EMISSIONS: Oregon regulators propose rules that would cut fossil fuel emissions 80% by 2050, allow emission credit trading, and allow the fossil fuel industry to offset pollution by paying for emissions reductions in communities vulnerable to climate change. (OPB) 

ALSO: California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a law banning sales of gasoline-powered lawnmowers, leaf blowers and chainsaws and requiring small-motor equipment to be zero-emission as early as 2024. (Los Angeles Times)

UTILITIES:
• Pacific Gas & Electric says it may shut off power to as many as 44,000 Northern California customers Monday to reduce fire risk during forecasted dry, gusty winds. (CBS SF)
• PG&E officials say its equipment has ignited 85% fewer fires in the last two months compared to 2015 to 2020 averages due to new safety settings. (San Francisco Chronicle)

GRID: Xcel Energy and major automakers launch a pilot project in Colorado that uses day-ahead energy demand forecasts to remotely manage electric vehicle charging schedules and avoid overloading the grid. (Big Pivots)

OIL & GAS:
• Southern California beaches reopen after cleanup crews remove a quarter-million pounds of oily sand and debris in the wake of a major offshore oil spill likely caused by a ship’s anchor damaging the pipeline months earlier. (Los Angeles Times, Associated Press)
• High oil prices and access to financing spur more drilling and rising oil production in the Permian Basin. (Bloomberg)

HYDROGEN: New Mexico environmental groups say efforts to establish the state as a blue hydrogen hub could lead to further emissions from natural gas extraction and distract from the transition away from fossil fuels. (NM Political Report)

COAL: Hawaii officials worry next year’s scheduled retirement of a major coal plant will hurt grid reliability, but utility officials say generating capacity is adequate even without planned renewable projects coming online. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, subscription)

NUCLEAR: U.S. Senate Democrats from Western states lead an effort to impose royalties on hardrock minerals mined from public land, such as uranium, in their reconciliation bill. (Casper Star-Tribune)

TRANSPORTATION: Berkeley, California’s school district adds eight electric buses to its fleet to reduce emissions and children’s pollutant exposure. (Berkeleyside)

COMMENTARY:
• Oregon’s governor, a Nez Perce tribal leader and a sportfishing advocate say the Northwest can save its salmon and have clean energy by removing hydropower dams and investing in wind and solar power. (Oregonian)
• A California air quality official and public policy analyst say the state must rein in dirty diesel backup generators and the “fossil fuel powered shadow grid” to meet its clean air targets. (CalMatters) 

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.