OIL & GAS: Federal regulators will begin analyzing the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas drilling when reviewing lease sales. (Associated Press)

ALSO:
• The Trump administration’s relocation of Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Colorado and other moves severely depleted the agency of senior staffers and hobbled its ability to regulate oil and gas development, current and former employees say. (Washington Post)
• Wyoming’s budget revenues soar due to rising oil and gas prices, which economists say shows the state is heavily dependent on energy royalty and tax revenues. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• A New Mexico congress member seeks to shield the oil and gas industry from endangered species protections with a bill exempting areas from habitat designations based on their economic impact. (Farmington Daily Times)

CLIMATE:
• Phoenix, Arizona’s mayor and a city council member attend the COP26 climate summit in Scotland, underscoring cities’ growing role in the fight against climate change. (Arizona Republic)
• U.S. Rep. John Curtis, a Utah Republican and founder of the Conservative Climate Caucus, attends COP26 to show Republicans “want to do what’s best” for the planet. (Politico)

SOLAR:
• A fight over a proposed solar development in southern California illustrates San Diego County’s lack of policies to facilitate communication between utility-scale renewable energy facility developers and nearby communities. (Holtville Tribune)
• New Mexico regulators launch the formal community solar rulemaking process by seeking comments on proposed regulations. (NMPolitical Report)

UTILITIES: Boulder, Colorado, pushes Xcel Energy to transition more quickly to clean power to enable the city to meet its ambitious climate goals.  (Boulder Daily Camera) 

TRANSPORTATION:
• Pacific Gas & Electric proposes installing 16,000 electric vehicle charging ports at public locations in northern California. (RTO Insider, subscription)
• Spokane, Washington’s transit agency acquires its first electric buses with a goal of having 38 by 2024. (news release)

COAL: Wyoming’s last underground coal mine will close this month, resulting in about 90 lost jobs. (Casper Star-Tribune)  

COMMENTARY:
• An Alaska advocate says oil company Hilcorp’s sponsorship of the Iditarod sled-dog race can’t “hide a record of polluting Alaska’s environment, endangering workers and eluding responsibilities.” 
• A New Mexico business advocate says the proposed Avangrid-Public Service Company of New Mexico merger will bring reduced carbon emissions and more jobs to the state. (Albuquerque Journal)
• An Arizona environmental advocate calls on U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to stand up for the climate and her state’s economy by supporting the proposed Build Back Better Act. (Arizona Capitol Times)

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Jonathan P. Thompson

Jonathan hails from southwestern Colorado and has been writing about the land, cultures, and communities of the Western United States for more than two decades. He compiles the Western Energy News digest. He is the author of three books, a contributing editor at High Country News, and the editor of the Land Desk, an e-newsletter that provides coverage and context on issues critical to the West.