CLIMATE: A peer-reviewed study finds wildfire smoke pollution in California, Washington and Oregon over the last several years has wiped out nearly half of the total air quality gains made since 2000. (OPB)
ALSO:
• A U.S. lawmaker from Colorado says the Biden administration’s newly formed climate corps — which will employ 20,000 young adults to plant trees, install solar panels and mitigate wildfire hazard — will be especially beneficial to the West. (CPR)
• The U.S. EPA awards nearly $20 million to dozens of Northwest tribal nations and state agencies to fund climate planning, pollution reduction and clean energy deployment efforts. (news release)
SOLAR:
• California’s grid operator predicts the Oct. 14 solar eclipse will reduce solar generation by about 9,000 MW, depriving the state of a major portion of its midday power supply. (S&P Global)
• California regulators delay considering a proposal that would slash compensation for rooftop solar on multifamily buildings until Oct. 12. (GV Wire)
CLEAN ENERGY:
• Xcel Energy proposes spending $15 billion to double the amount of clean energy generating capacity on its Colorado grid over the next seven years. (Denver Gazette)
• California’s grid operator’s hydropower output during the first half of 2023 increases 89% over last year, helping push renewable generation to 56.3% of its total fuel mix. (S&P Global)
• A clean energy organization finds Colorado’s solar, wind and battery storage capacity stand at about 7,000 MW, or one third of the state’s total energy mix. (news release)
HYDROPOWER:
• A conservation group sues the federal Bureau of Land Management over its Trump-era approval of the proposed Eagle Crest pumped hydropower storage project in southern California, saying the agency failed to conduct an adequate review. (E&E News, subscription)
• Hydropower advocates say federal relicensing delays for projects such as California’s Oroville Dam threaten grid reliability and power sector decarbonization efforts. (E&E News)
• California lawmakers pass a bill requiring an assessment of wave and tidal energy potential along the state’s coast. (news release)
GRID: NV Energy says federal permitting delays have put its proposed Greenlink transmission project that would carry solar and wind power across Nevada 11 months behind schedule so far. (KTNV)
UTILITIES: Wyoming lawmakers table a raft of bills aimed at heading off Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed 29.2% rate increase after utility officials and industrial power customers urge them to back off. (WyoFile)
ELECTRIC VEHICLES: New Mexico environmental officials tell a crowded public hearing that proposed clean car and truck rules would benefit the climate, public health and household budgets. (Santa Fe New Mexican)
OIL & GAS: There will be no federal oil and gas lease sales in Montana this year after the Bureau of Land Management withdraws nominated parcels over environmental concerns. (Billings Gazette)
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