WIND: A proposed southern Idaho wind farm’s close proximity to the Minidoka National Historic Site, a World War II-era Japanese-American internment camp, raises concerns among the National Park Service and former incarcerees. (Boise State Public Radio)

ALSO: A 300-foot wind turbine collapses at the Ocotillo Wind Energy facility in Southern California, its second such incident in five years. (East County Magazine)

UTILITIES: Xcel Energy seeks a rate increase in Colorado to cover high natural gas prices caused by increased demand and hurricane damage to processing facilities on the Gulf Coast. (Denver Post)

GRID: Over 5,000 Pacific Gas & Electric customers in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains lost power yesterday when a squirrel chewed through a wire. (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

TRANSPORTATION:
• Colorado environmentalists praise Xcel Energy’s recently expanded incentives for electric vehicle purchases and charging. (Colorado Sun)
• Las Cruces, New Mexico’s city council votes to add five battery-electric buses to its transit fleet next year. (KRWG)
• Skagway, Alaska, officials consider launching an electric ferry pilot program to serve the popular tourist destination. (KINY Radio)

OIL & GAS:
• New Mexico regulators open public hearings on proposed rules targeting ozone precursor emissions from oil and gas facilities. (NM Political Report)
• Some policy experts deem the orphaned oil and gas well cleanup provision in the congressional infrastructure plan a “bill for the bosses” because it is funded by taxpayers, not fossil fuel corporations. (Guardian)

HYDROGEN: Plug Power plans to break ground in 2023 on a large-scale solar powered green hydrogen facility in Fresno County, California. (news release)

NUCLEAR: Signature-gathering begins for a Montana ballot initiative to reinstate a law requiring a public vote on proposed nuclear facilities that state lawmakers ended this year. (Helena Independent-Record) 

CLIMATE:
• Oregon officials roll out proposed rules for its Climate Protection Program meant to slash greenhouse gas emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2035. (Salem Statesman Journal)
• California researchers say climate change-fueled drought is stressing trees and causing them to fall into electrical equipment, leading to power outages and wildfires. (National Public Radio)
• Northern California’s Dixie Fire — likely sparked by a tree falling into a PG&E power line — is 90% contained after burning through 963,195 acres since its July 13 ignition. (KTXL)
• Forecasters warn of Santa Ana winds, high temperatures, increased fire risk and possible safety-related power shutoffs in Southern California this week. (Los Angeles Times) 

COMMENTARY:
• A renewable energy executive says New Mexico’s new community solar program promises to ease the state’s dependence on aging, centralized power plants. (Albuquerque Journal)
• The leader of a conservative conservation group says Arizona must invest in clean energy infrastructure now so it won’t be stuck with aging and expensive coal and gas plants. (Arizona Capitol Times)

Jonathan hails from southwestern Colorado and has been writing about the land, cultures, and communities of the Western United States for more than two decades. He compiles the Western Energy News digest. He is the author of three books, a contributing editor at High Country News, and the editor of the Land Desk, an e-newsletter that provides coverage and context on issues critical to the West.