CALIFORNIA: A media investigation finds that most of PG&E’s emergency operations center staff handling blackouts lacked training in California’s disaster response playbook. (Associated Press)

ALSO:
• President Trump approves California’s request for a disaster declaration to clean up damage from six recent deadly and destructive wildfires after initially rejecting it. (Associated Press)
• Eight California community choice aggregators issue a joint request for up to 500 MW of long duration storage to come online by or before 2026. (Solar Power World)
• Funds from a California distributed energy program meant to help disadvantaged ratepayers are being siphoned off by solar installers helping individuals with second homes. (PV Magazine)
• A Northern California county allocates $1.2 million towards purchasing four generators to power county facilities during PG&E power outages. (Mountain Democrat)

NUCLEAR: A Utah energy cooperative is awarded $1.4 billion by the Department of Energy to help build a dozen small nuclear reactors in eastern Idaho. (Associated Press)

COAL:
• Conservation advocates allege that several former Blackjewel coal mines have become serious environmental liabilities and are at risk of not being cleaned up. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Pacificorp’s 20-year integrated resource plan transitioning to more renewable energy sources could have significant impacts on Wyoming’s coal communities. (Casper Star-Tribune)

FOSSIL FUELS: Wyoming’s new energy agency is focused on strengthening fossil fuel production as well as expanding transmission infrastructure and carbon capture. (Casper Star-Tribune)

CLEAN ENERGY: Officials representing three Arizona cities are on the defensive after a new report shows their cities slipping in a national ranking on clean-energy policies. (Phoenix Business Journal)

UTILITIES: Colorado’s two largest electrical utilities are facing challenges with hanging on to their electrical empires, mainly over the pace of decarbonization and money. (Mountain Town News)

COMMENTARY:
• A Los Angeles Times editorial says requiring new buildings to be all-electric is an easy step toward fighting climate change.
• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham say they are setting an example of what responsible clean air and climate policy should look like for other states and the nation. (The Hill)
• A Permian Basin CEO is concerned that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham won’t protect the state’s oil and gas industry under a Biden-Harris administration. (Albuquerque Journal)
• A Wyoming-based commentator says the state needs to find common ground with environmental interests to help communities transition away from coal. (Casper Star Tribune)

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.).