Federal guidelines aim to build trust in carbon offsets

EMISSIONS: The Biden administration issues federal guidelines around the use of voluntary carbon offsets, as studies have undercut the credibility of such products to deliver their promised benefits. (New York Times)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Worrying headlines earlier this year didn’t tell the whole story: most electric vehicle makers have seen scorching sales growth, even as GM and Tesla struggle to find momentum. (Bloomberg)

CLEAN ENERGY: Virginia clean energy advocates fret about the relative lack of big manufacturing projects since the passage of the 2022 federal climate package, with the state attracting only four of 305 major projects spurred by the law. (Energy News Network)

HYDROGEN: Advocates say plans to capture carbon emissions from a proposed Appalachian hydrogen hub rely on unproven technology. (Inside Climate News)

CARBON CAPTURE: Experts say the absence of a price on carbon makes it difficult to quantify the economic benefits of carbon capture and storage for corn growers. (North Dakota Monitor)

STORAGE: Texas’ battery storage sector has surged as officials increasingly rely on such facilities to stabilize the state’s power grid, but a growing number of communities oppose new projects over fire concerns. (Houston Chronicle)

SOLAR: Colorado counties temporarily ban utility-scale solar developments on private land following residents’ opposition, slowing the state’s energy transition. (Denver Post)

COAL ASH: The U.S. EPA formally rejects Alabama’s coal ash plan because it allows utilities to leave the toxic substance in unlined ponds that could contaminate groundwater, but state regulators say they’ll appeal the decision. (Inside Climate News)

POLITICS: Advocates say New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s claim last week that climate policies are to blame for higher electric rates in neighboring states relies on misleading assumptions and leaves out Vermont, a state that contradicts the governor’s narrative. (Boston Globe)