Utilities get an ​‘F’ on climate

This roundup of U.S. energy news headlines is part of our Canary Media Daily newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox each morning.

FOSSIL FUELS

• Governments around the world have ramped up their fossil fuel extraction plans in the past two years, putting them on track to far exceed Paris climate agreement goals, a new report finds. (The Guardian)

• Contrary to promises from state regulators and fossil fuel companies, Pennsylvania’s residents face soaring energy prices even as fracking continues to generate increasing supplies of natural gas. (Inside Climate News)

• Woodside Energy breaks ground on a $17.5 billion liquified natural gas production and export facility in Louisiana — the first LNG plant to receive approval since Trump declared an ​“energy emergency” to start his second term. (WWNO)

CLEAN ENERGY

• U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says the Trump administration’s repeated attacks on offshore wind projects are a ​“one-off exception” as he tries to allay investors’ concerns that the administration will continue to derail clean energy development. (Axios)

• An alliance of major philanthropies announces plans to invest $7.5 billion in global renewable energy development over the next five years. (Reuters)

NUCLEAR

• Italian energy company Eni signs a $1 billion power purchase agreement with Commonwealth Fusion Systems for its planned fusion plant in Virginia. (Latitude Media)

• The Tennessee Valley Authority issues a letter of intent that formalizes how it will work with Type One Energy Group to develop and deploy a fusion power plant, beginning with a prototype at a former coal plant in Tennessee. (Knoxville News Sentinel)

POLITICS

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a suite of bills aimed at tackling climate change and rising energy costs, including legislation that extends the carbon cap-and-invest program and clears the way for up to 2,000 new oil and gas wells annually. (Los Angeles Times)

• A House Republican leader says the party likely won’t take a second stab at passing energy and environmental measures if it crafts another reconciliation bill later this year. (E&E News)

BATTERIES

• Battery deployment is surging in the U.S. and threatening plans for fossil fuel expansion, despite federal moves to disincentivize renewables. (E&E News)

OVERSIGHT

• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair David Rosner highlights ​“grid reliability as job number one” in his new leadership role and says the U.S. needs to build ​“every electron and every molecule of every type” of energy. (Utility Dive)

• Climate and environmental organizers strategize on how to motivate voters to take part in Georgia’s pending election for two seats on its Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities and energy rates. (Grist/​WABE)

AFFORDABILITY

• Average U.S. residential electricity rates rose 6.6% over last year as of June, with the biggest increases coming in the Northeast. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• Michigan State University researchers take feedback from farmers on emerging models of electric tractors that could be ideal for small farmers looking to cut their emissions. (Associated Press)

INDUSTRY

• Local activists say Nippon Steel’s pledge for a new $4 billion steel mill in Gary, Indiana should use direct reduction furnaces to reduce pollution and move away from coal-fired blast furnaces. (Chicago Tribune)

GEOTHERMAL

• The northeastern Iowa city of West Union is among the first in the country to install a municipal geothermal network, saving money and serving as a model for other cities to follow. (Inside Climate News)

COMMENTARY

• Solar and offshore wind helped keep the lights on and ACs running while saving consumers millions of dollars during New England heat waves this summer, making the case for the continued transition from fossil fuel-fired power plants to renewable energy sources, say clean energy advocates. (MassLive)