Growing power demand could keep fossil fuels afloat

GRID: Utilities forecast growing near-term power demand amid the construction of data centers, electric vehicle factories and other power-hungry facilities, which could jeopardize the shutdown of fossil fuel power plants. (Floodlight)

GEOTHERMAL: The U.S. Energy Department lays a roadmap for geothermal power generation in a report that calls for exploring new wells, lowering costs and expanding the industry’s workforce. (E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• The Inflation Reduction Act has created an expanding market for companies to buy and sell clean energy tax credits, with as many as 45,000 projects’ tax incentives potentially available for sale. (New York Times)
• The U.S. saw $4 billion in new clean energy investment in February, with new battery storage and electric vehicle projects leading the way. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• The U.S. Energy Department today will unveil weakened fuel economy rules that won’t go as far toward encouraging electric vehicle manufacturing as a previous proposal. (Reuters)
• Former President Trump continues to use violent language when describing how he’ll throttle the electric vehicle industry if elected. (New York Times)
• Rivian announces that its electric vehicles will soon be able to charge with an adapter at thousands of Tesla charging stations. (CleanTechnica)
• Colorado researchers find electric scooters are the most efficient means of commuting for limiting life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions. (Colorado Sun)

STORAGE:

• A Chinese battery company becomes the latest front in the conflict between China and the U.S. after Duke Energy says it will stop using the batteries after concerns over their use on a Marine Corps. (Guardian)
• A Texas-based clean-energy and battery developer is working on an emissions test for the power stored on grid batteries. (Canary Media)

SOLAR: A group of Boston energy equity advocates plans to launch a community rooftop solar cooperative on a grocery store in a low-income neighborhood, selling power to the grocer and distributing revenue to co-owners. (Energy News Network)

WIND:

• A new study finds wind turbines have a negligible effect on property values, and the negative impact on homes close to wind turbines disappears within a decade. (CNN)
• Three right-wing groups sue the Biden administration over an offshore wind project authorized off the Virginia coast. (Reuters)

OIL & GAS:

• Oil major Shell weakens its 2030 carbon emissions reduction goal and completely abandons its 2035 goal. (Utility Dive)
• A federal appeals court hears oral arguments before deciding whether federal energy regulators had the public interest in mind when approving a $1 billion gas expansion project in New Jersey. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR: A Bill Gates-backed firm says it could begin construction of an advanced nuclear reactor in a Wyoming coal town as soon as this June. (Oil Price)

POLITICS:

• Sen. Joe Manchin says federal lawmakers are ​“so close” to an infrastructure permitting reform deal, saying they aim to finish work on the years-long priority by August. (The Hill)
• A potential Federal Reserve candidate, should former President Trump win the election, enthusiastically supports a carbon tax. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY: Sen. Joe Manchin congratulates President Biden for current record-breaking energy production in the U.S., noting high levels of oil, gas and renewable power production. (Washington Post)