OIL & GAS: The Treasury Department proposes a rule that would limit large banks from pulling their financing from Arctic oil and gas projects after several banks announced policies prohibiting such investments. (Anchorage Daily News)
PUBLIC LANDS: The New Mexico congresswoman reportedly being considered for Interior Secretary under President-elect Joe Biden says leasing practices for federal lands need to change to encourage more clean energy. (S&P Global)
EQUITY: A first-of-its-kind clean energy fund created by Portland, Oregon, voters prioritizes grants to people of color and those with low income to offset “centuries of underinvestment” in those communities. (NPR)
COAL: Colorado air quality regulators move to order three coal-fired power plants to close by the end of 2028, sooner than their owners have said they would voluntarily retire them. (Colorado Sun)
POLICY: After four years of attacks by President Trump, Californians expect to play an influential role in shaping policy under President-elect Biden, including on climate and equity issues. (Bloomberg Law)
SOLAR:
• Hawaiian Electric proposes two solar projects totaling up to 20 MW as part of a push to increase renewable energy in the state. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)
• Sunrun will aggregate home solar-plus-storage systems into a 5 megawatt virtual power plant for Southern California Edison. (PV Tech)
• California certifies a drone-based 3D modelling platform that may help enforce the state’s requirements for solar on new homes. (Renewable Energy Magazine)
UTILITIES:
• Investigators find that a downed PG&E power line sparked Santa Barbara County’s Drum Fire in June, but the utility says it is conducting its own investigation. (Santa Maria Times)
• Consumer advocates want a $166 million penalty levied against PG&E for failing to inform almost 400,000 ratepayers of three of the utility’s planned blackouts in 2019. (KPIX)
TRANSPORTATION:
• California opens the application period for a $44.1 million clean transportation and infrastructure initiative. (Green Car Congress)
• A Tucson, Arizona, transit service deploys 15 new buses powered by compressed natural gas that it says will reduce emissions. (Arizona Daily Star)
• A new program offers California residents up to $1,500 off the purchase price of an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. (Silicon Valley Business Journal)
COMMENTARY:
• An editorial board says New Mexico U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland’s strong qualifications and experience would make her invaluable as the first Native American Cabinet member in U.S. history. (Las Vegas Sun)
• How politically conservative, coal-dependent Utah achieved a commitment to 100% net-renewable electricity by 2030, according to three experts. (GreenBiz)