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)

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Jonathan P. Thompson

Jonathan hails from southwestern Colorado and has been writing about the land, cultures, and communities of the Western United States for more than two decades. He compiles the Western Energy News digest. He is the author of three books, a contributing editor at High Country News, and the editor of the Land Desk, an e-newsletter that provides coverage and context on issues critical to the West.