NATURAL GAS: California officials face the challenge of planning the state’s future natural gas system as cities adopt electrification ordinances. (Utility Dive)

COAL: Washington state officials say the U.S. Supreme Court shouldn’t “waste its valuable time” on a case challenging its rejection of a proposed coal export project. (E&E News, subscription)

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ELECTRIC VEHICLES: At least two workers at a California Tesla plant have tested positive for coronavirus after Elon Musk defied county restrictions to reopen it. (Washington Post)

PUBLIC LANDS:
• The Trump administration disregard for climate change is being met with resistance from federal judges, jeopardizing oil and gas development plans throughout the West. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)
• Two Montana senators are in favor of a federal bill that would provide $900 million annually from oil and gas royalties to conservation projects. (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
• Legal experts say the Interior Department practice of leaving temporary leaders in place indefinitely may violate laws on filling vacancies. (The Hill)

CALIFORNIA: California business owners are questioning if PG&E’s new plan designed to limit power outages during the upcoming wildfire season will be enough to save them from financial ruin. (Sacramento News & Review)

FOSSIL FUELS:
• An Arizona environmental group says it will sue President Trump for his executive order that waives endangered species protections to expedite fossil fuel project approvals. (The Hill)
• There are legal questions as to whether Colorado Gov. Jared Polis will sign off on a Democrat-backed bill that would revoke a state tax exemption for energy companies and industrial manufacturing companies. (Colorado Sun)

SOLAR: A new lawsuit alleges that hundreds of Latino homeowners and Spanish speakers throughout California were targeted by solar panel finance and construction companies and defrauded of thousands of dollars. (Bay Area News Group)

EMISSIONS: Officials in Aspen, Colorado consider next steps for a local nonprofit tasked with reducing emissions that one council member says was designed to “self-destruct.” (Aspen Journalism)

HYDROGEN: A new California Energy Commission report says future demand and costs of hydrogen for fuel-cell vehicles makes the development of renewable hydrogen production plants in the state worthwhile. (Green Car Reports)

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WIND: Construction is completed on a new 225 MW wind farm in Colorado. (BizWest)

TECHNOLOGY: Wyoming signs a memorandum of understanding with two Japanese companies to test new carbon capture technologies at a state research center. (Casper Star-Tribune)

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.).