UTILITIES: A memo from a court-appointed monitor says PG&E’s wildfire prevention efforts prioritized work on the easiest stretches of power lines instead of those in the highest risk areas. (Courthouse News Service)
ALSO:
• A lawsuit faults PG&E for last month’s deadly and destructive Zogg Fire, alleging the utility failed to maintain power lines. (KRCR)
• Two Southern California cities could join forces in a community choice energy program that would allow member municipalities to purchase and sell electricity. (Los Angeles Times)
CARBON: California has an opportunity to lead the development of carbon capture technologies if it takes the right policy actions, according to a new report. (S&P Global)
COAL:
• A recently uncovered federal report from 2018 concluded that adding carbon sequestration technology to Montana’s Colstrip Power Plant “may not be financially attractive” at a cost of $1.33 billion. (Billings Gazette)
• Wyoming is among the states operating coal-fired power plants in areas projected to face rising water stress due to climate change. (S&P Global)
• The second largest national coal producer in the U.S. is looking for an “appropriate buyer” as it cuts production in the Powder River Basin by 50% over the next two to three years. (Wyoming Public Media)
NUCLEAR: New Mexico lawmakers in a hearing discuss the future of a nuclear waste facility with federal and state officials. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
OIL & GAS:
• California’s attorney general wants a federal appeals court to reverse “hastily compiled rulemaking” that rolled back an Obama-era rule on fracking on public and tribal lands. (E&E News Daily, subscription)
• New Mexico regulatory agencies are developing what could be the strictest methane regulations in the U.S. for oil and gas operators. (Forbes)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: The University of California is building a solar array and biomethane plant to advance its goal of carbon neutrality by 2025. (Daily Californian)
SOLAR: A technology firm is set to transform the University of Wyoming into a major center for solar generation research and innovation. (Casper Star-Tribune)
GRID: A new study by two Colorado utilities finds that enabling more efficient and transparent transmission coordination across the state can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money, and create jobs. (news release)