COAL: As the pandemic accelerates the economic crisis facing coal communities, Colorado takes the first steps toward what could be a nation-leading transition program. (Energy News Network) 

ALSO:
• A Powder River Basin Resource Council webinar on coal transition offers strategies and resources for communities to not be reliant on energy extraction. (Uinta County Herald)
• Wyoming is exploring opportunities for collaboration with MIT faculty and researchers to create a strong energy economy while lowering CO2 emissions. (Cowboy State Daily)
• The owner of a Wyoming coal mine confirms its workers will be furloughed due to the decreased demand for coal nationwide. (Casper Star-Tribune)

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NATURAL GAS: An electrification advocate says Southern California Gas’ lawsuit arguing that regulators have failed to promote natural gas as required by state law shows that the utility  is “starting to feel the pressure” on the fate of gas in California. (Los Angeles Times)

OVERSIGHT: A high-ranking California utilities regulator claims she is being forced out of her job for trying to “clean up a broken CPUC.” (San Francisco Chronicle)

EQUITY: A new analysis explores New Mexico’s complicated history of environmental racism and fight for environmental justice. (University of New Mexico Newsroom)

OIL & GAS:
• An oil company faces criminal charges for failing to properly decommission wells in Los Angeles that have been linked to health problems. (Los Angeles Times)
• Colorado oil regulators approve a mill-levy rate increase on oil and gas production. (Greeley Tribune)
• New Mexico regulators say proposed new state regulations regarding produced water management were meant to create an alignment between a state conservation agency’s policies and state law. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• Wyoming’s oil and gas rig count falls to zero for the second time in 136 years because of market volatility and the coronavirus pandemic. (Casper Star-Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: The Sacramento, California region will be the first test market for a new electric car subscription service priced at roughly $11 a day. (Sacramento Business Journal)

SOLAR: A new analysis explores the challenging circumstances that impacted the development of a solar system for a 15,000-square-foot Boulder, Colorado residence. (PV Magazine)

BATTERIES: A rare desert wildflower could jeopardize plans for a proposed lithium mine in Nevada. (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY: A Denver event center will be home to the largest sewer heat recovery energy system in North America. (Denver Post)

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POLITICS: Controversy over Bureau of Land Management nominee William Perry Pendley could have an impact on key western Senate races. (InsideClimate News)

COMMENTARY:
• Three California U.S. Representatives say the state needs a bold action plan to limit carbon pollution driving the climate crisis. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• A Colorado editorial board says Gov. Jared Polis deserves credit for achieving a compromise between energy-industry opponents and supporters. (BizWest)

Lisa is a Lenape and Nanticoke Native American freelance journalist, editor and writer currently based in the U.K. She has more than two decades’ experience working in corporate communications and print and digital media. She compiles the Western Energy News daily email digest. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University; her specializations include data journalism and visualization. She is a member of the Native American Journalists Association, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Union of Journalists (U.K.).