Another hottest year on record

CLIMATE: Earth saw its hottest year on record in 2024, exceeding the previous year’s record and prompting a “red flag” warning from climate scientists as the planet surpassed the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C warming threshold for the first time. (Associated Press)

‍

SOLAR: Texas and California led the way on the record-breaking additions of 34 GW of new solar and 13 GW in battery storage across the U.S. last year, as 96% of all new generation capacity in 2024 was carbon-free. (Canary Media)

‍

POLITICS:

• Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson quietly urged the EPA to award an environmental justice grant to a city in his district, just a week after President-elect Trump won the election and promised to undo the climate law behind the grant. (E&E News)
• Outgoing Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says the state’s landmark climate law and cap-and-invest program are safe from expected Trump administration challenges and show the value of state-based climate action. (E&E News)

‍

GRID:

• A grid monitor reports a surging number of electrical faults in utility lines near three of the major Los Angeles-area fires in the hours before the blazes began, and that some lines remained energized even after fires had ignited nearby. (Los Angeles Times, Washington Post)
• As technology companies scramble to secure power for growing data centers, Baltimore-based Constellation Energy agrees to acquire energy producer Calpine — and its large fleet of natural gas fired plants — for $16.4 billion. (New York Times)
• PJM’s proposal to fast-track shovel-ready generation projects in the interconnection queue draws mixed reactions in filings with federal regulators, with states supporting the move and opposition from renewable energy companies and advocates. (Utility Dive)
• A Dubai business tycoon’s plan to invest $20 billion to build data centers across the Midwest and Sunbelt ignores the likely investments needed to boost generation and grid capacity, experts say. (E&E News)

‍

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Analysts expect electric vehicle sales to jump 30% this year, even though the incoming Trump administration and its threat of tariffs and rolling back the EV tax credit and other incentives could slow the industry’s growth. (Associated Press)

‍

OIL & GAS: Colorado regulators adopt first-in-the-nation rules requiring natural gas gathering and compression facilities to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but advocates say they lack enforcement parameters. (Colorado Sun)

‍

COMMENTARY: Clean fuel standards can make states more independent from the federal government and generate revenue to fund electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the head of a Michigan business group writes. (Utility Dive)

‍