Western Energy News is one of five regional services published by the Energy News Network. Today’s edition was compiled by Jonathan Thompson.

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CRYPTOCURRENCY: A California investment firm plans to use inexpensive hydropower to convert a Washington state paper mill town into a cryptocurrency mining hub. (Union-Bulletin)

WIND: California environmentalists and members of the Northern Chumash Tribe oppose developers’ plans to install eight offshore wind turbines in a proposed Central Coast marine sanctuary. (Los Angeles Times)

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CLEAN ENERGY: The U.S. Energy Department awards $9 million to Indigenous tribal nations in Western states for renewable energy projects. (Associated Press)

SOLAR: Hawaiian Electric seeks small-scale, shared community solar project proposals. (Maui News)

HYDROGEN: California environmental justice advocates say hydrogen fuel can play a climate change-fighting role in some applications, but should not be used as an excuse to block electrification efforts. (Los Angeles Times)

OIL & GAS:
• Chevron sues the state of California for rejecting hydraulic fracturing applications for over a year, saying it constitutes an unlawful de facto ban. (KGET)
• A Montana state oil and gas lease sale nets the highest per-acre prices since the 2014 Bakken oil boom. (Montana Standard)
• Wyoming environmental advocates urge regulators to revoke an oil and gas company’s drilling permit over wastewater discharges into streams. (WyoFile)
• New Mexico environmental advocates say the state legislature’s structure gives oil and gas lobbyists outsized influence. (Capital & Main)

UTILITIES: California lawmakers consider a bill that would require Pacific Gas & Electric to expedite the burial of power lines in fire-prone areas. (Press-Democrat)

GRID: Oregon farmers and landowners oppose a utility’s plan to acquire easements for a $22 million power line project. (Tillamook Headlight-Herald)

TRANSPORTATION: A northern California transit agency plans to use an $8.5 million federal grant to purchase eight electric buses. (Napa Valley Register) 

NUCLEAR:
• TerraPower, the Bill Gates-backed company planning to build an advanced nuclear reactor in Wyoming, ramps up efforts to produce reactor fuel amid calls for a ban on Russian uranium imports. (WyoFile)
• Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signs a bill streamlining nuclear reactor siting regulations and exempting nuclear facilities from state taxes. (Oil City News)
• Alaska lawmakers advance a bill that would streamline the state’s nuclear microreactor approval process. (KTOO)

CLIMATE: California officials reevaluate the state’s greenhouse gas cap and trade program amid claims it fails to reduce and may even increase pollution in disadvantaged communities. (Los Angeles Times)

COMMENTARY:
• A California geologist and an energy policy expert say geothermal projects at the Salton Sea could provide baseload power and solve the lithium supply crunch with adequate policy support. (The Conversation)
• A New Mexico editorial board urges lawmakers to consider paying out oil and gas dividends to state residents. (Albuquerque Journal)

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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.