COAL:
• A utility in Washington state will shut down part of a Montana coal plant – one of the worst polluters in the country – by 2022. (Seattle Times)
• A federal agency says a Wyoming deal to bond for mine cleanup violates state law. (Associated Press)
SOLAR: A measure to restore Nevada’s net metering rates qualifies for the ballot, but still faces a state Supreme Court challenge. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UTILITIES: A data storage company sues Nevada regulators, saying it was wrongfully denied the option to purchase 100 percent renewable electricity on the open market. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
CLEAN ECONOMY: A study finds California’s push for renewable energy is creating high-paying jobs in economically distressed areas. (Los Angeles Times)
NUCLEAR: Advocates suggest using former coal plant sites to install small, prefabricated nuclear reactors. (Midwest Energy News)
OIL AND GAS:
• Officials say aging tank cars used to transport oil by rail could be in service for another 15 years due to a lack of mandatory upgrades. (Associated Press)
• A Texas company withdraws plans to ship crude oil through a Baltimore terminal. (Baltimore Sun)
• California proposes new regulations for natural gas storage fields. (Bloomberg)
• A Washington state utility could face a $4 million fine from regulators for a “lax attitude” toward safety. (Tri-City Herald)
WIND:
• Legal disputes over bird protection slow development of a Massachusetts offshore wind farm. (Courthouse News Service)
• Why oil companies are interested in small wind. (Greentech Media)
CLIMATE:
• Exxon’s corporate giving report shows it still supports groups that fight climate policy. (ClimateWire)
• California Gov. Jerry Brown releases a plan to extend the state’s cap and trade program. (Los Angeles Times)
• The Union of Concerned Scientists will continue to object to releasing communications with state attorneys general amid an inquiry on fossil fuel companies’ climate change activities. (E&E Daily)
• Exxon Mobil’s latest corporate sustainability report shows a mixed message on the company’s position on climate change. (ClimateWire)
GRID:
• The manager of California’s grid says better connections with neighboring states could save $1.5 billion. (Los Angeles Times)
• MIT researchers say some forms of energy storage may become less economical as renewable energy costs continue to fall. (Utility Dive)
COMMENTARY:
• What phony op-eds on climate change have in common. (Columbia Journalism Review)
• How GOP climate denial is slowing progress on “clean” coal. (The Hill)