EVs are getting more reliable

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly reliable and are narrowing a wide gap with gas-powered vehicles, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports. (Associated Press)

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ALSO: Elon Musk says the Trump administration should get rid of the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit, which he has said would help his company Tesla by hurting its competitors. (E&E News)

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EFFICIENCY: Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen calls on the White House to “expeditiously review and approve” 10 pending energy efficiency standards, noting current rules won’t get the Biden administration to its goal for emissions reductions via efficiency. (The Hill)

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HYDROGEN: Community and environmental advocates are increasingly frustrated by a lack of public information and engagement around proposed regional hydrogen hubs. (Energy News Network)

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OFFSHORE WIND: Local offshore wind opponents often receive support including strategy advice, talking points, and celebrity guest speakers from national anti-wind groups funded by the fossil fuel industry, according to a new report from Brown University. (ecoRI)

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CLEAN ENERGY: Companies awarded tentative federal clean energy loans to build hydrogen, electric vehicle and other manufacturing facilities worry about their fate under the Trump administration. (New York Times)

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POLITICS:

• Senate Republicans say Lee Zeldin, President-elect Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. EPA, is preparing to dismantle environmental regulations opposed by the fossil fuel industry. (Washington Post)
• Zeldin is among a flock of Trump’s Cabinet selections who’ve expressed support for scaling up domestic oil and gas production, clawing back clean energy incentives, and weakening environmental rules. (Grist)

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SOLAR:

• Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo urges the federal Bureau of Land Management to cancel its Western solar plan, saying it would “overwhelm local land-use plans,” disrupt economies and harm desert tortoises and sage grouse. (Heatmap)
• Analysts predict the U.S. will deploy a record 40.5 GW of solar power this year, and reach at least 43 GW of annual deployment by 2029. (Canary Media)

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OIL & GAS: A report finds nine Louisiana liquified natural gas terminals that are operating, under construction or planned will receive more than $21.1 billion in local property tax breaks if all are completed, amounting to “an effective subsidy” of $6.7 million per job. (Floodlight)

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OVERSIGHT: The U.S. EPA says in a year-end report that it more than doubled pollution fines and penalties over last year, made its first arrest in a climate-related crime, and stepped up enforcement in historically disadvantaged communities. (Associated Press)

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GRID:

• Analysts predict new data centers, factories and cryptocurrency mining facilities will drive “staggering” electricity demand growth on the Western grid over the next decade. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Virginia communities push back against the booming data center sector and its growing power needs, which already consume more than 25% of all power produced in the state and could rise to 46% by 2030. (Associated Press)

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