Western Energy News

Could Bitcoin miners help cut gas flaring in the West?

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TECHNOLOGY: A Colorado company that uses excess natural gas to power cryptocurrency servers hopes to have 35 operations deployed throughout the Rocky Mountain region as soon as June. (Casper Star-Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION: A California legal expert says today’s expected final rule to roll back Obama-era automobile fuel efficiency standards is the Trump administration’s biggest step yet to block climate action. (New York Times)

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U.S. Energy News

Trump administration set to gut Obama-era mileage standards

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TRANSPORTATION: In a blow to climate action and public health, the Trump administration is expected to finalize as soon as today a rule that will weaken Obama-era gas mileage standards for cars and pickup trucks. (Washington Post)

ALSO: Electric vehicle advocates fear the rollback could hinder progress on electric vehicle deployment in the country. (Utility Dive)

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GRID:
• “This is pretty unprecedented”: New York’s decision to require grid operators to live full-time at control facilities is a test case for the rest of the country. (E&E News)
• Virginia regulators again reject parts of Dominion Energy’s grid modernization plan, saying the utility didn’t justify customer benefit.

Midwest Energy News

Michigan city unveils $1B plan to be carbon neutral by 2030

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Chicago resident receives a fellowship to develop a curriculum and train auto dealers to better sell electric vehicles. (Energy News Network)

EMISSIONS: City officials in Ann Arbor, Michigan, unveil a $1 billion plan to make the city carbon neutral by 2030. (MLive)

***SPONSORED LINK: Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has an exciting opportunity for an energetic and strategic leader to drive our climate work: Join our team as MCEA’s Climate Program Director! Apply here.***

SOLAR:
• Installers say residential rooftop projects in Minnesota will shrink in size by at least 20% after new statewide building codes take effect today. (Energy News Network)
• Portions of a contaminated industrial brownfield site in southeastern Minnesota will be leased for a solar project.

Northeast Energy News

New York’s last coal plant shuts down today

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COAL: New York’s last coal-fired power plant will shut down permanently today; a developer is seeking state funds to convert the site into a data center. (Buffalo News)

ALSO: Consol Energy closes a Pennsylvania coal mine, idling 500 employees, after two workers test positive for COVID-19. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) 

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Southeast Energy News

Virginia regulators again reject parts of Dominion’s grid plan

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GRID: Virginia utility regulators again reject parts of Dominion Energy’s grid modernization plan — including a proposal to spend $752 million deploying smart meters — saying the company didn’t justify customer benefit. (Greentech Media)

UTILITIES:
• Florida Power & Light plans to offer customers a one-time 25% bill reduction in May because of low natural gas costs. (News Service of Florida)
• Duke Energy and North Carolina’s consumer advocate reach a settlement over a rate-hike request, but it makes only a small difference in the utility’s request. (Charlotte Business Journal, subscription) 

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