GRID: Two Oregon U.S. Senators introduce a bill that would offer $10 billion in incentives for utilities to upgrade their power line systems to protect against extreme weather. (Salem Statesman Journal)
ALSO: The Department of Energy announces plans for a new energy storage research facility in eastern Washington. (Yaktri News)
CLIMATE: Environmental advocates in Washington are divided over the best way to reduce carbon emissions, with environmental justice supporters seeking an alternative to a proposed cap-and-trade program. (Investigate Northwest)
EMISSIONS: Researchers find that Colorado’s indoor marijuana growing operations emit more greenhouse gases than the state’s coal mines. (New Scientist)
PUBLIC LANDS: Deb Haaland gains additional Republican support in a cloture vote to advance her nomination to lead the Interior Department, including Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan. (HuffPost)
OIL & GAS:
• Environmental and community groups sue to block a California county’s decision to approve more than 40,000 new oil and gas wells. (Associated Press)
• A Los Angeles group accuses regulators of lax enforcement and slow or non-existent responses to complaints about oil and gas production at a drilling site in their neighborhood. (Desert Sun)
FOSSIL FUELS:
• As the Biden administration seeks to cut emissions, the oil and gas industry will likely prove a tougher obstacle than the coal industry. (Associated Press)
• A New Mexico bill that would create a state task force focused on transitioning the state from fossil fuels gains momentum in the state’s House after passing the Senate. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• Wyoming lawmakers table House bills for discussion that would mandate a portfolio of mostly fossil fuels and require state-regulated utilities to ensure 100% power delivery reliability. (WyoFile)
MICROGRIDS: Microgrid advocates are battling with California’s three largest investor-owned utilities over whether microgrid customers should be exempt from paying standby charges. (Microgrid Knowledge)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: An electric car parts manufacturer announces plans for a new plant in Flagstaff, projected to employ 350 people within five years. (KTAR)
TRANSPORTATION:
• A New Mexico bill that would require fuel producers and importers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuel 10% by 2030 and 28% by 2040 passes the state Senate. (New Mexico Political Report)
• A proposed Oregon bill that would prohibit the sale of petroleum diesel fuel for use in any motor vehicle by January 2027 is drawing criticism. (Gales Creek Journal)
UTILITIES:
• Arizona’s largest power utility voices its opposition to a proposed bill that would give state regulators control over utility rates in a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey and legislative leaders. (Associated Press)
• Hawaii Electric is on the defensive after the state’s regulator raises concerns that the utility’s interconnection process is causing delays with planned renewables projects. (Utility Dive)
COMMENTARY:
• A consumer advocate says the fossil fuel industry’s claims that President Biden’s energy plans will cause significant economic damage in Western states are driven by poor research. (InsideSources)
• “Even the most ambitious climate campaign will fall short” without a carbon capture and sequestration plan, an investment banker writes. (Energy News Network)