OIL & GAS: A New Mexico COVID-era program allowing oil and gas producers to temporarily shut down wells without penalty has benefited a company owned by an associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Capital & Main)

ALSO:
• Los Angeles releases a draft ordinance that would ban new oil and gas drilling and phase out existing production over the next 20 years. (City News Service)
• The U.S. Interior Department told an Alaska village’s officials they’d have more time to comment on the proposed Willow oil drilling project, but reversed course just days later. (Grist)
• Wyoming researchers find an oil and gas drilling timing restriction aimed at protecting the imperiled greater sage grouse does not align with the bird’s use of critical habitat. (WyoFile)
• The U.S. Energy Department announces up to $32 million in funding for developing methane monitoring and mitigation technology in oil and gas producing regions. (news release) 

STORAGE: Montana regulators dismiss a proposed 50 MW battery storage facility after a court found a law allowing utilities to bill customers for such projects before construction was unconstitutional. (Billings Gazette)

SOLAR:
• San Diego launches a $10 million program to provide solar panels to low-income families at little to no cost. (CBS8)
• Washington state labor unions and farmers urge state officials to approve a 470 MW solar power facility proposed for private land in the southeastern part of the state, while the local Republican party opposes it. (RTO Insider, subscription) 

EFFICIENCY: Colorado researchers find more than half of residential air conditioning power consumption can be attributed to dehumidifying rather than cooling the air. (Colorado Sun) 

ELECTRIFICATION: Colorado climate advocates say a proposed state rule that would require developers to pay the full cost of natural gas hookups would incentivize electrification and lower utility bills. (CBS Colorado)

GRID:
• An unplanned outage in northern California leaves 3,500 Pacific Gas & Electric customers without power. (Sacramento Bee)  
• Grid interconnection delays, permitting challenges and supply chain constraints are hampering California solar and wind development, potentially leading to impending power shortages. (Reuters) 

CLIMATE: California Gov. Gavin Newsom urges state lawmakers to set aggressive emissions-reduction targets, increase the use of renewable energy and establish buffer zones around oil and gas wells. (Los Angeles Times)  

COAL: The U.S. Commerce Department grants two Colorado communities $8.5 million to help mitigate the impacts of planned coal power plant retirements in coming years. (Steamboat Pilot & Today)

MINERALS: The federal government is failing to quickly approve new mining permits even as the Biden administration tries to create a U.S. supply chain for clean energy metals. (E&E News)

CLEAN ENERGY: U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm touts clean energy innovation during an Oregon visit. (KVAL)

More from the Energy News Network: Midwest | Southeast | Northeast | West

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.