California, airlines partner to boost sustainable aviation fuels

TRANSPORTATION: California regulators partner with a commercial airline trade group in an effort to increase the availability of sustainable aviation fuels. (Associated Press)

ALSO:

• The Biden administration awards a northwestern New Mexico coal and oil and gas community $4 million for a proposed freight rail project, which local officials say will help wean the economy off fossil fuels. (New Mexico Political Report)
• Elon Musk’s Tesla backs California’s electric vehicle-boosting low-carbon fuel standard, which Donald Trump vows to dismantle if he’s re-elected. (Politico)

HYDROGEN: The U.S. EPA awards Hawaii $59.2 million for hydrogen-fueled tractors and a fueling station at shipping ports. (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, subscription)

SOLAR:

• Denver Public Schools reflects on using power purchase agreements to install 9.5 MW of rooftop solar on its facilities and becoming a model for other districts. (Canary Media)
• Drought-plagued farmers in California’s Central Valley plan to replace some 200 square miles of water-intensive crops with utility-scale solar installations. (Politico)
• A southern California nonprofit helps a medical clinic fund a solar-plus-battery storage array to replace backup power diesel generators. (KCLU)
• A developer brings the 179 MW White Wing Ranch solar project online on private land in southwestern Arizona. (Solar Industry)
• A developer finishes construction on the 44 MW Camino solar project next to its wind power facility in California. (news release)
• Arizona Public Service signs on to purchase 1,800 MWh of battery energy storage capacity and 150 MW of solar power from facilities under development in the central part of the state. (news release)

WIND: Oregon officials invite the public to help develop an ​“offshore wind energy roadmap” after widespread opposition to proposed development along the state’s southern coast prompted a federal agency to cancel a lease sale. (Oregon Capital Chronicle)

CLEAN ENERGY: Wyoming lawmakers kill legislation that would have restricted the use of eminent domain to acquire land for utility-scale carbon capture, wind and solar projects, worrying it could hamper enhanced oil recovery plans. (Cowboy State Daily)

EFFICIENCY: The Biden administration awards Colorado’s weatherization assistance program $7.6 million for electric heat pumps and efficiency upgrades for low-income residents. (Colorado Newsline)

UTILITIES:

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom orders regulators to look for ways to stabilize or lower utility bills. (Los Angeles Times)
• A Montana irrigation district urges regulators to force NorthWestern Energy to pay more for a proposed small-scale hydroelectricity project’s power. (Montana Free Press)

GRID: The Western Area Power Administration’s Sierra Nevada branch plans to join the California grid operator’s day-ahead regional power market. (RTO insider, subscription)

URANIUM: A firm looks to reopen a long-shuttered uranium mill in Utah even as federal agencies continue to clean up Cold War-era processing facilities in the state. (Salt Lake Tribune)

ELECTRIFICATION: Washington state advocates argue a ballot measure aimed at preemptively banning restrictions on natural gas hookups or appliances would raise utility rates by as much as $150 annually. (Center Square)