Coal plant reliability is fading, NERC finds

COAL: Coal-fired power plants are becoming increasingly unreliable because of deferred maintenance, increased cycling and other factors, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (Utility Dive)

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CLIMATE:

• The Supreme Court this week is expected to overturn or weaken a previous ruling allowing federal agencies to widely interpret vague statutes, potentially strengthening challenges to Biden administration climate and emissions rules. (Axios)
• Researchers say climate-driven weather patterns are contributing to temporary price spikes for food and raise the risks of long-term inflation. (Washington Post)

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OIL & GAS: In New Mexico, oil and gas giants partnered with environmentalists and politicians to develop an abandoned well cleanup bill, but turned against the final product and claimed it would “destroy” the state. (ProPublica)

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ELECTRIFICATION:

• A growing number of U.S. food and beverage manufacturers are using heat pumps to decarbonize the process heat they need to distill liquor and make other products. (Canary Media)
• U.S. communities are increasingly banning gasoline-powered leaf blowers to cut down on noise and pollution, drawing pushback from the landscaping industry. (Associated Press)

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SOLAR: A Wyoming economic development official proposes installing solar arrays on reclaimed Powder River Basin mines to replace lost coal tax revenue and jobs but runs into opposition from residents loyal to fossil fuels. (Inside Climate News)

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GRID:

• Grid operator MISO says it could face a capacity shortfall starting next summer in its northern and central regions without swift efforts to add new generation or delay retirements. (Utility Dive)
• Researchers say connecting Texas’ standalone power grid to the rest of the country would have prevented up to 80% of power outages during the 2021 winter storm that rattled the state. (WFAA)

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EFFICIENCY: Honeywell debuts a plug-level energy monitor that could help offices realize the energy savings of unplugging devices when they’re not being used. (Utility Dive)

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WIND:

• Dominion Energy showcases its plans for minimizing environmental disruptions during construction of a $9.8 billion offshore wind farm near Virginia. (Virginia Mercury)
• The 924 MW Sunrise Wind project receives final approval from federal ocean energy officials to be built off the Long Island coast. (news release)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: An organization representing gas station chains calls on Florida officials to begin taking applications for funding to build electric vehicle charging stations. (Tampa Bay Times)

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POLITICS: Observers expect West Virginia’s longstanding influence on federal energy policy to fade this fall as Sen. Joe Manchin steps down and is likely replaced by a pro-fossil fuel Republican. (Inside Climate News)

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