Biden forks out $60 million for enhanced geothermal

GEOTHERMAL: The Biden administration awards $60 million to three enhanced geothermal energy pilot projects in California, Utah and Oregon. (The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION: New Mexico lawmakers pass legislation requiring reductions in transportation fuel greenhouse gas emission intensity and establishing a carbon credit market for fuel producers. (NM Political Report)

OIL & GAS: 

• Apache Corporation agrees to pay $4 million to settle a New Mexico and federal lawsuit over air pollution law violations at 23 of the company’s Permian Basin oil and gas facilities between 2019 and 2022. (USA Today)
• A liquefied natural gas export terminal in northern Mexico is expected to begin shipping Permian Basin gas to Asia as soon as next year. (New York Times)

WIND:

• The Biden administration finalizes two areas for floating offshore wind facilities off southern Oregon’s coast. (Associated Press)
• A Biden administration push to develop offshore wind along California’s coast collides with another administration effort to protect the region’s waters with marine sanctuaries. (Bloomberg)

SOLAR: A report finds California and Arizona lead the nation in rooftop solar capacity, but recent net metering policy changes threaten further progress. (news release)

UTILITIES:

• Nevada regulators vote to require NV Energy ratepayers to shoulder the entire cost of the utility’s employee bonuses. (Nevada Current)
• California advocates and union members butt heads over a proposal to replace San Diego Gas & Electric with a municipal utility. (San Diego Union-Tribune)

COAL:

• Wyoming advocates worry state spending on unproven technologies aimed at prolonging the life of the coal industry will pull investments away from clean energy. (Inside Climate News)
• A company completes phasing out coal use at its soda ash production facility in Wyoming. (news release)

CLIMATE:

• A peer-reviewed study finds most polar bears are unlikely to be able to adapt to climate change-affected diets, driving them to starvation. (Associated Press)
• Democratic Arizona lawmakers propose legislation that would require utilities to cut emissions even as Republican regulators undo clean energy and efficiency standards. (RTO Insider, subscription)

NUCLEAR: Gillette, Wyoming, looks to lure a nuclear microreactor company to establish a manufacturing facility in the Powder River Basin coal mining town. (Cowboy State Daily)

MINING: A Wyoming company claims to have found a 2.34 billion metric ton deposit of rare earth minerals in the southeastern part of the state. (Cowboy State Daily)

COMMENTARY: A Wyoming columnist urges lawmakers to drop a proposed $10 million carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery stimulus bill, saying it would only benefit ExxonMobil. (WyoFile)