Profits from gas-guzzlers fueling GM’s electric vehicle ambition

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors CEO Mary T. Barra says the company’s profits from SUV and pickup truck sales make it ​“well positioned” to devote more resources to developing electric vehicles. (New York Times)

ALSO: Toyota plans to release two new electric models in the U.S. next year, and estimates 70% of its sales will be electric or hybrid by 2035. (Associated Press)

ELECTRIFICATION:
• To fight electrification measures in California and other states, utility-backed groups are running campaigns to promote gas stoves despite known health hazards. (Mother Jones)
• California officials want to replace millions of gas-fired water heaters with electric to cut emissions and serve as an energy storage resource; a Minnesota cooperative has had a similar program for decades. (Bloomberg, Energy News Network archive)

OIL & GAS: A new report shows that jobs in fracking-intensive counties in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania grew at less than a fifth of the national average, calling into question the robust growth predicted a decade ago. (Ohio River Valley Institute, Inside Climate News)

CLIMATE:
• Plaintiffs in a youth-led climate lawsuit against the federal government will turn to the Supreme Court after a federal circuit court declines to revive the case. (Bloomberg Law)
• Democrats on the House energy committee vow to build on climate legislation developed last year, as Republicans seek more support for communities dependent on fossil fuels. (E&E News)

SOLAR:
• A coalition of homeowners and solar advocates are asking Minnesota lawmakers to support a bill that would block homeowners associations from banning rooftop solar projects. (Energy News Network)
• Advocates and industry groups are pushing for federal support for an effort to install solar on 30 million homes in the next five years. (E&E News, subscription)
• After an uproar from solar developers and the governor, Central Maine Power now says it has a way for faster and cheaper solar hookups after warnings a week ago of cost spikes. (Portland Press Herald)

WIND: Projects in Colorado and New Mexico have helped Xcel Energy to become the second U.S. utility to reach 10,000 MW of wind energy capacity. (Denver Post)

COAL: Indiana lags other states in requiring utilities to remove coal ash from unlined pits, which are contaminating groundwater across the state. (Indianapolis Star)

PUBLIC LANDS: Native American leaders in Montana call on U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale to stop ​“deeply offensive“ criticisms of Interior secretary nominee Deb Haaland. (Montana Standard) 

UTILITIES: FirstEnergy utilities in five states paid $144 million over three years for external affairs support from a company that’s allegedly a key player in Ohio’s power plant subsidy scandal. (Energy and Policy Institute)

COMMENTARY:
• A charging company executive says charging station operators must adopt open standards for the technology to promote greater acceptance and flexibility. (Energy News Network)
• The Press of Atlantic City praises federal agencies for working to allay fears of fishing interests who are concerned about possible adverse impacts of offshore wind on their industry.