CLIMATE: The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is pushing California to re-evaluate whether its cap and trade program will meet the state’s climate goals. (CalMatters)

ALSO:
• Despite its climate pledge, Amazon’s carbon footprint increased 15% last year. (Associated Press)
• Some Colorado officials are skeptical that the state can meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. (Mountain Town News)

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TRANSPORTATION: A Department of Justice whistleblower says an investigation into California’s emissions agreements with four automakers was initiated after tweets from President Trump complaining about the deal. (The Hill)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Policies in states like California and Colorado could be key to Lyft’s pledge to shift to 100% electric vehicles by 2030. (GreenBiz)
• California’s 150-mile Central Valley Electric Highway is now complete. (news release)

EQUITY: A University of California analysis finds that Black households pay more for energy than white households. (The Hill)

COAL:
• Wyoming pushes forward in its lawsuit against Washington blocking a coal export terminal, with Gov. Mark Gordon claiming the move violates the Constitution. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Wyoming  and other mountain states are hopeful that carbon capture technology will reduce emissions, and “turn a liability into an asset.” (Mountain Town News)

OIL & GAS:
• Experts say the oil price crash and consolidation across Permian Basin companies could improve the region’s environment. (Houston Chronicle)
• An agricultural firm gets permits to apply treated water from oil and gas production to arid land in three Wyoming counties. (Casper Star-Tribune)

PIPELINES: The Sierra Club files a motion calling for construction of a Permian Basin pipeline to be stopped, citing a lack of environmental oversight and potential harm. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

UTILITIES: Colorado Springs officials this week will debate the role of natural gas as the city shuts down its coal-fired power plants. (Mountain Town News)

SOLAR:
• Wells Fargo is set to purchase 150 MW of solar power from three Shell Energy locations, one of which is in California. (Washington Post)
• Installation of Alaska’s largest rural solar project is nearly finished. (KTUU)
• The City of Denver is providing land and other underlying infrastructure for community solar gardens. (Mountain Town News)

WIND: New Mexico leaders are set to host a virtual meeting today on the future of wind energy in the state. (news release)

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PUBLIC LANDS: Critics say the BLM forcing some public comments to only be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act is part of a pattern of the Interior Department delaying or denying requests for basic information from journalists and the public. (Bloomberg Law)

COMMENTARY: A California journalist questions whether or not the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission should accept $1.4 million worth of free power per year from the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. (48hills)

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.).