Biden administration to tighten regulations on public land oil and gas drilling now that hopes for passing a congressional climate bill have languished. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY:
• Climate activist Leah Stokes notes that a year and a half of fruitless negotiating with Sen. Joe Manchin has cost valuable time by delaying other federal actions to reduce emissions. (New York Times)
• National security starts with keeping the lights on, writes a retired Navy admiral who says we must prepare our electric grid for climate change and a rapid transition to clean energy. (Ohio Capital Journal)