SOLAR: As California homeowners seek to install solar and storage to make their homes more resilient to outages, they’re facing permitting delays and a lack of support from utility PG&E. (Los Angeles Times)
ALSO: New Mexico regulators delay a decision on a proposed solar and storage project to offset the loss of the San Juan Generating Station. (Associated Press)
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RENEWABLE ENERGY:
• A California energy policy expert says the success of renewable energy combined with people’s experience of cleaner air during the coronavirus pandemic could encourage support for a “Green Stimulus” to rebuild the economy. (Science Magazine)
• Colorado utility Xcel Energy finds that its least-cost mix of generation resources prioritized renewable energy bids instead of natural gas when using all-source procurement. (PV Magazine)
CALIFORNIA: A federal judge criticizes PG&E for failing to maintain the grid and orders the utility to overhaul its tree-trimming and power line inspection practices. (Wall Street Journal, subscription)
NATURAL GAS: A UCLA study finds that levels of nitrogen dioxide inside California homes exceeded both state and national ambient air-quality standards after an hour of gas appliance use. (Grist)
FOSSIL FUELS: A new report details how California policymakers can reduce and eventually phase out fossil fuel production in the state. (Electrek)
OIL AND GAS:
• A California industry group opposes Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to strengthen oil and gas production oversight. (KQED)
• Colorado environmental and clean energy advocates believe the state’s oil and gas regulator should focus more on health and environmental impacts when making upcoming changes to the agency’s mission. (Longmont Times-Call)
• A shale researcher estimates a production decline of 900,000 barrels per day in the Permian Basin during May and June. (CNBC)
WIND: Pacificorp and PG&E say their Oregon-based wind power projects are still on course to qualify for a key tax incentive from the state despite the coronavirus pandemic. (Portland Business Journal)
TRANSMISSION: Rocky Mountain Power now estimates it needs more than 170 additional workers for its transmission line expansion project running through a Wyoming county. (Wyoming News Exchange)
COMMENTARY:
• Sunrun’s founder says allowing direct payment instead of federal tax credits for advanced energy development would save clean energy jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. (Greentech Media)
• A columnist says that California’s recent battles with wildfires are an example of the consequences of not spending money to combat climate change. (Bloomberg)
• Two Arizona energy advocates say the coronavirus pandemic underscores the urgent need for the state’s power sector to reinvest in Arizona’s coalfield communities. (The Hill)