CLIMATE: The city of Honolulu has filed a lawsuit against eight oil companies, accusing them of concealing the risks of climate change, “an existential threat for what the future looks like for islanders.” (InsideClimate News)
ALSO: A new poll of Washington voters finds nearly 70% believe that climate change is a major threat to health and the economy, and requires bold action. (Washington State Wire)
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CALIFORNIA:
• PG&E is considering a proposal from solar and storage provider Sunrun that would create neighborhood microgrids. (Microgrid Knowledge)
• Placer County, California residents have been unaffected by PG&E’s planned power shutoffs thanks to municipally-owned utilities and community choice aggregation. (Comstock’s Magazine)
POLLUTION: A low-income San Francisco community is installing air monitors in a bid to track pollution and improve public health. (48 Hills)
HYDROPOWER: FERC approves a preliminary permit for a Nevada hydropower proposal despite local opposition. (Reno Gazette Journal)
COAL: A Washington utility that is the largest owner of a Montana coal plant has planned an exit for years, and advocated for complete closure of the facility in 2018. (Billings Gazette)
OIL & GAS:
• Wyoming oil companies are hoping they can withstand plunging oil prices. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Oil and gas operators in Colorado’s Denver-Julesburg Basin have been hit hard by low demand driven by market volatility. (Denver Post)
• A public policy expert says the collapse in oil prices could adversely impact Weld County, Colorado’s economy and tax revenue over the next several years. (Loveland Reporter-Herald)
• Construction is complete on a new natural gas processing plant that doubles its processing capacity in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin. (Casper Star-Tribune)
NATURAL GAS: Experts say natural gas will play a big role in New Mexico’s transition to carbon-free electricity generation. (New Mexico Political Report)
SOLAR:
• Utah solar advocates are in conflict with Rocky Mountain Power over how much customers should be paid for power exported to the grid. (Greentech Media)
• A California-based solar software company says the state’s solar mandate for new housing means that “solar has to be moved up in front of the design process.” (PV Magazine)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Washington lawmakers passed a bill that will increase the number of electric cars available in the state, but more aggressive measures failed to gain support. (InvestigateWest)
• A Colorado bill aiming to clarify which automakers are allowed to sell electric vehicles without a dealership cleared its final legislative committee. (Colorado Sun)
EFFICIENCY: A Salt Lake City, Utah housing non-profit aims to create energy efficient housing that sells for well below market rates. (Salt Lake Tribune)
COMMENTARY:
• Using California as an example, the Rocky Mountain Institute says distributed energy resources can help decrease the likelihood of wildfires and protect communities from their worst effects. (GreenBiz)
• A Washington editorial board says it’s time for the state to enact a clean fuel standard. (Tacoma News Tribune)
• A Nashville, Tennessee climate advocate says President Trump should stop opposing California’s car emissions standards. (Tennessean)
• A business analyst says Oregon and Washington lawmakers must find better approaches to reduce carbon emissions. (The Reflector)
• Two Washington health systems executives say cutting the state’s greenhouse emissions will protect patients and save lives. (Tacoma News-Tribune)