California budget includes billions for clean energy, electric vehicles

CALIFORNIA: Gov. Gavin Newsom releases a ​“transformative” $100 billion budget plan that includes $912 million to advance clean energy and $3.2 billion for zero-emission vehicles alongside measures to address racial and economic inequities. (Los Angeles Times, NRDC)

TRANSPORTATION:
• Newsom’s budget plan also includes $4.2 billion for the first segment of a high-speed rail system, but future funding for the project remains unclear. (East Bay Times)
• Oregon will need 4,000% growth in public charging infrastructure to meet the state’s 2035 electric vehicle target, according to a draft state study. (NetZero Insider)
• Proposed rules from Colorado’s air pollution agency would call on the state’s large employers to allow just 60% of their employees to commute alone in cars by 2024. (Colorado Sun)

CLIMATE:
• A report released Friday projects Colorado will fall far short of its emissions targets without enforceable limits, which are included in a bill Gov. Jared Polis has threatened to veto. (Denver Post)
• Polis’ wavering on climate legislation has left some of his supporters disillusioned. (Colorado Public Radio)
• Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign the state’s landmark climate legislation today. (Bloomberg)

HYDROPOWER: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray issue a statement opposing a proposal to breach four Snake River dams championed by Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson, while a Washington lawmaker compared the plan to closing the Boise airport to fight climate change. (Spokesman-Review)

GRID:
• Hawaii regulators compromise on conditions they had imposed on a proposed 185 MW storage facility after the state’s largest utility warned the agreement might jeopardize the project. (Pacific Business News, subscription)
• Arizona utilities warn they could face reliability issues this summer if California limits power exports to other states. (Arizona Daily Star)

UTILITIES: A group of 70 Oregon landowners sue two utilities for $103 million in damages, alleging power lines sparked a wildfire last year that destroyed 430 homes. (Oregonian)

COAL: ​“We are still trying to get our arms around it”: Colorado’s Office of Just Transition faces a daunting task as coal’s rapid decline is already impacting the communities dependent on it. (Denver Post)

SOLAR:
• A California homeowner files a class-action lawsuit against Tesla after the company doubles the price for his solar roof; CEO Elon Musk acknowledged last month the company has made ​“significant mistakes” in estimates. (Business Insider)
• New Mexico regulators are re-evaluating interconnection rules as interest in rooftop solar grows. (New Mexico Political Report)

COMMENTARY:
• A conservative clean-energy advocate calls Arizona regulators reversal on a 100% renewable energy target ​“one of the most stunning and inexplicable flip-flops imaginable.” (Arizona Capitol Times)
• Utah student activists say clean-energy upgrades to schools can help address equity and improve academic performance. (Salt Lake Tribune)