SOLAR: Nevada utility NV Energy will provide 350 megawatts of solar and as much as 280 megawatts of battery storage for a new Google data center outside Las Vegas. (Greentech Media)
ALSO: California is among five states expected to be key drivers of solar growth in the U.S. over the next five years. (Houston Chronicle)
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EMISSIONS: Republican lawmakers in California want to stop the state’s renewable energy targets for an as-yet unspecified time. (CALmatters)
CLEAN ENERGY: Environmental advocates sue Oregon’s Secretary of State for rejecting two clean energy bills, saying the action was without legal reasoning and constituted an abuse of power. (Associated Press)
CALIFORNIA:
• Cellular companies testified before California lawmakers yesterday in response to massive service outages during PG&E’s public safety power shutoffs in October. (KRON)
• California state Sen. Mike McGuire introduces a bill that would require telecommunication companies to have at least 72 hours of backup power for all cell towers in high-risk fire areas. (KCBS)
• AT&T is looking at hydrogen and solar as alternative power sources and plans to install up to 1,000 fixed generators across California because of PG&E power outages that left some communities without access to 911 or phone service. (Bloomberg Environment, subscription)
• California is to pay San Mateo County $500,000 to better prepare for future PG&E planned power shut-offs. (Half Moon Bay Review)
COAL: A new report indicates reduced coal power from 2005 to 2016 had a significant positive impact on human health, the climate, and crop yields. (Utility Dive, High Country News)
OIL & GAS:
• Environmental groups want to stop oil and gas lease sales in the ecologically sensitive National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, offshore Arctic waters, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (InsideClimate News)
• Boulder County, Colorado residents are calling for commissioners to approve a countywide fracking ban. (Greeley Tribune)
• A new Alaska economic report indicates jobs in the state’s oil industry are expected to continue growing, with the addition of roughly 400 jobs this year. (Anchorage Daily News)
• Dominion Energy fired a Rock Springs, Wyoming oilfield worker a few days before Christmas after he saved an estimated 50 waterfowl from wastewater ponds. (WyoFile)
PERMIAN BASIN:
• Occidental Petroleum, the Permian Basin’s leading oil producer, begins widespread layoffs this week in a bid to cut costs. (Houston Chronicle)
• A wireless data network is expanding in the Permian Basin to capitalize on increased digital communications and strengthen oil and gas facility operations. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
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HYDROPOWER: Washington state officials present the state’s findings from its study of resident views on breaching, removing, or retaining the four lower Snake River dams. (KLEW)
COMMENTARY:
• A columnist says California Gov. Gavin Newsom cannot politically afford to accept a watered-down settlement that cheats PG&E wildfire victims. (Antelope Valley Press)
• An Alaska policy analyst says Alaskans deserve transparency on the proposed $5.6 billion North Slope pipeline deal between BP and Hilcorp. (Anchorage Daily News)