• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will allow Holtec International to build and operate a multibillion-dollar spent nuclear fuel facility in New Mexico with the capacity to temporarily store up to 8,680 metric tons of used uranium fuel. The NRC’s approval comes despite pushback from state lawmakers, who passed legislation in March to stop the project amid concerns that the state would become a dumping ground for spent nuclear fuel without a permanent solution from the federal government. (The Associated Press) 
• Attorneys general of nine states – Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Oregon, Vermont and Washington – along with New York City and Washington, D.C., called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue “voluntary standards or mandatory regulations” aimed at reducing gas stove emissions. In a letter to the CPSC, the group pressed the agency to begin a rulemaking to develop the gas stove standards, which follows an earlier request from the agency that asked for more information on the hazards associated with gas stoves and any proposed solutions. (The Hill)  
  • Almost 3 in 4 Democrats would back stricter federal energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings, a proposal that almost 1 in 2 Republicans would also support, according to a recent Morning Consult survey. 
• Air pollution from oil and gas production in the United States causes around $77 billion in annual nationwide health impacts, according to a study published in Environmental Research: Health. The study also found that the pollution contributes to thousands of early deaths every year, with the highest proportions of associated health damages seen in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oklahoma and Louisiana. (Axios)

Consumers Want Companies to Invest in Climate Tech

Morning Consult

Senators eye ‘CHIPS 2.0’ as vehicle for carbon tariff

Emma Dumain, E&E News

As senators from both parties seek a pathway for advancing a bill imposing carbon tariffs, a potentially viable vehicle has emerged: a nascent legislative package to boost U.S. competitiveness against China.

The nationalist dark side of Joe Biden’s climate policies

Dylan Matthews, Vox

Why an ex-Biden official is “deeply disappointed” in his Buy American policies.

UN climate conference hires ex-Boris Johnson aide who opposed oil and gas tax

Jim Pickard et al., Financial Times

Environmentalists criticise COP28 role for lobbyist David Canzini.

World not ready yet to ‘switch off’ fossil fuels, COP28 host UAE says

Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas, Reuters

The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday that countries should agree to phase out fuel emissions – not the production of oil, gas and coal – at the upcoming U.N. climate change negotiations that it will host this December.

Court: EPA must regulate perchlorate, contaminant in water

Doug Glass, The Associated Press

A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate perchlorate, reversing a Trump-era rollback on a drinking water contaminant linked to brain damage in infants.

The Number of Climate Funds Out There Has Exploded

Tim Quinson, Bloomberg

In Europe, investors are focused on decarbonization programs. In the US and China, it’s solar panels and electric vehicles.

Minnesota prepares for near-total ban on ‘forever chemicals’

Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press

Minnesota is on the verge of banning non-essential uses of “forever chemicals.” And lawmakers say they are naming the legislation after a woman who spent the last months of her life campaigning for restrictions that will be some of the toughest in the country.

Long Beach, Calif., unveils plans for biggest wind turbine facility at any US seaport

Sharon Udasin, The Hill

Southern California’s Port of Long Beach unveiled plans Tuesday to build the biggest offshore wind manufacturing facility at any U.S. seaport, aiming to churn out turbines as tall as the Eiffel Tower.

Silicon Valley Bank is back to financing community solar

Jeff St. John, Canary Media

SVB — now under new ownership — announces a $200 million financing deal for Pivot Energy, a leading community-solar developer.

Chevron aims to boost Venezuela oil output to accelerate debt recovery -sources

Marianna Parraga and Deisy Buitrago, Reuters

Chevron Corp’s renewed oil operations in Venezuela begin a new phase next month that will boost production with the goal of accelerating a plan to recover all of the $3 billion of debt owed by the OPEC member by the end of 2025, four people close to the matter said.

$3.4M fine proposed over 2021 California oil pipeline leak

The Associated Press

An energy company should be fined nearly $3.4 million for safety violations involving a 2021 oil pipeline spill that fouled Southern California beaches, a federal regulator said.

