• The Biden administration said it hopes to deploy up to 15 gigawatts of electricity through floating wind turbine platforms in the deep ocean by 2035, targeting sites in the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of California and Oregon as well as in the Atlantic in the Gulf of Maine. Two pilot projects are already planned for the north and central California coast, while a third one is planned off the coast of southern Oregon. (The Associated Press)
• Gov. Tate Reeves (R-Miss.) announced that clean water had been restored to the city of Jackson, where a boil water advisory had been in place since July. Recent flooding of the Pearl River damaged the city’s water system, leading to a loss of water pressure that exacerbated the water crisis. (Axios)
• Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he is hopeful that colleague Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) will help him push through his permitting reform plan that he said would take as many as 20 Senate Republicans to pass as part of a stopgap spending measure meant to keep the government open past Sept. 30. Capito earlier this week introduced a permitting reform bill with 46 Republican co-sponsors because Democrats have yet to unveil their own bill, as disagreement over Manchin’s proposal continues to build from both chambers and parties. (Bloomberg)

Tune in (all times local): 

• 10:30 a.m. Bipartisan Policy Center event: “Implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”

California’s big bet on offshore wind

Canary Media

W.Va. vs. Va.: Permitting overhaul a backyard brawl

Jeremy Dillon and George Cahlink, E&E News

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) wants a contested natural gas pipeline in his state to be part of his permitting reform effort. But Virginia lawmakers who might typically support a permitting overhaul are balking at the deal, in part because of the pipeline that would run between the two states.

Climate change worsened Pakistan’s flooding rains, study finds

Andrew Freedman, Axios

Large swaths of Pakistan are underwater from unusually prolific monsoon rains, which have killed nearly 1,500 people. Now a new study shows the connections between the flooding and climate change.

The World Has a $1 Trillion La Niña Problem

Brian K. Sullivan and Sybilla Gross, Bloomberg

It’s all but guaranteed the world will see another year of weather disasters that destroy homes, ruin crops, disrupt shipping and threaten lives.

Climate change jeopardizes health care services, report says

Amanda Seitz, The Associated Press

Dr. Suzy Fitzgerald remembers looking out the windows as wildfire flames surrounded the hospital where she worked.

SEC Climate Rule Won’t Demand Extensive Reporting From Small Businesses, Gensler Says

Richard Vanderford, The Wall Street Journal

Small businesses have expressed concerns they would be forced to embark on an accounting mission to provide data to their public-company customers.

Senate Democrats set action on Kigali climate treaty

Jeremy Dillon, E&E News

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday moved to take up the so-called Kigali Amendment next week, putting the chamber on track to ratify its first climate treaty in decades.

BP reaches $2.75M deal over Indiana refinery pollution

John Flesher, The Associated Press

Oil titan BP reached a $2.75 million settlement Thursday over air pollution from its largest refinery after environmentalists complained of repeated emissions violations at the Whiting facility in Indiana.

McDonald’s strikes 15-year solar energy deal with EDF Renewables North America

Emma Liem Beckett, Utility Dive

McDonald’s struck a 15-year virtual power purchase deal with EDF Renewables North America. EDF’s Apollo Solar project, which is based in Texas, is slated to deliver low-carbon electricity starting in June 2024.

Minnesota regulators approve huge solar project in Becker

The Associated Press

A massive solar project that is expected to cost at least $575 million was approved Thursday by Minnesota utility regulators.

How the climate law may change energy storage

David Iaconangelo, E&E News

The Inflation Reduction Act offers new incentives for energy storage in the U.S., but ongoing supply chain and grid interconnection troubles may prevent a nationwide boom in coming years for the technology, according to a new report.

Energy storage tech going mainstream as Goldman Sachs, partner acquire majority stake in EPC Power

Emma Penrod, Utility Dive

Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Cleanhill Partners, a private equity firm, have acquired a majority stake in smart inverter supplier EPC Power, according to a Thursday announcement.

Oversight Democrats shame Big Oil in hourslong hearing

Corbin Hiar, E&E News

Between April and June, Exxon reported almost $18 billion in earnings. Chevron and Shell reported more than $11 billion. And BP reported $8.5 billion.

What Price Is Right? Why Capping Russian Oil Is Complicated.

Alan Rappeport, The New York Times

Officials from the Group of 7 are striving to strike a delicate balance that encourages Russia to keep pumping oil but to sell it at a discount.

