OIL & GAS: Oregon denies a key permit for the controversial Jordan Cove liquified gas project, saying it would have significant adverse effects on the state’s coastal economy. (The Oregonian)
ALSO:
• Democratic delegates from New Mexico continue to oppose a federal fracking ban proposal. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• New Mexico Republicans issued warnings about the dangers of dependence on oil and gas during a debate on the state’s main budget bill. (New Mexico Political Report)
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ELECTRIFICATION:
• Arizona’s governor is expected to sign a bill barring cities from imposing natural gas bans in new buildings. (Reuters)
• California’s energy regulator is scheduled to vote today on approving all-electric new homes and buildings construction policies for nine cities. (Renewable Energy Magazine)
CALIFORNIA:
• A federal judge says PG&E has prioritized greed over safety, saying he believes California wildfires could have been prevented had the utility upgraded and maintained its electrical system. (Associated Press)
• Northern California state and local officials say PG&E’s power grid maintains significant vulnerabilities, and new solutions are needed for the area’s energy systems. (The Union of Grass Valley)
SOLAR:
• California’s rooftop solar requirement for new new single family houses or low-rise apartments could change if an electric utility in Sacramento wins a widely watched case. (Associated Press)
• A new report indicates solar jobs in Colorado increased by nearly 5% in 2019 to a total of 7,174 employees after losses over the previous two years. (Denver Post)
CLIMATE: Oregon Senate Democrats released new estimates showing fairly mild impacts on households from proposed cap and trade policy. (The Oregonian)
COAL:
• Proposed legislation in Wyoming would impose new low-carbon electricity generation standards, encouraging utilities to equip coal-fired power plants with carbon capture systems to reduce emissions. (Wyoming Public Media, Casper Star-Tribune)
• The Navajo Transitional Energy Company has reached an agreement to pay $44 million in back taxes for coal production at its two recently acquired Wyoming coal mines. (Associated Press)
• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ policy director is to head a new office created to help communities and workers transition from coal as plants and mines close. (Denver Post)
• Two communities in Utah’s coal country have been awarded $75,000 grants to help strengthen local economic development. (Deseret News)
BIOMASS: A Colorado bill aims to establish a renewable natural gas standard requiring large gas utilities to source a percentage of the fuel they supply from renewable resources. (Biomass Magazine)
PUBLIC LANDS:
• Environmental groups are suing the U.S. Bureau of Land Management over plans for a gas field in Wyoming they say would endanger antelope in Grand Teton National Park. (Associated Press)
• BP’s collaboration with Colorado to offset wildlife impacts from natural gas drilling in the Southwestern part of the state is set to conclude this year. (Durango Herald)
WIND: Developers say areas off California’s Central Coast deemed compatible with U.S. military operations wouldn’t have enough space to create a viable offshore wind market. (Greentech Media)
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TRANSPORTATION: Golden Colorado-based tech company Outrider is giving the public a look at one of its autonomous electric yard trucks. (Denver Post)
COMMENTARY:
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District makes a case for state regulators approving its proposal to give builders the option to connect to the utility’s own local solar farms. (Utility Dive)
• A California home builder says the state must recognize that there is more than one way to use the sun to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (CalMatters)
• A candidate for Montana’s Public Service Commission says current members have allowed Northwestern Energy to double its profits over the past 5 years at the expense of ratepayers. (Missoula Current)
• A California electrical union official says there are lessons for the state to learn from New York utility Long Island Power Authority in taking over PG&E. (San Francisco Chronicle)