• Farmers are facing more extreme crop-killing “flash droughts” as rising temperatures from climate change trigger the events more quickly, causing the water to evaporate from plants and soil during the growing seasons, according to research published in the journal Science. (The Associated Press)
• The Energy Department approved liquefied natural gas exports from the $39 billion Alaska LNG project owned by Alaska Gasline Development Corp., which is expected to come online by 2030 pending additional required permits. The exports will be shipped mainly to countries in Asia, as the United States competes with Russia to send natural gas supplies to Asia from the Arctic. (Reuters)
• Surprise crude production cuts from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies could slow down economic recovery and growth, fueling more inflation and hurting consumers, according to a monthly oil market report from the International Energy Agency. OPEC+ recently announced additional crude production cuts of 1.16 million barrels per day until the end of 2023. (CNBC)
• The Environmental Protection Agency is disbursing $177 million to fund 17 technical assistance centers around the country in an effort to assist environmental justice organizations applying for federal funding, along with offering advocates help to guide community engagement. Funding will be distributed among universities and environmental nonprofits, with each group receiving at least $10 million. (The Associated Press) 

CO2 Emissions From Electricity May Have Already Peaked as Wind and Solar Take Over

Bloomberg

The climate change debate dividing the World Bank

Zack Colman and Ben White, Politico

Addressing climate change by transitioning the world’s power grids, automobiles and industries to greener sources will cost trillions — and Janet Yellen and European authorities have no desire for massive new spending right now.

Biden’s EV push sparks lobbying surge

Timothy Cama and Hannah Northey, E&E News

The Biden administration’s climate change agenda has spurred an unprecedented lobbying boom driven by mineral and battery companies in search of incentives for expanding North American operations.

G-7 Energy Ministers Face Climate Fight With Japan as Host

Aaron Clark, Bloomberg

Instead of pivoting quickly to solar and wind, the Asian nation is banking on technologies such as carbon capture and ammonia to prolong the use of fossil fuels.

US energy secretary says G7 can lead global emissions cuts

Elaine Kurtenbach, The Associated Press

Wealthy nations can lead by example in cutting carbon emissions, though much faster action is needed to stem global warming, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Friday in an interview with The Associated Press.

G-7 meeting set to shape future of natural gas

Brian Dabbs, E&E News

A meeting of Group of 7 Cabinet-level officials this weekend is setting up a geopolitical battle that could play a major role in driving the future of U.S. natural gas — and determining the emissions of the fuel globally.

Biden wants to coax Americans into electric cars. These 3 groups have other ideas.

Tanya Snyder et al., Politico

The automakers themselves expressed wary resignation about Wednesday’s proposed pollution standards.

Atlantic Basin Primed for a Below-Average 2023 Hurricane Season

Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg

Across the Atlantic, 13 named storms may form this year in an expected below-average hurricane season with the ocean’s fury held back, in part, by conditions in the Pacific. 

US emissions up 6 percent in 2021 amid pandemic recovery: EPA

Rachel Frazin, The Hill

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rose 6 percent in 2021 as much of the country reopened as the COVID-19 vaccine became available, according to a federal analysis released Thursday. 

Flood-battered N.J. poised to enact model disclosure law

Thomas Frank, E&E News

The unanimous approval marks a potential breakthrough in the nationwide effort to raise awareness of flood risk through state laws that require sellers to disclose if their property is in a flood zone or has been flooded.

The fire at an Indiana plastics recycling plant has been extinguished, though residents’ health concerns remain

Holly Yan et al., CNN

After firefighters spent two days battling an inferno fueled by plastics in eastern Indiana, the fire has been fully extinguished, officials said.

El Nino Watch Called as Odds Grow of Weather-Shifting Event

Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg

US government forecasters issued an El Nino watch as the odds increased that the weather-changing phenomenon will arise over the Pacific Ocean, raising the prospects of a below-average Atlantic hurricane season as well as heavy rains and searing heat across multiple regions of the globe. 

In East Palestine, a nightmare that never ends

Katie Myers, Grist

For the rural Ohio town, it’s another day, another toxic spill as a cleanup truck carrying its contaminated soil overturns on a local highway.

Global wind energy set to hit 1 TW in 2023, double in 8 years: WoodMac

Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive

After more than 40 years of wind energy buildout, Wood Mackenzie projects that global capacity will hit 1 TW this year before doubling to 2 TW in the next 8 years, which one clean energy official says highlights the need for rapid expansion of transmission and grid interconnection.

