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CLIMATE: Ahead of President Trump’s visit to California today, Western governors and other officials escalate warnings that climate change is fueling the region’s deadly wildfires. (Associated Press) 

ALSO:
• Environmental groups accuse Colorado Gov. Jared Polis of shirking his responsibility to fight climate change after a court was asked to remove Polis’ name from a lawsuit the groups filed in a bid to push faster government action. (Colorado Public Radio)
• Montana’s Climate Solutions Council releases its final recommendations aiming to prepare the state for climate change impacts. (Great Falls Tribune)

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SOLAR:
• Ash and smoke from wildfires has cut solar production as much as 20% in parts of California, according to the state’s grid operator. (KQED)
• Wyoming is lagging in solar investments considerably compared to neighboring solar hot spot Utah thanks to fickle state lawmakers. (Casper Star-Tribune)

WIND: California researchers say offshore wind turbines could potentially be more valuable than solar and land-based wind in providing energy when the state needs it most. (San Luis Obispo Tribune)

CALIFORNIA:
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state’s goal of using 100% clean energy by 2045 “is inadequate” and must be achieved a lot sooner. (Associated Press)
• PG&E’s latest public safety power shutoff event has been disastrous for many Northern California residents. (NBC News)

OIL & GAS:
• A secret recording made at a 2019 Colorado industry gathering shows oil executives worried about the optics of flaring natural gas that is uneconomical to recover. (New York Times)
• The Permian Basin has more than 92 billion barrels of oil in proven reserves and enough natural gas to meet the United States’ household needs for 60 years according to an industry group’s new report. (Midland Reporter-Telegram)
• New research finds that Wyoming oil and gas companies received the vast majority of royalty and lease relief from a federal aid program. (Casper Star-Tribune)

COAL: A recently unsealed proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit against Blackjewel reveals that roughly 600 employees at the bankrupt company’s former Wyoming mines could receive $17.3 million in back wages. (K2 Radio)

OVERSIGHT: Three of Arizona’s five utility regulator seats are up for election with the potential to shift the political power of the Republican-led “fourth branch of government.” (Arizona Public Media)

UTILITIES:
• Oregon utility regulators say they have no information linking any of the state’s utilities to particular wildfires. (Portland Business Journal) 
• Nevada regulators order a utility to repay $60 million to Southern Nevada ratepayers after over-collecting for the past two years. (Nevada Independent)

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HYDROPOWER: Sierra Club is hosting a discussion about PG&E’s decision to abandon a small hydroelectric facility, leaving the future of a Northern California dam and lake in doubt. (Lake County Bloom)

COMMENTARY:
• Two Colorado environmental advocates explain why diversity in leadership is necessary for fair, equitable, and clean energy policy. (Denver Post)
• Oregon landowners explain why Coloradoans should be concerned about the proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project. (Colorado Sun)
• A Pacific Northwest economic researcher says the catastrophic wildfires engulfing the region show that the point has been reached where “dealing with climate change has become less expensive than not dealing with it.” (Oregon Business)

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.).