PUBLIC LANDS: Interior Secretary Deb Haaland recommends full restoration of the original boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, which the Trump administration downsized to enable oil and gas exploration. (Washington Post)
HYDROPOWER: In a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Haaland supports removal of four Klamath River dams and hydropower facilities. (Hydro Review)
POLLUTION: A major environmental lawsuit settlement prompts California warehouses to mitigate impacts to neighboring residents by reducing air pollution through electrification and installing air filters in nearby homes. (Bloomberg)
TRANSPORTATION:
• New Mexico lawmakers will consider a low-carbon fuel standard that proponents say will spur investment in clean energy. (Albuquerque Journal)
• A bike-sharing service in Aspen, Colorado, installs the state’s first off-grid charging station for electric bikes. (Aspen Times)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Nevada electric vehicle battery recycling center plans a major expansion. (Reno Gazette-Journal)
GRID:
• With temperatures expected to climb into the triple digits, Utah utility officials ask customers to curb afternoon energy use. (KSL)
• A company plans to give away 1 million smart thermostats to Californians in a bid to reduce the risk of power outages this summer. (Canary Media)
CLIMATE:
• The Supreme Court deals a blow to the oil industry by refusing to hear a climate case pitting California cities against fossil fuel companies. (E&E News, subscription)
• The Colorado Legislature passed a flurry of climate-related bills this session, but some environmental activists say it’s not enough. (E&E News, subscription)
UTILITIES:
• California regulators propose the establishment of an independent safety monitor to oversee Pacific Gas & Electric. (news release)
• An Alaska electricity co-op buys power from a university’s coal-fired combined heat and power plant. (Power Engineering)
SOLAR:
• Oregon’s state land use board revokes a proposed solar farm expansion’s permit due to potential impacts to wildlife. (Capital Press)
• A New Mexico community college axes its solar energy program due to coronavirus-related budget shortfalls. (Santa Fe New Mexican)
WIND:
• A Colorado company uses technology developed for the oil industry to efficiently produce massive towers for offshore wind turbines. (Denver Post)
• The California Energy Commission holds a workshop to develop the next steps for offshore wind development. (news release)
COMMENTARY:
• A Navajo organizer argues a just and equitable transition away from coal power is necessary to honor the sacrifices made by impacted communities. (AZ Mirror)
• An Arizona advocate says a proposed transmission line that would carry wind power from New Mexico to Arizona would “maximize damage to our last remaining wildlife corridors in the desert Southwest.” (Arizona Daily Star)
• Leaders of wildlife advocacy groups urge the Biden administration to protect Nevada’s Ruby Mountains from oil and gas development. (Nevada Independent)
• An Oregon advocate says hydropower is carbon-free, has built in energy storage, and would be perfect for producing hydrogen. (Portland Tribune)