SOLAR: California regulators propose slashing payments for rooftop solar, charging grid participation fees and incentivizing battery storage, drawing criticism from the solar industry and praise from utilities and some environmental groups. (Los Angeles Times) 

ALSO:
• Nevada regulators finalize rules for expanding solar access to underserved and low-income communities. (Utility Dive)
• A California natural gas utility’s foundation donates $350,000 to install solar capacity on homes in four of the state’s tribal communities. (news release)  

CLIMATE: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee proposes a climate package that would increase rebates for electric vehicles, clarify how tribes will be consulted on climate policies and require new buildings to be energy efficient. (Spokesman-Review)

UTILITIES:
• Montana and federal regulators consider NorthWestern Energy’s potential liabilities after its equipment sparks a destructive wildfire and a hydroelectric dam’s malfunction damages a river. (Montana Free Press)
• Pacific Gas & Electric’s top executive says the utility will unveil plans in February to bury 10,000 miles of power lines to curb wildfire risk in northern California. (Press Democrat)
• California regulators urge federal officials to deny Southern California Edison’s plan to earn a return on weed control and other transmission line-related expenses. (Utility Dive) 

OIL & GAS:
• Water contamination near a leak-plagued U.S. Navy fueling facility in Hawaii displaces more than 3,000 people from their homes. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
• Boulder, Colorado’s city council considers proposed oil and gas drilling regulations, including a 2,000-foot setback from homes and schools and an oil and gas pollution tax. (Daily Camera)
• A California state lawmaker proposes closing the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility — site of a massive 2015 methane leak — within two years. (Daily News) 

COAL:
• The Biden administration says it will defend a Trump-era haze rule that Utah environmentalists say fails to reduce emissions from the state’s coal power plants. (E&E News, subscription)
• Wyoming political leaders slam the Biden administration after the state misses out on federal funds intended to help coal communities. (Sheridan Media)

TRANSPORTATION: Colorado transportation officials are set to vote this week on a policy shifting resources away from highway expansion projects toward public transit, bike lanes and other clean transportation infrastructure. (Colorado Public Radio)

BIOFUELS: California environmental advocates push back against oil company plans to convert Bay Area petroleum refineries into biofuel production facilities. (San Francisco Chronicle)

COMMENTARY:
• A California mayor says the state’s rooftop solar net metering battle pits dependence on a utility-controlled, centralized grid against accelerated investment in distributed generation. (CalMatters)
• New Mexico state lawmakers call on regulators to deny Public Service Company of New Mexico’s bid to transfer its ownership share of a coal plant to a Navajo Nation-owned company. (The Paper)

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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.