OIL & GAS: The owner of a pipeline that spilled thousands of barrels of oil off the southern California coast in 2015 agrees to pay fishermen and property owners $230 million to settle a class-action lawsuit. (Associated Press)
ALSO:
• An analysis finds planned Permian Basin drilling projects could emit more than 44 billion metric tons of carbon during their lifetime. (Guardian)
• A taxpayer advocacy group finds New Mexico earned about $3 billion less from federal oil and gas royalties over the last decade than it would have under the Biden administration’s increased royalty rate. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• Attorneys representing Wyoming’s oil and gas industry argue in federal court that the Biden administration’s leasing pause violated the General Mineral Leasing Act. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• The University of Utah considers divesting from up to $90 million in fossil fuel holdings, but not until at least next year. (Salt Lake Tribune, subscription)
• Wyoming’s energy industry employment numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels despite rising oil and natural gas prices. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)
CLEAN ENERGY: Hawaii utility officials say a bill headed to the governor’s desk requiring utilities to use “firm” generating sources for one-third of their renewable portfolios would impede efforts to deploy clean energy. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
SOLAR: A developer cancels two planned utility-scale solar projects in Hawaii due to supply chain constraints and rising equipment prices. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
GRID: California Gov. Gavin Newsom asks lawmakers for $5 billion to fortify the grid with new power generation and storage capacity and an additional $1.2 billion to help residents pay utility bills. (Sacramento Bee)
TRANSPORTATION: Republican attorneys general from 17 states sue the Biden administration for reinstating California’s power to set stricter vehicle emissions standards than the national limit. (The Hill)
UTILITIES:
• Records show Public Service Company of New Mexico polled customers to shape messaging around its abandonment of a coal power plant later this year. (Santa Fe New Mexican)
• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis criticizes an administrative ruling allowing Xcel Energy to charge ratepayers $509 million to recoup costs incurred during a 2021 cold spell. (Gazette)
• A California city considers consolidating its municipal natural gas and water utilities. (Press-Telegram)
HYDROGEN: Pacific Gas & Electric and California consider seeking federal funds to establish a statewide hydrogen hub. (Natural Gas Intelligence)
STORAGE: Pacific Gas & Electric plans to install 232 MW of battery storage at two facilities in San Joaquin County, California. (Ripon Bulletin)
COMMENTARY: PG&E is among the companies highlighted in a segment on John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight criticizing utility business practices and oversight. (Last Week Tonight/YouTube)
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