FIRST LOOK:

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) and BloombergNEF (BNEF) will release the ninth annual edition of the Sustainable Energy in America Factbook TODAY in a virtual release event from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. EST.

Death Toll, Food And Water Impacts Of Texas Blackouts Mount: As the death toll mounts, secondary effects of the Texas grid failure, driven primarily by the failure of gas, coal, and nuclear plants to handle the cold, are becoming apparent. At least 16 people are dead and 2.6 million Texas customers were without power as of Wednesday evening. Gov. Greg Abbott said he did not know when power would be restored and state regulators said as much generation was falling off the grid as was being added on. Food is also becoming scarce as the storm disrupted food distribution systems. Meanwhile nearly 12 million Texans, approximately 40% of the state's population and more than the entire population of Michigan, live in one of the state's 590 public water systems that have reported service disruptions. That includes St. David's South Austin Medical Center, which as of Thursday morning still lacked heat because of low water pressure, an issue affecting "a number of other hospitals in the area," according to its CEO. Houston residents were expected to be required to boil their water even after pressure is restored — hopefully late Thursday, though more bad weather is expected — and burst pipes caused flooding in Dallas. (Death toll and outages: Washington Post $; Thermal plant failures: Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, NPR; Unknown restoration timeline: Texas Tribune, Houston Chronicle, AP; Food shortages: Texas Tribune; Statewide water disruptions: Texas Tribune; Hospitals: Austin American-Statesman; Houston: Houston Chronicle; Dallas: Dallas Morning News)

EDITOR'S NOTE: The impacts of the Arctic outbreak's frigid weather, and the Texas grid and energy failures, are being felt all across the country. Help Hot News cover these local climate and energy impacts by dropping us a line here. Local outlets are especially encouraged!

Philly Refinery's Toxic, Racist Legacy Continues In Cleanup: The sprawling Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery has poisoned the Greys Ferry neighborhood for 150 years, and continues to do so even after it closed in 2019 following numerous explosions, Reuters reports. The scale of the toxic legacy left by the East Coast's oldest and largest refinery, — including poisonous waste fuels poured onto the ground and even buried rail cars — is staggering, and cleanup operations continue to inflict pollution on the predominantly Black neighborhood nearby. As many as 3,000 tanks and vessels will need to be removed from the site and, “There’s enough pipeline to connect you from here to Florida, and the majority of that pipeline today is wrapped in asbestos,” said Roberto Perez, CEO of the Chicago-based Hilco Redevelopment Partners that bought the property in June. Despite the obvious hazards, local residents feel shut out of the remediation process. It was also unclear how or if those residents who have endured decades of toxic pollution will benefit from the hotel and restaurant Hilco is reportedly considering building on the site. (Reuters)

Texas Power Outages Show State's Failure To Plan For Extreme Weather: Power outages in Texas continue to leave millions without power in a state where infrastructure is not equipped for the winter weather, and this isn’t the first time the state's grid has failed due to its unwinterized energy systems. In 2011, FERC issued a report calling on utilities to winterize their power systems after an Arctic cold front dealt a similarly disastrous blow in the Southwest, shutting down power plants and causing blackouts. However, the recommendations were not mandatory and ERCOT, the state’s grid operator said it couldn’t force utilities to do so. On Tuesday, Texas governor Greg Abbott falsely told Sean Hannity renewables were to blame for the blackouts and claimed the massive failures of the state's highly deregulated electricity system showed "how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal." The next day, Abbot announced he had issued an order requiring gas producers in the state to sell their gas only to electricity generators in Texas. (Planning failure: Bloomberg $, Houston Chronicle, NBC, LA Times $, The Verge; Abbott comments: Washington Post $, Market intervention: Dallas Morning News, Texas Tribune)

ENVIRONMENTAL (IN)JUSTICE: French Caribbean fights to keep pesticide case alive (AP), Miami launches plan to counter climate gentrification (E&E $), Sza wants to turn your attention to environmental racism (HuffPost)

