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)

Lisa Ellwood

Lisa is a Lenape and Nanticoke Native American freelance journalist, editor and writer currently based in the U.K. She has more than two decades’ experience working in corporate communications and print and digital media. She compiles the Western Energy News daily email digest. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Temple University; her specializations include data journalism and visualization. She is a member of the Native American Journalists Association, Investigative Reporters & Editors, Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Union of Journalists (U.K.).