COAL: Oregon’s only coal-fired power plant permanently closes, 20 years ahead of schedule. (OPB News)

ALSO: A lawsuit filed in a Montana federal court alleges the Energy Department’s National Coal Council operates in secret in violation of federal law, serving the interests of the coal industry. (Bloomberg Law, subscription)

POLLUTION: An analysis of Western pollution data and interviews with physicians, health authorities and researchers finds that wildfire smoke is exposing millions of people to hazardous pollution levels. (Associated Press)

CALIFORNIA: PG&E announces almost 32,000 Northern California ratepayers will be without power until 10:00 p.m. tonight due to extreme weather conditions. (Redding Record Searchlight)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A California official says 50% of new state funding for charging stations is focused on disadvantaged communities. (Capital Public Radio News)
• Leaders of a Phoenix suburb hope its first public charging station will encourage more residents to switch to electric vehicles. (Arizona Republic) 

OIL & GAS: Experts say that fracking in California adversely impacts local economies in addition to causing environmental problems. (Salinas Californian)

CLIMATE: Officials representing Native American tribal nations tell federal lawmakers they rarely get federal help fighting climate impacts because they are forced to compete for grants against wealthier states. (E&E News Daily, subscription)

SOLAR: A New Mexico company that makes solar tracking systems goes public and its shares soar more than 65 percent. (Greentech Media)

EFFICIENCY: A Phoenix school district is set to save $40 million from energy efficiency retrofits and solar power installations. (CleanTechnica)

OVERSIGHT:
• The four candidates for New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission share differing views on how to implement the state’s Energy Transition Act. (Albuquerque Journal)
• New Mexico regulators would be appointed rather than elected if voters approve an amendment to the state constitution. (Farmington Daily Times)

COMMENTARY:
• A former California judge says it’s time for state leaders to address the consequences of climate change, rather than simply hoping to stop it. (RealClearEnergy)
• A Montana geologist and science journalist says money from the fossil fuel industry is dirtying the state’s political process. (The Missoulian)

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.).