BLACKOUTS: Two million? Five million? Real size of U.S. blackouts a mystery (Bloomberg $), ‘a complete bungle’: Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold (AP), perfect storm: energy supply chain slashed by extreme weather (Houston Chronicle), the blackout in Texas (New York Times, The Daily $), as millions remain without power amid more snow and ice, blame and questions mount (Washington Post $), desperate for light and warmth, Texans see no end for winter storm (New York Times $), the crisis in Texas underscores the deadly risks when the grid goes down (Grist), through chattering teeth, texans criticize extended power outages (New York Times $), what went wrong with the electric grid in Texas? (NPR), Texas power crisis moves into fourth day with millions in dark (Bloomberg $), Texas leaders drop the snowball, fail to protect residents against rare but predictable harsh winter storm (Dallas Morning News)

HUMAN CRISIS: Powerless Dallas residents wait out freezing temperatures at home as hotels book up completely (Dallas Morning News), desperate for light and warmth, Texans see no end for winter storm (New York Times $)

CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE: Electric, natural gas, wind: blackouts in Texas illustrate dependency of systems as climate changes (WBUR), how one Texas storm exposed an energy grid unprepared for climate change (NBC), is Texas’ disaster a harbinger of America’s future? (Rolling Stone), Texas blackouts show the power grid isn’t ready for climate change (LA Times $), Texas flunks climate change test as its energy grid freezes up (CBS), Texas grid collapse points to looming climate tests (E&E $), US needs to brace itself for more deadly storms, experts say (AP), The Texas power grid failure is a climate change cautionary tale (TIME)

LIES & MONEY: Debunking the conservative Texas renewable energy spin (Washington Post $), how much the oil and gas industry paid Texas Republicans who are lying about wind energy (Earther), no, frozen wind turbines aren’t the main culprit for Texas’ power outages (Dallas Morning News), blackout crisis: fallout, furor and fact checks (E&E $), no, wind farms aren’t the main cause of the Texas Blackouts (New York Times $), Texas blackouts fuel false claims about renewable energy (AP), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blames wind turbines, Green New Deal policies for outages. Critics call that ‘a lie.' (Washington Post $), 'the windmills failed.' Texas crisis fuels climate attacks (E&E $)

GOVERNING REALITIES: ‘Now it’s coming back to bite them’: Democrats see an opening in GOP oversight of Texas grid (New York Times $), Cruz says he has ‘no defense’ for mocking California’s past power outages as Texas’ grid falters amid historic freeze (Dallas Morning News, HuffPost), Texas leaders drop the snowball, fail to protect residents against rare but predictable harsh winter storm (Dallas Morning News)

POLITICS: Biden gets his first energy crisis — and an opening (Politico), lawmakers spin Texas blackouts, demand federal scrutiny (E&E $)

MAYBE JUST DON'T: Perry says Texans willing to suffer blackouts to keep feds out of power market (Houston Chronicle, HuffPost), did Ted Cruz fly to Cancun during Texas‘ winter disaster? (KSAT, Newsweek), ‘the weak will parish’: Texas mayor berates ‘lazy’ residents amid record cold, blackouts (HuffPost, KTXS, KTAB/KRBC)

STORM COVERAGE: Extreme winter weather sweeps across the US South (On the Media), Mapping the winter storm’s impact (New York Times $)

SEA TURTLES: More than 4,000 cold-stunned sea turtles rescued from freezing Texas waters (CBS)

AGENCIES: Biden to scrap Trump changes to desert renewable development plan (Politico Pro $), EPA resumes community outreach calls after 8-year absence (E&E $)

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Biden administration kick-starts review of Trump’s national monument cuts (HuffPost), Biden admin overhauls Regulations.gov (E&E $), groups ask Biden for wider environmental review of nuke work (AP)

THE HILL: Capitol police investigate 2 GOP lawmakers over house metal detector incidents (HuffPost)

POLITICS: U.S. Chamber, enviros want infrastructure bill by July (E&E $)

NOMINEES & CONFIRMATIONS: Deb Haaland’s Senate hearing set (Indian Country Today, E&E $, CNN, Politico Pro $)

TRANSITION, PERSONNEL: Green bank expert joins Biden climate team (E&E $)

CITIES AND STATES: From the streets to solar advocate: D.C. activist pushes for renewable power (Washington Post $), will New Mexico learn from coal’s decline? (High Country News), Chicago microgrid project attempts to balance corporate, community needs (Energy News Network), five takeaways from Connecticut’s new residential solar program changes (Energy News Network), Las Vegas-area adopts climate and sustainability plan (AP)

