CLIMATE: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest budget includes a new climate change package which includes a low-carbon fuel standard, equity requirements, and other provisions. (Seattle Times)
ALSO:
• California takes the lead in an annual project examining state energy efficiency policies and programs adopted through July 2020. (U.S. News & World Report)
• A new report finds wealthy, white areas are more likely to get support in mitigating wildfire risk, highlighting the unequal impacts of climate change. (New York Times)
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OIL & GAS:
• A coalition of environmental and Indigenous groups petition a federal court to stop the Trump administration’s “headlong rush” to issue drilling leases in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. (E&E News)
• Wyoming officials release a report claiming a drilling ban on federal lands would cost eight Western states $8.1 billion in tax revenue over the next five years. (Reuters)
• Officials in Flagstaff, Arizona will hold a hearing today about a drilling project on leased state land that opponents say could threaten a future water source. (KNAU)
• New Mexico’s Legislative Finance Committee says the state’s oil and gas industry is projected to make up more than 40% of the $7 billion or so in total state revenue. (Albuquerque Journal)
PUBLIC LANDS:
• A bipartisan bill advancing through Congress would make it easier to develop renewable energy on federal lands. (E&E News)
• New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland is emerging as a top pick for Secretary of the Interior, and would be the first Native American to lead the agency. (Reuters)
SOLAR:
• An Alaska Native company is set to begin construction on a solar battery project in two Northwest Arctic communities next spring. (KTOO)
• The University of Denver completes the installation of solar panels expected to reduce carbon emissions by 3% to 4%. (Colorado Politics)
• Moapa Valley, Nevada residents continue to oppose a proposed utility-scale solar generating plant. (mvProgress)
WIND: A 160 MW wind farm in eastern Washington begins commercial operations. (Spokesman-Review)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Spokane, Washington’s city council president is pushing the city’s police department to adopt electric vehicles, but is facing resistance despite an analysis showing the change would save thousands of dollars. (Spokesman-Review)
GRID: A California provider of distributed energy storage systems aims to develop four distributed solar-plus-storage virtual power plants and needs $450 million in capital investment. (Energy Storage News)
TRANSMISSION: A Northern California city is finally able to move forward with putting power lines underground after years of trying thanks to county funding. (Union of Grass Valley)
TECHNOLOGY: An Amazon subsidiary unveils its first autonomous electric “robotaxi” that can drive day and night on a single charge, after six years in development. (Bloomberg)
COMMENTARY: A former Arizona regulator praises the state’s efforts to lead on the clean energy transition. (Capitol Times)