HYDROPOWER: A new agreement among tribes, PacifiCorp, and the states of Oregon and California will advance plans to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River, which, if approved by federal regulators, would be the largest dam removal in U.S. history. (Associated Press)

ALSO: Some local officials and Oregon lawmakers oppose the dam removal agreement, with one state senator calling it an “unconstitutional power grab.” (Klamath Falls News)

ELECTRIFICATION: Utah lawmakers advance a bill that would prohibit cities from banning natural gas hookups in new buildings. (Salt Lake Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• California regulators are embarking on a process to use electric vehicles as a grid resource. (Utility Dive)
• New Mexico is seeking $1 million to add 28 new electric vehicles to the state fleet. (news release)
• California increases incentives for new electric vehicles to up to $1,500, depending on battery size. (Electrek)
• The city of Ashland, Oregon launches an incentive program that includes a $300 rebate for electric bicycles. (KOBI)

UTILITIES:
• Sonoma County and other local agencies sue PG&E for damages from last year’s Kincade Fire. (Associated Press)
• PG&E names a Michigan utility’s CEO as its next leader; Patti Poppe will succeed interim CEO William Smith on Jan. 4. (MBiz)

GRID: A California winery is developing a 250 kW solar-powered microgrid to avert future power shutoffs. (Power Engineering International)

OIL & GAS:
• Legal challenges and a Biden administration reversal could prevent Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil leases from being issued at all, experts say. (New York Times)
• An analyst warns New Mexico lawmakers that it will be a long time before Permian Basin oil production recovers. (Santa Fe New Mexican)
• Wyoming officially launches a stimulus program for the oil and gas industry paid for with federal coronavirus relief funds. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• A California company announces plans to build a liquified natural gas export facility on the Mexican coast. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Alaska voters have officially rejected a measure to increase taxes on oil producers. (Anchorage Daily News)

SOLAR: Developers announce completion of a 5.3 MW solar array atop a former California landfill. (Solar Power World)

COAL: A new documentary explores the story of a Navajo coal miner amid turbulence in the industry. (Navajo-Hopi Observer)

HYDROGEN: A trade group hopes a Utah power plant project will kick-start a green hydrogen economy across the West. (Greentech Media)

COMMENTARY: A veteran journalist says dam removal “is a matter of self-preservation” for many Pacific Northwest tribes. (Los Angeles Times)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.