NextEra Energy Partners to sell its natural gas pipelines, focus solely on renewable energy

Emma Penrod, Utility Dive

The sale of the pipelines will finance the company’s renewable energy growth plans through 2024, allowing the company to expand without issuing new shares or assuming debt in a high-interest environment, CEO John Ketchum said.

EIA sees US oil output rising 5% in 2023, cuts price forecasts

Stephanie Kelly and Arathy Somasekhar, Reuters

The Energy Information Administration on Tuesday forecast U.S. crude production will rise about 5% in 2023, while fuel demand will increase 1%, and cut its estimates for Brent and U.S. crude prices.

Toyota shareholders submit proposal on climate disclosure, in test for new CEO

David Dolan and Daniel Leussink, Reuters

A trio of European asset managers has submitted a shareholder proposal urging Toyota Motor Corp. to improve disclosure of its lobbying on climate change, likely the first time such a resolution will go before the Japanese automaker’s investors.

Rivian reports a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, reaffirms EV production target

John Rosevear, CNBC

Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive on Tuesday reported a first-quarter loss that was narrower than expected and said it’s still on track to meet a 50,000-vehicle production target for 2023.

Ford’s new muscle truck, Ranger Raptor, made possible by EVs

Joseph White, Reuters

Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday unveiled the latest addition to its muscle truck franchise – a Ranger Raptor midsize pickup with a 405-horsepower engine and a suspension designed for racing across the desert, made possible in part by Ford’s electric vehicles.

How Clean Are Electric Cars? It Depends

Wiliam Boston, The Wall Street Journal

New data show EVs are getting even more climate-friendly than combustion engines as power generation gets cleaner.

Automakers say proposed US emissions rules pose challenges

David Shepardson, Reuters

An auto trade group warned on Tuesday that aggressive U.S. targets for reductions in vehicle emissions may rely on a too rapid transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and pose significant challenges with manufacturing and supply chains.

Nikola to pause production, cut costs after quarterly loss

Reuters

Nikola Corp. on Tuesday reported a bigger quarterly loss and said it would pause production to streamline the assembly line at its Coolidge, Arizona, factory amid sluggish demand for its battery-powered trucks.

A new law in Colorado will prevent utilities from charging customers for lobbying

Akielly Hu, Grist

Ratepayers will no longer have to foot the bill for utilities’ political activities.

Texas House weighs Senate-approved plan to incentivize new gas plants as grid faces dicey summer

Robert Walton, Utility Dive

The Texas Senate on Thursday voted 27-4 to advance a plan to provide incentives and including 20-year, zero-interest loans to companies building gas-fired power plants and the House of Representatives has scheduled a Wednesday hearing to consider the measure, SB 2627.

Vermont Senate overrides governor’s veto of clean heat bill

The Associated Press

The Democrat-controlled Vermont Senate voted Tuesday to override Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of a bill encouraging Vermonters to move away from using fossil fuels to heat their homes in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

US power use to slide in 2023 on slower economic growth

Reuters

U.S. power consumption will ease in 2023 from last year’s record high as slower economic growth and milder weather depress usage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) on Tuesday.

Swastika Mountain is renamed Mount Halo in honor of a historical tribal leader

Dustin Jones, NPR News

A lesser-known peak in western Oregon’s Umpqua National Forest was renamed Mount Halo after residents suggested a change to the moniker.

Half of US West out of drought, but not fully recovered

Brittany Peterson, The Associated Press

Nearly half of the U.S. West has emerged from drought this spring, but the welcome wet conditions haven’t entirely replenished the region, scientists said Tuesday.

Flood insurance rates will soar in some areas, FEMA says

Thomas Frank, E&E News

Homeowners in the nation’s most flood-prone areas are facing huge price increases for flood insurance that could cause hundreds of thousands of people to cancel their policies and risk financial ruin if their home is flooded.