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)