CALIFORNIA: Some California lawmakers are hesitant to accelerate its 100% carbon-free electricity mandate, despite the state’s grid operator dismissing political narratives that renewable energy is to blame for outages. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
ALSO: Scientists estimate that California’s wildfires this year through mid-September put about 90 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the air. (Washington Post)
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OIL & GAS:
• Colorado regulators could approve proposed rules aiming to require emissions and air quality monitoring from the start of construction of a well site and over the first six months of production. (Denver Post)
• Former Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s conflicting rhetoric on fracking is criticized by environmentalists and the oil and gas industry. (Colorado Sun)
CLIMATE:
• Google could shift the global market for energy storage thanks to its commitment to power all its offices and data centers with only carbon-free electricity. (Quartz)
• Climate change is a serious concern for Arizona amidst record-breaking heatwaves, but it apparently isn’t a leading issue for the state’s voters this year. (InsideClimate News)
UTILITIES: California’s utility regulator is modifying its net metering rules to provide customer-generators with credit or compensation for electricity generated by their solar facilities. (PV Magazine)
BIOFUELS: Small Wyoming refineries struggling to meet the economic cost of implementing federal biofuel standards continue to be hurt by the lack of EPA “hardship relief.” (Casper Star-Tribune)
PUBLIC LANDS:
• Environmentalists want the Bureau of Land Management to suspend efforts to amend a New Mexico oil and gas development plan, citing concerns about Native American tribes and others who would be affected. (Associated Press)
• The Bureau of Land Management cancels next week’s planned sale of Wyoming oil and gas leases, citing sage grouse protections. (Reuters)
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PIPELINES:
• Spokane, Washington’s city council is set to consider a new franchise agreement for a petroleum pipeline next week that some members believe still falls short in protecting the city and its residents. (Spokesman-Review)
• Keystone XL pipeline proponents want a federal appeals court to reverse a judge’s order blocking the use of a key water permit. (E&E News, subscription)
COMMENTARY:
• A former Chair of California’s grid operator says planning for climate change and more frequent and intense extreme weather events should be the state’s priority. (Daily Breeze)
• An energy journalist explains why Google’s pledge to power all its offices and data centers with only carbon-free electricity by 2030 is not just a public relations move. (InsideClimate News)