HYDROGEN:
• New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming partner on a plan for a regional hydrogen hub to compete for a share of $8 billion in federal infrastructure funds. (Albuquerque Journal)
• Chevron says it plans to partner with a Japan company to build 30 hydrogen fueling sites at its California gas stations. (news release)

WIND:
• Federal officials identify three potential wind power development areas off Oregon’s coast and say they will hold a lease sale by early 2024. (OffshoreWind.biz)
• Washington Gov. Jay Inslee touted wind power this week in advance of his decision on a controversial proposal to construct up to 244 turbines in the eastern part of the state. (Tri-City Herald)
• A developer completes upgrades and new construction on a 200 MW New Mexico wind facility that will provide power to Arizona Public Service. (news release) 

OIL & GAS: Federal regulators say a pending investigation of a Navy fuel facility blamed for contaminating Hawaii drinking water will look at whether the facility was operated lawfully. (Associated Press) 

INNOVATION: California researchers say they have developed a T-shirt that collects and stores wearer-generated energy to charge electronic devices.
(San Diego Union-Tribune)

CRYPTOCURRENCY: Power-guzzling server centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities sprout across the West to take advantage of cheap electricity and favorable regulations. (High Country News) 

CLEAN ENERGY: The developer of a proposed San Diego desalination plant says it will work with a local utility to power the energy-intensive facility with only renewable energy. (news release)

TRANSPORTATION:
• Washington state’s Puyallup Tribe urges regulators to revoke permits for a liquefied natural gas ship-fueling facility in Tacoma-area tideflats. (High Country News)
• An Arizona electric vehicle manufacturer says it plans to start building battery-powered big rigs and to develop a hydrogen fuel production plant. (Forbes)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico, adds 16 electric vehicles to its city fleet. (KSFR)
• A Colorado electric vehicle company completes its manufacturing facility expansion and hopes to produce 1,500 vehicles and powertrains by year’s end. (Electrek)

CLIMATE:
• A Hawaii judge rejects oil companies’ bid to toss out a Honolulu city and county lawsuit against the industry for contributing to climate change and its costly effects. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)  
• California regulators say they will not revamp a greenhouse gas emissions cap and trade program this year even though experts believe it has lost its effectiveness. (Associated Press)
• California lawmakers will consider more than 30 climate and energy bills during this year’s legislative session. (Los Angeles Times) 

UTILITIES:
• Victims of a 2020 Oregon and California wildfire allegedly sparked by PacifiCorp equipment file a second lawsuit against the utility. (KDRV)
• A San Diego County Supervisor urges California Gov. Gavin Newsom to offset increasing consumer electricity costs by using the state’s budget surplus to pay for utilities’ capital projects. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

COAL: Wyoming lawmakers consider giving the governor more latitude to sue other states, the federal government or third-parties for impeding state coal production. (Casper Star-Tribune)

Jonathan hails from southwestern Colorado and has been writing about the land, cultures, and communities of the Western United States for more than two decades. He compiles the Western Energy News digest. He is the author of three books, a contributing editor at High Country News, and the editor of the Land Desk, an e-newsletter that provides coverage and context on issues critical to the West.