HYDROPOWER: California officials expect a series of atmospheric rivers that slammed the West Coast and filled reservoirs to boost hydropower production this summer. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A Wyoming lawmaker’s bill that would phase out electric vehicle sales dies in committee. (Wyoming Public Radio)
• California, Oregon, Hawaii and Washington topped the nation for electric vehicle sales over the last two years, according to a transportation electrification firm. (OPB)
Sponsored Link
Fresh Energy seeks an executive director
Fresh Energy, a Minnesota-based clean energy and climate policy nonprofit with regional impact and national influence, is seeking a charismatic and inspirational leader to serve as its next Executive Director.
SOLAR:
• Some drought-plagued farmers in California’s Imperial Valley lease fallow fields to solar developers, bolstering state energy supplies and cutting water consumption. (Los Angeles Times)
• A New Mexico county postpones a decision on a proposed community solar project after residents express concerns about its impacts. (Deming Headlight)
GRID:
• California energy experts urge regulators to expedite transmission permitting to prepare the grid for forecasted increases in power demand. (CalMatters)
• California’s grid operator releases a draft analysis of the costs and benefits of forming a regional transmission organization governed by representatives from various states. (RTO Insider, subscription)
UTILITIES:
• Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to pay $24 million to California counties and other public entities to settle claims relating to the 2021 Dixie Fire that was ignited by the utility’s equipment. (Action News Now)
• California regulators greenlight San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California solar and energy storage projects totaling 800 MW. (Utility Dive)
• A California program pays $51.3 million to erase San Diego Gas & Electric customers’ overdue utility bill balances incurred during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. (Times of San Diego)
STORAGE: An energy firm plans to install 420 MWh of battery storage totaling at four natural gas plants in California. (Power)
EFFICIENCY: An energy efficiency nonprofit finds Colorado could substantially cut carbon emissions by updating building codes. (Canary Media)
OIL & GAS:
• New Mexico lawmakers begin debating how to spend a record-breaking, oil and gas-fueled budget surplus and a proposal to hire more staff to police the industry. (Capital & Main)
• Colorado’s top four donors to 2022 federal campaigns have oil and gas industry ties. (Colorado Sun)
COAL:
• A Colorado community works to develop its outdoor recreation economy to soften the blow of a coal power plant’s and mine’s scheduled 2030 retirement. (Craig Daily Press)
• High capital costs and feasibility concerns foil efforts so far to retrofit Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah coal plants with carbon capture equipment to keep them operating beyond planned retirement dates. (Salt Lake Tribune)
More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West