GEOTHERMAL: The developer of a geothermal project proposed for a rare toad’s habitat in Nevada downsizes the planned facility after the amphibian receives federal protections. (Nevada Current)
COAL:
• Montana officials seek to toss out water quality standards for a reservoir contaminated by selenium from an upstream coal mine following the mine operator’s campaign to strike the limits. (Montana Free Press)
• Crews begin injecting cavity-filling foam into Utah’s largest coal mine in the latest attempt to extinguish a fire that has burned and halted production for three months so far. (Salt Lake Tribune)
OIL & GAS: California oil and gas industry officials consider suing Los Angeles over its recent drilling ban and plan to phase out existing wells. (Los Angeles Business Journal)
NATURAL GAS:
• Colorado regulators approve Xcel Energy’s proposal to install larger natural gas lines in a Denver neighborhood over objections that it would increase methane consumption and emissions. (Denver Gazette)
• Investigators say an explosion that injured a man and demolished a building in an Alaska city likely was caused by a natural gas leak. (Alaska Public Media)
UTILITIES: California utility ratepayer advocates criticize Pacific Gas & Electric for laying off thousands of vegetation management workers and linesmen, saying it will hamper wildfire hazard reduction efforts. (Grist)
GRID:
• Energy analysts say Western utilities and states are more amenable to joining regional transmission organizations after September’s heat wave-induced grid strain demonstrated the need for collaboration. (Utility Dive)
• Heavy snowfall in central Oregon topples utility lines, leaving more than 11,000 households without power. (Central Oregon Daily)
SOLAR:
• California rooftop solar companies predict regulators’ proposal to slash net metering rates will spur demand for residential battery storage. (Canary Media)
• A New Mexico village approves a lease for a proposed community solar project. (Silver City Daily Press)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Canada electric vehicle manufacturer begins production at its Mesa, Arizona, facility. (news release)
BATTERIES:
• California analysts say the state’s push for more electric vehicles is running up against a failure to plan for recycling or disposing of spent EV batteries. (Insider)
• A California lithium iron battery startup plans to begin production at its San Francisco Bay Area factory in February. (Batteries News)
CLIMATE:
• California researchers find wealthy suburban and exurban households have larger climate footprints than less affluent households in city centers. (New York Times)
• Washington Gov. Jay Inslee calls on state lawmakers to allocate $10 million to a proposed clean energy research center in the Tri-Cities area. (Spokesman-Review)
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