Reuters reported on the Biden Administration’s announcement that it will allow a reduction in the cost of developing renewable energy projects on federal lands to encourage clean energy solutions to address climate change.

The larger alliance within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) agreed to increasing oil production by almost 50% in a move that garnered support from OPEC, the Biden Administration, and Russia, as reported by Bloomberg. There is significant skepticism that member countries will be able to make good on the promise, as oil prices increase for the sixth week.

The Biden Administration is considering several proposals from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would levy a greater tax on energy producers as a means to finance a subsidy for consumers, as reported in The Energy Bulletin.

Check out more energy stories from this week below!

5Biden Administration to Reevaluate Dozens of Federal Leases

More than 2,000 oil and gas leases sold in Wyoming will be re-evaluated by the Biden Administration following several settlements approved by a federal judge, as reported by the Casper Star Tribune. If the Department of the Interior is unable to justify the leases or fails to provide justification that satisfies the court, the leases and any existing permits could be revoked.

4DoE Lab Reports That Nuclear Waste Can Power U.S. with Clean Energy For a Century

CNBC reported that scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Idaho National Laboratory have announced that existing technology used to turn nuclear waste into energy could provide clean energy for the entire country for the next century.

3EPA Announces Biofuel Volume Mandates Below Numbers Proposed in December

According to an exclusive in the Wall Street Journal, the EPA announced biofuel volume mandates (as part of the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS) for 2022 that are well below the number proposed by the EPA last December.

2Current and Former US Energy Secretaries Offer Conflicting Comments on Net-Zero Goals

Former U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry spoke at DISTRBUTECH International 2022 in Dallas, as covered by PowerGrid International in support of fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Current U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, on the other hand, stressed the Biden Administration’s support of homegrown renewable energy and developing technologies for long-term energy storage.

1Coalition of U.S. Reps Demand More Funding for Energy Transmission Infrastructure

Over 25 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a letter insisting that the leaders of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee earmark more funding in the upcoming budget for investment in the country’s energy transmission infrastructure, as reported by Daily Energy Insider.

Oil prices rose this week, ahead of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, the start of peak U.S. demand season, at the same time that European nations negotiated over whether to impose an outright ban on Russian crude oil.

Meanwhile South Africa, the biggest emitter of carbon emissions in Africa and 13^th in the world, is moving away from coal-burning plants and will begin adding renewable energy and natural gas to its energy mix. The transition will require $250bn in funding over the next three decades to meet their goal of being off coal by 2040.

Amid global supply issues for everything from oil and gas to food and medical supplies, a new analysis was released detailing how record-high energy prices have led to significant increases in operating and transportation expenses for America’s farmers, leading to increased food costs for families and restaurants.

Check out more energy stories from this week below!

5Double-sided solar panels for the future

New research shows that solar panels can be a viable option for consumers even in  snow-heavy climates. Inside Climate News shares how double-sided panels have improved efficiency to produce substantially more electricity during winter months.

4Electric vehicles and rising materials costs

Gas prices have hit a historic high and show no signs of coming down, so more consumers than ever are exploring electric vehicles in the hopes of giving their wallet a break. CNBC reports that as demand increases, batteries and the materials needed to build them are skyrocketing in price.

3Rising fuel costs affects those on breathing machines

An unintended consequence of rising fuel costs has been the burden placed on consumers who rely on breathing machines. The BBC shares that some are concerned about the increasing costs of running a breathing machine overnight and the fear that many patients are forced to opt out of using the potentially life-saving apparatus for purely financial reasons.

2INDYCAR to move to renewable racing fuel

Shell Oil Company and Penske Corp have announced that they will produce a 100% renewable fuel for 2023 INDYCAR races, making INDY the first ever racing series to utilize a completely renewable fuel source. Forbes recently reported that the low-carbon renewable fuel, made from a blend of ethanol and food base components, will produce up to 60% less greenhouse gases than traditional fossil fuels.

1South Korea adds new energy storage and liquid hydrogen

A new 2GWh battery cell facility in South Korea will help to meet growing demand for battery storage. EnergyDigital.com highlights how the facility will create a supply of lithium-ion batteries and the infrastructure to develop new battery cell chemistries and technologies, and can scale up to meet rising demand.

It’s no secret that the U.S. has a serious grid issue. Last year, New York City sent emergency texts to its 8.4 million residents to limit air conditioning and avoid the use of major appliances, and California issued conservation alerts.

As states grapple with how to adjust and adapt their power grids to new policies and technologies, we’re already seeing headlines preparing communities for blackouts. From Michigan and the South’s lack of generation capacity to Texas’ extreme heat that could stifle wind, these areas are ripe for a blackout.

At some point, most of us have experienced an outage of some kind due to weather, routine maintenance of the power grid, or some other unexpected event. A blackout, whether it’s planned or unplanned, can leave you completely in the dark. With today’s technology, we can not only lose light, but we’re also at risk of losing methods of communication and worse, modes of transportation. The key to surviving a blackout with our sanity intact is staying vigilant and being prepared for the possibility of one.

As John F. Kennedy said, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”

Make a Checklist
The first step to being prepared for any emergency situation is to have a plan – now. Like any good plan, gather up those that will be affected, whether it’s your family, a partner or a friend to help create your emergency plan. Discuss what you will do if you need to leave your home and seek shelter elsewhere and how you will communicate with each other and the outside world. Make a list of the emergency supplies you need to gather, establish a location for them and make sure everyone knows where the supplies will be located. Go over the plan multiple times or even periodically, especially if there are any changes or you need to make, updates you need to add, or things to replenish it.

Gather Supplies
After creating an emergency plan with your family, gather the supplies you will need to sustain for a day or even several days without power. These supplies should include:

• Non-perishable food items
• Drinkable water for every member of your family (at least a gallon a day for a minimum of three days)
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• A battery-operated radio
• A manual can opener
• Fully charged power banks for charging cell phones
• An extra supply (if possible) of any daily medications
• A first-aid kit

It’s also a good idea to make sure you have a method of cooking food if you have an electric stove. A propane camp stove or an outdoor grill are both good options for heating or cooking food.

Factor in Entertainment
You may only be without power for a short time but you should also have items to keep you entertained and help pass the time. This can also be particularly helpful if you have small children who may get restless. Books, board games, cards, and puzzles are all good boredom busters that don’t require tapping into your backup electricity reserve. In the event you want to watch TV or movies, have a fully charged cell phone or tablet for non-emergency use and plan to use them as long as the charge lasts. Once the battery runs out, avoid recharging them, if possible, to conserve power for any essential items that may need backup electricity.

Don’t Forget to Prepare For Safety
It is important to prepare your home for safety before an emergency arises. Save this safety checklist in a place that you can not only access offline but easily refer to when a blackout happens:

• If you plan on using a generator, make sure it’s properly grounded, positioned outdoors and away from any major structure.
• Keep additional batteries on hand in case you need to replace any in your smoke detector, flashlight or other battery-powered devices.
• When the lights go out, unplug any small appliances and other electronic devices to help prevent a power surge.
• Make sure that any gas or propane cooking appliances are either well-vented or operated outside.
• Do not bring outdoor grills inside; they should only remain outdoors for cooking.