COAL: The owners of the Colstrip Power Plant sue over a new Montana law nullifying parts of their contract, saying it violates both the state and U.S. constitutions. (Billings Gazette)

ALSO: A new report finds wind and solar are cheaper options in areas where dozens of coal plants are currently operating, including in the West. (Energy News Network)

SOLAR:
• Arizona utility Salt River Project doubles its goal for solar power, setting a target of 2,025 MW by 2025. (Arizona Republic)
• A northern Colorado utility unveils plans for a 150 MW solar array to replace its share of power from a coal unit scheduled to retire in 2025. (Coloradoan)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Colorado transportation bill introduced yesterday would modestly increase gasoline taxes and increase fees for electric vehicle registrations, to “finally fix our damn roads,” in the words of Gov. Jared Polis. (Colorado Sun)
• The Colorado bill also includes more than $700 million to support electrification, including charging stations and mass transit. (CBS Denver)
• An auto industry trade group sends a letter to governors of Oregon, Washington and other states — but not California — warning they are “unlikely to reach” targets for zero-emission vehicle sales. (E&E News, subscription)

UTILITIES:
• A federal court hears arguments over whether PG&E violated its probation when a transmission line sparked a 2019 wildfire. (Associated Press)
• As utilities match them on price, community choice aggregators are highlighting their impacts on climate action to attract and retain customers. (Utility Dive)

WIND: While residents of nearby subdivisions oppose a proposed eastern Washington wind farm over aesthetic concerns, the project would provide financial benefits to area farmers. (Seattle Times)

OIL & GAS:
• New Mexico sets a monthly record for oil and gas royalties, taking in $110 million in April. (Albuquerque Journal)
• California officials offer details on how the state plans to phase out fracking. (New York Times)

HYDROPOWER: An Oregon Democrat joins Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson in supporting a plan to breach four lower Snake River dams, winning praise from the Nez Perce Tribe. (Lewiston Tribune, news release)

COMMENTARY:
• Academics say New Mexico will not be able to decommission its thousands of oil and gas wells without federal support. (Albuquerque Journal)
• An editorial board says the warehouse and distribution industry needs to do more to protect neighbors from the harms of diesel and other pollution. (Los Angeles Times)

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Ken Paulman

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.