ELECTRIFICATION: To fight electrification measures in California and other states, utility-backed groups are running campaigns to promote gas stoves despite known health hazards. (Mother Jones)
ALSO: California officials want to replace millions of gas-fired water heaters with electric ones to cut emissions and serve as an energy storage resource. (Bloomberg)
OIL & GAS:
• Chevron is still not sure of the exact makeup of a 600-gallon spill from a refinery into the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, but officials have not found any health or wildlife impacts so far. (ABC 7 News)
• New Mexico lawmakers narrowly pass a bill that would require the oil and gas industry to use produced water or recycled water in drilling or fracking. (Albuquerque Journal)
• The EPA announces a Texas-based oil company will pay Wyoming $1.9 million for two oil and wastewater spills. (Associated Press)
• Elected leaders and environmental groups oppose a Central California county’s proposed revised oil permitting ordinance that would allow up to 67,000 additional wells to be built in the area over the next 20 years. (KERO)
COAL: Colorado Springs officials announce a $100 million deal with GE for six gas turbines to provide electricity as a downtown coal plant is dismantled starting next year. (Denver Post)
UTILITIES:
• An audit of the California Public Utilities Commission finds that $200 million that a whistleblower alleges was missing is accounted for, but the agency’s billing system is still “inaccurate and incomplete.” (ProPublica)
• A $2 million program set up to help Hawaii ratepayers behind 90 days or more on utility bill payments is forced to close after two days because of high demand. (KHON)
POLLUTION: Utah lawmakers responsible for the state’s air quality policies and appropriations detail 22 proposals they want considered during the 2021 Legislative Session. (Deseret News)
PUBLIC LANDS: Native American leaders in Montana call on U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Matt Rosendale to stop “deeply offensive“ criticisms of Interior secretary nominee Deb Haaland. (Montana Standard)
WIND: Projects in Colorado and New Mexico have helped Xcel Energy to become the second U.S. utility to reach 10,000 MW of wind energy capacity. (Denver Post)
RENEWABLE ENERGY: San Diego County officials approve “regulatory and process” options aiming to streamline environmental review, permitting, and other processes related to renewable energy projects. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
TRANSPORTATION: Denver is deploying seven electric car share vehicles in six under-resourced communities along with subsidizing memberships in those areas for a minimum of 450 residents. (CBS Denver)
HYDROGEN: Experts say hydrogen vehicles and fuel could help Colorado achieve its climate goals, but state lawmakers need to work on regulations and purchasing incentives. (Colorado Sun)
COMMENTARY:
• An Oregon editorial board is critical of a state bill aiming to set energy efficiency standards for certain appliances. (Bend Bulletin)
• A New Mexico official discusses the possible long-term impact of President Biden’s indefinite ban of federal oil and gas leases in the state. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)