Fossil fuel workers find new careers in renewables

JOBS: As the oil and gas industry shrinks, renewable energy companies are snapping up former fossil fuels geologists and engineers. (New York Times)

GRID:
• A U.S. Department of Energy draft report details where the country most urgently needs more interstate transmission capacity in preparation for new wind and solar power generation. (E&E News)
• A cybersecurity firm warns that more hackers are developing the ability to disrupt energy infrastructure, though the electric sector has strong defenses in place. (Utility Dive)

EQUITY: The Biden administration’s race-neutral environmental justice screening tool left out many majority non-White areas even though they face high pollution risks. (Grist)

RENEWABLES:
• U.S. wind and solar generating capacity grew 16% from 2021 to 2022, with red states leading the way on clean power production. (Guardian)
• A new Illinois law stripping local governments’ ability to limit or ban wind or solar power may be a model for other Midwest states, though some experts worry about the long-term divide it could create between urban and rural areas. (Inside Climate News)

COAL: The coal sector remains responsible for an estimated 3,800 premature deaths each year due to fine particle pollution, a Sierra Club report finds. (Grist)

POLITICS: House Republicans will consider 20 bills this week that are expected to become part of their promised energy and permitting reform package. (E&E News)

CLIMATE:
• U.S. climate envoy John Kerry says he’ll stay in his role at least through this November’s COP28 climate summit. (Boston Globe)
• California, Florida and Texas top a list of U.S. states most at risk of climate-induced extreme weather and sea level rise. (Independent)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• The new electric Ford F-150 relies on aluminum mined in the Amazon and processed at a refinery accused of sickening thousands of people. (Bloomberg)
• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announces the state is a finalist for an electric vehicle battery plant that’s rumored to be connected with Volkswagen. (KRMG)

ELECTRIFICATION:
• Documents show Xcel Energy had a prominent role in establishing a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to fighting local and state natural gas hookup bans and other electrification-oriented building codes. (CPR)
• Massachusetts has been an energy conservation leader, but climate advocates want its energy efficiency program to refocus on accelerated decarbonization. (Energy News Network)
• Colorado lawmakers consider legislation that would require warranty companies to replace broken natural gas appliances with electric ones if the customer asks for the change. (Colorado Sun)

OIL & GAS: Maryland climate advocates question the new governor’s decision to nominate a gas industry official to a utility regulation commission that oversees the fossil fuel sector. (Washington Post)

UTILITIES: American Electric Power will use the $1.2 billion in expected proceeds from the sale of its subsidiaries’ renewable energy fleet to bolster its core utility business. (Utility Dive)