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)