HYDROPOWER: Federal regulators greenlight the removal of four fish-harming hydropower dams on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, drawing tribal nations’ and environmentalists’ applause. (High Country News)
OIL & GAS:
• Texas regulators investigate oil and gas wastewater injection wells after the Permian Basin is shaken by a 5.3-magnitude earthquake, the region’s largest on record. (Bloomberg)
• Conservation and taxpayer advocates call on the Biden administration to increase oil and gas reclamation bond requirements to ensure industry, not taxpayers, foots cleanup costs. (WyoFile)
• Federal wildlife officials extend endangered species protections to the southern distinct lesser prairie chicken found in and around the Permian Basin, potentially affecting drilling activity. (E&E News)
• Environmental and Indigenous groups say a proposed oil and gas drilling ban around Chaco Culture National Historical Park in New Mexico doesn’t go far enough to address existing fossil fuel infrastructure in the area. (E&E News, subscription)
HYDROGEN:
• A University of Utah study finds a proposed hydrogen production facility and power plant would use about 38% less water than the coal plant currently on the site. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Arizona, Nevada and the Navajo Nation team up to vie for federal funding to establish a regional hydrogen production and distribution hub. (news release)
SOLAR:
• A northern California county approves construction of a 12-acre solar installation, rejecting residents’ claim it damages open space. (Independent)
• A solar developer and federal and state agencies retire grazing rights on 215,000 acres in the Mojave Desert to offset impacts of the company’s utility-scale projects in California and Nevada. (PV Magazine)
• Hundreds of solar and storage companies urge the Biden administration to reject proposed tariffs on imported solar products triggered by a California module manufacturer. (PV Tech)
CLEAN ENERGY: An Alaska utility explores installing wind turbines on offshore oil platforms and developing geothermal power at a volcano as its natural gas sources become less secure. (KDLL)
BATTERIES: Arizona utility Salt River Project plans to install two grid-charged battery storage systems with a 340 MW combined output. (news release)
(news release)
ELECTRIFICATION: A California startup plans to equip induction stoves with lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to draw less electricity from an outlet and letting owners avoid electric panel upgrades. (Canary Media)
CRYPTOCURRENCY: A California company’s plans to establish one of the nation’s largest cryptocurrency mining operations at a defunct paper mill in Washington state raises concerns about potential impacts to the grid. (InvestigateWest)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• California announces plans to spend an additional $1 billion to build out its electric vehicle charging network, with the majority going to heavy- and medium-duty vehicle charging. (Bloomberg)
• Berkeley, California’s city council considers offering residents rebates on e-bike purchases. (Berkeleyside)
UTILITIES: A Wyoming man sues the Beartooth Electric Cooperative for allegedly sparking a 2021 wildfire that killed his wife. (Wyoming Tribune Eagle)
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