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)
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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)
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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)