$2 billion for grid resilience

GRID: The U.S. Energy Department announces $2 billion in grants to shore up and expand the power grid, including a previously announced $612 million for areas wracked by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. (Canary Media)

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ALSO:

• Analysts fear the U.S. EPA’s power plant emissions rule that could shut down fossil fuel generators will make it more expensive to meet rising demand, but supporters say it’s necessary to meet climate goals. (E&E News)
• After Hurricane Helene disabled more than 350 electrical substations in western North Carolina, advocates call for widespread installation of solar-plus-storage microgrids as a more effective climate resiliency investment than storm-hardening traditional grid infrastructure. (Canary Media)

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POLITICS:

• Donald Trump’s campaign brought in a wave of fossil fuel funding after promising industry executives that he’d dismantle environmental regulations, though his $14 million they gave was far short of the $1 billion he requested. (The Guardian)
• Documents reveal the oil and gas industry has drafted a detailed plan to roll back climate rules and regulations if Trump is elected next month. (Washington Post)

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NUCLEAR: After years of declining interest, many state lawmakers have opened the door to nuclear energy development as tech companies push for carbon-free energy to power data centers. (Associated Press)

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GEOTHERMAL: The federal Bureau of Land Management approves a 2,000 MW enhanced geothermal energy project in southwest Utah, and proposes streamlining permitting for geothermal projects on federal land. (E&E News)

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HYDROGEN: A report finds a third of the projects planned as part of an Appalachian hydrogen hub in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania already have been scrapped, raising questions about the federally funded project’s viability. (Inside Climate News)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: General Motors’ CEO affirms the company is still committed to phasing out combustion car sales by 2035, and says GM will start making a profit on electric vehicles this year. (New York Times)

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CARBON CAPTURE: Meta says it will match the U.S. Energy Department’s $35 million investment to kickstart a carbon market. (Utility Dive)

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WIND: Offshore wind saw advancements in federal permitting and construction on ports and projects in the third quarter this year, but private investment has slowed in advance of the election, an industry group finds. (Utility Dive)

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