Meet the new climate-skeptic Speaker of the House

POLITICS: Newly elected Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has a long track record of supporting fossil fuels and denying their contributions to climate change. (The Hill)

CLIMATE:

• The oil executive heading this year’s COP climate conference has spent years working with PR agencies and consultants to curate his public image to downplay his fossil fuel ties. (Intercept/​Centre for Climate Reporting/​Drilled)
• Scientists say the Earth’s ​“vital signs” such as greenhouse gas emissions and temperatures are at their worst level in recorded history, with greenhouse gas emissions levels, while a separate report says the planet is close to hitting climate ​“tipping points.” (Guardian)
• Already home to some of the highest insurance rates in the U.S., Florida residents see insurance premiums rise by as much as 40% this year as companies account for increasingly extreme weather, pushing some to leave the state. (NPR)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:

• Electric vehicle experts say hotels are bound to start offering EV charging in the same way that Wi-Fi became common years ago. (E&E News)
• Energy analysts find a ​“strong and enduring correlation” between political ideology and electric vehicle adoption, with most EVs headed to Democratic-voting counties. (Axios)
• The United Auto Workers reach a tentative deal with Ford as the automaker moves to complete construction of electric vehicle and battery factories in Tennessee and Kentucky. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
• Washington state officials put the final touches on a plan aimed at rapidly increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road. (Washington State Standard)

CARBON CAPTURE: California researchers, startups and nonprofits team up to establish a community designed and controlled direct air carbon removal facility in the San Joaquin Valley. (E&E News)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: Environmental justice advocates in Louisiana worry that federal money intended to reduce electricity bills, weatherize homes and reduce pollution in underserved communities is being blocked from reaching Black, minority and lower-income residents. (Floodlight/​Louisiana Illuminator)

OFFSHORE WIND: A proposed offshore wind buffer zone in endangered whale foraging areas off Massachusetts’ coast could imperil as much as 3 GW of generation capacity. (Bloomberg)

OIL & GAS: 

• Analysts see Exxon and Chevron’s recent acquisitions of other oil and gas companies as a bet on the future of fossil fuels. (The Hill)
• A Physicians for Social Responsibility report finds Pennsylvania’s oil and gas producers used 160 million pounds of chemicals they aren’t legally required to publicize in the past decade. (Inside Climate News)

EFFICIENCY: The U.S. Energy Department says public and private businesses and governments participating in a building efficiency and emissions reduction program have collectively saved $18.5 billion since its enactment in 2011. (Utility Dive)

GRID: Xcel Energy will use part of a recent $100 million federal grid resiliency grant to pay for its share of microgrid projects at three community centers in disadvantaged Minneapolis neighborhoods. (Energy News Network)