Arizona county reverses controversial gas plant approval

OIL & GAS: An Arizona county votes to reverse its zoning designation that cleared the way for a proposed natural gas peaker plant near homes following stiff opposition from residents and advocates. (Arizona Republic)

• Alaska regulators and advocates urge utilities to commit to a plan for addressing a looming natural gas shortfall, saying the decision-making window is closing. (Northern Journal)
• The U.S. EPA orders Colorado regulators to revise a Denver-area petroleum refinery’s air quality permit, saying it does not ensure adequate pollution monitoring. (Colorado Sun)

PUBLIC LANDS: The Biden administration proposes banning new oil and gas and geothermal development on 264,000 acres of federal land in the Ruby Mountains in Nevada. (news release)

UTILITIES:

• Oregon lawmakers propose legislation that would block utilities from raising rates while wildfire liability lawsuits against them are pending. (Associated Press)
• Public Service Company of New Mexico seeks at least 900 MW of new energy resources in advance of its planned 2031 exit from the Four Corners coal plant. (news release)
• NorthWestern Energy agrees to provide a combined 125 MW of power to two Montana data centers. (Data Center Dynamics)

WIND:

• Wind turbine technicians in Western states advocate for improved worker training and stricter safety standards. (High Country News)
• Wyoming advocates and residents ask a judge to block the proposed Rail Tie wind facility from connecting to federal transmission lines, saying the project would harm eagles and bats. (Cowboy State Daily)

SOLAR:

• A southern Nevada county votes to adopt new utility-scale solar development regulations, including a one-mile setback from existing homes. (Pahrump Valley Times)
• A developer secures $550 million in financing for its 290 MW Roadrunner solar-plus-storage project under development near Tucson, Arizona. (PV Tech)

CARBON CAPTURE: The U.S. EPA greenlights a developer’s proposal to inject and sequester captured carbon in a southern California oil field. (Californian)

POLITICS: Wyoming’s Freedom Caucus-dominated legislature prepares to consider legislation relating to nuclear waste, enhanced oil production, coal severance taxes and utility wildfire liability limits. (WyoFile)

TRANSITION: A nonpartisan research firm finds complex federal grant applications hinder Wyoming coal communities’ ability to access energy transition funds. (Inside Climate News)

CLEAN ENERGY: A study finds clean energy-generated power exceeded California’s electricity demand during a record-breaking 98 of 116 days last spring and summer without experiencing significant outages. (Electrek)

EMISSIONS: Colorado regulators consider proposed rules aimed at curbing landfills’ methane emissions. (CPR)