CALIFORNIA: 'No time to waste': California bill would ban fracking in state by 2027 (The Guardian, AP, Politico Pro $), fracking bill encounters chilly reception by industry, Newsom (Politico Pro $)

IMPACTS: 'We have to go': Climate change driving increased migration from Central America (CBS), amid rising seas, ‘dry’ resort is wetter than it likes (AP), Siberia’s newest exploding crater has been mapped in 3d (Earther), warmer California winters may fuel grapevine-killing Pierce’s disease (InsideClimate News)

GOOD NEWS: Burned firefighter leaves California hospital to cheers (AP)

ELECTRIFICATION: Bay Area cities go to war over gas stoves in homes and restaurants (Kaiser Health News)

NERDY AND IMPORTANT: Carbon was $1 under Trump. It's about to skyrocket (E&E $)

RENEWABLES: Interior issues first-ever West Coast lease for wave energy (E&E $, Politico Pro $)

OIL & GAS: [Devon Energy] reports no current harm from Biden policies (E&E $)

PIPELINES: Dallas’s Energy Transfer strikes $7 billion deal to expand pipeline holdings (Dallas Morning News), Energy Transfer to buy Enable Midstream for $2.6 billion in natgas push (Reuters)

UTILITIES: How does a utility turn a net-zero vision into reality? That’s what they’re arguing about in minnesota (InsideClimate News), Des Moines looks for leverage to push MidAmerican on carbon-free power (Energy News Network), utilities seek $19.2 million pollution control for Columbia coal plant, set to close by 2025 (Wisconsin State Journal)

EVs: Ford invests $1 billion in German plant, targets move to ‘all-electric’ passenger vehicles in Europe by 2030 (CNBC, The Guardian)

VERY LEGAL AND VERY COOL: West Virginia governor's family settles suit over mine selenium discharges (AP)

PFAS INTERSECTION: Firefighters face lies, 'phony' studies on PFAS exposure (E&E $)

SHIPPING: Ship giant Maersk bids farewell to new, fossil-fuel only ships (Bloomberg $) 

CARBON CAPTURE: Billionaires’ favorite climate solution is a dangerous distraction (Earther), bipartisan lawmakers revive carbon-capture credit bill (E&E $)

CARBON PRICING: 'Put a big fat price on carbon': OECD chief bows out with climate rally cry (The Guardian)

FINANCE: Oil firms should disclose carbon output, says BlackRock (The Guardian)

IN MEMORIAM: BLM official [Jack Wilson] pioneered multi-agency firefighting (E&E $)

INTERNATIONAL: DR Congo campaigners take minister to court over illegal logging rights claims (Climate Home), Finance ministers have to be green in today's world, says OECD head (The Guardian), EU member states divided over green reforms of energy investment treaty (Climate Home), in India, a climate activist’s arrest shows shrinking space for dissent (Washington Post $), Italy creates ecological transition ministry but campaigners warn against gas support (Climate Home)

• Texas’s cold-weather catastrophe is a global warning (Washington Post, Adam Taylor analysis $)
• Don't blame Texas energy players for blackout, blame the electricity grid's irresponsible game (Houston Chronicle, Chris Tomlinson column)
• Texas Republicans lied about the power crisis. We need more investment in renewables — not less. (Washington Post, Editorial Board $)
• Texas shows that when you cannot govern, you lie. A lot. (Washington Post, Jennifer Rubin column $)
• A plan to future-proof the Texas power grid (New York Times, Jesse Jenkins op-ed $)
• Texas seceded from the nation’s power grid. Now it’s paying the price. (Washington Post, Julie Cohn commentary $)
• It’s time to bury the myth of Texas exceptionalism (Washington Post, Karen Attiah op-ed $)
• Column: Amid severe weather and power crisis, Texas legislators stop talking about secession (LA Times, Michael Hiltzik column $)
• Insane GOP lies about Texas offer a depressing preview of coming climate debates (Washington Post, Paul Waldman column $)
• The politics of energy generation don’t always line up with actual energy generation (Washington Post, Philip Bump analysis $)
• Rep. David Scott, the first Black House Ag chair (Politico, Q&A)
• Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Tom Carper (Politico Pro, Q&A $)
• Texas could have kept the lights on (New York Times, Richard Parker op-ed $)
• GOP & Fox blame AOC’s Green New Deal for the Texas power crisis (The Daily Show with Tevor Noah)

