TRANSPORTATION: California regulators propose requiring 35% of new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2026, the first step toward banning gasoline-powered cars by 2035. (New York Times)

ALSO: A southern California public transit agency becomes the first in the nation to transition all of its trains to run on renewable fuel. (CBS Los Angeles)

OIL & GAS:
• A Colorado real estate developer plans to drill 26 oil and gas wells in one of its developments, with proposed wells sitting within 500 feet of future homesites. (Coloradoan)
• An energy analysis firm says regulators issued 904 drilling permits last month in the Permian Basin, an all-time high. (Bloomberg)
• A Colorado environmental group’s analysis finds New Mexico oil and gas producers set a record for drilling-related spills last year. (news release)

CLEAN ENERGY:
• Indigenous tribes in the Southwest team up with corporate investors to build utility-scale renewable energy facilities on their lands. (Time)
• Hawaiian Electric says it obtained 35% of its power from renewable sources in 2021, while half of Maui County’s electricity came from renewables. (Maui News)
• A southern New Mexico county considers developing regulations for solar and wind facilities. (Silver City Daily Press)

UTILITIES:
• A Washington state utility and city plan a community solar project that will generate revenue to help low-income households pay their energy bills. (KNKX)
• A California city audit finds the municipal utility has fallen short of ensuring the city is buying carbon-free electricity. (Palo Alto Online)

COAL: The University of Wyoming breaks ground on a house constructed of coal-derived carbon materials and char bricks. (news release)  

NUCLEAR:
• Regulators say a uranium mill in southeastern Utah is violating federal clean air rules by leaving hazardous waste uncovered. (Durango Herald)
• Defense Department officials say the Idaho National Laboratory will build a mobile nuclear microreactor to power military equipment. (Breaking Defense) 

CLIMATE: A California climate advocacy group says San Diego-area cities are falling behind in efforts to transform auto-centric landscapes into walkable neighborhoods. (San Diego Union-Tribune) 

COMMENTARY: An editorial board urges California regulators to adopt an even more aggressive zero-emissions vehicle requirement than they recently proposed, saying “we are running out of time to act on climate change.” (Los Angeles Times) 

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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.