UTILITIES: Colorado regulators are considering a new plan from Tri-State Generation and Transmission that details the utility’s transition from coal-heavy power generation to renewables over the next decade. (Mountain Town News)
ALSO: A Northern California city is “exacerbated and at wit’s end” with PG&E’s ongoing power outage problems. (Napa Valley Register)
ELECTRIFICATION:
• San Jose’s newly passed natural gas ban includes a key loophole that allows buildings to use gas to generate power on-site. (Mercury News)
• A Northern California town could repeal its natural gas ban due to opposition from a politically connected developer. (Press Democrat)
NATURAL GAS: A new survey finds Woming residents support most types of energy production, but expressed the highest level of support for natural gas production. (Casper Star-Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Boise, Idaho officials will require newly constructed homes with garages to have high-voltage circuits to accommodate electric vehicle charging. (Idaho Press-Tribune)
MICROGRIDS: A New Mexico technology firm is deploying the first neighborhood-level, solar and battery-powered microgrid in the U.S. (Albuquerque Journal)
NUCLEAR:
• Two organizations partner to study the impacts of radioactive wastewater from California’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on the ambient water quality and beachgoer exposure at San Onofre State Beach. (news release)
• A federal bill co-introduced by U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) encouraging nuclear power development advances to the Senate floor despite opposition. (Post Register, Common Dreams)
GRID: Two Oregon U.S. Senators introduce federal legislation that would ensure power companies do their part to “reduce the risk of fire through power system upgrades.” (Statesman Journal)
POLITICS: U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) is elected by House Republicans to lead the party on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee, the first woman ever to do so for either party. (Spokesman-Review)
SOLAR: A clean energy subsidiary of Capital Dynamics secures funding for a 383 MW solar project in Nevada. (Solar Power World)
WIND: Construction on a $79 million 52.5 MW wind generation project near Cheyenne, Wyoming is now complete. (North American Windpower)
COMMENTARY:
• A climate advocate offers suggestions to help a Colorado county meet its goal to decrease carbon emissions 25% by 2025. (Vail Daily News)
• The CEO of California-based public electric vehicle fast charging network EVgo in an interview discusses scaling EV infrastructure. (Greentech Media)
• Two climate advocates say California Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to appoint new climate leaders who understand equity and justice. (Streetsblog California)