Mini hydro company raises $18M to generate power in canals

Isabella O’Malley, The Associated Press

A startup business that places small turbines in irrigation canals to generate electricity has raised $18.4 million to scale up its technology for carbon-free hydropower.

New blue majority in Mich. eyes 100% clean energy law

Jeffrey Tomich, E&E News

Michigan Senate Democrats on Wednesday introduced a sprawling legislative package aiming to achieve many of the energy and climate goals outlined in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s climate plan.

Price stability of residential solar may attract consumers amid high power prices: solar executive

Diana DiGangi, Utility Dive

The initial cost of solar installation has spiked due to rising interest rates, but solar is seen as cheaper than utility power in the long run.

New Kansas law will reduce blinking lights on wind turbines

The Associated Press

Kansas residents who live near wind farms could eventually get a break from the nearly constant blinking of the red lights on wind turbines under a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly.

BP commits to Gulf of Mexico as $9bn platform comes online

Justin Jacobs, Financial Times

Group’s biggest project in region since Deepwater Horizon follows strategic shift on fossil fuels.

Midwest CO2 pipelines push ahead as bills fizzle

Jeffrey Tomich et al., E&E News

Companies planning carbon capture projects in the Midwest are defeating legislative proposals to add regulations or block them, increasing the likelihood that a sprawling network of planned pipelines to transport the greenhouse gas will move ahead.

Environmentalists: Wasted gas hurts climate, state revenue

Kevin McGill, The Associated Press

Louisiana lost more than $82 million worth of natural gas in 2019 due to leaks, venting or flaring at production sites, according to a study released Thursday by an environmental group and government watchdog organizations.

Two advisories recommend BP investors oppose activist climate resolution

Ron Bousso, Reuters

Investor advisories ISS and Glass Lewis recommended BP shareholders oppose a climate resolution filed by activist group Follow This at the company’s annual general meeting later this month.

Boston adopts new building code to limit use of fossil fuels

Steve LeBlanc, The Associated Press

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Thursday signed a new city ordinance aimed at discouraging the use of fossil fuels in the construction of new buildings and major renovation projects.

Fast EV Chargers to Nearly Double on U.S. Highways Under Expansion Plan

Jennifer Hiller, The Wall Street Journal

Italy’s Enel expects to add at least two million chargers, including home systems, in North America by the end of the decade.

Lucid first-quarter deliveries underwhelm as demand concerns plague the EV maker

John Rosevear, CNBC

Luxury electric vehicle maker Lucid Group said late Thursday that it produced 2,314 of its Air sedans in the first quarter. But it delivered just 1,406 Airs to customers during the period, another sign that the company is seeing weaker-than-expected demand.

Booming EV sales amp up the pressure on cities and companies to meet charging demand

Dan Zukowski, Utility Dive

Two-thirds of new light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2032 could be electric vehicles if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposed standards go into effect, bringing benefits and challenges to cities nationwide. 

Former Chief of Texas Power Grid Calls State-Funded Plants ‘Dangerous’

Naureen S. Malik, Bloomberg

A Texas proposal to use billions of dollars of state funds to build new power plants is “dangerous” to the competitive power market needed to drive investment, the former chief of the state grid said. 

Soaring electricity prices outrun inflation but have likely peaked as natural gas prices plunge: EIA, BLS

Stephen Singer, Utility Dive

Electricity prices surged 10.2% for the year through March, more than double the 5% inflation rate, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday.

Apple to use only recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025

Reuters

Apple Inc. said on Thursday it would use only recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025 as a part of its efforts to make all its products carbon neutral by the end of the decade.

More than 18,000 cows are dead after dairy farm explosion in Texas Panhandle

Jayme Lozano-Carver and Erin Douglas, The Texas Tribune

More than 18,000 cows died and one farm worker is in critical condition following a dairy farm fire in the Texas Panhandle.

After infiltrating Standing Rock, TigerSwan pitched its ‘counterinsurgency’ playbook to other oil companies

Alleen Brown and Naveena Sadasivam, Grist

More than 50,000 pages of newly released documents detail how the security firm targeted pipeline opponents and tried to profit off its surveillance tactics.

Newly active Texas sinkhole unearths forgotten fears in some

Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press

When the massive sinkhole first appeared in Daisetta in May 2008, some residents had feared it might engulf their small Southeast Texas town.