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)

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Jonathan P. Thompson

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.