HYDROPOWER: A federal report says Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposal to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Snake River to boost salmon populations would destabilize the power grid. (Associated Press)
CLIMATE: A new report finds California’s “ocean economy,” which includes offshore oil and gas extraction, faces serious threats from climate change. (Los Angeles Daily News)
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COAL: Using a procedural maneuver, a Wyoming Democrat defeats a proposal to move $12 million from the state budget to promote coal exports. (WyoFile)
EMISSIONS: Colorado’s complicated tax policy is making it harder for the state to crack down on greenhouse gas and toxic air emissions. (Colorado Independent)
TRANSMISSION: A California county may lose liability coverage of above-ground transmission lines extending from its hydroelectric sources to PG&E’s grid. (Union of Grass Valley)
OIL & GAS:
• A new study indicates Colorado has probably underestimated emissions from wells along the state’s Front Range. (Denver Post)
• New Mexico continues to be plagued by oil and gas spills, particularly in the southeastern Permian Basin region where the industry is booming. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• A ballot initiative that would increase taxes on Alaska’s oil industry surpassed the required signature threshold needed to appear before voters this year. (Anchorage Daily News)
PUBLIC LANDS: Questions are being raised about the energy potential of 1 million acres of land Wyoming may be acquiring. (Casper Star-Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Federal Express is installing fast chargers at 42 of its California locations to handle 1,000 new electric delivery vans. (Inside EVs)
UTILITIES:
• Santa Barbara, California’s city council votes unanimously to form a community choice energy program and join the California Choice Energy Authority. (Noozhawk)
• Black Hills Energy announces the partners selected to supply an additional 2.5 megawatts of new community solar garden capacity in Southern Colorado. (Pueblo Chieftain)
SOLAR: Oregon regulators are leaving solar developers and Portland General Electric to work out a dispute that could threaten the launch of a long-awaited community solar program. (Portland Business Journal)
COMMENTARY:
• A California lawmaker says PG&E should be a publicly owned utility to end its terrible track record. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• David Roberts says Oregon Republicans’ walkout over climate legislation mirrors growing anti-democratic sentiment in the national GOP. (Vox)
• A Colorado state senator says local focus on natural gas keeps Coloradoans from identifying opportunities to take actions at home that benefit communities. (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)
• A California author and broadcast journalist explores the state’s struggle with nuclear energy and the implications for climate change. (Truthout)
• A former Alaska mayor during the Exxon Valdez oil spill says attempts to weaken or dismantle the state’s oil spill prevention and response system would be unacceptable. (Anchorage Daily News)