What’s stopping an EV charger buildout?

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Two years after Congress authorized $7.5 billion for an electric vehicle charging station buildout, the program hasn’t funded any projects as states and charging companies blame complicated requirements to receive the funds. (Politico)

ALSO:

• A Cleveland welding supply company begins manufacturing EV fast chargers based on technology used in its industrial equipment. (Energy News Network)
• Xcel Energy and Ford announce a partnership to provide business fleets with 30,000 electric vehicle charging ports across eight states by 2030. (Star Tribune)

EMISSIONS:

• Global carbon emissions from fossil fuels are projected to hit record levels again in 2023, putting the world on pace to burn through its carbon budget in seven years if it wants to limit warming to 1.5C degrees. (Guardian)
• The U.S. EPA unveils an updated social cost of carbon, which estimates the cost of failing to mitigate carbon emissions. (The Hill)
• New Mexico environmental and Indigenous advocates praise the Biden administration’s new methane emissions rules, but emphasize the need for strong enforcement. (NM Political Report)

OVERSIGHT:

• A federal grand jury indicts former Ohio utility regulator Sam Randazzo on bribery and embezzlement charges related to the ongoing HB 6 bribery scandal investigation. (Ohio Capital Journal)
• A Texas pipeline operator uses hardball negotiating tactics and its exemption from federal oversight to reap profits and wield disproportionate power over the state’s electric grid in what one watchdog calls ​“monopoly abuse.” (Bloomberg)

NUCLEAR: At COP28, the U.S. and more than 20 other countries pledge to triple nuclear energy generation by the end of 2050. (Canary Media)

SOLAR:

• The first Coast Guard-approved solar-powered boat sets sail on the Hudson River, fully powered by its solar paneled roof and battery system. (Canary Media)
• Indigenous entrepreneurs in North Dakota and elsewhere are building solar farms on reservations, and training tribal members to install them. (BBC)

COAL: Wyoming Republicans criticize GOP Gov. Mark Gordon’s plan to make the state ​“carbon negative” through carbon capture, raising questions about the political viability of a coal state tackling climate change. (E&E News)

OFFSHORE WIND: New York’s new offshore wind solicitation has numerous unique provisions that are friendly to developers, according to two energy law attorneys. (Utility Dive)

RENEWABLES:

• An energy transition expert credits Texas’ history of doing ​“all the right things for all of the wrong reasons” for a renewables surge that has made it the nation’s largest producer of wind and solar power. (PBS NewsHour)
• At least 5 GW of solar, wind and storage resources aren’t following voluntary operation guidelines, putting them as risk of tripping offline during a grid disturbance, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. warns. (Utility Dive)

CARBON CAPTURE: Louisiana residents continue their fight against a proposed carbon capture project beneath a beloved recreational lake as local officials move to adopt guidelines for injection wells used in such projects. (The Advocate)