EFFICIENCY: California billionaire Tom Steyer aims to create a “new model of climate investing” by buying residential properties in the West and installing solar panels and other efficiency upgrades on them. (Bloomberg)
ALSO: Arizona receives $47.5 million in federal funds for weatherization and other efficiency upgrades on low-income residents’ homes. (Arizona Central)
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OIL & GAS:
• The U.S. EPA fines a California oil refinery $1.2 million for flaring incidents that spewed pollutants into residential neighborhoods in 2017 and 2019. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• ConocoPhillips begins constructing its Willow drilling project in Alaska, but is challenged by thawing permafrost and a predicted crash in petroleum demand before it comes online in six years. (New York Times)
• New Mexico’s congressional delegation votes against a U.S. House bill aimed at speeding up oil and gas permitting by loosening regulations and waiving fees. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
TRANSITION:
• The Biden administration offers incentives for clean energy projects in fossil fuel-reliant communities, including northwest New Mexico where a coal plant recently closed. (NM Political Report)
• An advocacy group-sponsored study finds Wyoming’s emerging industries could save hundreds of millions of dollars by repurposing Wyoming’s coal assets, like transmission infrastructure and railways, instead of building from scratch. (Casper Star-Tribune)
SOLAR:
• An Oregon startup develops a rooftop solar kit for camper vans and recreational vehicles. (Oregonian)
• El Paso Electric breaks ground on a 120 MW solar-plus-storage facility in southern New Mexico. (KTSM)
STORAGE: California researchers find compressed air energy storage is cost-competitive and feasible for backing up wind and solar power, but is constrained by availability of suitable geography. (PV Magazine)
DIVESTMENT: Oregon legislation that would accelerate state agencies’ divestment from fossil fuel companies dies in committee. (KPVI)
CLEAN ENERGY: Arizona regulators investigate a Phoenix clean energy startup for allegedly misleading investors about its “fusion” technology. (AZInno, subscription)
GRID:
• More than 30 utilities, power generators and other entities agree to participate in the first phase of Southwest Power Pool’s regional market. (Utility Dive)
• Avangrid joins the Western Energy Imbalance Market as its first generation-only entity. (news release)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Salt Lake City, Utah’s city council requires 20% of new multi-family buildings’ parking spaces to be equipped for electric vehicle charging. (KSL)
• A Colorado clean energy nonprofit offers electric bicycles to income-qualified residents at highly discounted prices. (Post-Independent)
COMMENTARY: A former U.S. Transportation Secretary urges the federal government to fund California high-speed rail at the same level it pays for interstate highways. (CalMatters)
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