SOLAR: A federal court rejects utilities’ argument that a solar-plus-storage installation in Montana is too large to be a “qualifying facility” under a law requiring some utilities to buy electricity from eligible projects. (Utility Dive)
ALSO:
• Washington state officials recommend approval for two proposed 80 MW solar installations and begin reviewing a separate 160 MW project. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• An electric vehicle charging firm breaks ground on a 75 MW solar installation in southern California. (Inside EVs)
UTILITIES:
• Federal regulators undertake “enhanced surveillance” to determine whether market manipulation caused natural gas price spikes in California this winter, but stop short of launching a formal investigation. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Colorado lawmakers form a committee to investigate the causes of high utility bills. (CPR)
• California utilities and energy experts urge policy-makers to wean the state from natural gas in buildings and electricity generation, saying it could relieve customers from volatile price swings. (Utility Dive)
ELECTRIFICATION: Opponents of Eugene, Oregon’s recently passed natural gas hookup ban launch an effort to bring the policy to a public vote. (KLCC)
EFFICIENCY: An economic impact analysis finds a proposed Colorado rule that would require building upgrades to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could cost owners and tenants up to $3.1 billion. (Gazette)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• Utah State University partners with two other firms to develop a battery-powered electric train for the American market. (Electrive)
• U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, a Utah Republican, opposes a Biden administration plan to include electric vehicles in the federal renewable fuel program, calling it an assault on the internal combustion engine. (Reuters)
• Cities in Oregon and Washington state receive their first electric fire trucks. (NWNews)
OIL & GAS:
• Colorado lawmakers propose plugging abandoned oil and gas wells with biochar, saying it could stop gas leaks and sequester carbon. (Associated Press)
• California advocates say the oil and gas industry weaponizes high gasoline prices to sway the public and lawmakers to oppose drilling regulations. (Capital & Main)
CLIMATE: Oregon lawmakers propose a bill that would require the state public employee retirement fund to divest from fossil fuel holdings. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• New Mexico solar and wind industry officials push back against a proposal to codify the right to a clean environment, saying it could stifle clean energy development. (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
• A poll finds a majority of Western voters support transitioning to 100% clean energy and protecting public lands from oil and gas drilling. (Los Angeles Times)
GRID: An environmental group says it has found evidence of prehistoric fossils in the path of the proposed Greenlink West transmission corridor in Nevada.
(news release)
NUCLEAR: Republican U.S. senators from Idaho and Wyoming introduce a bill that would establish a program aimed at boosting domestic uranium mining.
(news release)
HYDROPOWER: Lake Powell drops to a record low level, further diminishing Glen Canyon Dam’s hydropower generating capacity. (KUNC)
COAL: PacifiCorp officials urge Wyoming lawmakers to reject a bill that would expand a rule requiring utilities to consider extending retiring coal plants’ lives by installing carbon capture. (WyoFile)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West