Green groups awash in donations after Harris nomination

POLITICS: Environmental groups have seen donations skyrocket since President Biden left the ticket, and now plan to go on the offensive in presidential swing states and in tight congressional, state and local elections. (E&E News)

ALSO:

• Both blue and red states are taking advantage of a slew of clean energy investment dollars coming via the Inflation Reduction Act, but could see their big plans upended if former President Trump is re-elected and rescinds unspent funds. (Stateline)
• Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says some of the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy incentives are worth preserving even if his party takes over the White House and Congress next year. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• General Motors will start selling charging adapters so owners of its electric vehicles can start using Tesla Superchargers, months after the two companies announced a partnership. (New York Times)
• General Motors also partners with electric vehicle charging company EVgo to build 400 fast-charging stations in major U.S. metros by 2025. (Automotive Dive)

OIL & GAS:

• West Virginia’s natural gas industry has boomed, but communities are seeing population declines and job losses instead of prosperity the industry had promised. (Mountain State Spotlight)
• Advocates call on the U.S. EPA to clamp down on smog-forming emissions from Wyoming coal plants and oil and gas facilities rather than waiting for the state to come up with its own plan. (Inside Climate News)

WIND: BP plans to sell its U.S. onshore wind business as it pivots back to oil and gas and looks to focus its renewable energy efforts on solar. (Axios)

SOLAR:

• U.S. installed solar capacity has grown 34% over the past year as developers continue to take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act, though permitting and interconnection challenges remain. (Solar Power World)
• A three-judge panel upholds Duke Energy’s reduced net metering payments to solar owners in North Carolina after hearing arguments that state regulators approved the scheme without an independent study of its costs and benefits. (Energy News Network)
• Repurposing the interconnection system at a large Minnesota coal plant set for retirement to support a massive solar project helps avoid potentially several years of regulatory steps to connect to the grid. (CNN)

NUCLEAR: Federal officials approve a construction permit for a research reactor at a Texas university, marking the first approved university research reactor in more than 30 years. (Power Engineering)

BUILDINGS: A startup’s HVAC optimization software is helping multifamily buildings and hotels in East Coast cities cut their energy use during times of peak demand. (Canary Media)

STORAGE: The U.S. Energy Department announces a competition for behind-the-meter energy storage solutions with two $100,000 prizes at stake. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES: The trial of a Florida man accused of multiple campaign finance-related felonies could put the spotlight on Florida Power & Light for its alleged involvement in so-called ​“dirty tricks” to elect Republicans to help fulfill its legislative priorities. (Floodlight/​Mother Jones)