More Republicans are defending the Inflation Reduction Act

CLEAN ENERGY: More Republican lawmakers are standing up against calls to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, citing hundreds of millions of dollars that have already flowed into red districts. (E&E News)

ALSO:

• The Biden administration’s environmental protections and clean energy incentives will save as many as 200,000 lives by 2050 by reducing pollution, an advocacy group finds. (The Guardian)
• A U.S. Labor Department report warns several minerals key to clean energy technologies are often produced using unethical child labor. (The Hill)
• The clean energy industry eyes a Federal Reserve industry meeting that could lower interest rates and encourage borrowing for renewables development. (E&E News)

NUCLEAR: Several dozen retired nuclear plants around the country could be suitable for repowering, according to a new federal report analyzing retired coal and nuclear sites that could host new nuclear generation. (Utility Dive)

GRID: A startup looks to address data centers’ constant energy demand by combining a heat collector, heat battery, and heat engine to provide emissions-free power. (Canary Media)

OIL & GAS:

• Oil and gas companies prepare for a possible shutdown of new drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico after federal officials were ordered to rewrite an opinion on protecting endangered species. (Houston Chronicle)
• Democratic lawmakers and advocates call on the Biden administration to expand limitations on oil and gas drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, saying it is necessary to protect diverse wildlife. (E&E News, subscription)

BUILDINGS:

• The U.S. Energy Department announces another $90 million to help cities, states and tribes modernize building codes. (Utility Dive)
• Maine has been able to exceed its heat pump installation goal — and make advocates out of many residents — through its state incentives and use of Inflation Reduction Act funds. (Sierra Magazine)
• California officials predict updated building efficiency standards will result in $4.8 billion in energy cost savings, drive 500,000 heat pump installations and slash greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million metric tons. (Utility Dive)

WIND:

• Federal officials announce an Oct. 29 auction for as much as 13 GW of wind leases in eight areas of the Gulf of Maine. (Portland Press Herald; RTO Insider, subscription)
• Tribes file a lawsuit accusing federal agencies of failing to adequately consider environmental impacts of proposed wind development off Oregon’s coast. (Associated Press)

UTILITIES:

• Clean energy groups urge federal regulators to reverse their approval of a real-time market consisting of Southeast utilities whose administrative expenses outweighed reported benefits. (Utility Dive)
• Xcel Energy’s plan to build six gas peaker plants this decade could cost Minnesota ratepayers up to $3.5 billion more than relying on existing plants, efficiency and demand response, energy storage and market purchases, according to an analysis commissioned by clean energy groups. (Energy News Network)