GRID: The U.S. Interior Department completes an environmental review for the SunZia transmission line that would ferry wind power across New Mexico and advances permitting for two other lines in Utah and Nevada. (Associated Press)
URANIUM: Arizona regulators issue a key water quality permit to a controversial uranium mine adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park. (Arizona Republic)
COAL:
• A Colorado county approves Xcel Energy’s plan to close the Comanche 3 coal power plant by the end of 2031 and while still paying property taxes until its previously scheduled 2040 retirement. (Pueblo Chieftain)
• Colorado lawmakers advance a bill that would direct $15 million to support communities affected by coal plant closures. (Denver Gazette)
OIL & GAS:
• An Arizona city builds up its natural gas delivery infrastructure to meet growing demand and lure new industry. (East Valley Tribune)
• Alaska lawmakers advance a bill allowing a natural gas utility to use bonds to expand its infrastructure and convert more homes from heating oil to methane. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
• Montana’s oil and gas industry officials welcome the resumption of the federal leasing program, but say increased royalty rates hurt the economics of drilling. (Center Square)
SOLAR:
• Arizona utility Salt River Project brings a 100 MW solar plant online. (NewsBreak)
• Construction begins on a 120-MW solar facility in Idaho that will be the state’s largest. (Solar Power World)
• A developer proposes a utility-scale, community solar-plus-storage project that would meet most of a Hawaii island’s electricity demand. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
• Some residents of a small southern Nevada town protest a proposed utility-scale solar project on nearby public land, saying it would hurt tourism and property values. (Pahrump Valley Times)
HYDROPOWER: California officials expect the ongoing drought to diminish hydropower production this summer, which could force grid operators to rely on natural gas. (Bloomberg)
GEOTHERMAL: The federal Bureau of Land Management leases 21,685 acres in Utah for geothermal power development. (Renewables Now)
BIOFUELS: Oregon regulators consider a proposal to construct a renewable diesel plant in an agricultural area along the Columbia River. (Big Country News)
UTILITIES: Northwest utilities invest millions of dollars to upgrade infrastructure, remove trees and install power shutoff systems to reduce the risk of sparking wildfires. (Jefferson Public Radio)
CLIMATE: Environmentalists say the Land Back movement, which advocates returning land to tribal nations, can facilitate Indigenous efforts to fight climate change and injustice. (ABC News)
LITHIUM: The Biden administration asks Congress for $500 million to fund early-stage mining projects aimed at extracting minerals for use in lithium-ion batteries. (E&E News)
TRANSITION: A California program incentivizes an electric bus manufacturer to provide union jobs to disadvantaged workers. (Capital & Main)
COMMENTARY: Arizona energy policy analysts urge state regulators to uphold their earlier decision to hold the state’s largest utility to an 8.7% return on equity, or profit margin. (Arizona Republic)
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