Methane emissions may be triple official estimate, study says

EMISSIONS: U.S. oil and gas producers may be releasing three times more methane than official estimates, though scientists note most emissions come from a small fraction of facilities, potentially making the problem easier to solve. (Associated Press)

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ALSO:

• After hitting a record high last year, the International Energy Agency predicts global methane emissions will fall this year. (The Hill)
• The Sierra Club sues the Securities and Exchange Commission, alleging its new disclosure rules don’t give investors the full scope of a company’s climate risks; another 9 Republican-led states meanwhile sue to block the rule altogether. (The Hill)

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GRID:

• More data centers, electric vehicles, and manufacturing are driving up power demand and making it even harder to replace fossil fuel power with clean energy. (New York Times)
• U.S. electricity prices rose 3.6% over the last year, outpacing the inflation rate, according to a federal government tally. (Utility Dive)
• A new scorecard says most regional grid operators have been too slow to adapt to market conditions with dysfunctional interconnection processes that slow clean energy projects. (States Newsroom)

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CLIMATE:

• Five states decline to participate in a federal program that will soon provide $4.6 billion to cities, states, and tribes to implement local climate plans. (CBS News)
• Pennsylvania’s governor reveals a climate action plan that would see the state operate a carbon pricing program and make utilities buy half of their power from mostly carbon-free resources by 2035. (Associated Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

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OIL & GAS:

• Colorado lawmakers will discuss a bill to ban all new oil and gas drilling in the state by 2030, which the state’s Democratic governor opposes. (Colorado Newsline)
• Maine legislators hold back a bill to halt expansion of natural gas infrastructure in favor of studies into the role of gas in the state’s energy future. (Energy News Network)

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EFFICIENCY:

• A decarbonization advocacy group suggests investors, lenders and regulators funnel resources toward helping existing buildings implement efficiency and decarbonization measures, noting their big emissions impact. (Utility Dive)
• Electric utilities partner with labor and other groups to urge U.S. senators to pass legislation to address a shortage of power transformers and to improve the devices’ energy efficiency. (Utility Dive)
• North Carolina’s new climate plan says weatherization and energy efficiency could get the state 60% of the way to its 2030 emissions reduction target. (Energy News Network)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The Department of Energy estimates a rapid adoption of renewable energy could save Alaskans more than $1 billion on utility bills by 2040. (Anchorage Daily News)

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TRANSPORTATION: Members of California’s Air Resources Board say staff members are disregarding their concerns about the state’s emphasis on biofuels to reduce transportation emissions and are withholding key information. (Canary Media)

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COMMENTARY: An electric vehicle rideshare company representative calls for federal incentives that encourage EV charging stations in cities and that cover both upfront costs and maintenance. (Utility Dive)

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