INSURRECTION: Black activists say Jan. 6 insurrection was part of white supremacist playbook (The Grio), a year after the insurrection, where's accountability for accomplices in congress? (The Root), Biden, Democratic leaders slam Trump on riot anniversary (E&E News), ‘we almost lost our democracy’: how 38 women in Congress want you to remember January 6 (The 19th* News), experts: American democracy is in decline (Black Wall Street Times), most Americans believe another attack like January 6th is imminent (Black Wall Street Times), one year later: a Black man’s perspective on the capitol attack (Black Wall Street Times), Rep. Bennie Thompson reflects on historical irony as a Black man investigating Jan. 6 insurrection (The Grio), panel probes Trump aide over NPS permit for Jan. 6 rally (E&E News), one year after the insurrection, racial justice advocates warn that white supremacy remains entrenched in the US (Prism Reports), the racist legacy of January 6th (NewsOne)
LITTLE LUNGS: Texas day care gets reprieve after drilling plan is rejected (AP)
CLIMATE LITIGATION: Jurors see the bigger picture: activists who were cleared in court (The Guardian)
DENIAL: Election misinformation helped fuel the jan. 6 capitol attack. Now, climate misinformation threatens the planet. (Washington Post $)
MEDIA: Al Roker featured in Washington Post Magazine, focusing on climate change (Today Show)
KAZAKHSTAN: Bitcoin network power slumps as Kazakhstan crackdown hits crypto miners (Reuters), Kazakhstan reminds world leaders of costly fuel subsidy dilemma (Reuters)
BUILD BACK BETTER ACT: Utility group looks to inject momentum for climate package (E&E News)
THE HILL: ‘Everything is at risk’: flood survivors urge Congress to change inadequate insurance (The Guardian), Democratic agenda stuck in limbo (The Hill)
WHITE HOUSE: Environmental justice in spotlight as WH official departs (AP)
POLITICS: Is the US uniquely bad at tackling climate change? (Grist)
CITIES AND STATES: Group of legislators request study about creating government-run electric utilities (New Mexico Political Report), Virginia Democrats aim to block Trump’s EPA chief from state agency (New York Times $)
- NEW YORK: Gov. Hochul announces $500M offshore wind investment, electrification push for New York (Utility Dive), NY governor backs nation’s first statewide gas ban (E&E News, The Hill, Politico Pro $), advocates: Hochul moving ‘dangerously slow’ on banning gas in new construction (Politico Pro $), New York to spend $500 million to fuel boom in offshore wind (Bloomberg $)
- TEXAS: Texas enacts nation’s strongest flood disclosure law (E&E News), Texas power plants 'ready for winter' following weatherization assessment, ERCOT says (Utility Dive)
FERC: Democrats ask FERC for help with high energy prices (E&E $)
IMPACTS: Early data ranks 2021 as Earth's fifth warmest year (Axios), 80% of Americans suffered through extreme heat last year (Gizmodo), climate change could enable valley fever to spread across more of western US (Yale Climate Connections), Boaty McBoatface prepares to dive under Antarctica's doomsday glacier (Gizmodo), new analysis highlights warming atop Mount Washington (AP), video: historic tornadic weather extremes in mid-December (Yale Climate Connections), here’s how climate change and COVID are transforming skiing (New York Times $)
SUPPLY CHAINS: Freak weather, climate are next supply-chain pain (Bloomberg $, Bloomberg $)
WATER: In Pinal County, Colorado River shortage is forcing growers to plant fewer acres (Arizona Republic)
EMISSIONS: After bold climate promises, US carbon is rising (E&E News)
RENEWABLES: Geothermal project hits roadblock in Nevada, but sector poised to surge nationwide (Canary Media), Germany's RWE, Canada's Northland Power team up on German offshore wind (Reuters), Shell-backed US solar developer raises $775 million in equity (Reuters)
BATTERIES: Battery recycling plant coming to existing facility near Rivian site (Atlanta Journal-Constitution),
BUILDINGS: Vermont aims to weatherize 90,000 homes this decade. Can it find enough workers to finish the job? (Energy News Network)
LNG: US now the world's top liquefied natural gas exporter (Axios)
NUKES: NRC rejects Oklo advanced reactor application over lack of safety, design information (Politico Pro $)
COAL: Brazil extends coal use to 2040 under new 'just transition' law (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
GRID: South Carolina grid 'adequately prepared' for winter but smaller utilities have work to do: report (Utility Dive), Stem, ENGIE North America partner to integrate storage management and EV charging platform (Utility Dive)
EVs: The fast-evolving electric vehicle landscape (Axios), US automakers start 2022 with an electric jolt (E&E $), 69% of Americans don't want hybrid or electric for their next car (Axios), electric car sales soar, but chip shortage hits market (BBC), EV models will double in 2022 as electric trucks proliferate (E&E $), Honda’s China venture to build EV plant to expand lineup (Bloomberg $), in the year of the electric truck, some real talk from Texas auto dealers (InsideClimate News, north-south divide emerges as UK electric vehicle sales hit record high (FT $), Rivian CFO says electric-vehicle maker will prioritize growth over profits (Wall Street Journal $), Tesla’s Model 3 was the UK's second most popular new car in 2021 (CNBC)
AVIATION: Near-empty flights crisscross Europe to secure landing slots (AP)
CARBON PRICING: EU lawmaker calls for carbon border tax revenues to boost climate finance (Climate Home)
ART: Decarbonizing the art world (Atmos)
UNELECTED MONARCHY: Prince William seeks nominees for $1 million Earthshot prize (AP)
WILDLIFE: Monarch butterfly conservation efforts improve. Are they enough? (E&E News)
INTERNATIONAL: India to invest $1.61 billion to link more green energy projects to grid (Reuters, Bloomberg $), Canada minister defends oil sands despite pursuing emissions cuts (FT $), England’s farmers to be paid to rewild land (The Guardian), EU’s plan to include gas and nuclear in ‘green’ ranking leaves investors confused (CNBC), get ready to get fit: first votes on new EU climate laws loom (Energy Monitor), high cost of electricity exposes UK energy policy failings (The Guardian), Indonesia revokes more than 2,000 mining and plantation permits (Reuters), Indonesia coal miners seek export ban exemptions as costs grow (Reuters)