GRID: Colorado’s southeastern corner has enough wind potential to power the rest of the state, but lacks the high-voltage transmission that could deliver the energy to demand centers. (Mountain Town News)

ALSO:
• A major substation under construction in Wyoming will provide an “on-ramp” for the planned Gateway West transmission project. (Casper Star Tribune)
• Grid fluctuations caused by demand shifts during the coronavirus pandemic are causing some plug-in clocks to run fast in Hawaii. (Maui News)

***SPONSORED LINK: Applications are now open for the Veterans Advanced Energy Fellowship, a yearlong program for high-performing, high-potential military veterans in advanced energy, presented by the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Learn more at www.vetsenergyproject.org/fellowship.***

EQUITY: Western advocates warn that a recent Trump administration decision to weaken environmental reviews puts people of color at increased risk. (Salt Lake Tribune)

CALIFORNIA: An attorney representing PG&E wildfire victims says the utility’s contentious stock agreement could hold up the full $13.5 billion settlement for six years. (San Francisco Chronicle)

RENEWABLE ENERGY: New solar and wind projects gave New Mexico’s renewables industry a significant boost last month. (Albuquerque Journal)

COAL:
• Wyoming regulators are closer to issuing proposed rules current owners and prospective buyers need to follow before a coal-fired power plant is slated for decommissioning or sold for review. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Colorado continues to monitor 38 high-priority underground coal mine fires. (Denver Post)

NATURAL GAS: The oil market crash could benefit natural gas producers in New Mexico’s San Juan Basin and boost state revenue. (Santa Fe New Mexican)

NUCLEAR: Arizona tribal nations fear an environmental catastrophe after losing a seven-year old lawsuit aiming to close a uranium mine roughly 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon’s south rim. (Arizona Republic)

PUBLIC LANDS:
• New Mexico Rep. Xochitl Torres Small is urging the BLM to allow operators to temporarily shut in oil and gas wells without penalty until prices stabilize. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• The BLM has granted royalty rate reductions of 0.5%, the lowest amount allowed, on 40 different oil and gas leases across Wyoming as of Friday. (Casper Star-Tribune)

***SPONSORED LINK: Do you know someone who works hard to facilitate the transition to a clean energy economy? Nominate yourself or someone you know for Energy News Network’s 40 Under 40 today.***

POLITICS:
• On Twitter, President Trump cites opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling in 2017 as a reason to support him after a rebuke from Sen. Lisa Murkowski. (E&E News)
• A dark money group promoting the oil and gas industry is challenging Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ decision to allow petition signatures for ballot referendums to be gathered electronically. (Colorado Politics)

COMMENTARY:
• Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette says his agency’s strategy to support uranium miners in Wyoming and across the West is a “blueprint for progress.” (Casper Star-Tribune)
• Two California regulators explain how the state is increasing efforts to equip vulnerable citizens with battery storage systems for use during power outages and wildfires. (CalMatters)

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.).