OIL & GAS: Interior Secretary Dab Haaland says an ongoing review of the government’s lease system for drilling on federal lands is aimed at addressing climate change and ensuring taxpayers get “a return on their investment.” (The Hill)

ALSO:  Navajo Nation citizens in northwest New Mexico say the Interior Department short-changed them to use tribal lands for fracking and failed to communicate about oil spills, gas releases, blowouts, and fires. (The Guardian)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: President Joe Biden’s plan to expand electric vehicles faces challenges from the nation’s weak battery supply chain, which could be further complicated by a trade dispute involving a Korean battery maker that had planned to build a Georgia factory. (Washington Post)

CLIMATE:
• Very few of the biggest U.S. meat and dairy companies have committed to cutting emissions, a study finds, and many have worked to bury connections between their industry and climate change. (Inside Climate News)
• Climate envoy John Kerry says he’s “hopeful” about working with China on climate goals, and ensures no other issues between the countries will be “held hostage to … what we need to do on climate.” (Reuters)
• Maine’s Republican and Independent senators join a list of legislators who want to establish a federal office dedicated to bolstering regional greenhouse gas reduction programs. (Associated Press)
• A Kentucky chemical plant releases emissions that do more damage to the climate than 750,000 cars, though those effects are obscured by the EPA’s uncoordinated greenhouse gas disclosures. (Inside Climate News)

PIPELINES:
• Environmental groups file a lawsuit to reverse the permit for the Byhalia Connection pipeline, alleging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers didn’t meet public input requirements or conduct a substantive environmental analysis. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
• The Interior Department is creating a unit focused on missing and murdered Indigenous women, a crisis linked to transient oil and gas workers living in “man camps” around pipelines. (E&E News)
• Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey refiles legislation to block the construction of compressor stations that are used to export natural gas. (Patriot Ledger)

INFRASTRUCTURE:
• Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is convinced the White House’s clean energy-heavy infrastructure plan will get enough support from Republicans to pass before Memorial Day and shoots down progressives’ push to make it bigger. (ABC News)
• Republican Sen. Roy Blunt meanwhile says the plan will only be an “easy win” if it’s narrowed to focus just on improving roads and bridges. (CNBC)

SOLAR:
• New England solar generation growth is threatened by interconnection costs for large solar projects that have skyrocketed in recent years coupled with an under-invested grid. (Energy News Network)
• California considers an overhaul of its net metering policy to prevent increased costs on lower-income customers, and experts say the debate could set the stage for changes in other states, too. (E&E News)
• While community solar has taken off in Minnesota, experts say programs have failed to deliver benefits to low-income customers and those disproportionately affected by pollution. (Sahan Journal)

EFFICIENCY: A Minneapolis residential benchmarking program completed more than 6,200 home energy audits in its first year, though the reports are not likely a deciding factor for buyers yet because of how quickly homes are selling. (Energy News Network)

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HYDROPOWER: A proposed pumped storage facility in Washington state would add to the ongoing dispossession of Pacific Northwest Native American tribes from their homelands, tribal leaders say. (Spokane Public Radio)

UTILITIES: Thomas Farrell, who led Dominion Energy for 15 years, dies one day after retiring as the utility’s executive board chairman. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Kathryn brings her extensive editorial background to the Energy News Network team, where she oversees the early-morning production of ENN’s five email digest newsletters as well as distribution of ENN’s original journalism with other media outlets. From documenting chronic illness’ effect on college students to following the inner workings of Congress, Kathryn has built a broad experience in her more than five years working at major publications including The Week Magazine. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism and information management and technology from Syracuse University.