Biggest US clean energy project generates power

This roundup of energy news headlines comes from our Western Energy News newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.

CLEAN ENERGY

• Pattern Energy begins generating electricity at its 3.5-GW SunZia wind project in eastern New Mexico that is set to become the nation’s largest clean energy installation when it goes online later this year. (E&E News)

• Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) is expected to sign a recently passed bill that would allow residents to install plug-in or balcony solar without utility approval. (Colorado Sun)

• Arizona utility Salt River Project brings online its 55-MW Copper Crossing solar project, where it will test three different types of photovoltaic panels. (PV Magazine, news release)

• A Southern California school district completes a 3.5-MW rooftop solar project across 12 sites. (PV Magazine)

• The National Laboratory of the Rockies — formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory — prepares to remove ​“iconic” wind turbines from its campus near Boulder, Colorado, after the Trump administration changed its name and mission. (CPR)

• Jerome County, Idaho’s commissioners adopt restrictive utility-scale solar and wind project zoning ordinances aimed at preserving agricultural land. (KIVI)

• A California anti-offshore wind advocacy group calls on the Trump administration to cancel leases along the state’s northern coast and refund the developers. (New Times)

GRID

• Colorado regulators override Elbert County’s decision last year to block a section of Xcel Energy’s proposed Power Pathways transmission project, clearing the way for construction. (Colorado Sun)

• Colorado lawmakers pass legislation that would require utilities to consider deploying ​“advanced transmission technologies” to improve grid efficiency. (Utility Dive)

UTILITIES

• Arizona Public Service agrees to a $7 million settlement and to halt electricity shutoffs when temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit following the 2024 death of an 82-year-old woman whose power was cut off during a heat wave. (Arizona Republic)

• A California legislative committee kills a bill that would have authorized the state to sue fossil fuel companies to recoup climate change-related insurance costs. (E&E News)

• Montana advocates push back on a proposed NorthWestern Energy-Black Hills Corp. merger, saying it could short the state’s customers. (Daily Montanan)

TRANSPORTATION

• EV Realty brings online a 9-MW, 76-port multi-fleet electric truck charging hub in San Bernardino, California. (Infrastructure News)

• Data show that used EV sales in California jumped more than 20% year over year in the first quarter of 2026, possibly spurred by high gasoline prices. (Los Angeles Times)

DATA CENTERS

• Southern California residents urge the Imperial Irrigation District to reject a proposed data center’s bid to purchase electricity from the water and power utility. (KPBS)

NUCLEAR

• Wyoming advocates and residents call on officials to slow down efforts to spark a nuclear industry renaissance in the state and carefully consider potential impacts. (WyoFile)

CLIMATE

• Hawaii lawmakers push back on Democratic Gov. Josh Green’s proposed expansion of gas plant and LNG import infrastructure, saying it will perpetuate fossil fuel reliance and jeopardize state climate goals. (E&E News)

• A federal appeals court considers the cruise industry’s and Trump administration’s bid to block Hawaii’s new fee on cruise ship passengers to fund climate change mitigation. (E&E News)

• A judge pauses California’s lawsuit seeking to recoup climate change-related damages from petroleum firms while the U.S. Supreme Court hears challenges to similar suits. (E&E News)

STORAGE

• EsVolta brings online its 15-MW battery energy storage system in Santa Paula, California. (TipRanks)

OIL & GAS

• California analysts say the state could suffer from a petroleum supply crisis and higher fuel prices if the Iran conflict continues to disrupt shipping traffic in the Middle East. (KQED)

NEW FROM CANARY

• What to know before you get balcony solar — Alison F. Takemura

• China exports a ton of cleantech — and the world is poised to want more — Dan McCarthy

• Federal policy on biofuels goes from bad to worse under Trump — Michael Grunwald

• Big grid batteries are finally on a roll in New England — Julian Spector