GRID: Hawaiian Electric says it “may be prevented from moving forward” with a planned storage project after state regulators imposed conditions to cut reliance on fossil fuels. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

ALSO:
• California utilities are optimistic the state won’t face capacity shortfalls this summer like the ones that led to rolling blackouts last August. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A Utah company is exploring a $1.2 billion pumped hydro storage facility on an existing eastern Oregon dam. (Malheur Enterprise) 

CLIMATE:
• In a panel discussion, officials from four Western states say federal support will be critical to help states meet their clean energy goals. (Utility Dive)
• Officials in Spokane open a community input process for a plan to cut emissions 95% by 2050. (Spokesman-Review)

EQUITY: A California air quality agency is expected to vote tomorrow on rules to cut diesel pollution at warehouse and distribution facilities, which are disproportionately sited in communities of color. (Los Angeles Times)

ELECTRIC CARS: A Ford executive pushes back on a recent study showing some California electric vehicle drivers switch back to gas, saying the findings are dated and fail to account for recent advancements. (Autoweek)

HYDROGEN:
• Washington state’s first hydrogen fueling station is under development in Chehalis, aiming to first support government vehicles and later become part of a “hydrogen highway.” (The Chronicle)
• A new law in Washington reduces sales taxes on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. (KIRO)
• Arizona-based Nikola enters an agreement with a Los Angeles company that could lead to the sale of 70 hydrogen-fueled trucks and 30 fully electric ones. (Forbes)
• A green hydrogen plant planning to open near Las Vegas next year is expected to provide a major boost for hydrogen-powered vehicles in California. (Sierra Nevada Ally)

SOLAR: A San Diego community power nonprofit enters an agreement to buy power from a planned 100 MW solar/storage project. (Solar Industry) 

POLITICS: Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso invokes failed solar manufacturer Solyndra in a report highlighting missteps in the 2009 stimulus to attack the Biden administration’s clean energy plans. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY:
• “Washington is kicking ass”: Energy writer David Roberts dives deep on his home state’s recently passed climate legislation, which he says surpasses California’s efforts. (Volts)
• Leaders of a nonprofit that supports sustainable investing say utilities can’t claim to support climate action while fighting electrification efforts. (Canary Media)
• A Wyoming biologist endorses a proposed wind farm near Laramie, saying objections “range from the semi-reasonable to the downright misleading.” (Casper Star-Tribune)
• The president of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce says California’s net metering program is unfair to low-income utility customers and renters. (CalMatters)

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.