HYDROPOWER:
• A melting Alaska glacier provides an opportunity to expand the state’s largest hydroelectricity project by as much as 50%. (KTOO)
• New federal forecasts suggest Lake Powell’s water levels could drop below the minimum required for hydroelectricity generation by next summer. (CBS4)
CLIMATE: An atmospheric river and “bomb cyclone” batter Northern California bringing record rainfall, flash floods on wildfire burn scars and leaving thousands without power. (San Francisco Chronicle)
POLLUTION: Advocates say a landmark California environmental justice law is failing to reduce pollution from Bay Area refineries. (East Bay Times)
OIL & GAS:
• The Biden administration releases a draft environmental impact statement for a proposed 1 million acre oil and gas lease sale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet. (KTOO)
• Alaska’s oil and gas industry is not recovering from the pandemic-induced slump as quickly as expected given high commodity prices. (Anchorage Daily News, subscription)
• Experts fear the energy company behind the southern California offshore oil spill could shirk financial responsibility by declaring bankruptcy. (Los Angeles Times)
• Disposal of billions of gallons of tainted oil and gas wastewater in unlined pits is contaminating California groundwater, according to a recent study. (Inside Climate News)
UTILITIES: Hawaii’s race to replace power lost when its only coal plant closes next September is seen as a test case for rapid decarbonization. (Canary Media)
STORAGE: Federal regulators approve an agreement between Southern California Edison and clean energy advocates lowering wholesale distribution access tariffs for energy storage. (E&E News)
SOLAR:
• A California city considers requiring solar panels on all new city facilities and private, non-residential structures. (Daily Breeze)
• Some Hawaii historic preservation advocates want to see a proposed solar facility reconfigured to minimize impacts to a World War II site. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
CLEAN ENERGY: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis spearheads an effort to develop a renewable energy business park next to the National Renewable Energy Laboratories. (Denver Post)
MICROGRIDS: A remote Colorado community installs a solar- and propane- powered microgrid with enough storage to provide up to 8 hours of electricity during extreme weather- or wildfire-caused outages. (North Forty News)
COAL: A U.S. House subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday scrutinizing the federal coal leasing program. (E&E News, subscription)
COMMENTARY:
• A Colorado advocate says the Biden administration must reform the outdated oil and gas leasing system that caters to the will of the industry before resuming lease sales. (Colorado Sun)
• A Colorado scientist proposes spotlighting climate change’s effects on popular foods such as wine and chocolate to help spur urgency around the topic. (Colorado Sun)
• Analysts say despite a growing need for lithium and other materials, clean energy is still far less mining-intensive than fossil fuels. (Dallas Morning News)