Cheniere CFO Aims for Investment-Grade Credit Rating as Natural-Gas Prices Soar

Kristin Broughton, The Wall Street Journal

The liquefied natural gas producer has paid down a portion of its debt as it benefits from surging energy prices. CFO Zach Davis hopes the company’s credit rating will notch higher within a year.

The win for activists in two halted chemical plants — by the numbers

Steven Mufson, The Washington Post

Two proposed Louisiana petrochemical complexes would have emitted huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

D.C. Circuit leans toward FERC in NEPA dispute

Niina H. Farah, E&E News

Federal judges Wednesday pressed energy regulators for an update on their plans to use a contested metric to evaluate the costs of spewing planet-warming emissions from natural gas projects.

How oil companies could thrive under the climate law

Mike Lee, E&E News

At first glance, the Inflation Reduction Act would seem like a financial problem for the U.S. oil and gas industry. The fine print suggests otherwise.

Ford Reveals New EV-Selling Rules to Dealers

Nora Eckert, The Wall Street Journal

Auto maker requires dealers who want to sell its electric models to ditch haggling and invest in chargers.

GM plans $491M Indiana plant upgrade to help support EVs

The Associated Press

General Motors said Thursday it will spend $491 million to expand and upgrade an Indiana metal stamping plant for production of steel and aluminum stamped parts for “future vehicles,” including electric vehicles.

Newsom opposes EV ballot measure to tax millionaires

Anne C. Mulkern, E&E News

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is spearheading efforts to ban new gasoline cars in his state, came out swinging against a ballot measure that would tax rich residents to help fund electric vehicle purchases.

Tesla Shifts Battery Strategy as It Seeks U.S. Tax Credits

Rebecca Elliott and Mike Colias, The Wall Street Journal

Climate law has accelerated race to make batteries and their ingredients in the U.S.

Legislature can intervene in Idaho-US water rights fight

Keith Ridler, The Associated Press

The Idaho Legislature can intervene in a lawsuit filed against Idaho by the U.S. Department of Justice challenging recently-passed state water laws, but a federal judge has yet to rule on whether ranchers and the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation can take part.

Louisiana officials approve flood funds stalled over abortion

Ariel Wittenberg, E&E News

A Louisiana commission today approved New Orleans flood control funding it had been refusing to support over city officials’ opposition to the state’s strict abortion ban.

California Removes Incentive to Use Natural Gas in New Buildings

Mark Chediak, Bloomberg

Utilities will no longer be able to pass along part of costs for new gas lines to residential, commercial customers.

Inside the ‘proving ground’ for a clean energy grid

Peter Behr, E&E News

Loud as a gunshot, the ceramic transmission pole insulator shattered, becoming the latest equipment to meet its end at a 35-acre test site in the Berkshire Hills.

New federal guidance aims to strengthen Indigenous land management

Brett Marsh, Grist

Tribal governments will now have a say in how 620 million acres of federal lands are managed.

State of unease: Colorado basin tribes without water rights

Felicia Fonseca, The Associated Press

Garnett Querta slips on his work gloves as he shifts the big rig he’s driving into park. Within seconds, he unrolls a fire hose and opens a hydrant, sending water flowing into one of the plastic tanks on the truck’s flat bed.

Earth just experienced one of its warmest summers on record

Zach Rosenthal and Kasha Patel, The Washington Post

Hot weather baked the globe, with Europe and China both recording their warmest meteorological summers.

California wildfire ‘looking a whole heck of a lot better’

The Associated Press

Firefighters again prevented flames from entering a Northern California mountain town and reported major progress Thursday against the week-old blaze that’s become the largest in the state so far this year.

Tropical Storm Fiona forms, soon to lash Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico

Matthe Cappucci, The Washington Post

The storm could eventually be one to watch for Bermuda or even the U.S. East Coast.

Nevada looks to conservation as the Colorado River dwindles

Daniel Rothberg, The Associated Press

Only a few miles from the Las Vegas Strip, in the Mojave Desert, is an unlikely scene: A county park with walking trails and thick vegetation that circles a vibrant rush of flowing water.

At Old Coal Mines, the American Chestnut Tries for a Comeback

Elena Shao, The New York Times

Across Appalachia, scientists and foresters are trying to reintroduce a hybrid version, helping to revive damaged land while also bringing back a beloved tree.

For Shell’s Priorities, Follow the Money

Rochelle Toplensky, The Wall Street Journal

New CEO Wael Sawan is likely to emphasize green initiatives, but company’s spending plans should be more informative for investors.