COAL: A New Mexico startup still has not met benchmarks needed to take over the aging San Juan coal plant and install carbon capture equipment, making it increasingly likely the plant will shut down on Sept. 30. (S&P Global)

ALSO: Arizona regulators seek public input on how to mitigate the impacts of coal plant closures on affected communities. (Arizona Daily Star)

OIL & GAS:
• A New Mexico petroleum association files a legal appeal to block state regulations aimed at reducing oil and gas facility ozone pollution that went into effect last week. (Albuquerque Journal)
• Hawaii officials detect a chemical linked to petroleum in a well near a U.S. Navy fuel facility that spilled and contaminated drinking water last year. (Associated Press)

POLLUTION: Colorado’s air quality board approves a plan to reduce ozone pollution in the Denver metro area, but officials admit it won’t be enough to meet federal standards by a 2024 deadline. (CBS News Colorado, Colorado Sun)

NATURAL GAS: Officials from San Diego-based Sempra, a nationwide utility firm, say they support the city’s plan to ban natural gas hookups in new and existing construction. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

UTILITIES:
• Electricity bills on a Hawaii island are expected to increase 7% next month when the utility shuts down a coal power plant and turns to more expensive oil power instead. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, subscription)   
• Property owners sue Public Service Company of New Mexico, claiming the utility’s equipment sparked the McBride Fire in April that killed two people and destroyed 200 homes. (news release)

SOLAR:
• A renewable energy developer proposes constructing a 500 MW solar-plus-storage project in eastern Washington where livestock grazing and farming would continue between photovoltaic panels. (Tri-City Herald)
• Washington state officials seek public input on a 470 MW solar-plus-storage project proposed for the eastern part of the state.
(Tri-City Herald)
• Solar advocates say Idaho Power’s proposal to slash net metering payments for rooftop solar by 60% would hurt the industry. (Utah Public Radio)  

CLEAN ENERGY: California analysts say the renewable energy boom that could be prompted by the proposed congressional climate bill may be hampered by conservationists’ opposition to siting solar and wind projects on public land. (Los Angeles Times) 

HYDROPOWER: A court blocks federal regulators’ bid to revoke California’s authority to impose conditions on existing hydroelectricity projects. (Reuters) 

TRANSPORTATION: A lack of electric vehicle chargers in rural Washington slows EV adoption, and a paucity of EV owners makes building charging stations less profitable. (Crosscut)

HYDROGEN: Colorado officials revive a bid to establish a green hydrogen production facility at a coal plant scheduled to retire in 2025. (Gazette)

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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.