Swing states got half of IRA clean energy funding

POLITICS: Nearly half of the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy funding has gone to seven swing states critical to the U.S. election, creating as many as 50,000 jobs in electric vehicle, battery, and other clean energy manufacturing, according to a new analysis. (The Guardian)

ALSO: White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi says the Biden administration is ​“sprinting” to roll out Inflation Reduction Act funding, adding that there’s already not much left for a potential Trump administration to try to claw back. (Politico)

CLEAN ENERGY:

• Asked to grade fossil fuel companies’ clean energy efforts, former climate envoy John Kerry gives them beyond failing marks: ​“Is there a letter underneath Z?” (The Guardian)
• Countries will only be able to deliver on their COP28 goal of tripling renewable energy generation by 2030 if they quickly deploy storage and transmission as well, the International Energy Agency says. (Reuters)
• Researchers find a gauntlet of federal red tape hampers tribal nations’ clean energy development and could lead to $19 billion in lost revenues if the barriers aren’t addressed. (Grist)
• Oregon’s coastal waters are poised to become a clean energy center as wave energy research and offshore wind development advance. (Associated Press)

UTILITIES:

• The Tennessee Valley Authority’s new long-term plan presents 30 different pathways to balance generation with growing power demand, including the construction of between 9 GW and 26 GW of new capacity by 2035. (Knoxville News Sentinel)
• A third-party audit finds Michigan’s two large investor-owned utilities had worse-than-average outages and restoration delays than other utilities, driven by delayed tree-trimming schedules and outdated grid infrastructure. (Detroit News)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A planned Hyundai electric vehicle and battery plant in Georgia sparks protests from farmers and residents concerned that it will use roughly 4 million gallons of water per day. (E&E News)

CLIMATE: Washington state advocates urge voters to defeat a ballot measure aimed at killing its landmark climate law, saying it would result in the loss of billions of dollars for clean energy and electrification projects. (Canary Media)

SOLAR: Duluth-based utility Minnesota Power announces plans for two large solar projects totaling 205 MW of capacity in central and northern Minnesota, including at a coal plant scheduled to retire by 2035. (MPR News)

NUCLEAR: A fire caused New York’s two largest nuclear plants to trip offline on Monday, with power output falling 2.1 GW and gas and hydropower rising to fill the gap. (WSYR)