Methane emissions may be triple official estimate, study says

EMISSIONS: U.S. oil and gas producers may be releasing three times more methane than official estimates, though scientists note most emissions come from a small fraction of facilities, potentially making the problem easier to solve. (Associated Press)

ALSO:

• After hitting a record high last year, the International Energy Agency predicts global methane emissions will fall this year. (The Hill)
• The Sierra Club sues the Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging its new disclosure rules don’t give investors the full scope of a company’s climate risks; another 9 Republican-led states meanwhile sue to block the rule altogether. (The Hill)

GRID:

• More data centers, electric vehicles, and manufacturing are driving up power demand and making it even harder to replace fossil fuel power with clean energy. (New York Times)
• U.S. electricity prices rose 3.6% over the last year, outpacing the inflation rate, according to a federal government tally. (Utility Dive)
• A new scorecard says most regional grid operators have been too slow to adapt to market conditions with dysfunctional interconnection processes that slow clean energy projects. (States Newsroom)

CLIMATE:

• Five states decline to participate in a federal program that will soon provide $4.6 billion to cities, states, and tribes to implement local climate plans. (CBS News)
• Pennsylvania’s governor reveals a climate action plan that would see the state operate a carbon pricing program and make utilities buy half of their power from mostly carbon-free resources by 2035. (Associated Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

OIL & GAS:

• Colorado lawmakers will discuss a bill to ban all new oil and gas drilling in the state by 2030, which the state’s Democratic governor opposes. (Colorado Newsline)
• Maine legislators hold back a bill to halt expansion of natural gas infrastructure in favor of studies into the role of gas in the state’s energy future. (Energy News Network)

EFFICIENCY:

• A decarbonization advocacy group suggests investors, lenders and regulators funnel resources toward helping existing buildings implement efficiency and decarbonization measures, noting their big emissions impact. (Utility Dive)
• Electric utilities partner with labor and other groups to urge U.S. senators to pass legislation to address a shortage of power transformers and to improve the devices’ energy efficiency. (Utility Dive)
• North Carolina’s new climate plan says weatherization and energy efficiency could get the state 60% of the way to its 2030 emissions reduction target. (Energy News Network)

CLEAN ENERGY: The Department of Energy estimates a rapid adoption of renewable energy could save Alaskans more than $1 billion on utility bills by 2040. (Anchorage Daily News)

TRANSPORTATION: Members of California’s Air Resources Board say staff members are disregarding their concerns about the state’s emphasis on biofuels to reduce transportation emissions and are withholding key information. (Canary Media)

COMMENTARY: An electric vehicle rideshare company representative calls for federal incentives that encourage EV charging stations in cities and that cover both upfront costs and maintenance. (Utility Dive)