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Biden bans drilling on western Colorado’s Thompson Divide

By Jonas Monast

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OIL & GAS: The Biden administration finalizes a 20-year ban on new oil and gas drilling and mining on 222,000 acres of federal land in the Thompson Divide area of western Colorado. (Colorado Sun)

ALSO:

  • Permian Basin petroleum companies plan to develop pipelines to Gulf Coast export terminals designed to meet increasing global demand for liquified natural gas. (Carlsbad Current-Argus, subscription)
  • The U.S. EPA orders Colorado regulators to revise a natural gas processing plant’s air quality permit after finding it failed to ensure flaring at the facility reduces smog-forming emissions. (news release)

BIOFUELS: Phillips 66 completes converting a California Bay Area oil refinery into a biodiesel production facility. (ESG Today)

UTILITIES:

  • At least four self-described clean energy candidates win seats on the board of the Salt River Project, an Arizona utility. (KJZZ)
  • Victims of last year’s deadly Maui blazes balk at Hawaiian Electric’s proposed 5% fee on ratepayers’ bills to help the utility fund wildfire prevention efforts. (Honolulu Civil Beat)

SOLAR: Hawaiian Electric streamlines its rooftop solar and battery storage incentive program, resulting in reduced benefits for some customers. (Utility Dive)

BATTERIES:

NUCLEAR: California advocates sue the Biden administration for allocating $1 billion to the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to keep it operating, saying the award was based on a flawed analysis that doesn’t recognize some hazards. (Associated Press)

CLIMATE:

  • A nonprofit estimates Los Angeles County must invest at least $12.5 billion over the next 15 years to protect residents from climate change-exacerbated extreme weather, wildfires, rising sea levels and public health threats. (Los Angeles Times)
  • Idaho lawmakers consider legislation drafted by conservative think tanks and fossil fuel industry groups that would block large banks from factoring climate and environmental concerns into investment decisions. (Idaho Statesman)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: A Washington state utility offers $50 credits to electric vehicle owners who agree not to charge when power demand peaks. (Center Square)

CARBON CAPTURE:

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