Governors partner to build clean energy workforce

WORKFORCE: The governors of 22 states launch an initiative aimed at getting 1 million residents to complete climate-related apprenticeships by 2035, pledging to set up funding and partnerships to expand the clean energy workforce. (The Hill)

POLITICS:

• President Biden touts the Inflation Reduction Act’s achievements in a Climate Week speech, highlighting electric vehicle manufacturing investments, the Justice40 equity pledge, and clean energy job growth over the last two years. (The Hill)
• After years of quiet advocacy, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition looks to bolster its influence in climate and energy policymaking. (E&E News)
• An electric vehicle battery factory bolstered by President Biden’s climate law has lifted the economy in a northeastern Ohio county but doesn’t appear to have boosted Democrats’ prospects. (CNN)

CLEAN ENERGY: Large tech firms part of the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform launch a competitive bidding process asking steelmakers to deliver 1 million metric tons of near-zero emissions steel a year by 2028. (Canary Media)

HYDROGEN: There’s been little progress on plans to convert a troubled West Virginia coal-fired power plant to run on hydrogen, and its new owners have operated it barely half the time since acquiring it a year ago. (West Virginia Public Broadcasting)

EMISSIONS:

• New York Climate Week sees dozens of carbon market leaders make a case for offsets, despite studies showing most have few climate benefits. (E&E News)
• Colorado advocates say a newly launched state initiative using cutting-edge technologies to monitor landfill methane pollution could be a model for slashing emissions of the potent greenhouse gas. (Canary Media)

NUCLEAR: The nuclear industry reckons with how to best take advantage of a sweeping pro-nuclear law passed in June and weighs future legislative goals. (Utility Dive)

GRID:

• Utility customers in Texas and elsewhere are signing up for programs to save money in return for allowing power companies to remotely adjust their thermostats to manage grid demand. (Washington Post)
• PJM’s independent market monitor says the grid operator’s new metric for measuring power plant availability inflated prices in the most recent capacity auction by nearly 50%. (Utility Dive)
• A battery storage project under construction in rural Wisconsin shows how storage remains an underused transmission asset because of unresolved regulatory questions with grid operators, experts say. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIFICATION:

• Washington state’s building industry and conservative advocates push a ballot measure that would prohibit local and state governments from banning natural gas hookups. (Crosscut)
• Two advocates push for home electrification to lower energy bills and curb harmful emissions in underserved communities. (New York Times)