EPA will reportedly let California ban gas car sales

EMISSIONS: The U.S. EPA will reportedly give California — along with 11 other states whose vehicle emissions rules are tied to California’s — permission to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, a policy that the incoming Trump administration will quickly try to reverse. (Washington Post)

ALSO: The U.S. Supreme Court takes up a case challenging California’s tailpipe emissions standards but for now rejects a question over whether the state has authority to impose stricter rules than the federal government. (E&E News)

POLITICS:

• Congress seems unlikely to pass a permitting reform bill to speed energy and transmission projects this session after bipartisan negotiations faltered over the weekend. (E&E News)
• More than 100 industry groups and chambers of commerce push the incoming Trump administration to weaken or end Biden administration energy and environmental regulations while boosting gas and nuclear power. (Los Angeles Times)
• President-elect Trump’s pick for energy secretary has repeatedly framed fossil fuels as a moral right and praised their potential to bring reliable energy to developing nations, despite renewables’ proven ability to replace coal and gas. (New York Times)

STORAGE: Utility-scale and residential energy storage deployment reached a new record in the third quarter, marking 80% and 58% growth, respectively, compared to last year. (Utility Dive)

BUILDINGS:

• Experts say there’s a ​“real possibility” the Trump administration will weaken home efficiency and electrification incentives and recommend taking advantage of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits as soon as possible. (Canary Media)
• The city of Indianapolis grapples with how to boost compliance with a mandatory energy benchmarking program for large buildings after most owners missed a deadline this summer. (Energy News Network)

GRID:

• Eleven congressional Democrats urge the Tennessee Valley Authority to prioritize renewables and energy efficiency over a planned gas-fired generation buildout. (Daily Energy Insider)
• Executives from South Carolina’s state-owned utility say projected load increase from data centers, manufacturers and a growing population could require more than $7 billion in new projects through 2034. (Post and Courier)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: An electric vehicle charging company receives a $1.25 billion federal loan guarantee to build 7,500 fast chargers in several states. (Electrek)

COMMENTARY: Electric vehicles have had a bumpy year, but a slow rollout should be expected and the industry is still poised for success, an energy researcher writes. (Utility Dive)