Biden clears legal path for Nevada lithium mine

LITHIUM: The Biden administration says it has completed a court-ordered review and clarification of federal mining law that should allow construction to continue on the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. (Associated Press)

UTILITIES:
• Tucson, Arizona, voters reject a new utility franchise agreement and fee to fund climate action programs and transmission line undergrounding. (Arizona Daily Star)
• A second southern California city considers leaving a county power authority following allegations of a lack of transparency and questionable oversight. (Voice of OC)
• Analysts say growing electricity demand combined with drought-diminished hydropower supplies are pushing utility rates upward. (Idaho Capital Sun)

ELECTRIFICATION: Palo Alto, California, allows a celebrity chef to bypass the city’s electrification codes and use natural gas in his new restaurant after developers threatened to sue. (Palo Alto Weekly)

OIL & GAS:
• A U.S. appeals court rejects environmentalists’ challenge of the proposed Alaska LNG pipeline project, saying federal regulators’ review adhered to environmental laws. (Reuters)
• A company withdraws its application for its proposed 32-well oil and gas development in northern Colorado following widespread opposition from residents and county officials. (Capital & Main)
• A peer-reviewed study finds air pollution from oil and gas development in Wyoming is harming residents’ health. (Casper Star-Tribune)
• A federal appeals court panel hears arguments in conservationists’ lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s approval of a proposed 3,500-well oil and gas development in Wyoming. (news release)

SOLAR:
• A California mine plans to install a 15 MW solar and 7.5 MWh battery storage system to cover 50% of its power demand. (news release)
• A New Mexico electric cooperative plans to partner with Taos Pueblo on a 5 MW solar installation with 10 MWh of battery storage. (Big Pivots)
• Construction is completed on a 140 MW solar installation with 80 MWh of battery storage in southern California. (PV Magazine)
• The operator of a recently shuttered coal power plant in Hawaii considers installing solar-plus-battery storage at the site after the facility is demolished. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, subscription)

WIND: The University of California contracts to purchase 85 MW of power from the proposed SunZia wind project in New Mexico. (news release)

CLEAN ENERGY: Arizona State University will receive up to $70 million in federal funds to establish an institute devoted to reducing industrial process heating’s greenhouse gas emissions. (Daily Independent)

HYDROPOWER: Commercial fishing and conservation groups sue Pacific Gas & Electric for allegedly harming fish with its Potter Valley hydropower dam in northern California. (news release)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
• A northern California county applies for federal funds to install electric vehicle charging stations in low-income and underserved areas. (Marin Independent Journal)
• Central Oregon Community College receives nearly $3 million in federal funding for electric vehicle technician workforce training. (KTVZ)

CLIMATE: Alaska lawmakers advance a bill that would offer carbon offset credits for preserving forests. (Anchorage Daily News)

COMMENTARY: A California editorial board urges state lawmakers to encourage solar installations in highway rights of way, on rooftops and over parking lots, agricultural fields and canals. (Los Angeles Times)