Federal study not a death knell for LNG buildout

OIL & GAS: A U.S. Energy Department study finds a planned liquefied natural gas buildout would increase emissions and energy costs, but it doesn’t call for a hard limit on new projects and leaves the door open for Trump administration approvals. (The Guardian, E&E News)

ELECTRIFICATION: Advocates assess how to keep driving heat pump adoption through local and state policies as Republicans take over federal leadership. (Canary Media)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• The U.S. Energy Department finalizes a $9.63 billion loan for Ford’s three electric vehicle battery plants in Kentucky and Tennessee. (Utility Dive)
• Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi officials discuss a possible merger that could help the companies compete in the electric vehicle transition. (Associated Press)

GRID:

• The U.S. Energy Department announces a conditional $15 billion loan to help Pacific Gas & Electric build hydropower and battery projects, expand transmission capacity, and develop virtual power plants. (The Hill)
• The Grain Belt Express transmission project will move forward despite a Biden administration decision to remove the proposed route from a program offering assistance to transmission lines. (Missouri Independent)
• The U.S. Energy Department seeks public input on three proposed national transmission corridors in the West and Midwest. (Power)

NUCLEAR: A Massachusetts company plans to build a 400-MW fusion power plant in Virginia, aiming to be the first commercial-scale fusion generator in the country. (Boston Globe)

POLITICS: A year-end federal funding bill includes language to boost semiconductor suppliers, but lacks permitting reforms, pipeline safety measures, and a slew of discussed natural resources measures. (E&E News)

CARBON CAPTURE: Occidental Petroleum builds a carbon capture facility in the gas-heavy Permian Basin, but critics argue that adding more injection wells could further destabilize a region already pockmarked with leaky oil and gas wells. (Marfa Public Radio)

CLIMATE: Massachusetts environmental advocates hope a provision in the state’s new climate law could halt a proposed expansion of private jet facilities at a suburban airport, which they say will drive up emissions. (Energy News Network)