GOP lawmakers push back on IRA cuts

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

FEDERAL POLICY

• A dozen House Republicans come out against this week’s budget proposal that would effectively repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, calling for revisions to its ​“foreign entity of concern” and eligibility provisions as well as the preservation of tax-credit transferability. (E&E News)

• Congressional Democrats aim to spotlight the risk that gutting Inflation Reduction Act tax credits would drive up energy costs for US consumers. (Semafor)

• The Trump administration moves to rescind a Biden-era policy that lowered fees for clean energy development on federal lands, saying it unfairly favored wind and solar. (Reuters, news release)

GRID

• U.S. electricity consumption is expected to rise this year and next, breaking records and creating new demand that is likely to be met largely by solar and grid batteries, the U.S. Energy Information Administration finds. (Utility Dive)

• The North American Grid Reliability Corporation finds that fast-rising power demand, driven by data centers, electrification, and new industrial facilities, could strain the grid in some regions this summer. (news release)

• Advocates say Texas’ standalone grid will easily meet soaring power demand sparked by this week’s heat wave, thanks to the rapid growth of renewables that state lawmakers are currently trying to hobble through numerous bills. (Houston Chronicle)

STATE POLICY

• An energy affordability bill introduced by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey includes provisions that would reduce net metering compensation for community and commercial solar projects, and pave the way for the development of small modular nuclear plants. (Solar Power World, WBZ)

• New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy introduces a plan to rein in power prices ahead of a June 1 rate hike, with measures including new solar solicitations and a request for utilities to voluntarily extend their commitment not to disconnect customers for nonpayment through the summer. (New Jersey Business Magazine)

GEOTHERMAL

• Nevada regulators approve NV Energy’s plan to add 115 MW of enhanced geothermal power to the grid to power Google data centers. (news release)

OFFSHORE WIND

• The University of Maine lays off nine employees — including engineers, scientists and technicians — from its offshore wind research center, a month after the Trump administration suspended $15.8 million in funding to the program. (Bangor Daily News)

• U.S. Wind, which holds the rights to an offshore wind lease area off Maryland, offers $20 million in funding to support commercial fishermen in Maryland and Delaware. (Delmarva Now)

FOSSIL FUELS

• Consumer and clean energy advocates call on Indiana regulators to reject Duke Energy’s $3.3 billion plan to replace two coal plants with natural gas units with a combined capacity of 1,476 MW. (Indianapolis Star)

• Trade tensions and rising electric vehicle sales are slowing demand for oil just as OPEC+ is set to boost supply, the latest International Energy Agency says. (Reuters)

EMISSIONS

• A new analysis finds that China’s emissions have declined by 1% over the last 12 months despite power demand growth, the result of surging clean energy construction and marking the first time the nation’s emissions have consistently reversed. (Carbon Brief)