LNG export terminal on the rocks

NATURAL GAS: The Biden administration reportedly will pause its decision over whether to approve what would be the largest natural gas export terminal in the country to first evaluate its climate impact. (New York Times)

ALSO: Puget Sound Energy cancels its controversial proposed liquified natural gas terminal expansion in Tacoma, Washington, after advocates and the Puyallup Tribe appealed the facility’s permits. (Seattle Times)

UTILITIES: In the face of high electric rates and unreliable power, several communities around the country are pushing to replace investor-owned utilities with public power. (Grist)

EMISSIONS: Cement companies say a lack of federal support is slowing efforts to ramp up low- and zero-emission cement and concrete production. (E&E News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Top automakers warn the Biden administration that new requirements for reporting battery material sourcing could make even fewer electric vehicles eligible for federal tax credits. (E&E News)
• President Biden vetoes a Republican bill that would’ve blocked electric vehicle chargers made with some foreign materials from federal incentives. (Associated Press)

OFFSHORE WIND:

• New Jersey regulators approve two new offshore wind farms as part of the state’s third solicitation: the 2.4 GW Leading Light and the 1.34 GW Attentive Energy 2 projects. (E&E News)
• The Biden administration awards a northern California county $426.7 million to fund development of an offshore wind turbine assembly, construction and maintenance terminal. (Times-Standard)
• Some Maine environmentalists are striking a new tone as they urge skeptical neighbors to see the larger climate benefits of a proposed offshore wind port in the Gulf of Maine. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:

• California advocates predict the state’s new policy slashing net-metering compensation for rooftop solar will make it impossible to achieve clean energy targets. (PV Magazine)
• Rising demand for New Mexico’s residential solar tax credit has nearly depleted the 2023 fund months before the filing deadline. (Solar Power World)

GRID: The International Energy Agency predicts U.S. electricity use will grow 1.5% this year thanks to increased manufacturing and electrification. (Utility Dive)

COAL:

• As collapsing coal companies leave huge swaths of unreclaimed Appalachian mineland, the federal agency tasked with overseeing surface mine reclamation hasn’t had a director since the Trump administration. (New Republic)
• A California judge finds Oakland unlawfully terminated its lease with a proposed coal export terminal, giving the controversial project new life. (Mercury News)

ELECTRIFICATION: Chicago officials begin deliberating over an ordinance that would ban natural gas connections in new homes and buildings. (NBC 5)

CARBON CAPTURE: After hearing closing arguments, Iowa regulators are now poised to decide whether Summit Carbon Solutions will receive permits and be allowed to use eminent domain to build a carbon pipeline. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

HYDROPOWER: A Kentucky developer moves through the federal permitting process to dig two reservoirs at a former coal mine to turn it into a pumped-storage energy project. (Louisville Public Media)

CLIMATE: A prominent climate scientist makes a case in court that right-wing bloggers who targeted him with vulgar comparisons hurt his credibility and stripped him of research funding. (Inside Climate News)