OIL & GAS: A proposed California bill that would have banned fracking and eliminated other forms of oil extraction fails to pass a state senate committee by one vote. (Los Angeles Times)

ALSO:
• But the committee advanced three other oil industry-focused measures, including a bill that would increase the required industry funds for plugging and abandoning idle wells to $100 million. (Desert Sun)
• A new study finds that less than 1% of reported methane emissions in Wyoming is from abandoned and unplugged oil and gas wells. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)
• Environmental groups are challenging Wyoming’s approval of a private energy investment firm’s plan to inject waste from an oil and gas field into an underground aquifer. (WyoFile)

COAL:
• Hawaii Gov. David Ige sets up a new task force by executive order aiming to bring stakeholders together to track renewable projects replacing Oahu’s coal plant. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
• Montana utility regulators express their concerns about the consumer risks under a proposed state bill aiming to save the Colstrip Power Plant and shield NorthWestern Energy from financial losses ahead of a state House committee meeting today. (Helena Independent Record)
• Montana’s House votes to empower the state’s Attorney General to compel the owners of the Colstrip Power Plant to make repairs to the facility considered essential by the state. (Montana Standard)

CLIMATE: Native communities in Alaska and Washington state are among those needing to relocate from their traditional lands due to adverse climate impacts. (Indian Country Today)

HYDROPOWER: An environmental group says the Lower Snake River is the most endangered water way in the U.S., citing Rep. Mike Simpson’s proposal to breach four hydroelectric dams in eastern Washington. (Lewiston Morning Tribune)

PUBLIC LANDS: An Alaskan attorney with a history of litigation against the oil industry under President Obama is thought to be President Biden’s choice to become deputy Interior secretary. (Bloomberg, Must Read Alaska)

UTILITIES:
• Arizona utility regulators are expected to discuss and possibly vote on rules today for when state-regulated utilities can disconnect electricity service during summer and winter weather. (KNXV)
• Three federal appeals judges say a lawsuit aimed at reversing a California bill that created a $21 billion wildfire insurance fund hasn’t shown why it belongs in federal court. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION:
• California’s Energy Commission approves a first-of-its-kind project aiming to expedite the deployment of zero-emission bus, truck, and equipment charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure. (Green Car Congress)
• Construction begins on Utah’s first all-electric bus rapid transit system. (Deseret News)

MICROGRIDS: PG&E launches a program to help communities identify, design, and build permanent, multi-customer microgrids with the approval of the state’s utility regulator. (news release)

SOLAR: Hawaii clean energy advocates and environmentalists oppose a state bill that would reduce the cap for residential solar tax credits from $5,000 to $2,500. (Hawaii News Now)

Lisa Ellwood

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.).