Good morning! As Republicans look to gut incentives that boosted solar, battery, and other clean energy manufacturing, a new report shows how economically important the sector has become. These factories are responsible for 122,000 jobs, and nearly three-quarters of them are in states that voted for President Trump, Julian Spector reports.
Next up, it’s the second story in our series with the Rural News Network. South Dakota News Watch’s Bart Pfankuch reports on how educational-employer partnerships are creating a wind power workforce in the state. And Jeff St. John breaks down regulators’ rejection of MISO’s fast-tracked gas plant plan.
The Trump administration reverses course, lifting the stop-work order on the Empire Wind project following intensive lobbying by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Norwegian wind developer Equinor, though a social media post from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum suggests Hochul may now be expected to make concessions on a gas pipeline project. (Washington Post)
FEDERAL FUNDING
The U.S. Energy Department reportedly plans to cancel seven loans that were conditionally approved under the Biden administration, including for a New Jersey transmission project and a low-carbon ammonia facility in Nebraska. (Semafor)
A federal judge says he will order the Trump administration to restore $176 million in congressionally allocated environmental funding for 13 nonprofits and six municipalities. (Inside Climate News)
An appeals court questions the timing and legality of the U.S. EPA’s termination of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants, and may send the question to another court. (Politico)
POLITICS
Germany’s government signals to France it will settle a longstanding rift and no longer oppose treating nuclear power as a renewable source. (Reuters)
China’s lead on clean energy manufacturing is spurring some Republicans to support retaining Inflation Reduction Act incentives, though President Trump has indicated he’s not interested in competing on cleantech. (Politico)
Energy Secretary Chris Wright is reportedly poised to name a new director of the Loans Program Office, the agency’s third since President Trump took office. (Latitude Media)
BATTERIES
Battery recycling company Li-Cycle files for bankruptcy, but a bid by a Swiss-based conglomerate might save a facility under construction near Rochester, New York, that was expected to create 270 jobs. (Rochester Business Journal)
PIPELINES
South Dakota carbon pipeline opponents expect a provision to be stripped from federal budget negotiations that would allow pipeline developers to bypass state and local permitting. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
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