Green groups are getting whiter

CLIMATE: Efforts to diversify environmental organizations appear to have stalled or even lost ground, according to a new analysis, potentially jeopardizing the fight for equitable climate solutions. (Axios)

ALSO:

• Last month was the warmest November on record, and 2023 will almost certainly be the hottest year in recorded history, according to NOAA. (Axios)
• White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi says the U.S. will still need oil and gas, even after signing a global agreement to reduce fossil fuel use. (Bloomberg)
• Black Americans seeking to escape environmental racism and poor health outcomes in the North and Midwest are heading to the Southeast — and into the epicenter of the climate crisis. (Capital B)

GRID:

• A year after winter storm Elliott froze the Northeast, grid operators are discussing how it exposed the power grid and natural gas system’s vulnerabilities during extreme cold and wind. (E&E News)
• The Grain Belt Express transmission line, along with potential commercial wind and solar projects, threaten the authenticity of an American Indian Wars-themed national park in Kansas, critics say. (The Journal)

TRANSPORTATION:

• The Biden administration is investing billions of dollars in high-speed passenger rail projects, which could have big emissions-reducing potential if they’re actually built and run up to speed. (The Hill)
• Maryland is the tenth state to adopt the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, phasing in zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles between model year 2027 and 2035. (news release)

SOLAR: An Illinois agency recommends a Chicago environmental justice group to receive $12.5 million in renewable energy credits for three community solar projects that would benefit Black, Brown, low and moderate-income subscribers. (Energy News Network)

WIND: The behind-schedule, over-budget Texas-based construction of a specialized ship to build offshore wind turbines underscores the offshore industry’s recent challenges. (Wall Street Journal, subscription)

HYDROGEN: Hydrogen derived from renewable energy to power Minnesota’s taconite mining industry holds promise to potentially make the region a leader in green steel production, experts say. (Energy News Network)

BIOMASS:

• Opponents of a wood pellet producer’s planned Alabama plant cheer reports the company is experiencing a financial crisis that could undercut its plans to expand. (Inside Climate News)
• The Biden administration issues new guidelines for alternative aviation fuel tax credits, which will benefit the ethanol industry. (The Hill)

NUCLEAR: California regulators vote to allow the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to continue operating for five years beyond its scheduled 2025 retirement date. (Associated Press)

HYDROPOWER: Northwest tribal nations and environmentalists say their $1 billion salmon recovery deal with the Biden administration is a road map for dismantling hydropower dams. (Associated Press)