Speed And Spread Of Lies To Protect Frozen Texas Fossil Fuels Shows Need For Supply-Side Disinfo Solutions

As legitimate media has struggled to catch up with the professional liars who blamed wind for gas and coal’s failure to perform to expectations in Texas, those committed to the party line will keep on lying, as evidenced by a second Wall Street Journal editorial on the topic, just as false as the first. When the Republican Governor of Texas can blame “private power companies” and “natural gas & coal generators,” but the WSJ editorial board denies that and says it was really government regulations and wind turbines, clearly there’s no amount of real world facts that will change the WSJ’s commitment to defending fossil fuels (which froze) and attacking renewables (which out-performed expectations). 

And no amount of careful fact checking can overcome the fossil energy industry’s willingness and ability to spend money promoting itself by distorting the truth about its dirty, deadly, and unreliable products. So they’ll always have someone like industry lapdog Marc Morano appear on white supremacy superstar Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show to try and steer the public into believing the lies they’re selling — longl before any real experts have had time to weigh in. (Or worse, third-rate Morano wannabe Alex Epstein on third-rate Carlson has-been Glenn Beck’s show on his third-rate Fox wanna-be, The Blaze…)

From there, a conspiracy-hungry audience, cultivated by decades of fearmongering and denial, runs wild with the false framing on social media, leaving the real world scratching its head while the industry’s puppets create a parallel universe of conservative fictions. 

So what can be done about that? Oh it’s simple, really! Just regulate social media, crack down on dark money in politics, and put the sort of public pressure on denial media that hits them right in the profits. Sure it's all easier said than done, but we absolutely know what needs to be done.

Because, while social media companies’ belated efforts to tamp down the propaganda campaigns have finally started to remove some of the most violent and deranged accounts en masse, they clearly lack the incentive to devote any significant portion of their vast profits to making sure their platforms aren't being used to carry out human rights abuses and disinformation campaigns. 

And just like the fossil fuel industry’s not about to voluntarily regulate itself out of existence, voluntary pledges from social media companies will never be as strong as regulations enacted by the government to hold them accountable for the real-world consequences of their digital platforms. Similarly, the fact that the fossil fuel industry can pour profits into the political system, buying the loyalty of the Republican party and its extremely-online class of new Qaracters, suggests perhaps that campaign finance reform might be a prerequisite to any real and effective bipartisan climate legislation. 

As for media outlets that gleefully spread disinformation as part of their conservative political brand, namely the Wall Street Journal and Fox, a public policy answer is probably not the right one, given, y’know, the First Amendment. But public pressure campaigns could be a market signal these companies can’t afford to deny. 

Groups like Sleeping Giants that target Fox’s advertisers hit the company in the bottom line. But at this point, most major advertisers have already fled Tucker Carlson and other highly-visible and highly-racist Fox figures, leaving the company to fill coveted prime time advertising slots with its own in-house ads. (And MyPillow ads…) But do cable carriers really need to carry Fox? Its audience probably thinks so, but the overwhelming majority of subscribers who don’t watch the channel might be mad when they find out how much of their sizable bill is so that they can receive Fox’s propaganda. Campaigns for cable customers to threaten to cut the cord if they don’t cut Fox off their bill would squeeze FoxNew’s last major revenue source. 

Subscribers are also, ultimately, the only audience the Wall Street Journal is going to be responsive to, so that’s perhaps where pressure could be applied. The Journal prides itself on its financial coverage — but what happens when readers see the factual stories so frankly denied by its opinion pages? 

Surely it was jarring for readers to see reporter Russell Gold’s explainer of the Texas blackouts say that the state’s grid “faced twin problems: frozen power plants and not enough natural gas to run all needed power plants,” and then see an editorial claiming just the opposite.

Can financial professionals afford the risk of trusting a newspaper willing to publish disinformation, even as opinion, about such major, market-shaping forces? 

And can the Wall Street Journal afford to have its subscribers ask themselves that?

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