OIL & GAS: The developers of a liquified natural gas export terminal and associated pipeline proposed for southern Oregon abandon the project after failing to secure key state permits. (Associated Press)

ALSO:
• An industry-sponsored report says oil and gas taxes and royalties generated a record $5.3 billion for New Mexico’s local and state government in fiscal year 2021 due to rising prices and increased production. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• Hawaii health officials detect petroleum products in drinking water from an aquifer lying beneath a leak-plagued Navy fueling station. (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)
• Colorado regulators require a Denver-area oil refinery operator to make deeper cuts to sulfur dioxide emissions to comply with federal regional haze rules. (Colorado Sun)
• California regulators consider a proposal to replace a California oil pipeline that ruptured and caused a massive Central Coast spill in 2015. (Associated Press) 

UTILITIES:
• Three of five members of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission indicate they may vote against the proposed Avangrid-Public Service Company of New Mexico merger later this month. (Santa Fe New Mexican)
• Montana regulators say the state’s natural gas rates could increase by 50% this winter due to a high demand to supply ratio. (KTVQ)
• The operator of an Arizona natural gas pipeline that ruptured and exploded in August says it will remain offline for months, constraining fuel deliveries to California. (Reuters)

ELECTRIFICATION: A planned 19,300-home Southern California development agrees to incentivize electric vehicles, ban natural gas hookups, and require solar power for residences in exchange for an environmental group dropping its legal challenges. (Los Angeles Times)

STORAGE: Southern California Edison plans to build a 235 MW battery storage complex paired with an existing hydroelectric dam to meet potential next summer demand. (Sun Gazette)

HYDROGEN: A plan to convert a decommissioned New Mexico coal power plant to burn hydrogen fuel advances. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

NUCLEAR:
• U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says she is willing to talk to California officials about keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant operating beyond its scheduled 2025 closure. (Reuters)
• Federal regulators delay publishing a review of a proposed New Mexico spent nuclear fuel rod storage facility after the developer submits “inadequate” responses to regulators’ questions. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)

SOLAR: Hawaii Electric seeks proposals for two community-based shared solar projects. (news release)

LITHIUM: A Paiute activist says a proposal to build a lithium mine on a historic massacre site at Nevada’s Thacker Pass is like putting a “mine on Arlington Cemetary.” (Guardian)

COMMENTARY: A California solar advocate says a tribal-led initiative that supports renewable energy projects nationwide helps Indigenous communities attain energy sovereignty. (Canary Media) 

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Jonathan P. Thompson

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.