Big banks drop climate coalition

CLIMATE: JPMorgan Chase and State Street quit an international coalition aimed at curbing big companies’ investment-related greenhouse gas emissions, while BlackRock scales back its involvement. (Reuters)

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ALSO: Combining state, local and private-sector efforts to reduce emissions are more effective than any efforts on their own, researchers find, noting that public-sector emissions rules can drive companies to follow suit. (The Hill)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Solar and battery storage will make up more than 80% of new large-scale energy construction in the U.S. this year, while the country will add the smallest amount of new gas capacity in 25 years, the Energy Information Administration predicts. (E&E News, subscription)

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GRID:

• Some state utility regulators worry the U.S. EPA’s proposed power plant emissions reduction rule threatens grid reliability, while others say it’s key to helping states meet their climate goals. (Utility Dive)
• ERCOT officials are skeptical of a U.S. House bill to connect Texas’ grid to the rest of the country, suggesting the plan could disincentivize construction of new generation in the state. (E&E News, subscription)

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OIL & GAS:

• Federal regulators approve two projects along the Gulf Coast that are expected to accelerate natural gas exports. (E&E News)
• The U.S. House approves a bill that would block the Biden administration’s ability to block natural gas export projects, though it’s unlikely to pass the Senate. (The Hill)
• Tribal nations and advocates push back against a proposed pipeline that would carry Permian Basin natural gas to an export terminal in Mexico, saying it threatens sacred sites and could fuel the LNG boom. (DeSmog)

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POLITICS: Republicans pushing for climate action vow to keep working even if former President Trump is elected and turns the tide against them. (E&E News)

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SOLAR:

• An Arizona company announces plans for a $344 million solar panel recycling facility in rural Georgia, which will also manufacture enough glass to supply 5 GW worth of new panels per year. (Associated Press)
• The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe expects to break ground later this year on a planned 756 MW solar installation on its land in southwestern Colorado. (KSUT)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe participates in a $13.4 million intertribal electric vehicle charging network and deploys six electric vehicles to serve residents. (South Dakota Searchlight)

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OFFSHORE WIND:

• The U.S. EPA issues a Clean Air Act permit for New York’s Empire offshore wind project, slated to produce over 2 GW of power. (Reuters)
• Louisiana businesses with expertise in oil and gas extraction are finding opportunities in offshore wind. (Governing)

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OVERSIGHT: Amid new allegations that former Ohio utility regulator Sam Randazzo had a corrupt relationship with FirstEnergy dating back to 2010, Gov. Mike DeWine faces questions about whether he knew about that relationship when appointing Randazzo in 2019. (Ohio Capital Journal)

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