WIND: Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says power from a recently completed New Mexico wind complex puts the city on track to receive 60% of its electricity from carbon-free sources this year. (City News Service) 

SOLAR: A renewable energy company proposes constructing a 300 MW solar facility in southern Idaho, which would be the state’s largest. (East Idaho Business Journal) 

OIL & GAS:
• Utah lawmakers consider funding construction of a “hydrocarbon highway” that would route oil tanker trucks from the Uinta Basin past the world’s largest concentration of ancient rock art. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• New Mexico regulators fine two drilling companies more than $2 million for violations after increases in seismic activity blamed on Permian Basin drilling and wastewater injection. (Associated Press)
• Hawaii health officials lift a drinking water advisory for two of 19  neighborhoods where a U.S. Navy fuel facility contaminated wells. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) 
• A Colorado county in the methane-rich San Juan Basin begins updating its oil and gas regulations to better align with state rules. (Durango Herald) 

COAL:
• New Mexico regulators approve Public Service Company of New Mexico’s plan to keep the San Juan coal plant running for three months after its scheduled June 30 retirement date. (Associated Press)
• Montana regulators consider rolling back a 2020 water pollution standard targeting Canadian coal mines’ selenium contamination of the Kootenai River that flows into the state. (Montana Public Radio)
• After four previous tries, Wyoming lawmakers advance a bill to cut coal severance taxes, saving coal companies and costing the state an estimated $10 million annually. (Casper Star-Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION:
• The U.S. EPA fines Tesla $275,000 for “high priority” air pollution regulation violations at its Fremont, California, assembly plant. (Los Angeles Times)
• A Hawaii county’s leaders consider requiring developers to install electric vehicle charging stations in parking lots. (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)

CLIMATE:
• Colorado lawmakers propose a climate bill that would outlaw gas-powered lawn equipment, set new greenhouse gas emissions goals and require insurance companies to conduct climate assessments. (Colorado Sun)  
• A federal appeals court delays ruling on a Hawaii lawsuit against the oil and gas industry for contributing to climate change until a similar California case is decided. (E&E News, subscription)
• Hawaii lawmakers consider requiring tourists to pay a rental car fee to address their effect on climate change. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser) 

HYDROPOWER: Federal analysts predict an uptick in winter precipitation through April will boost Northwest hydropower production this year after a drought-depleted 2021. (Hydro Review)

UTILITIES: Washington state utility Avista seeks proposals for 386 MW of new generating capacity, including storage and demand-response, to meet state clean energy goals. (PVTech)

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.