COAL: Colorado regulators find that Xcel Energy’s newest coal plant has had more than 700 days of unplanned maintenance shutdowns and has been more expensive to operate than anticipated. (Colorado Sun)
WIND:
• Wind energy is helping to preserve the economy in a coal-dependent Wyoming county, but many residents still aren’t ready to embrace a shift to clean energy. (New York Times)
• A Wyoming County approves updates to its commercial wind energy regulations. (Laramie Boomerang, subscription)
EQUITY: The San Carlos Apache Tribe faces a daunting fight to protect sacred land in Arizona from a copper mining project that has the backing of the U.S. government. (NBC News)
CLIMATE:
• Denver has achieved its 2020 climate targets, in part because of state and utility action, but falling behind on other sustainability metrics, according to a new city report. (303 Magazine)
• Eugene, Oregon’s climate advisory board suggests that city officials set up a fund to help pay for projects related to its Climate Action Plan goals. (Register-Guard)
CLEAN ENERGY: The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled the growth of Nevada’s clean energy economy, according to a new analysis. (Nevada Current)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• California-based Lucid Motors joins forces with Tesla and Lordstown Motors to get state laws passed that would allow direct sales to consumers in a number of states. (Tech Crunch)
• A California-based battery startup is testing electric vehicle battery swapping where drivers can exchange a spent battery for one that is fully charged in less than 10 minutes. (CNBC)
GRID: The head of the California Solar and Storage Association says grid problems in California and Texas point to the need for a new approach to deliver safe, reliable, affordable energy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
SOLAR: A 4.78 MW floating solar project in California is thought to be the largest system of its kind in the U.S. to date. (Solar Power World)
TRANSMISSION: A proposed $1.7 billion high-voltage transmission system that would include five segments of 345-kV transmission line totaling 560 miles is part of Xcel Energy’s clean energy plan for the state. (S&P Global)
UTILITIES:
• Arizona lawmakers advance a bill that would remove regulators’ ability to make clean energy rules. (Arizona Central)
• An analysis of two years of power utility statements finds that one in four Colorado households are behind on their power bills, and the amount owed has increased considerably because of the pandemic. (Denver Post)
• New Mexico’s utilities regulator is set to request written reports from utilities on the impact of recent extreme winter storms on ratepayers. (Farmington Daily Times)
FOSSIL FUELS: The Los Angeles City Council approves a measure to develop a process to help the city evaluate insurance companies based on their fossil fuel investments. (My News L.A.)
OIL & GAS: California Rep. Katie Porter says she will focus on reforming oil and gas royalty rates in her new position as chair of the House Natural Resources Oversight Committee. (Reuters)
COMMENTARY:
• An Arizona-based energy justice advocate calls on newly-confirmed Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to commit to being transparent with the public regarding national energy policy. (Utility Dive)
• Two Wyoming ranchers advocate for wind energy, saying it takes the adverse impacts of wind and turns it into a positive. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)
• The president of a Utah-based solar installation company calls on state lawmakers to support a bill that would help solar buyers estimate the return on their investment before purchasing one. (Deseret News)
• A California academic says utilities should shift to decarbonization, efficiency and energy storage rather than investing billions in outdated grid technology. (San Jose Mercury News)