SOLAR:
• A lack of renewable energy tax abatements and exemptions is hampering solar development on the Navajo Nation, developers say. (Navajo Times)
• Lightsource BP says it will build a second 300 MW solar facility near Pueblo, Colorado; the first, completed this month, powers a steel mill. (news release)
UTILITIES:
• Arizona regulators vote to axe Arizona Public Service’s solar access fees, allow the utility to provide $10 million to communities affected by coal plant closures, and let it recover a portion of Four Corners Power Plant’s pollution control costs. (Arizona Republic, subscription)
• State regulators field comments from coal community leaders regarding Public Service Company of Colorado’s resource and clean energy plans. (Craig Daily Press)
CLIMATE: San Diego updates its climate plan to set a binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions, cut its number of car commutes in half and transition most existing buildings to clean energy, all by 2035. (KPBS)
STORAGE: A California community planning commission approves a proposed 60 MW lithium ion energy storage facility that could render a nearby natural gas peaker plant obsolete. (Noozhawk)
MICROGRIDS:
• Idaho National Laboratory launches a U.S. Department of Energy-funded program to research carbon-free microgrids. (news release)
• A California company is developing a 4.9 MW solar-powered microgrid with 6 MWh of battery storage to produce 100% of a cannabis growing facility’s electricity. (Microgrid Knowledge)
GRID: New Mexico’s energy department funds construction of a data center providing real-time visibility of energy resources to increase grid resilience. (news release)
NUCLEAR: An energy consulting firm finds replacing retiring coal plants with small nuclear reactors could help fossil fuel-dependent economies weather the energy transition. (E&E News, subscription)
TRANSPORTATION: A California county launches an effort to build nearly 12,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030 to meet state goals. (Monterey Herald)
OIL & GAS:
• California labor unions and oil and gas industry workers join forces to block proposed refinery environmental and safety regulations. (Capital & Main)
• A conservative environmental group calls for higher bonding minimums on federal oil and gas leases to ensure funds are available to clean up abandoned wells. (E&E News, subscription)
• California oil and gas regulators’ denial of drilling permits and endorsement of well setbacks from schools and homes draws cautious praise from environmentalists. (E&E News, subscription)
• Hawaii regulators fine the U.S. Navy $325,182 for environmental violations at a fuel storage facility where a May spill occurred that Navy officials say was caused by human error, not faulty tanks. (Honolulu Civil Beat, Associated Press)
COAL: Republican lawmakers urge the Biden administration to refrain from reforming the federal coal lease program, claiming it could further raise energy prices. (E&E News, subscription)
COMMENTARY: Utah advocates urge state lawmakers to incentivize renewable energy, building electrification, electric vehicles and lithium and cobalt mining to create jobs and fight climate change. (Deseret News)