TRANSPORTATION: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs an executive order requiring all new cars sold in the state to be zero-emissions by 2035, noting “this is a policy for other states to follow.” (Los Angeles Times)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Industry experts are skeptical about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s recently announced plan to extract lithium from clay deposits in Nevada. (Reuters)
• Experts are optimistic about the possibility of future Tesla electric vehicles connecting to the grid despite CEO Elon Musk not wanting them to. (The Verge)
• Arizona electric truck firm Nikola was reportedly in advanced talks to partner with BP to build hydrogen fuel stations before fraud allegations surfaced. (Bloomberg, subscription)
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NATURAL GAS: Los Angeles activists want a San Fernando Valley natural gas-fired power station that has been leaking methane for at least three years shut down. (Los Angeles Times)
NUCLEAR: New Mexico officials strongly object to a preliminary federal recommendation to license a proposed nuclear waste storage facility in the state. (Associated Press)
CALIFORNIA:
• Federal investigators are looking into whether Southern California Edison utility equipment was the source of a huge wildfire near Los Angeles earlier this month. (Associated Press)
• PG&E launches a portable battery program for customers dependent on life saving medical equipment during power outages. (news release)
• Conservationists concerned about PG&E’s removal of more than 260 trees as part of its wildfire mitigation efforts want Nevada City officials to form a working group. (Union of Grass Valley)
CLEAN ENERGY: Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski hopes a clean energy bill she sponsored will be passed this year, and Utah Sen. John Curtis advocates for National Clean Energy Week. (Utility Dive, Utah Policy)
FOSSIL FUELS:
• Los Angeles is among 12 major cities around the world that pledged this week to divest from fossil fuel companies. (Utility Dive)
• Energy-dependent Wyoming counties are still seeing high rates of unemployment despite a decrease statewide. (Casper Star-Tribune)
SOLAR: A New Mexico solar tracker company reportedly plans to go public with an initial offering of $100 million. (Greentech Media)
COMMENTARY:
• New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland in an interview says the state’s Energy Transition Act was an important step in taking on climate change. (Albuquerque Journal)
• A Utah conservationist says the Trump administration’s current oil and gas leasing binge is harming the state’s economy. (Deseret News)
• An energy and climate change journalist in an interview says PG&E failed to respond quickly and appropriately to the changing climate in its service area. (State of the Planet)