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)

***SPONSORED LINK: The National Solar Tour is going virtual! Sep. 24-Oct. 4. Meet solar owners from around the country. Hear about their experience going solar. Explore new technologies. Learn about solar’s role in energy equity and community empowerment.***

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)

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.).