OIL & GAS: Oregon regulators say they will deny a Portland oil-by-rail terminal’s air quality permit application after the city refused to endorse the proposed facility. (OPB)  

ALSO:
• New Mexico regulators fine Hilcorp $1.62 million for failing to remediate spills. (news release)
• A New Mexico environmental group announces plans to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for allegedly failing to enforce the Clean Air Act in the Permian Basin oil patch. (news release)
• New Mexico lawmakers say proposed state rules on oil- and gas-related methane emissions could cost state and local governments $730 million annually. (Associated Press)

PUBLIC LANDS: Researchers from a Montana free-market environmental group propose allowing groups to purchase federal oil and gas or grazing leases or stake mining claims for “non-use” in order to conserve the land. (E&E News)

UTILITIES: A Colorado consumer watchdog agency retools to represent the public in conflicts with utilities on issues such as climate change, just transitions and environmental justice. (Colorado Sun)  

COAL: Public Service Company of New Mexico proposes paying a Navajo Nation-backed company $75 million to take over its share of the Four Corners Power Plant. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

TRANSPORTATION:
• A vehicle electrification kit manufacturer plans to open a 300-employee production facility in Gilbert, Arizona. (Phoenix Business Journal)
• California lawmakers call for $300 million to accelerate the development of a statewide hydrogen fueling network, which has not scaled up as rapidly as advocates had hoped. (H2 View)
• A non-profit auto club and a Denver-based startup announce plans to deploy a fleet of hydrogen-powered tow trucks and other emergency vehicles in Colorado by 2022. (Denver Business Journal)

CLEAN ENERGY: The Los Angeles city council votes to transition its municipal utility to 100% renewable energy by 2035 and develop a plan to create nearly 9,500 green jobs. (City News Service)  

CLIMATE:
• A northern California city turns to energy-intensive desalination as drought and warming temperatures diminish its water supply. (Courthouse News)
• Lake Tahoe ski resorts crank up snowmaking machines in a desperate attempt to slow the spread of the 204,000-acre Caldor Fire, which is approaching the Nevada border and could further imperil trout important to nearby tribes. (Mercury News, Arizona Republic)

COMMENTARY:
• A former Salt River Project board member says the Arizona utility’s plan to build a $1 billion natural gas peaker plant is bad for ratepayers and the environment. (Arizona Capitol Times)
• California advocates say state residents and utilities must replace diesel generators with cleaner solar, fuel cell, battery storage or non-combustion linear generators as backup power sources. (East Bay Times)  
• Business executives urge California regulators to encourage the development of microgrids to prevent wildfires and power outages. (San Diego Union-Tribune)  

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.