Western Energy News

Can California convince residents to move beyond cars?

By

TRANSPORTATION: Policymakers are ramping up efforts to encourage people to use ride-sharing and public transit in California, where transportation is responsible for about 40% of the state’s greenhouse-gas emissions. (Cal Matters)

ALSO:
• House Democrats urge leading automakers to join four car manufacturers that signed a deal recognizing California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. (The Hill)
• California regulators approve a San Diego utility’s plan to build at least 3,000 plug-in chargers for vehicles such as buses, delivery trucks and forklifts. (City News Service)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Transmission Summit West by Infocast, October 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect with regulators, utilities, and transmission experts to explore new regional coordination approaches, examine emerging business models enabling needed investments, and answer future transmission development questions.

Western Energy News

Report: PG&E failed to clear trees before wildfires

By

UTILITIES:
• Pacific Gas & Electric, blamed for some of California’s most devastating recent wildfires, failed to clear thousands of trees that posed a threat to power lines, according to a report submitted to a federal judge (Associated Press)
• Nevada regulators will allow a planned liquid hydrogen facility to opt out of service from utility NV Energy without paying an impact fee. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

RENEWABLES:
• California’s grid led the country with the most renewable energy output during the first half of 2019, producing 3% less than the previous year. (S&P Global)
• California’s Clean Energy Commission awards $3.75 million to support 25 early-stage clean energy projects. (news release)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Transmission Summit West by Infocast, October 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect with regulators, utilities, and transmission experts to explore new regional coordination approaches, examine emerging business models enabling needed investments, and answer future transmission development questions.

Western Energy News

Western states join lawsuit challenging rollback of EPA pollution rules

By

COAL: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington are among 22 states suing to overturn new Trump administration rules on pollution, saying they will worsen smog and climate change by keeping “the oldest and dirtiest power plants in the country on life support.” (The Mercury News)

ALSO: The court overseeing Blackjewel’s bankruptcy authorizes the termination of 401(k) plans for the company’s miners, satisfying one of the conditions of Contura Energy’s purchase of the company’s Wyoming mines and giving workers the option to receive a cashout. (Wyoming Public Media)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Transmission Summit West by Infocast, October 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect with regulators, utilities, and transmission experts to explore new regional coordination approaches, examine emerging business models enabling needed investments, and answer future transmission development questions. Sign up today!***

OIL & GAS:
• Commissioners for Garfield County, Colorado, say new state rules governing oil and gas permits will create a recession in the area. (Post Independent)
• Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment says a new law that allows local governments to enact stricter rules on the oil and gas industry doesn’t weaken its authority.

Western Energy News

California emissions dropped again in 2017, surpassing targets

By

EMISSIONS: California’s greenhouse gas emissions continued to drop in 2017, while its economy grew by 3.6%, according to an annual report released by the California Air Resources Board. (San Francisco Chronicle)

ALSO:
• In Los Angeles, natural gas leaks are a major contributor to methane in the atmosphere, according to a new study by Caltech researchers. (news release)
• A representative of a New Mexico oil and gas coalition speaks out in favor of proposed state regulations on methane emissions. (Carlsbad Current Argus)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Transmission Summit West by Infocast, October 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect with regulators, utilities, and transmission experts to explore new regional coordination approaches, examine emerging business models enabling needed investments, and answer future transmission development questions.

Western Energy News

From coal to coding: Wyoming looks to diversify economy

By

COAL: Wyoming is requiring K-12 public schools to offer computer science as part of an effort to wean the state off its reliance on the oil, gas and coal industries. (New York Times)

ALSO:
• Bankrupt coal company Cloud Peak Energy files another request to delay an auction of its assets in Wyoming. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Two Wyoming coal mines formerly owned by Blackjewel have yet to reopen, despite claims in bankruptcy court by purchaser Contura Energy that it would reinstate 500 jobs immediately. (Casper Star-Tribune)

***SPONSORED LINK: Register today for Transmission Summit West by Infocast, October 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Connect with regulators, utilities, and transmission experts to explore new regional coordination approaches, examine emerging business models enabling needed investments, and answer future transmission development questions.