Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow

Weakened EPA emissions rule would still advance EVs

By Kathryn Krawczyk

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The U.S. EPA releases its Clean Cars rule, which proposes a slower phase-in of strict tailpipe pollution limits than the agency suggested last year, but still sets up electric vehicles to make up the majority of car sales by 2032. (Politico, E&E News)

ALSO:

  • The tailpipe emission standards are likely to create more reliance on hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the near term. (Inside Climate News)
  • Electrifying the U.S. trucking industry could cost as much as $1 trillion, with necessary grid upgrades and charging infrastructure racking up costs, a study commissioned by a clean transportation group finds. (Utility Dive)
  • Maine’s environmental protection board votes against adopting a Clean Cars proposal that would’ve required a bigger portion of cars sold in the state be electric. (Maine Morning Star)

ELECTRIFICATION: The International Code Council omits stronger pro-electrification measures from its building code guidelines, rejecting its own expert recommendations and siding with gas utility and furnace manufacturing trade groups. (HuffPost)

OIL & GAS:

WIND: Federal officials announce plans for an auction of four offshore wind areas in the Gulf of Mexico, after their first auction last year received underwhelming response. (Renewables Now, Reuters)

SOLAR: The owners of a fourth-generation family farm in Ohio who want to lease land for a utility-scale solar project say opponents seeking to stop the development are infringing on their property rights. (Energy News Network)

EMISSIONS:

  • University of Minnesota researchers say artificial intelligence can help track carbon emissions from crops and promote better farming practices. (Star Tribune)
  • A Pennsylvania lawmaker files a bill to codify the governor’s plan to take the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and create a cap-and-trade program. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

CLIMATE: Colorado advocates worry proposed legislation aimed at luring more energy-intensive data centers to the state will put climate goals out of reach and drive up power costs. (CPR)

BIOFUELS: The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the U.S. could use about half of the waste it generates each year for energy production. (Utility Dive)

CARBON CAPTURE: Oregon researchers discover a way to pull carbon dioxide from the air with vanadium, potentially boosting the nascent direct air carbon capture industry. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

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