Grid-enhancing tech could reduce need for new power lines

GRID: Federal and state officials press utilities to implement ​“grid-enhancing” technology that can better manage power flow to expand transmission capacity without new wires. (States Newsroom)

WIND: Federal officials prepare for today’s first-ever auction of offshore wind development rights in the Gulf of Mexico, with an area off Louisiana and two off Texas up for bid. (Reuters)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down race-conscious college admission policies could jeopardize environmental justice efforts that aim to curb pollution in historically marginalized communities. (States Newsroom)

CLIMATE:
• The Biden administration announces nearly $3 billion for communities to build climate-resilient infrastructure and flood mitigation projects. (Axios)
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture grants Northeast farmers impacted by July floods more time to access disaster relief funds and flexible loan repayment terms. (NHPR)
• Scientists say ​“ridiculously warm” water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from climate change and this summer’s heat waves could rapidly intensify hurricanes and storms as they approach the coast. (NOLA.com)
• Indigenous people gather at a camp in Washington state to share knowledge about combating the impacts of climate change. (Associated Press)
• Some of New York City’s cooling centers stayed closed or didn’t publicize they were open during a recent heat wave, among other problems, leading to calls for more investment in the program. (City Limits)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast now ranks behind Tesla and Toyota as the world’s third-largest automaker by market capitalization after debuting on Wall Street, as it gears up to build a North Carolina factory. (Raleigh News & Observer)

CARBON CAPTURE: A developer’s plan for a major carbon sequestration site in rural Indiana has generated fierce landowner pushback and public health concerns. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR: California advocates urge regulators to reject a proposed rule eliminating financial incentives for rooftop solar on multifamily residences, saying it would put distributed generation out of renters’ reach. (Canary Media)

UTILITIES: A provision in a Michigan regulatory case will require DTE Energy to disclose certain contributions to a dark money nonprofit advocacy group, though advocates say more could be done to improve transparency. (Planet Detroit/​Energy News Network)

COMMENTARY:
• A consultant suggests ways utilities can address energy equity disparities while deploying clean energy infrastructure. (Utility Dive)
• Automakers may be publicly pushing their new electric vehicles, but behind the scenes, they’re fighting federal clean fuel standards, a clean vehicle advocate writes. (National Resources Defense Council)