Why the climate law’s price tag is growing

CLEAN ENERGY: The estimated cost of implementing the Inflation Reduction Act has more than doubled since its passage in 2022, largely because forecasters think the law’s incentives will be more popular than expected. (New York Times)

TRANSMISSION: A federal bill would more than double the amount of generation that could move between regional electric grids within a decade, lowering costs and improving reliability, researchers find. (Utility Dive)

FOSSIL FUELS:

• While global fossil fuel use is on track to dramatically decline in the electricity and vehicle sectors over the next 25 years, air travel’s fossil fuel use is set to skyrocket. (Guardian)
• A Biden administration official defends the administration’s pause on new natural gas export permits, noting exports to gas-strapped allies have already dramatically expanded over the last few years. (The Hill)
• A federal official defends the Biden administration’s pause on permitting liquified natural gas export facilities as necessary not only to consider climate change but also to keep gas prices low. (Houston Chronicle)
• Texas residents complain about pollution and clean air violations as they try to prevent state regulators from renewing a permit for an Exxon olefins plant located in one of the largest petrochemical facilities in the world. (Houston Chronicle, Daily Climate)

CLIMATE:

• A top climate scientist wins his defamation lawsuit against conservative writers who compared his work to vulgar topics. (Associated Press)
• As many as 3,500 more planes are expected to take off and land in Las Vegas this week for the Super Bowl, likely leading to a downstream effect that increases emissions from congested streets. (The Hill)

SOLAR:

• Minnesota community solar developers are retooling their business plans to emphasize lower-income residential customers as the state’s program undergoes some of the biggest changes since its launch. (Energy News Network)
• A Georgia solar program uses federal funding, grants and bulk purchase discounts to offer solar leasing for low-income Georgia residents. (Current)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Tribal nations and utilities partner on a $13.4 million project to install EV chargers and distribute vehicles to Upper Midwest tribal fleets. (Utility Dive)

ELECTRIFICATION: A Washington state lawmaker proposes offering wildfire victims grants to rebuild homes with electric heat pumps. (Spokesman-Review)

POLITICS:

• A right-wing think tank urges former President Trump — should he win a second bid for the White House — to reopen Alaska areas to fossil fuel development, roll back methane reduction rules and expedite oil and gas drilling on federal lands. (E&E News)
• Democrats game out their strategy to sell voters on the Inflation Reduction Act as this year’s elections approach. (E&E News)

COMMENTARY: Analysts predict substantial growth in electric vehicle sales in the coming years as lower priced models come to market, though the timing and rate of growth remains uncertain, a journalist writes. (Inside Climate News)