Study calculates deadly impact of coal plant pollution

COAL: Fine particulate matter emitted from coal plants is twice as deadly as from other sources and contributed to at least 460,000 deaths in the U.S. from 1999 to 2020, researchers find. (Guardian)

ALSO: Renewable energy advocates increasingly eye former coal mines and coal-fired power plants for renewable energy development that’s unlikely to attract community opposition. (States Newsroom)

CLIMATE: President Biden won’t attend the opening of the COP28 climate summit in Dubai this week, though top climate advisers will be there. (Axios)

ELECTRIFICATION: A federal report finds electric heat users will see steeper price hikes than gas users this winter, but a pro-electrification group argues it failed to account for differences between older electric heating appliances and efficient heat pumps. (Guardian)

EMISSIONS: Global automotive sector emissions could’ve fallen more than 30% from 2010 to 2022 if the SUV trend didn’t dominate car sales during that time, a new report finds. (Guardian)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: After winning concessions from its strike against the Big Three automakers, the United Auto Workers looks to expand membership to nonunion companies like Tesla and electric vehicle battery makers. (Associated Press)

GRID: Clean energy experts say increased power demand from the Biden administration’s plan to grow the U.S. industrial base will add to challenges with decarbonizing the electric grid. (E&E News)

OIL & GAS: 

• The U.S. is set to extract more oil and gas this year than ever before, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts that production is likely to remain at near-record levels for decades to come. (Guardian)
• The Biden administration prepares to issue regulations to crack down on oil and gas industry methane pollution, along with guidelines for more responsible fossil fuel production. (E&E News)
• Washington, Oregon and California file a petition urging federal regulators to rescind their approval of a proposed natural gas pipeline expansion in the Northwest. (KOIN)

WIND:

• Despite strong winds on the Great Lakes, offshore wind projects in the region have largely failed to advance over the past decade because of local opposition and infrastructure challenges. (Inside Climate News)
• Federal officials approve the Empire Wind projects off the New York coast as the offshore wind industry navigates troubled waters. (Utility Dive)

HYDROGEN: A fuel cell developer’s financial troubles could compromise its efforts to build the continent’s first green hydrogen supply network. (E&E News)

SOLAR:

• Changes to Massachusetts’ fire code have left solar installers confused and frustrated, and they are now working with fire officials to find compromise. (Energy News Network)
• A DC-area council of governments sets a goal to see rooftop solar added to 250,000 properties in the region by the end of the decade. (Virginia Mercury)

COMMENTARY: A sustainability professor addresses misunderstandings he says are holding consumers back from buying electric vehicles.(New York Times)