MATERIALS: The Biden administration proposes overhauling a federal mining law in a way that would secure a domestic supply of minerals needed for the energy transition while also upping environmental protections. (E&E News)
OIL & GAS:
• An Estonian company abandons its federal leases in northeastern Utah and loses access to Colorado River water rights, effectively ending a decades-long effort to mine and process oil shale in the Uinta Basin. (news release)
• California lawmakers pass legislation removing an “industrial override” provision favoring coastal oil and gas drilling approvals, even if they don’t meet state resource protection policies. (Courthouse News Service)
• The federal Bureau of Land Management brings in $13.2 million from an oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming after removing dozens of parcels to protect wildlife habitat. (WyoFile)
• An Alaska utility looks to revive a dormant proposal to build a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to the Anchorage area. (Anchorage Daily News)
• A former California oil and gas regulator claims he was fired for refusing to enforce a law that was about to be suspended and for blowing the whistle on a plan to halt all drilling permits. (Bakersfield Californian)
CLIMATE:
• U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, pushes back on colleagues’ claims that the Willow drilling project is a “carbon bomb,” saying energy demand — not supply — is the true driver of emissions. (E&E News)
• A California school district in a working-class community offers credits for climate advocacy and trains students for clean energy jobs. (Grist)
ELECTRIFICATION: Dozens of California mayors call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to pursue state standards requiring buildings to be all-electric rather than using fossil fuels for cooking and heating. (Utility Dive)
MICROGRIDS: A rural northern California collective community builds a solar and hydroelectric powered microgrid to reduce its reliance on Pacific Gas & Electric. (Yes Magazine)
SOLAR:
• A southern Arizona city considers building a 10 MW solar-plus-storage installation. (Gila Valley Central)
• Oregon offers homeowners and service providers in the central part of the state rebates for rooftop solar and energy storage installations. (KTVZ)
UTILITIES:
• A Nevada regulator proposes requiring NV Energy to disclose details of ratepayer funded sponsorship agreements after controversy erupts over associated benefits. (Nevada Current)
• Hawaii utility regulators hold off on investigating the deadly Maui fires but leave the door open for a future probe. (Honolulu Civil Beat)
TRANSPORTATION: Sacramento, California, aims to cut carbon emissions, improve public health and boost the economy by making streets more friendly to walking and biking. (Sacramento Bee)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: California earmarks $38 million for rebates for installing electric vehicle charging stations in economically disadvantaged areas. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
COMMENTARY: A columnist says a planned 3,000 MW Wyoming wind facility and associated high-voltage transmission line are set to transform the coal-producing state into a clean energy powerhouse. (Reuters)
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